A gathering of community members and leaders celebrated the opening of a fully inclusive public space with the grand opening of Elizabeth Austin Playground. In addition to giving kids a first opportunity to experience the playground, the free event featured a ribbon cutting with the City of Vancouver Mayor, followed by a variety of games and giveaways before concluding with an outdoor movie screening.
“When communities, foundations, and local governments unite with a shared vision, we can create more than playgrounds, we can build spaces where every child, regardless of age or ability, can experience the joy of play together.”
– David Sacamano, Business Unit Leader of Planning & Landscape Architecture
The occasion also allowed those in attendance to recognize the contributions of the playground’s namesake, Elizabeth Austin, who was a revered leader, mother, and advocate for inclusive spaces in the community. With the opening of the playground, the city’s diverse set of public play areas now boasts three inclusive playgrounds.
About Elizabeth Austin Playground
Following master planning for improvement for the broader Fruit Valley Park, Elizabeth Austin Playground drew on extensive public outreach to establish a final design with fully accessible features. These plans were made possible by a $1 Million donation by the Kuni Foundation. Altogether, the playground features follow a design theme of “Play Like a Bird.” Accessibility accommodations in the design go beyond what’s typically found at public playgrounds. Among the features are fully accessible rubber surfacing, inclusive play equipment, a water play area, and bird sculptures. In support of children with specific developmental and neurodiverse needs, it is also the city’s first fully-fenced playground to maximize user safety. New bike racks, benches, and picnic tables further enhance the park for the entire community while placing an emphasis on the area’s natural setting.
The ribbon cutting ceremony at Elizabeth Austin Playground.
Elizabeth Austin Playground during its grand opening.
Graphic showing the playground concept and features that make up the design theme for Elizabeth Austin Playground.
Positioning a community for long-term success is a planning effort that requires vision into the past, present, and future. Development around community goals often takes shape in the comprehensive planning process, but today this ever-evolving discipline faces increasingly complex challenges.
From the air to water and soil, the impacts of climate change are putting environmental factors at the forefront of long-range planning with the overarching need to create community resilience. As science and extreme weather events continue to paint a clearer picture of the specific hazards facing communities across different geographies, accounting for these variables becomes an increasingly essential element of the comprehensive planning process. In fact, for many planners today it’s not only essential, but mandatory. A growing number of states now have legislation in place – as well as significant sources of funding – that requires the inclusion of measures to address climate change in long-range plans.
In this piece, we’ll discuss how the comprehensive planning process is evolving to emphasize interconnected systems of resilience. From climate co-benefits centered on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, to improving socio-economic standing of residents, these emerging efforts are becoming a vital component to the future well-being of our communities.
Comprehensive planning is the process of creating documentation that guides decision-making around a variety of topics (i.e. land use, transportation, parks, housing, environment, employment etc.) for the direction of communities years into the future.
Communities often sharpen the focus of their overall vision through subarea plans aimed at covering specific parts of a city. These mini-comprehensive plans focus on the unique goals of a particular district, neighborhood, corridor, or other more targeted area of the broader community.
The Comprehensive Planning Co-Benefits Landscape
While impacts vary from one region to another, the fact of the matter is, no community is unaffected by climate. From flooding in coastal areas to extreme weather events on the mainland, growing trends with the environment have confirmed the importance of limiting human contribution to those changes while also making communities more resilient against their effects. It’s through this lens of resilience planning that co-benefits between different interconnected systems are found to maximize social, economic, and environmental factors collectively.
Resilience Planning Terminology
Types of Community Assets
Reference: Washington Department of Commerce
At the heart of resilience planning is the recognition of community assets – both tangible and intangible – and how they relate to potential hazards. The co-benefits of this process often are found in goals such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions or restoring watersheds, all to benefit the common needs of humans and habitats alike.
Environmental Systems of Resilience
At this point, any approach toward sustainability and resilience in development relies on an understanding of the connection between systems in the built environment and natural environment. Efforts to mitigate impact or restore natural systems are planned to include co-benefits to community infrastructure.
Implementation projects that result from the comprehensive planning process can go a long way toward ensuring better preserved natural systems lead to more resilient communities.
