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Expertise: Public Architecture

Discussing Affordable Housing Solutions at the 2025 Bisnow Portland Multifamily Summit

Image of an affordable housing panel at the 2025 Bisnow Multifamiliy Summit in Portland, Oregon.
Matt Neish (far right) speaking during a panel on affordable housing solutions at the 2025 Bisnow Multifamily Summit in Portland, OR.

The 2025 Portland Multifamily and Affordable Housing Summit took place this April, exploring topics ranging from the current state of Portland’s real estate market and capital development to the impact of cost of living relative to rent setting. Otak’s Matt Neish, architecture studio leader, participated in a panel focused on innovative solutions to address the region’s affordable housing needs.

“As always, we’re proud to be at the table, contributing our expertise and working with partners who are not only invested in the future of Portland, but are actively shaping it.”

– Matt Neish, Otak Architecture Studio Leader

A Panel on Housing Supply, Wage Gap, and Development Cost

Matt was joined by a diverse group of voices deeply engaged in this critical sector, including Margaret Salazar (REACH Community Development), Ernesto Fonseca (Hacienda CDC), and Madeline Kovacs (Adre), with moderation by Scott Rosenthal (Stoel Rives). The discussion highlighted the growing disparity between housing supply and the widening wage gap, with panelists pointing to rising vacancy rates as a symptom of income-based rent setting models that are misaligned with actual tenant earning capacity.

Impacts from Income and Cost of Living

Although recent state and local bond measures have helped bring more affordable units online, panelists noted that the persistent vacancy issue is influenced by rents being tied to area median income (AMI). As AMI is impacted by higher earners, rent rates are often inflated beyond what many households can sustainably afford. This is especially true as the cost of living continues to rise faster than wages. As a result, developers are seeing more tenants experiencing missed rent payments despite qualifying for initial income requirements.

Development Challenges and Cost Drivers

Image of part of the Fields Apartments Affordable Housing Project.
The Fields Apartments Affordable Housing

The panel also covered the complex funding and regulatory structures of affordable housing projects—which often cost up to 30% more than comparable market-rate developments. Factors contributing to this gap include extensive documentation requirements, prevailing wage and labor standards, and increased capital costs associated with layering multiple funding sources. Developers also face significant financial strain during the pre-development phase, often shouldering substantial upfront costs unless they can secure highly competitive pre-development grants.

Collaborating for Long-Term Solutions

Echoing broader themes at the summit, panelists agreed that addressing the region’s housing challenges—both in terms of affordable rental units and pathways to affordable homeownership—will require a collective, coordinated effort from public, private, and nonprofit sectors alike. Our architecture group continues to work closely with development partners to deliver affordable housing that not only meets critical demand but upholds high standards of design, functionality, and community cohesion.

Overall, the event served as a powerful reminder of both the complexity and urgency of the housing challenges facing our region. From market-rate development to deeply affordable housing, the conversations underscored the need for alignment and sustained collaboration across sectors. Otak remains committed to being part of the solution—leveraging design excellence to help expand access to housing and building more equitable communities across the Portland region.

Eight Projects Recognized at 2024 DJC Oregon Awards

In recognizing some of the Pacific Northwest’s most impactful projects, DJC Oregon hosted its annual awards event. Among the ‘Top Projects’ for 2024 were eight from Otak, and our teams were in attendance for the honor.

Images of Otak teams at the 2024 DJC Awards event.
Left: Margaret Steinhilber, Martin Munguia, and Matt Neish with the award for the Hardeson Campus Service & Operations Building; Right: Ralph Mocerino, Nick Brown, Mike Day, Kathy Kianunis, Martin Munguia, Matt Neish, and Brian Hardebeck sit together at the event

The collective celebration of industry excellence covered a wide range of project types and included the selection of a ‘Project of the Year’ from the year’s winners. There was also a new award for ‘Subcontractor of the Year’ as well as ‘People’s Choice’.

Adding to our list of award-winning work, more detail into those eight Otak projects can be found below.

 

Hardeson Campus Service & Operations BuildingInterior image of the Hardeson Campus Service and Operations Building.

Representing a unique opportunity for adaptive reuse design, this project converted a two-story concrete tilt panel office building into an operations hub for the busy transportation organization, Community Transit.

