Colorado-based Scott Belonger P.E. is a trail design manager in the Louisville office who has a long history of conducting trail work in Colorado and other states across the west. While he started his career as a bridge engineer, early on he had an assignment to design a pedestrian underpass in Aspen, Colorado which led to other trail projects for that client. “One of the stand out projects for me was Cemetery Lane Trail in Aspen that included traffic calming features and an extensive 600’ long elevated section built into a hillside. The project made me want to transition from bridges to focus more on trails,” he said.
His skills fit in well with Otak’s work constructing a wide range of projects from backcountry single-track trails to multi-use paved areas in urban cores. “Through his trail work, Scott is making a real difference in the quality of life in Colorado communities. Using Otak’s trademark strength—integrated design—he is producing innovative and creative solutions that his clients and trail users really appreciate,” David Knowles, Otak’s director of transportation business said.
Scott’s trail work is extensive. He currently has ten projects in the design phase and another eight under construction. He says that’s a typical workload. One project that is nearing completion is the Animas River Trail North Extension. Scott began the planning for this trail, a one-mile extension just north of the City of Durango, in 2009. Much of the work is within the narrow Durango and Silverton railroad right of way requiring extensive structures and has involved broad public outreach.
According to Scott, Otak’s largest share of trail work is for designing shared paths for municipalities that are often in constrained right-of-ways and require elements such as bridges, underpasses, and retaining walls. “I personally like to be able to get around without a car so this work is valuable to me because it provides an alternative mode of transportation and recreation” Scott said.
As public awareness of reducing carbon footprints and leading healthier lifestyles grows, having expertise in trail development will serve Otak well for years to come.
Together with national developer Wishcamper, Otak has been instrumental in the design and approval of the ambitious South Cooper Mountain Main Street project in Beaverton, which is set to begin construction in the summer of 2021. The mixed-use development project will encompass affordable housing, as well as commercial and civic space, across ten acres adjacent to Mountainside High School in the heart of the South Cooper Mountain community.
Wishcamper, traditionally known for its work in affordable housing, recognized a unique opportunity to not only add affordable housing units to a high-density market-rate community but to also bring a community vision to life in the form of a dynamic mixed-use neighborhood center. The City of Beaverton’s goal is to provide the main street with a vibrant mix of neighborhood commercial and residential uses in a pedestrian-friendly environment that includes wide sidewalks with pedestrian amenities. Wishcamper embraced the vision and proactively worked with the city, enlisting Otak’s expertise and help to guide the project.
Otak has established a strong presence in affordable housing, mixed-use building, and community design and had been actively working on projects in the surrounding residential community for the past five years. Working collaboratively with Wishcamper and the City of Beaverton, Otak took a placemaking and multidisciplinary approach to satisfy the city’s community and zoning requirements, and Wishcamper’s affordable housing mandates, while also remaining sensitive to the natural environment and ecology of the site and ultimately how people would live in and use the space. As Ben Bortolazzo, Otak director of planning and design, points out, “this is not just another development project. It’s a place-making effort to create a vibrant community space; it’s an opportunity to provide vibrant spaces for the community to come together.”
Otak’s design for the South Cooper Mountain project includes 164 units of affordable housing, 30,000 sq feet of commercial space—office, daycare, café, and retail—potential civic use space, a public park, and a plaza. The park site is home to a number of large sequoia trees, which Otak was intent on preserving in the overall design, further reinforcing a sense of place with character and connection to the land. An underground parking garage is planned beneath an open-air plaza, which will also be home to a farmer’s market.
As the South Cooper Mountain project moves into the next phase of development, Wishcamper has enlisted Otak’s expertise on two upcoming projects, one next to the Main Street site and another in Woodburn, OR.
Construction for the redevelopment of Block 10, also known as Heritage Square, in downtown Vancouver, WA is anticipated to start in June/July 2020. Since the fall of 2019, Otak, working with developer Holland Partner Group, has provided land surveying, site civil engineering, and agency permitting support for the project.
Located between Columbia and Washington streets, and 8th and 9th streets, and less than one acre in size, the vacant lot is one of the last remaining undeveloped blocks in the downtown area. Block 10 is also the former site of the historic Lucky Lager Brewing Company with roots hailing back to the early 1930s. The brewery closed its doors in 1985 and sat dormant for years before the city of Vancouver purchased the land and demolished the old brewery in the early ’90s. Although various development projects have been considered by the city, the lot has remained vacant ever since.