Mitigating Impacts to Water, Air, and Soil
Many of the most vital elements found in nature are equally vital to our communities. From direct impacts like mitigating floods and wildfires to passive ones such as water and air quality, the co-benefits of resilience connect our communities to their broader ecosystems to reduce risk and enhance public health.
In many areas of the United States, one of the most pressing hazards is wildfire. Considering physical loss to impacts on insurability and other economic effects, their toll on a community can be swift, widespread, and long lasting. What’s more is these events can cause a domino effect of natural disasters.
The scorched land and destroyed vegetation left behind by a wildfire will often lead to erosion of soil and increased runoff from stormwater. Excess water and sediment can have extreme impacts on water quality, transportation infrastructure (culverts, bridges etc.), and other community assets for years after a fire has been put out.
While strides have been made in fighting wildfires, the best approach remains in resilience planning designed to limit their impact before they start in the first place. Methods like identifying watersheds that are at risk and encouraging their preservation and restoration puts communities in a better position to avoid the variety of ways wildfire leads to loss.
Flooding and Sedimentation
Similar to the relationship between wildfires and watersheds, the role of healthy vegetation can play a large role in a community’s water quality and flooding. As a stormwater measure, native planting can have the added utility of accounting for added impervious surfaces, providing natural bioretention.
By limiting erosion through healthy root systems, native plantings are an essential element of any shoreline. In other types of environments, preserving soil also reduces the potential for debris flow or rock/mud slides that can cause a high amount of damage to property and loss of life.
Healthy habitats that include native plantings are also commonly used in planning efforts for parks and community spaces. Native plants are healthy food sources for local wildlife and because they’re adapted to the surrounding climate, they often require less water and maintenance, conserving an area’s resources efficiently. They also add to the culture, education, and development of public spaces by encouraging a community to learn about and embrace the natural heritage of their region
Housing, Transportation, and Energy Systems of Resilience
Just as environmental factors impact community infrastructure, the reverse is also true. It’s no secret that transportation contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and that development can negatively impact ecosystems. It’s also important to recognize that disparities in impacted communities exist and planning around environmental justice is an opportunity to increase social justice.
When looking at issues individually, it can be difficult to find satisfying solutions, but when problems are viewed wholistically through the lens of resilience, the ability to influence positive outcomes becomes clearer.
Green House Gas (GHG) Emissions Reduction
A primary factor in resilience planning is the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The focus on reducing vehicle miles driven and setting reduction targets is central to much of the regulation in Oregon and Washington state.
Planning that emphasizes transit-oriented development and active transportation not only works to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also can lead to more vibrant, healthier communities. A comprehensive plan can also include a look at industrial processes or emissions that come from city operations in order to lower an area’s carbon footprint.
Housing Density and Affordability
Across the country, many urban areas face challenges associated with affordable housing. With obvious economic implications, the ability to increase not only the supply but the density of housing is an effort to improve community resilience as well as upward mobility.
Within the comprehensive planning process, updates that allow for higher density housing or more flexible housing types can be made to the city code. Middle housing, or the in-between housing of detached single family and large multifamily complexes, is one avenue for flexible housing that maintains the character of a neighborhood. Ultimately, the goal for planners is to give people affordable housing options for the different stages of life that exist in any given community for the benefit of all.
Continuity in Operations and Utilities
In many areas of the country, communities are now familiar with “flex events” or “rolling blackouts” aimed at reducing energy consumption when there is high demand being met by strained energy infrastructure. As shifts in climate produce more frequent extreme temperatures–both hot and cold–planning efforts should consider how to make this process more efficient for communities while also considering improvements to energy grids that are more adaptable to these changing conditions.
Creating Stronger Communities through the Comprehensive Planning Process
In the context of comprehensive planning, resilience planning adds an additional layer of foresight focused on the interconnected systems of community, climate, and the natural environment. To truly prepare communities for a wide range of possible outcomes, resilience planning requires planners and stakeholders to not only consider current conditions and future growth, but also to anticipate and plan for a range of possible scenarios exacerbated by climate change and environmental degradation.
To encourage – and in some cases, mandate – this proactive approach, states such as Washington, Colorado, and Oregon have incorporated new planning requirements for local governments to address climate through comprehensive plans. At the same time, it has also opened the door to related grant funding and technical assistance for community leaders to implement impactful initiatives by injecting resilience into each step of the comprehensive planning process.
