Otak Blog

Cedar Creek Culvert to Bridge Replacement; Sherwood, Oregon
The American Public Works Association awarded the Cedar Creek project with the Project of the Year Award in the “Environment less than $5 million” category. The Cedar Creek project results include the design of a single-span, precast prestressed girder bridge; stream and wetland restoration; a regional multi-use trail; and improved roadway safety and functions.

OHSU Center for Health and Healing; Portland, Oregon
The OHSU Center won The Outstanding Building of the Year Award from the Building Owners and Managers Association International. Otak’s responsibilities for the OHSU Center included onsite and offsite civil engineering for the 2-block building, specifically assisting with the permitting through DEQ for the installation and outfall from the wastewater bioreactor system. The 16-story medical building obtained LEED Platinum status.

Earlier this month, Otak engineers and construction managers coordinated and watched crews connect the City of Tualatin’s Blue Lot Parking Lot and the Tualatin City Park with an 80-foot pedestrian bridge. To minimize disruptions to the existing businesses, construction workers maneuvered a 100-ton-capactiy crane at 9 o’clock at night that unloaded the new steel bridge into place. After three and a half hours of hard work (even the contractor’s dog was supervising!), including maneuvering the bridge around light poles and under an existing tree canopy, the bridge was set. The City of Tualatin now has a valuable new entrance to the City Park while restoring the stream and wetland functions previously impacted by the trail and culvert.

A couple of weeks ago, several Otakians attended the 1st Annual Sustainable Stormwater Symposium. The 2-day event was held at Portland’s EcoTrust Building and attracted nationally known presenters, including Dr. Derek Booth who discussed hydromodification and the effects of land use changes on streams and rivers, as well as Dr. Bill Hunt from North Carolina State University who addressed permeable pavements. Our very own Kevin Timmins, a water resource engineer at Otak, moderated one of the presentation sessions in his svelte sweater vest (the symposium’s theme).

Quinn Donnelly, a water resources engineer at Otak, helped coordinate one of the most popular events of the symposium, a Portland bike tour of several notable low-impact development stormwater projects. More than 50 riders paraded the 8-mile route where each stop included a presentation on the particular site. Scott Shumaker, a senior project manager at Otak, led a group of cyclists to the stormwater facilities located at South Waterfront. The ride ended at Bridgeport Brewery where beer was enjoyed by all!

This Fall, Dyanne Sheldon, Otak’s Director of Natural Resources, had the opportunity to step away from her office and with three other colleagues, share her extensive design knowledge in watershed planning for habitat considerations and restoration at the International Urban Restoration Center in South Korea. She and her colleagues taught an intensive five-day workshop in Urban and Habitat Restoration to 35 participants from 14 different countries across Asia, and one from Kenya. Students learned through lectures, on-site visits, and hands-on design team charrettes that each team had to present to the entire group. “It was an energizing and a humbling experience,” said Dyanne. “To be able to spend such intense time with such dedicated professionals from government positions and NGO’s representing such a broad range of issues and resources was really fascinating. We all learned from each other and all of us took home deep lessons about the complexity, in both human and ecological terms, of restoring habitats and maintaining communities in urban and urbanizing settings throughout Asia. I’ve already been in contact with several students following up with questions, and I expect to hear from many more over the next several months. I’d do it again in a second.”

Last week two members of Kirkland’s Water and Natural Resources group, David Thurman and Ryan Hawkins, found a new way to commute from Seattle to Kirkland…..by kayak. Taking advantage of the calm summer weather and the office’s proximity to Lake Washington, the kayakers left Ryan’s house at 6 o’clock in the morning. The two-hour, six-mile paddling trip included calm waters with a gentle tailwind and very little boat traffic; however, the wetlands between the lake and the office was a challenge to walk through. The grasses were almost as tall as David who is 6′6″!

The return trip was a bit easier with the sun shining on the beautiful lake. Since the first trek out, the Otakians have found a new path around the wetlands so they look forward to an easier trip next time.

Otak’s water resources engineers, as a subconsultant to 2KS Consulting, were hired to help the City of Yakima determine the feasibility of turning the City-owned Yakima Valley Transit Bridge into a pedestrian bridge over the Naches River. Once converted, this 324-foot bridge will allow commuting and recreation access for cyclists and pedestrians to the regional William O’Douglas Trail System via the Yakima Greenway. Scour analyses were completed by Otak to determine the effectiveness of the existing rip-rap at protecting the piers from severe scour. Recommendations included a plan of action for monitoring and bridge closures during high flows and proper rip-rap sizing and configuration.