Renderings courtesy of Ankrom Moisan Architects
Holland Partner Group’s development plan for Block 10 includes 105-110 apartment units, including 20% affordable housing; 80,000 square feet of office space; 12,500 square feet of ground-floor retail space; and an internal two-level parking garage. The project adds valuable commercial space to the downtown core and satisfies the city’s goal of expanding affordable housing units.
Tim Leavitt, PE, director of Otak’s Vancouver office is the project manager; Keith Buisman, PE and Rose Horton, PE, Otak Portland, are the project engineers. Ankrom Moisan is the project architect.
Times are challenging as we all face the impacts of COVID-19. But as our day to day lives have been disrupted, mother nature continues on unabated. Flowers have come up, migrating birds have returned, and temperatures are rising.
In recognition of all that nature provides, Earth Day is celebrated throughout April. While this year there won’t be group events as we practice social distancing, Otak is still taking this time to celebrate the great outdoors.
Otak has again signed on as a business partner for Earth Day Oregon to recognize, support and celebrate our planet and those organizations that work hard every day for our natural world. Through Earth Day Oregon, Otak donated to Depave, a nonprofit that works to turn paved spaces into greenspaces to create more livable cities. We understand the environmental and social benefits greenspace can have and gladly stand behind and have volunteered for the many projects Depave has undertaken to green the landscape of Portland. We look forward to working together with Depave on its next project.
On the homefront, Otak’s GO Committee and Operations Team remind us that Earth Day is really every day and there are things we can do in our daily lives to get back to nature.
Start a small garden. You can build raised beds in your yard, or simply pot some herbs and veggies to grow on your porch.
Bike and walk more. Do you live near your local grocery store? Consider if it is possible to walk or bike for your next trip to the store (while following proper PPE and social distancing guidelines). A win-win for getting outside and getting your essential errands done.
Start a home compost. Many of us are already doing this. Check-in with your local trash service to see if they offer compost pick up. If not and if space allows, you can start composting in your backyard by purchasing something like a “Bio Monster” or “Worm Factory” bin and use the compost for your garden.
Shop locally, eat seasonally. With stay-at-home orders in place during the opening weeks for farmers’ markets, your local market or farm might be offering pick-up or delivery!
Play Earth Day Bingo! Get the family involved in this great activity from the City of Kirkland.
Getting outside is one of the recommendations for keeping COVID-19 at bay, as well as a way to maintain your mental health. We want our employees to stay healthy so we encourage you to get out and show your love for the planet, on earth day and every day!
The City of Vancouver’s first affordable housing development to utilize recent changes in city zoning standards has broken ground following the approval of funding and construction permits in February. Situated along 4th Plain Blvd, the Elwood Affordable Housing Community Project is in a commercially zoned transit corridor that under previous city code would not have been permissible. The new zoning updates and the Affordable Housing Fund are part of several measures the city of Vancouver has been taking to provide more affordable housing in the community.
The Elwood Affordable Housing Community, owned by the Housing Initiative (www.housinginitiative.net), will encompass four 3-story buildings and a total of 46 garden-style apartments, of which 50 percent will be designated for homeless people with complex physical and behavioral health needs. Auxiliary services will include central laundry, a community room, as well as open green space and a community garden.
The project will also meet the minimum requirements of the Evergreen Sustainable Development Standards (ESDS) which includes requirements for low-VOCs, water conservation, air sealing, and reduced thermal bridging. The project architect is Access Architecture (Brendan Sanchez, AIA).
Otak’s Vancouver team, under the leadership of Tim Leavitt, P.E., has been working in collaboration with the Owner, Architect, and city of Vancouver to navigate the complexities of this project and guiding the decision-making process. Otak was retained to complete the site surveys and civil engineering design, and obtain land-use and site engineering approvals/permits from the City.
Through a long history of community involvement – 20+ years in Vancouver – Leavitt and his team have gained an in-depth understanding of the city’s design and permitting requirements, especially in the area of multi-family housing and affordable housing. The Otak Vancouver team has established a strong niche in affordable housing design and permitting services in SW Washington.
For further information about Otak’s expertise in affordable housing architecture, planning, and design, please contact Tim Leavitt at 360.737.9613 or tim.leavitt@otak.com.
Eagle Landing is poised to be the premier ground-up mixed-use community in the Northwest. From its earliest visioning and planning, conceived two decades ago, the intention has been to deliver to Happy Valley a new downtown, replete with all the uses and charms of the best Village Centers. This includes a central town square, a vibrant main street, a mix of luxury and market-rate apartments and condominiums, hotels, a civic center, and mid-rise commercial offices.
Phase One will begin construction in May 2020 and will include 200 apartments, 20,000 sf of retail and structured parking, to be closely followed by the other Phase One buildings comprising 800,000 sf.