Understanding Risks and Opportunities Through Meaningful Community Engagement
Community engagement and collaboration is an essential component of any planning process and takes on added importance when preparing for climate change and impacts to vulnerable communities. The process should bring in all voices of a community, particularly underserved ones and those that are most vulnerable to shocks and stressors. By involving a variety of groups, including tribal consultation, a more complete view of relevant factors is brought to the table while building consensus around goals.
An existing conditions analysis, including collecting data, understanding a wide range of community experiences, and identifying resources and assets available to mitigate impacts is a vital part of engaging the community toward a meaningful direction. A variety of engagement opportunities, from a booth at a popular event to interactive virtual open houses can provide a forum for gathering this information and beginning the public engagement process.
As planners work with elected officials and planning commissions to begin applying direction to specific projects and policy, findings from community engagement continue to help confirm and refine goals. Communication of community priorities gathered through public engagement is vital to creating this roadmap for future success.
An outdoor community engagement event in Vancouver, WA.
Plans for Austin Park Playground displayed for the community.
A planning session with community stakeholders in Vancouver, WA.
Meeting with community leadership in developing plans in Vancouver, WA.
Assessing Current Conditions, Hazards, and Community Assets
Mapping existing conditions (zoning, environmental conditions, population, traffic, property market, job market etc.) and community assets can reveal connections between individual factors, as well as larger systems in the area.
Examining these assets includes not only physical infrastructure but also social capital, cultural resources, and natural ecosystems. This includes identifying hazards (also known as shocks and stressors), such as hurricanes or wildfires, as well as chronic stressors like sea-level rise or economic inequality.
Shocks: Generally short-duration, rapid-onset or acute events that cause a disruption to normal life. (i.e. hurricane, wildfire, earthquake, flood etc.)
Stressors: Chronic, slow-onset or longer-term conditions that weaken a community over time and can impact community functions and well-being. (i.e. affordable housing, loss of habitat, air quality etc.)
“Futures” as a Plural in Outlining Desired Conditions
The comprehensive planning process often answers, “where do you want to be in 20 years, and how do you get there?” To develop strategies to adapt and thrive in the face of uncertainty involves envisioning future scenarios and understanding potential outcomes in more vivid detail than might be illustrated by a simple trendline or series of “high, medium, and low” projections.
Because future conditions are largely based on assumptions with certain metrics, there are a couple different ways to approach scenario development. Often, planning process participants are asked to choose between a variety of predetermined options for projects. An alternative to this approach involves preparing for several different pathways for development in order to respond to how future conditions evolve in reality, rather than a single expected outcome. This adaptable approach is especially important for resilience planning when considering factors such as how water levels might rise or where certain economic indicators will trend.
Whether it’s through innovative land use planning, investment in green infrastructure, or promoting sustainable transportation options, creating a roadmap for a more resilient future requires consideration of a range of interconnected community systems. Through the planning process, these systems and are aligned with a breadth of possible outcomes to design flexible, adaptive policies that are resilient to changing conditions.
Environmental Systems: Preserving ecosystems and natural resources to benefit community health.
Community and Social Systems: Supporting strong group structures and equitable government and social services.
Infrastructure Systems: Planning the built environment alongside natural systems to improve community functions.
Economic Systems: Improving access to opportunity and financial security.
Housing Systems: Developing access to shelter and strong surrounding community.
Developing Policy and Mapping Outcomes
Eventually, turning a planning vision into reality requires action. Implementing a comprehensive plan and co-benefits involves a mix of policy changes, infrastructure investments, and continued community engagement efforts.
At this stage, plans need to be double checked against state mandates, such as Washington’s Growth Management Act, while also translating overarching regulation to local jurisdictions. Those outcomes can then be adopted in the form of law by city councils or county commissions and funding options that will turn those plans into a reality can be explored.
Example State Legislation
Growth Management Act (Washington)
The resilience sub-element must include goals and polices to improve climate preparedness, response, and recovery efforts. This is mandatory for all counties and cities fully planning under the GMA and encouraged for others. As part of this, the greenhouse gas emissions sub-element requires goals and policies to reduce emissions and vehicle miles traveled.