Take a closer look at how this multidisciplinary effort between Otak architectural, structural, civil, and landscape teams revitalized this existing building with holistic improvements that place an emphasis on employee wellness.

See the Project

 

US 197: The Dalles BridgeCrew at work during the deck replacement of the Dalles Bridge along US 197.

Originally constructed in 1953, the deck of the steel-truss-cantilever Dalles Bridge on U.S. 197 had degraded to the point of needing to be replaced. Safety improvements to this vital transportation connection over the Colombia River utilized accelerated bridge construction techniques to avoid long term closure and disruption to regional commerce.

See how the Otak structural and construction management teams were part of a unique hybrid management system to efficiently complete this work.

See the Project

 

Littell Bridge: Willapa Hills Trail BridgesAerial image of the Littell Bridge as part of the Willapa Hills Trail Bridges project.

One of three bridges creating safe pedestrian passage along the Willapa Hills Trail system, the Littell Bridge addresses a previously dangerous at-grade crossing with SR 6. The 250-foot, sinuous bridge provides a final link in the western 27 miles of the trail.

Check out how Otak’s structural engineering and environmental teams combined to add safety and resilience to these trail crossings.

See the Project

 

 

Art Rutkin Elementary School: Tigard Tualatin School Bond ProgramInterior image of the library within Art Rutkin Elementary School.

As part of broader improvements to the Tigard Tualatin School district from a successful bond program, the new Art Rutkin Elementary School adds 75,000 square-feet of space for the community’s students.

Learn more about how the district, with Otak as owner’s representative, implemented technology upgrades and new sustainable features across its growing facilities.

See the Project

 

Monmouth City HallExterior view of the entrance to Monmouth City Hall.

After nearly a century of service, Monmouth City Hall would be replaced with a design focused on sustainability, safety, and operational efficiency.

Read more into how the Otak owner’s representative team joined the project to resolve cost issues while initiating a highly collaborative value engineering process.

See the Project

 

Nestucca Valley High School Career Technical Education CenterInterior view of workspace as part of the Nestucca Valley High School Career Technical Education Center.

In addressing the gap in diverse and accessible education opportunities for youth faced by many rural areas, the Nestucca Valley High School Career Technical Education (CTE) Center was developed as part of a school bond program for the communities of Coastal Oregon.

Get a more complete view of how as owner’s representative, Otak helped guide to completion the flexible design of a facility that will provide long-lasting benefits to the surrounding community.

See the Project

 

Waterleaf Affordable Housing BuildingExterior view of the Waterleaf Building and affordable housing project.

With a unique shared post-tension podium deck, the BRIDGE Waterleaf Building adds 178 affordable housing units to the River Place neighborhood of Portland, Oregon.

Take a more in-depth look at the Otak owner’s representative team guided this project through a number of challenges to make this community-focused building a reality.

See the Project

 

Multnomah County Library Operations Center

Rendering of the Multnomah County Library Operations Center.

In a major transformation across its facilities, Multnomah County Library is expanding spaces and upgrading technology to benefit the community through a capital bond program.

See how the $380 million bond program is being applied to these public assets with overall program management from Otak.

See the Project

 

 

 

 

 

A Coffee with… Gabriel Kruse (Landscape Architect) and Chris Maykut (Senior Designer)

Posted on by Otak Staff

With many disciplines working together on a variety of projects, perhaps the best way to get a feel for a firm’s impact is simply, a coffee with… the people doing the work.

This video series features experts sharing insights gained during their time in the AEC industry, with an emphasis on the importance of collaboration to meeting a common goal of creating better communities.

In this edition of ‘a coffee with…’, we learn from a landscape architect and a senior designer within architecture about the importance of designing and placemaking for people’s lives. Find out in the video and its transcript below:

Improving People’s Lives through Impactful Design

I think we’re changing lives, making them better.

One of the things that I love to see is when I go to one of these places that I’ve designed and there’s a family out there or kids swinging on the swing set. You’re seeing this idea you had in your brain come to fruition and being enjoyed by the community… it’s one of the best things.

My name is Chris Maykut. I’m a senior designer here at Otak working on the architecture team and I’ve been here for five years.

I’m Gabriel Kruse, I’m a landscape architect. I’ve been with Otak for almost nine years.