In replacing the existing Visitor Contact Station, a new welcome center would be designed just inside the Big Oak Flat entrance to Yosemite National Park. The 4,000 square-foot facility includes office space for staff working at the facility and within this district of the park. The Otak team developed solutions responding to a range of programmatic, functional, and logistical requirements involving multiple stakeholders, while developing an architectural language and character appropriate for a project of this significance—an entrance to this unique World Heritage Site.
An Energy-Efficient Welcome Center for a World Heritage Site
The Welcome Center design incorporates high energy efficient systems while site improvements include relocation of an emergency generator and a communication hub serving the entrance development area. In addition to the Welcome Center itself is also a separate, 1,250 square-foot restroom facility. A new exterior orientation plaza allows programs and self-serve orientation for visitors. The plaza includes information on general park orientation, interpretation, seasonal information, and trip planning while also providing shade areas and informal seating. Visitor parking will be expanded with an accessible pedestrian walkway extending from the parking area to the welcome center and restrooms.
The Swift Bus Rapid TransitGreen Line isRecognized for Engineering Excellence; Receives 2019 PSRC Vision 2040 Award and 2019 WTS Innovative Transportation Solutions Award!
Snohomish County in Washington state is a fast-growing region with rapidly expanding economic hubs and urban centers. It is also rich in rural areas, farmlands, and forests. With another million+ residents anticipated over the next two decades, managing growth while preserving natural resources and building for a sustainable future is a key concern for the region. Nearly fifteen years ago Community Transit (CT) embarked on the Swift Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) program as a vital part of the solution to the rapid growth in the region and providing for a sustainable future. From the start, Otak has been a trusted partner supporting the teams at CT and helping them deliver on their ambitious promise to the region.
While BRT in general is a well-established system for providing mass transit solutions, CT has been on the leading edge in rapid transit development and the Swift BRT system has proven to be an innovative solution successfully integrating transit networks across communities and effectively connecting the broader region. Yes, the Swift BRT transit program has a primary goal of providing transportation alternatives to help alleviate traffic congestion, but the solution is multifaceted. It’s about the pedestrians, bicyclists, and commercial vehicles that our roadway system serves and the property owners, businesses, and jurisdictions that are affected by the new transit system.
Holistic Approach to Design and Development
CT recognized these complexities and the need for a holistic interdisciplinary approach to designing a solution. From the very start, CT partnered with multiple agencies, utility providers, commissioners and community leaders, as well as civil engineers, planners, landscape architects, urban designers and more. Otak was brought in early on the design and development of the Swift Blue Line and then the Green Line. The Otak team, led by project manager Windi Shapley, has been an integral part of the program leading station and roadway improvement design, permitting, and providing construction engineering support for the project which included installation of station platforms and shelters, amenities, ticket vending machines, shelter railings, passenger information signing, and iconic station markers. The team also provided surveying, civil engineering, landscape architecture, planning, and utility coordination. Shapley asserts that, “to be successful and deliver the best possible solutions, you have to take a holistic approach. You need the expertise and insights from multiple disciplines because the smallest things can have a big impact, and everything is interconnected – especially on a multi-jurisdictional transit project like the Swift BRT.”
Project Recognized for Innovative Design and Positive Impact on Regional Sustainability
The Swift BRT Blue Line opened in 2009 as the first phase of the program. It was also the first of its kind in the state of Washington and set the standard for phase two (the Green Line) that began operating in March 2019. The Swift BRT Green Line is a 12-mile route running between the Seaway Transit Center and the Canyon Park-and-Ride, serving the communities of South Everett, Mill Creek, and Bothell in Snohomish County. It is notable for connecting the new commercial flight terminal at Paine Field and Boeing’s Everett Factory to Bothell, as well as the Swift Blue Line and the larger Community Transit network. In short, the addition of the Swift Green Line is an integral component to the long-term plan of creating a network of fast, frequent connections across the region and providing critical infrastructure for sustainable growth into the future.
This holistic approach has paid off as the Swift BRT lines are effectively providing much needed transportation solutions while adhering to the vision and policies around regional growth, transportation, and economic development within King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Kitsap counties. The results are undeniable, and as such, the Swift Green Line project has been recognized by the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) with a 2019 Vision 2040 Award for innovative design and positive impact on regional sustainability.