Climate-Friendly and Equitable Communities (Oregon)
Intended to incentivize the adoption of transformational practices, programs, and policies that support sustainable development patterns and affordable housing into the future. This program will help communities align policies and regulations to focus on resilience around primarily housing and transportation.
Fortunately, there is growing support and funding available for resilience projects, with grants and other resources becoming increasingly accessible to communities committed to building a more resilient future. By aligning with state mandates and leveraging available resources, communities can turn their resilience plans into actionable projects that make a tangible difference in people’s lives.
Putting it All Together: A Multidisciplinary Planning Approach
In an era of unprecedented challenges, resilience planning offers a path forward for communities seeking to build a more sustainable, equitable, and adaptive future. Collaborative by nature, this effort benefits from the expertise of a number of practices focused on building improved communities.
By integrating resilience principles into the comprehensive planning process, communities can better prepare for and respond to the complex threats of the 21st century, ensuring a safer, more prosperous future for generations to come.
In a presentation at the 2025 Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture (CELA) Conference, Mandi Roberts, Director of Planning and Landscape Architecture of Otak and an instructor at the University of Idaho presented the “Vandal Healing Garden and Memorial”—a project designed and built by students at the University of Idaho College of Art and Architecture for the campus in Moscow. The submission was co-authored with Dr. Raffaella Sini, Ph.D and Roberto Capecci from the Landscape Architecture Department in the College.
Propelled by the tragic deaths of four UI students in fall of 2022, and with the intent of creating an immersive space on campus that honors all students lost over time, the Vandal Healing Garden and Memorial was completed in spring 2024 thanks to donor support.
In developing design solutions during the spring and fall of 2023, students and faculty conducted listening sessions with family members and friends of victims and facilitated a broader campus-wide/community-wide design charrette to maximize participatory practices with the idea that it would best serve the healing process. Through collaborative studio work, the students evaluated case studies, conducted research and completed site analyses, conceptual design alternatives, and interactive artwork among a variety of other project considerations. The collaboration included vertical landscape architecture studios and the Idaho Design Build Studio, led by Scott Lawrence, Associate Professor of Architecture at the College.
Traditionally, memorials tend to punctuate the landscape and range from statuary to spatially complex sculptural works, installations, or memorial ephemera. The Healing Garden and Memorial for University of Idaho puts forward the idea of creating memorials as immersive, healing spaces, and exploring the design process as a participatory healing process.
“Creating design solutions for this project included study of the evolving cultural and social practices of mourning, memory, and public feeling, and served as a testimony to how grief is mediated in contemporary commemorative cultures.”
– Dr. Raffaella Sini, Ph.D, Department Head for the Landscape Architecture Program, College of Art and Architecture, University of Idaho
“The design process itself became a healing process—collective healing facilitated through inclusive, community-driven methods. We were able to learn about what healing and memorializing means, find ways to honor and remember those we have lost, and collaborate to create a beautiful and graceful place for reflection and healing on campus.”
– Mandi Roberts, Director of Planning & Landscape Architecture at Otak, Inc. and Landscape Architecture Instructor at the University of Idaho
What is the CELA Annual Conference?
With representation from more than 100 institutions, CELA consists of individuals who have an interest in the preparation of landscape architects for global practice. Their stated purpose is “to further education in landscape architecture specifically related to teaching.”
This year’s conference, titled ‘Processes + Impacts’, focused specifically on critically examining the positive and negative impacts of landscape architecture work on people and environments.
A cornerstone of any growing community is its connectivity. Roadway engineering provides more than just conduits for cars; it forms the framework for mobility in a community that leverages a variety of modes of transportation.
A well-designed transportation network featuring different types of roadways can have widespread impact on economic development and individual wellness. This includes improvements that ensure all areas—especially underserved populations—have access to jobs, essential services, and amenities as well as healthier lifestyles through reductions in emissions and the promotion of active transportation. In this blog we discuss how roadway designs exist at the intersection of planning and transportation engineering to support the growth of healthier, more sustainable communities.
Roadway engineering is the planning, design, and construction of transportation infrastructure that enhances existing roadways or establishes new connections within a community. The practice integrates technical expertise, urban planning, and environmental considerations to develop safe, efficient, and accessible transportation systems that serve both current and future needs.