What is the Importance of Collaboration between Disciplines on Projects?

[Skip to this chapter]

I really do believe this that there’s, you know, there’s no “I” in team… that collaboration is very key to a successful project.

He’s in landscape, I’m in architecture, I’ve got the built form, he’s got the natural form, but we also kind of come together and there’s this blended area.

So, I think we both have a job of imagining, creating, and developing places for people to inhabit. And I think that’s, you know, really important, and I think collaboration makes that a much stronger end result.

We meet, like, what’s it at 5 feet outside, 5 feet outside the building? Yeah.

But you know I think on the bigger projects we have multiple buildings… we create the space in between the buildings together.

I think for me as a landscape architect and working with Chris and architecture, we’re trying to make really great places for people to live. Going home to a great piece of architecture, going through that landscape experience, also just having all those all those pieces working together in harmony is a real goal of ours.

How Does a Multidisciplinary Environment Create Unique Opportunities to Work Together?

[Skip to this chapter]

I think of Otak as a family, it’s kind of corny. But I have one project that the landscape consultant is outside of Otak, and another project where the landscape is Gabe or someone else on this team… I can coordinate and communicate with in in both situations quite well. But I feel just the family atmosphere of Otak, I feel like I can be more open and more responsive in communicating back and forth.

We both use a 3D modeling software and we’re both pretty good at using that software. So, we can exchange models together and say what do you think of this?

You know, he’s got this big building model and a lot of things going on in there.

And then I’ll take a piece of it and say, ‘hey, give me that model,’ and I’ll take it and then I’ll put my landscape design in there and I’ll send it back to him… drop that in there see what you think and then Chris [and I] we’ll just kind of work together back and forth that way massage it back and forth, massage it back and forth.

Not everyone designs that way, but I think Chris and I both have that. We’ll use that 3D modelling as a tool, as a design tool, not just a presentation tool. I think that, yeah, that is one way I think we really work together well.

What is Most Exciting about Working in the Design Industry?

[Skip to this chapter]

Making someone feel like they have a home and it’s just not a place that they’re sleeping at. They’re having birthday parties. They’re, you know, sharing fun times with friends and family.

And, you know… we’re helping them create memories for their lives here at Otak.

We do a lot of multifamily and specifically affordable right now. I really enjoy that as opposed to doing, you know, high end condos in downtown Portland. There’s more meaning to it and… that gets me excited to come into work everyday.

Designing a park, then going to see it afterwards and seeing people use it; enjoy it; and then talking to the neighborhood and [seeing] just how much people appreciate open space… It’s a really important part of neighborhood design and community design.

There are a lot of when that’s where, you know, all the kids spend a lot of their time and that’s what I really look forward to.

See Our Planning and Architecture Work

ACEC Washington Award Winners 2024

 

Picture of the project team accepting an award at the 2024 ACEC Washington event.
Photo Credit: ACEC WA

We’re delighted to share some additional award wins – this time for our project work in the Puget Sound region. The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Washington has awarded two projects from our bridge engineering team with Silver and Gold-level recognition!

ACEC Washington represents the gold standard for the business of engineering in Washington state, creating an environment that encourages quality, safe, impactful, and sustainable solutions for both the built and natural environments. They are the leading organization for promoting engineering companies through professional knowledge and exceptional services for communities across the state, and we’re grateful to be recognized on behalf of our teams who accomplished this award-winning work.

Learn more about each winning project on their respective project pages, and hear directly from our clients on what makes these wins so special.

 

Dungeness River Bridge – Best in State Gold Award: Social, Economic, and Sustainable Design Considerations

Infographic showing project details for the Dungeness Nature Center, river restoration, and bridge.As the firm providing lead design consulting services, bridge engineering, architecture and landscape architecture, and building structural engineering, our approach to this project was creating a space where critical infrastructure and the environment’s natural surroundings intersect. This created a meaningful and useful finished product for the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe based on their input and desired outcomes:

“Aesthetically and functionally, the bridge is superb. We are thrilled with the innovative wishbone design, and the flow of traffic merges and splits seamlessly. The Tribe routinely receives rave reviews about the bridge from trail and Nature Center users.”
– Randy Johnson, Habitat Program Manager for the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe

Willapa Littell Bridge – Best in State Silver Award: Successful Fulfillment of Owner/Client Needs

Infographic showing project details for the Willapa Hills, Littell Bridge.As prime consultant on this project – Otak performed a variety of essential services including project management, survey, environmental services, bridge and civil engineering, landscape architecture, stormwater management, and CMI work. The challenge for the client was mitigating safety hazards thanks to a highly popular trail combined with a dangerous at-grade crossing on a high-speed state highway while addressing aesthetic concerns among community members. With special thanks to our partners in overcoming speed bumps on the way to final delivery, the project now stands as a testament to innovative engineering that not only functions well, but is also a sight to behold: 

“Constructing a 250’ span bridge over a busy highway with little to no lay down/staging area was a challenging endeavor. Otak produced a design that satisfied permit requirements, design requirements, and was aesthetically pleasing, definitely exceeding our expectations.”
– Tim Bell, Project Manager for the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission

View the rest of the winners on the Seattle DJC’s official website here, along with their write up on the Dungeness Bridge and river restoration here!

The Restoration of Wade Creek Wins Two Awards!

More award wins at Otak! We’re happy to share that this fall the Wade Creek Restoration project was the recipient of two awards!

Otak would like to thank the City of Estacada, Greenworks, and Pacific Habitat services for their partnerships on delivering this project to the benefit of the community of Clackamas County.

Read more about the project and the awards below!

Image of the Wade Creek team accepting the State Land Board Award for stream restoration.What Were the Awards?

State Land Board Award – Stream Category

Led by Greenworks, the restoration of Wade Creek was at the heart of the city’s multi-year effort to address problems with the pond while also creating better connection with the surrounding community. Work included restoring the historic course of the creek to provide improved passage for salmon species throughout their life cycle, adding native plants along the bank to shade and cool the creek, and eliminating steep slopes to create a working floodplain.

The restoration project also added accessible walking trails and a boardwalk to the adjacent park and public library, an amphitheater and community gathering space, stormwater rain gardens, and a pollinator garden. Along with benefiting the environment surrounding the creek, these crucial additions and improvements to accessibility increased the area’s overall sense of community.

John Van Staveren of Pacific Habitat Services was integral to both the completion of the project and the submittal of the Land Board Award, so we would like to extend special thanks to him and the greater firm for all his work advocating for the project.

You can read the press release on the Land Board award win from the Oregon Department of State Lands here.

Oregon ASLA – Honor Award

Also submitted and led by our partners at Greenworks, architects tapped Wade Creek as a Project of Honor at the annual Oregon American Society of Landscape Architects awards banquet for the collaborative and environmentally conscious What method in which it was delivered..

Read more about Wade Creek on our project page, and we’re pleased to have worked on such a transformative and community-driven project.

 

The Fields Apartments

Working with a visionary developer, Skip Grodahl, The Fields Apartments is designed as a 264-unit affordable multifamily development with 100,000 square feet of office space in Tigard, Oregon. The ground-breaking project makes housing affordable to those earning 60 percent of median family income.

Overcoming Site Challenges for a Ground-Breaking Affordable Housing Design

Working with a visionary developer, Skip Grodahl, Otak designed a 264-unit affordable multifamily development with 100,000 square feet of office space in Tigard, Oregon. The site was challenging to develop because of its substantial slope, access constraints, and the desire to protect a substantial stand of trees on the site. The project team worked closely with City staff and nearby residents to design a project that met the City’s economic development goals, connectivity requirements, and the neighbors’ desires, while providing attractive and well-located housing and office space. The 24-acre site will include five apartment buildings, a clubhouse with a green roof, and up to 100,000 of commercial office space. This type of integrated affordable housing keeps our communities vital and accessible to people at all stages of life. In leading the design, Otak provided survey, civil engineering, architecture, land use planning, and landscape architecture services for this ground-breaking project.

Three Otakians Honored as DJC Women of Vision!

In an inspiring celebration of achievement and excellence, Saretta Tillmaand, Amanda Owings, and Margaret Steinhilber – three remarkable women from Otak – have been honored with Women of Vision accolades by the Daily Journal of Commerce (DJC) Oregon!