The Green line won the 2019 WTS Innovative Transportation Solutions – Large Projects Award, not only for the innovative solutions, but also in recognition of the accomplishments of this women-led team. The project team was led by Joy Munkers, Director of Planning and Development and June DeVoll, Manager of Strategic Planning and Grants for Community Transit. From planning through implementation, Joy and June were supported by a project team that included over 50 women. Women in lead roles included Grants/Funding Lead Melissa Cauley, Community Transit Grant Program Manager; Project Management Lead of Design, Permitting, and Construction Support Windi Shapley of Otak; Traffic Engineering Lead Katherine Casseday of Casseday Consulting; Right-of-Way Lead Faith Roland of Contract Land Staff; Environmental Permitting Lead Sharese Graham of Environmental Science Associates; 128th Street Improvements Design Lead Yee-Fan Riu of WSP; and Geotechnical Lead Debra Overbay of GeoEngineers.
Otak was recently given an Engineering Excellence Gold Award for Successful Fulfillment of Client/Owner Needs for the Green Line project from the American Consulting Engineers Council (ACEC), Washington Chapter.
Windi attributes the project’s success in part to the consistent presence Otak has been able to provide when CT team members and project leads have changed over the years. “Fifteen years is a long time and staff changes are to be expected. We have been able to guide the project through these changes with the accumulated knowledge and expertise gained at all stages, and a steadfast commitment to the long-range vision, mission and purpose.” CT Manager of Strategic Planning and Grants, June DeVoll further asserts, “Otak’s expertise, thoroughness, emphasis on team communication, and focus on quality and constructability has made them a trusted and invaluable member of our Swift Green Line team. They understand our mission, vision and expectations. The Otak team has proven they are invested in our success.”
The Swift BRT system will continue to expand with the development of the Orange line, which will connect the Blue and Green lines with the City of Lynnwood, and the new light rail line set to open in 2024. As with the Blue and Green lines, development of the Orange Line will include further roadway and signal improvements to ensure transit speed and reliability through the corridor. The completion of the network will effectively connect the entire region with an attractive alternative to the automobile for fast, reliable, and efficient commuting in an area that is committed to sustainable growth and protection of its natural resources.
Gerding-Edlen Development and Portland State University aimed to develop a 212,095 square-foot, ten-story, mixed-use building on a 30,000 square-foot site located adjacent to the campus. In promoting environmentally responsible development, this project is certified LEED Silver, and was completed on a fast-track design to meet deadlines for student housing.
Designing an Environmentally Responsible Development for Higher Education
The building provides 384 studio apartment units, 15,230 square-feet. of ground-floor retail or service use space, and 17,910 square-feet of second-floor office and classroom space. The apartments are located on the third floor through the tenth floor of the building. The primary exterior building materials are brick veneer and metal panels with concrete columns. Windows for the ground-floor retail spaces feature clear glass with aluminum storefront. Metal and glass canopies extend over the public sidewalks. Windows for the offices on the second level and the apartments above consist of clear glass with aluminum frames. An eco-roof was installed over 60 percent of the roof area with the intent to slow storm drainage from the roof and to provide a degree of treatment for storm water. The plant materials were chosen to be drought tolerant, self-sustaining, and fire-resistant. A drip irrigation system is planned to assist the plantings during low precipitation periods.
In addressing the City of Camas immediate needs while providing new piping for future demands, a new pedestrian bridge over the Washougal River was designed to connect a regional trail system and carry a new water main. Otak was chosen to manage a full-service design team addressing water and utility design. That team included civil engineering, trail and landscape architecture, environmental analysis and permitting, structural and geotechnical engineering and archaeological investigation.
A Structure to Connect a Trail System and Carry Utility Infrastructure
Working in an area with archaeologically sensitive sites and important fish habitat would pose a challenge to any single project, yet the City of Camas sought three concurrent projects in just such a space: nearly two miles of a regional trail system, a new 24-inch water transmission main and a new bridge to carry water and sewer over the Washougal River. The full-service design process assessed the site to determine the ideal bridge type while limiting impact to the environment and avoiding disruptions to any culturally-sensitive resources. This effort included river hydraulic analysis and scour design as well as the geotechnical engineering and archaeological investigation. In meeting the active transportation goals of the trail system, landscape architects focused on reviewing trail alignment options, in-field direction of vegetation clearing along the preferred trail route, and construction drawings and specifications.
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Colorado-based Scott Belonger P.E. is a trail design manager in the Louisville office who has a long history of conducting trail work in Colorado and other states across the west. While he started his career as a bridge engineer, early on he had an assignment to design a pedestrian underpass in Aspen, Colorado which led to other trail projects for that client. “One of the stand out projects for me was Cemetery Lane Trail in Aspen that included traffic calming features and an extensive 600’ long elevated section built into a hillside. The project made me want to transition from bridges to focus more on trails,” he said. 
Start a home compost.