The design process starts with an assessment of existing conditions, including topographic mapping, survey and GIS, to understand site constraints. From there, engineers develop roadway layouts that meet design and safety standards. The final design incorporates permitting requirements, cost considerations, and agency coordination to ensure a smooth transition from planning through construction. The end result is a completed roadway that enhances connection across a community.
Stormwater Infrastructure and Low Impact Development
An extremely common aspect of roadway engineering involves the inclusion of stormwater infrastructure considerations. While accounting for increased impervious surfaces and polluted runoff, stormwater features reduce flooding and improve water quality for a community.
With new development comes the potential for negative environmental impact, but proper analysis of natural resources can mitigate adverse effects. Existing culverts are notoriously inefficient and are also among the most common barriers to fish passage. Today, culverts are being replaced to protect aquatic habitat, reduce flooding, and preserve water rights for property owners.
An important piece of roadway engineering is consideration of how it facilitates more than just cars. Multimodal design gives communities options for how they get from point A to point B, all while reducing carbon emissions and promoting physical health through active transportation. Emphasizing pedestrian mobility features like pedestrian bridges, protected bike lanes, cross walks, and traffic stripping reduces traffic conflicts for all.
Safety is the top priority of any roadway project. With updated traffic signals and signage, drivers are more aware, creating a safer environment for themselves and pedestrians. As the design of a roadway considers number of lanes and width, control of speed can also be effectively managed.
A healthy transportation network is a diverse transportation network. As roadway projects increase in size, so do opportunities to incorporate multimodal features. This can include accommodating mass transit with new stations, specialized lanes, or connection to adjacent trail systems. All ultimately contribute to traffic calming, creating a more connected community.
From small neighborhood streets to large arterials, each roadway type must be designed with the specific needs of the community in mind. A critical aspect of any design is engaging with the public to ensure buy-in and minimize disruption. The larger the initiative, the more essential public outreach becomes, and each project presents its own unique impacts to the connectivity of the communities it serves.
Types of Roadways and Their Impact on Communities
Different types of roadways serve unique, though connected, purposes in a transportation network. Their design often begins with comprehensive planning efforts which help identify the transportation needs of a community. Potential projects can then be developed with the focus of serving both community and client goals.
Neighborhood Streets
Neighborhood streets are designed with a primary focus on safety and accessibility, often placing an emphasis on pedestrians, cyclists, and access to public transit. The more limited scope of neighborhood street projects makes cost-effective construction strategies vital to fit within local budgets.
With this localized focus on enhancing connectivity and accessibility, neighborhood streets also typically include ADA-compliant sidewalks and crosswalks while speed bumps or curb extensions are among traffic calming measures. This roadway type requires extra attention to minimizing impact on adjacent properties while maximizing the benefits to those who call the neighborhood home, including the public assets that often exist in the area.
Tualatin, OR Adds Safe Routes to School
Among some of the most important improvements that can be made to neighborhood streets are those that create a safer environment for children that play and travel in the area. For many parents at Tualatin Elementary, it was clear that updates to the neighborhood streets could make a real difference for the kids walking and biking to and from school.
As part of Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs, which provides grants for these types of improvements, work on 95th and Avery made a variety of upgrades to enhance pedestrian safety, particularly for the kids of Tualatin Elementary.
Multiple intersections were improved with high visibility striping in crosswalks, rectangular rapid-flashing beacons (RRFB), and other features to create safer pedestrian crossings and reduce conflicts with vehicles. Deficient sidewalks and gaps were replaced to further enhance the pedestrian experience.
Mid-Size Collectors and Corridors
Mid-size collectors and corridors serve as vital connections between neighborhoods and larger roadways. This roadway type supports moderate traffic volumes and often incorporates improvements that enhance transportation operations and facilitate flow between developing areas.
Corridors generally aim to improve access to commercial areas, parks, and transit hubs in response to increasing traffic demand. As part of planning efforts, these improvements are sometimes made in anticipation of future development. The larger scope often involves coordination with utility companies and various agencies, as they can have a substantial impact on not only the community but the surrounding environment.