The recognition adds to a growing list over the past several years of Otak people to receive the award:

  • 2022 – Millicent Williams
  • 2021 – Tanya Boyer, Rachel Laura, Cathy Kraus
  • 2020 – Serah Breakstone, Tina Keller, Angela Khosa-Marangwanda
  • 2019 – Ashley Cantlon, Amy Scheckla-Cox, Teresa Huntsinger

Group photo at the 2023 Women of Vision Award ceremony.

What is the DJC Women of Vision Program?

Every year, the DJC Oregon honors a select group of nominated women for their contributions to the fields of architecture, engineering, and construction – allowing them to set an example for others in the field and position them leaders in the broader communities we all serve. This year’s 46 Women of Vision honorees were project managers, CEOs, principals, company founders and more – all active in creating opportunities for the future generation of women in our industry.

Who are the Honorees?

Amanda Owings – Business Unit Leader of Transportation

Image of Amanda Owings, speaking during the Women of Vision Event 2023.

For more than 20 years, Amanda has worked within all facets of transportation, from traffic signal review to accessible ramp designs. She now draws on that experience to design unique transportation solutions that are centered around the impact they have on existing systems and the broader communities her projects aim to service. Amanda sees value in cultivating relationships within her team and has taken opportunities such as treating her team to a local soccer game to facilitate teambuilding and comradery. She takes her role in leadership to heart and understands that building a quality team requires work and dedication beyond the day to day operations.

“I’m honored to have served the institutions I have, and thank you to Otak for believing in me since the beginning, for nominating these other deserving women and inspiring me on my journey.”

– Amanda Owings

 

Saretta Tillmaand – Senior Project Architect

Image of Saretta Tillmaand, speaking during the Women of Vision Event 2023.

Saretta is task oriented and skilled Project Architect who enjoys figuring out what tasks need to be done in what order to create the greatest efficiency. She excels at aligning client wants with available space and finding new materials and technology to make construction more efficient and sustainable.  An ardent believer in community involvement and uplifting women in the field – she’s described as a trailblazer in the project architect’s group at Otak. She volunteers with Habitat For Humanity and served as a lead advocate for the U.S. Green Building Council’s operations within our firm.

“I’d like to thank my coworkers for seeing and acknowledging the work that I do. I’m often behind the scenes, so this honor is a testament to the importance of visibility.”

– Saretta Tillmaand

 

Margaret Steinhilber – Senior Project Architect

Image of Margaret Steinhilber, accepting her Women of Vision Event 2023 award.

Margaret is a Senior Project Architect with a calm head and solid communication skills. At Otak, she works with the design team from concept phase through construction documents, coordinating with clients and consultants throughout the process. She continues to be involved through the construction phase, providing observation and coordinating with contractors and owners to ensure projects are in alignment with the construction documents.

Margaret prides herself on creating environments both beautiful and functional. She finds plenty of opportunity to follow her passion at Otak, because Margaret says her colleagues’ dedication to creating innovative, sustainable, and livable buildings makes coming to work something she looks forward to every day.

“Margaret is an example of dedication and is a role model to other women in the architecture group.”

– Matt Neish, Architecture Business Unit Lead

 

These three have demonstrated unwavering dedication, innovation, and leadership in their fields of architecture and transportation. The DJC’s recognition is a testament to their outstanding work, showcasing how their practices are not only impacting our company but also making a significant and positive mark in the greater AEC world.

Otak Denver Hosts Office Open House!

In Fall of 2022, Otak opened its doors to our brand-new Denver office. We reinforced our presence in downtown Denver for several strategic purposes – including a motivation to deepen our commitments to and strengthen our relationships within the greater Denver metropolitan area.

And what better way to build relationships than to host an Open House! On October 5th Otak welcomed our valued clients, teaming partners, and local community members to Otak’s downtown space in the historic Elephant Corral building.

Collage of images from the Otak Denver office open house.

 

A Variety of Practices Forging New Relationships

At the event, we had the chance for meaningful discussion with local peers in architecture, landscape architecture, planning, water resources, and transportation. With a variety of clients in attendance, it was a fantastic opportunity to get better acquainted with partners and local organizations – some of whom we’ve already partnered with on projects, and others we hopefully will in the future.