Silverdale, WA Sees Reduced Congestion and an Enhanced Waterfront
The community of Silverdale had long looked to improve on poor waterfront access. Where the Clear Creek Estuary crosses under Bucklin Hill Road and meets Dyes Inlet, high traffic was common which was especially problematic considering its semi-rural setting. Altogether, the area represented a missed opportunity to create an appealing place for recreation, community connections, and growth for local businesses.
Improvements to Bucklin Hill Road and Bridge changed that. Two additional travel lanes eliminated congestion while new bike lanes and facilities were added where there had been none. Widened sidewalks and new trail connections added to new active transportation opportunities for the community. Extensive public outreach, including the “Scout Your Route” campaign to keep the public informed of closures, minimized disruption while reducing construction duration. These improvements had a direct, broad impact on all community members, including residents at senior living facilities in the area that now benefit from greater accessibility to their local businesses.
Large Arterials and Highways
Large arterials and highways are critical for regional mobility, commerce, and overarching economic development. Linking rural and urban areas, these roadways provide communities of all sizes access to important resources like employment and healthcare in metropolitan centers, while supporting the social and cultural networks between different areas. The scale of large highway upgrades can lead to wider improvements to transit-oriented development that diversify modes of transportation and maximize project value.
These roadways often present unique engineering challenges and draw from multiple funding sources, requiring close coordination with agencies to ensure regulatory compliance. As long-term, high-visibility projects, managing timelines and minimizing construction impacts is essential to minimizing disruptions that, at this scale, can be especially costly. This includes effectively communicating project updates with the surrounding community through informational websites, local representatives, and other channels to provide clarity and achieve buy-in.
Salem, OR Supports Rapid Growth and Underserved Areas
In a historically underserved area of Salem, Oregon, where 36% of parcels are underutilized, the McGilchrist Complete Street Project is designed to enhance business development, job creation, and multimodal transportation options for members of the community. It’s part of a 20-year vision for economic growth as well as transportation safety and environmental sustainability.
Considering the large and lasting impact of this work on the community, it was imperative to include them. Extensive stakeholder engagement went above and beyond, working directly with property owners, businesses, and local agencies to ensure the project addressed real community needs. These efforts led to the incorporation of refinements such as the protected cycle track and intersection realignments.
Based on feedback from public outreach, 74% of the corridor features protected bike lanes and new sidewalks. The design aims to significantly improve pedestrian accessibility while minimizing pedestrian-vehicle conflicts, resulting in fewer severe crashes and lives lost. The inclusion of $15 million of stormwater infrastructure upgrades also means this work plays a critical role in not only reducing future flooding for the community but improving habitat for fish.
Making the Complete Connection
Roadways are essential to creating vibrant, connected, and equitable communities. Because of their widespread impact, roadway projects of any size involve a diverse set of considerations to ensure that impact is comprehensive and long lasting. Through thoughtful planning, collaboration, and public engagement, Otak’s multidisciplinary teams take a cohesive approach to designing more connected communities that address current and future needs.
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?
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?
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?
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.
With a unique approach that blends historic renovation with new construction into a cohesive structure, the Buckley adds mixed-use space and affordable housing to the growing outer Southeast District of Portland, Oregon. In leading the design, Otak incorporated elements from the original structure while expanding its space and access to light rail, contributing to the city’s broader goals for transit oriented development.
Adaptive Reuse Adds a Unique Mixed-Use Building to a Growing Urban Environment
The adaptive reuse design of the Lents Building incorporates three, two-story loft units, trusses, artwork, and other features into its character that date back to 1913 while also adding a new structure that replaces an adjacent parking lot. The renovation of the historic building required creative problem solving (including a structural brace frame) to maintain and enhance the original architectural character of the Lents Neighborhood while also incorporating modern design elements. With five floors, the building adds 47 residential units that meet average median income (AMI) requirements and a ground floor with commercial space. The complete design also includes a community room and a green roof that improves heat absorption and water runoff. Despite a tight site, the design maintains an active streetscape and setback that’s fully integrated with its urban setting.
To enhance the visitor experience and create future stewards of Yellowstone National Park, this much-needed restoration made improvements to the deteriorating north and south rim trails and overlooks, which wrap the Canyon Rim from Inspiration Point to Artist Point.
Restoring Historic National Park Features and Enhancing Visitor Experiences
The multi-phase project included design of a new trail system and overlooks as well as the rehabilitation of historic elements at Inspiration Point. In enhancing the Canyon Rim Trail system, the design also created new trails, overlooks, and parking improvements at the Brink of the Upper Falls and Uncle Tom’s Point. The design materials and features reflect the rustic design style synonymous with Yellowstone National Park. Design solutions include re-routing trails away from dangerous areas and installing stone and boulder barriers; connecting historic overlooks with new walkways; creating safe, accessible viewing areas with new wayfinding and informational signage; constructing new visitor pavilions and kiosks with peeled logs and stone masonry columns; and using natural materials to integrate the infrastructure into the spires and canyon cliffs.
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
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
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!
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.
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.
In today’s rapidly evolving world, where convenience and speed often reign supreme, a quiet revolution is taking place on our streets and sidewalks. The growing popularity of non-motorized transportation, often referred to as “active transportation,” is reshaping our communities and our lives in profound ways. From bustling metropolises to quaint suburban neighborhoods, designers, planners, and entire communities are increasingly realizing the benefits of walking and rolling. In doing so, they are transforming the way we think about transportation, health, and urban planning.
In this piece we’ll examine how active transportation is playing a key role in designing healthier communities while improving connectivity, sustainability, and economic growth.
Active transportation encompasses any mode of travel that involves human propulsion – walking, cycling, skateboarding, and similar forms of mobility. It’s the human-powered movement that breathes life into our streets and invites interaction within communities in developing the public right-of-way. The benefits of active transportation extend beyond mere personal fitness; it nurtures a culture of connection and vibrancy within our towns and cities.
This movement aligns seamlessly with the philosophy of multimodal transportation and complete streets design. It recognizes the importance of accommodating a diverse range of travel choices, ensuring that our roads and paths are welcoming to pedestrians, cyclists, and users of all abilities.
Active Transportation Benefits to Public Health
Amid the pressing concerns of our modern world is the growing public health crisis of obesity, due in large part to increasingly sedentary lifestyles. According to the World Health Organization, people who are insufficiently active have a 20%-30% increased risk of death from a variety of causes.
The reality that two-thirds of adults in the United States are overweight or obese underscores the urgency of reimagining our transportation landscape. Active transportation emerges as one solution to a variety of ills surrounding both public health and the transportation, offering a practical solution that naturally infuses physical activity into daily routines.
What’s more, the significance of the movement encouraged by active transportation extends beyond individual well-being. Unhealthier communities place strain on healthcare systems and exact emotional costs from reduced quality of life. By embracing active transportation, we can collectively counteract these social costs, cultivating a society that prioritizes well-being and reaps the rewards of healthier, more fulfilled citizens.
Reducing Congestion and Transportation Climate Impact
As cities continue to expand, transportation-related congestion poses significant challenges. It’s also no secret that the transportation sector contributes significantly – approximately 45% of total emissions in the U.S. – to air pollution. The correlation between these issues and increased motorized traffic is irrefutable.
In an industry aiming to reduce climate impact while also improving connectivity, active transportation serves as a powerful remedy to both problems. By design, the approach is offering emission-free travel options that mitigate environmental strain and alleviating congestion in urban centers simultaneously.
Creating Safer, More Plentiful Commute Options
Reducing congestion has benefits that extend beyond sustainable design alone. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) people are driving less while biking and walking more. At the same time, pedestrian and cyclist fatalities have also increased, further emphasizing the importance of active transportation design that naturally creates safer pedestrian right of way.
Access to reliable, equitable transportation is the lifeblood of thriving communities. Active transportation plays a pivotal role in shaping our neighborhoods by offering safer and more plentiful commute options. This is especially significant for lower-income individuals who may lack direct access to public transit or personal vehicles.
Intentional design that integrates active transportation into urban design is paramount to diverse, viable commute options. Carefully planned infrastructure ensures that pedestrians and cyclists are shielded from motorized traffic, promoting safety and fostering a culture of shared road space. This approach also contributes to more accessible, ADA-compliant communities where everyone can move with ease and dignity.
Active transportation isn’t just a health booster; it’s also a catalyst for economic growth. With greater connectivity comes not only greater access to necessary services and employment opportunities, but also local businesses. The link between healthier communities and economic prosperity is undeniable. Areas with enhanced pedestrian and bicycle facilities often see increased property values and vibrant local businesses, creating a cycle of improvement and investment.