Beyond Networking

The energy in the office was uplifting as the Denver community came together to explore the space, enjoy food and drinks, engage in meaningful conversation, and foster connections. The event’s success wasn’t just measured in terms of professional connections, but in the opportunity to engage and recharge together outside of a video call. We were honored to host this event and start dialogue with the potential clients, partners, and friends in attendance.

As we continue to thrive and grow our work in the Rocky Mountain region, Otak remains dedicated to contributing to the communities we serve. We look forward to even more vibrant and interactive events in the future, recognizing that it’s not just about planning and building infrastructure, but also about building bridges between people in our communities for years to come.

 

Collage of images from the Otak Denver office open house.

Wade Creek Restoration and Community Building

Wade Creek Park represents the culmination of a 15-year vision to create a library, park, and community meeting space for the City of Estacada. This third phase of development improves the park’s utility and connections to the surrounding environment by adding a multi-use community center and converting an existing pond back to its natural stream.

A Multi-Use Community Center Designed Around a Restored Stream

From an outdoor amphitheater, stage area, and boardwalk to an indoor community room, restroom facilities, and picnic area, a number of amenities improved Wade Creek park while restoring its natural stream and adding wetland areas. The architectural design of the community center also includes a roof that drains into a rain garden featuring native plants and locally-sourced materials for the structure that highlight the local timber industry. Wade Creek meanders through the middle of the park and improving the habitat was important to the City. A geomorphic and hydrologic study determined the restoration design of Wade Creek, focusing on enhanced flood management, tree health, and aquatic habitat diversity.  Multiple alternatives were presented to the public using an online survey in partnership with GreenWorks to engage the community in the design process. A hydraulic computer model was used to evaluate maximum water surface elevations for the design alternatives. The final design includes a riffle, pool, channel complex with riparian plantings, and a new fish passage culvert under Wade Street.

Omar Cardoza Earns his LEED GA Certification

In a span of just a year and eight months, Omar Cardoza has shown admirable curiosity and initiative, participating in multiple events, opportunities, and projects at Otak as a Design Technician within our Architecture group. We’re taking the time today to celebrate his recent achievement of earning his LEED Green Associate (LEED GA) certification. With this accreditation, Omar has taken a significant step towards a more sustainable and impactful architectural career!

What is a LEED GA?

Headshot of Omar Cardoza

Taking the initiative to pursue the LEED GA certification, Omar’s commitment to self-improvement is commendable. He acknowledges that while the intention was always there, it required dedicated effort and focus to attain this achievement. Now, equipped with the LEED GA certification, Omar is excited to take a more informed and conscious approach to his work. In his own words,

According to the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED is the #1 recognized green building rating system in the world.  The LEED Green Associate certification is the first of two tiers of professional green building accreditation.  Referred to as “LEED GA”, LEED Green associates have demonstrated knowledge of green building practices and standards related to the design, construction, usage, and maintenance of buildings.

Why a LEED GA?

The motivation behind Omar’s pursuit of the LEED GA accreditation, to him, stems from a combination of factors. Recognizing the increasing relevance of sustainability in today’s architectural landscape, he felt the need to equip himself with the tools necessary to design and construct environmentally conscious structures in the modern era. Omar’s passion for the environment and his belief that architecture goes beyond just the physical structure to influence the lives of the people who use it further fueled his desire to earn his LEED GA.

Omar sees the LEED GA accreditation as a pivotal milestone in his professional journey. The certification provides him with a robust foundation to integrate sustainability seamlessly into all phases of project delivery. This enhanced understanding of green building practices will not only enable him to create more environmentally responsible structures but also contribute to his overall growth as a modern architect.

Doing the Work

Taking the initiative to pursue the LEED GA certification, Omar’s commitment to self-improvement is commendable. He acknowledges that while the intention was always there, it required dedicated effort and focus to attain this achievement. Now, equipped with the LEED GA certification, Omar is excited to take a more informed and conscious approach to his work. In his own words, “It acts as a catalyst for my ongoing career development, and I view it as the first step in a series of big steps to advance in the world of sustainable architecture.”

Omar’s accomplishment reflects his dedication to professional growth and his commitment to designing spaces that not only function well but also positively impact the environment and the lives of those who inhabit them, something deeply aligned with our values in design. As he continues to evolve as an architect, Otak eagerly anticipates the contributions and innovations he will bring to the realm of sustainability!