Property and Business Value
From increasing retail visibility to raising real estate value, the economic impact of active transportation on a community can take many forms. Studies across various U.S. cities by the Urban Land Institute find houses located in areas with above-average walkability or bikeability are worth up to $34,000 more than similar homes in areas where those features are average. As for businesses, people who arrive by bicycle have been shown to spend more overall while making more frequent visits.
Funding and Resource Efficiency
Aside from the economic benefits to the surrounding community, advantages also extend to the feasibility of the project itself. Active transportation infrastructure diminishes the need for constant road expansions to accommodate heavy traffic and roadway repairs that come with time and influx in population. This cost-saving measure frees up resources for other community enhancements, reinforcing the attractiveness of these areas to residents, businesses, and investors.
In fact, many existing roadways are repurposed and converted to accommodate multi-use travel. With that approach, active routes can be swiftly implemented using a modest investment in curbing, traffic paint and signs, and landscaping.
Barriers to getting active transportation projects off the ground can also be reduced from a financial standpoint. Funding and grants for active transportation projects are easier to secure due to their inherent value to the community and the positive impact on pedestrian safety.
Types of Active Transportation
Active transportation comes in various forms, each with its own set of benefits and design considerations. From walking to biking, these modes of mobility interact with different facets of community life, ranging from leisure to essential transportation. Accessibility and ADA compliance remain vital in ensuring that all members of the community can participate.
Wayfinding – the art of providing clear signage to guide users – also plays a critical role in successful active transportation design. By helping people navigate these routes efficiently, we encourage broader adoption of non-motorized transportation.
Walking Transportation and Pedestrian Infrastructure
Walking is the most fundamental form of active transportation, and its role in urban planning cannot be overstated. Walkability contributes to the vitality of neighborhoods, enabling residents and visitors to engage with their environment, access essential services, and enjoy leisurely strolls.
Pedestrian infrastructure is central to this vision, ensuring safe and appealing walkways. Investments in pedestrian bridges, designed to link key areas of a community, further underscore the commitment to providing accessible and enjoyable pedestrian experiences.
Bicycle infrastructure takes active transportation to new horizons, extending the reach of human-powered travel. Protected bike lanes, cycle tracks, and shared roadways carve out safe spaces for cyclists, allowing them to navigate through urban landscapes with confidence. Protected intersections further enhance safety, ensuring that cyclists can navigate intersections without fear.
The rising prominence of active transportation symbolizes a transformative shift in the way we move and live. This movement isn’t just about physical health; it’s about nurturing communities that are vibrant, connected, and sustainable. By embracing active transportation, we invest in our well-being, our environment, and our future. As we pedal, stroll, and roll towards healthier, more equitable communities, we pave the way for a brighter tomorrow.
The concept of multi-use paths embodies inclusivity and adaptability. Such paths cater to various user groups, accommodating activities from scooting to dog walking. Thoughtful design accounts for different forms of transportation and future traffic considerations, such as the burgeoning popularity of electric bicycles. There are also a variety of surface types to consider that offer their own unique benefits for different types of users. In designing multi-use paths, it’s a delicate balance between user comfort, safety, and accessibility remains paramount in crafting these versatile pathways.
Beyond the urban landscape, trails carve a path to healthy recreation and appreciation of nature. They also offer another key option for people to seek out regular exercise. Sustainable trail design minimizes maintenance while accommodating diverse user groups and minimizing conflicts. Trails beckon people outdoors, nurturing a deeper connection to the environment and fostering a shared sense of stewardship.
Merging Transportation Design with Community Growth
Whether it be an urban corridor or rural open space, community growth takes shape in a variety of ways. More than just addressing population growth or fixing infrastructure, it’s about ultimately designing communities for both the present and future From project goals of supporting future economic development, to incorporating multimodal design, our multidisciplinary expertise allows for a comprehensive approach to achieving what matters most, improving the lives of the people who call that place home.
Take a closer look at our transportation engineering practice and learn more about how sustainability, accessibility, and mobility come together to create greater community connectivity.
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Graphic showing the playground concept and features that make up the design theme for Elizabeth Austin Playground.
