Sarah Oaks and Doug Garland embody the group’s strong trajectory of growth as they take on new leadership roles with Otak CPM.
We’re happy to announce the recent promotions of Sarah Oaks and Doug Garland to the new director and practice area leader for the company’s comprehensive project management team (Otak CPM).
No strangers to the firm, Sarah and Doug have been a part of Otak since the acquisition of DAY CPM in 2017. In that time, they’ve appreciated the expanded opportunities to collaborate with other Otak disciplines and grow alongside leaders on the team. Leveraging these multidisciplinary experiences, they aim to drive growth and best practices as owners’ representatives and client advisors across the public and private market sectors.
COO Scott Dreher has enjoyed working with Sarah since she joined the firm, sharing: “Sarah has been instrumental in managing operations for CPM over the past four years. Watching her build and empower a strong team has been a pleasure. With Sarah at the helm, the future looks incredibly promising.
Sarah joined the organization in 2016 as a project manager supporting the Tigard-Tualatin School District bond. Since that time, she has risen through the organization while advancing her operational and leadership responsibilities from the program to business unit level. Over the last four years, Sarah has served Otak CPM in a leadership capacity to support business operations and individual project teams, first as operations manager and then as business unit leader. Some notable contributions include helping spearhead the team’s “Development Advisor” mentorship program while championing best practices, operational procedures, and other team development investments.
“We’re on the precipice of new growth and always seeking better ways to serve our clients. It’s a privilege to be able to collaborate with my team and identify the best practices and solutions that we’re bringing to our clients and share them across not only our division but the company.”
– Sarah Oaks, Director of Otak CPM
As Otak CPM grows, Sarah is excited to accelerate what the team has already started. Building on their recent work establishing career pathways, she is focused on the legacy plan for her group and their capacity to provide exceptional service to clients. With the goal of connecting team members with opportunities, Sarah aims to develop and advance careers in alignment with individual skills and passions to form great teams attuned to clients’ needs.
Doug has been with Otak CPM for the past 13 years, where he has applied more than 22 years of his construction industry knowledge to the oversight of many critical projects in a variety of both public and private markets. From iconic courthouses, hospitals, first responder facilities, higher education projects, to industrial manufacturing – Doug showcases an ability to tackle complexity by guiding a wide range of projects to completion.
Scott also shares confidence in Doug’s appointment, stating that “Doug has been pivotal to the success of our CPM group. He brings a comprehensive skill set, from technical expertise to business development and team building.”
In his new position, Doug is particularly excited about the ability to bring the project management side of the business to other groups so they can focus on the engineering and design work they love. With best practices and innovative solutions, he aims to expand collaboration between Otak’s practice area and business unit leaders to provide the best possible client experience across the company.
“The great thing about Otak CPM is the culture of inclusion and collaboration that each employee brings to the team. As we look to the future it is this culture of excellence that will help us achieve our goals together.”
– Doug Garland, Practice Area Leader of Otak CPM
With the development of Otak leadership comes the opportunity for teams to build on the success of one another. Sarah and Doug are looking forward to working across Otak’s disciplines to find overlapping strategies that strengthen Otak as a firm. Backed by a strong team, Otak CPM represents an incredibly diverse group of leaders with traits that uniquely position them to relate to clients and speak their language. With an entrepreneurial spirit and talented leadership, the team has the momentum and expertise to serve the wide range of clients that are essential to growing the practice and the company.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Art Rutkin Elementary School: Tigard Tualatin School Bond Program
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
We’re happy to announce the appointment of multiple key leadership roles in our Colorado offices. With new and familiar faces, these individuals will focus on advancing our structural and transportation work as well as the multidisciplinary practice as a whole.
“We’re thrilled to enter this new phase of growth in Colorado. Under the guidance of three outstanding leaders, Otak will continue to expand, innovate, and excel in the Colorado market by delivering exceptional client service.”
With over 30 years of experience, Henry Alaman is a seasoned professional with demonstrated expertise in organizational development, leadership, project management, and business development. Celebrating four years with Otak, Henry has played a pivotal role in the growth and success of the firm’s Project Management and Construction Management (PMCM) division. He has been instrumental in leading key initiatives such as recruitment, onboarding optimization, training programs, and incentive implementations, which have contributed to Otak’s ability to recruit and retain top talent in the industry.
In his own words, Henry expresses gratitude for the support from his colleagues at Otak, stating, “It’s been a humbling experience to be surrounded and supported by such a talented and engaged staff. They have been the collaborative driving force in the progress we’ve made.”
Todd Kelley, Bridges & Structures Business Unit Leader
Bringing fresh eyes and ideas to Otak’s bridges and structures group, Todd has over 17 years of experience in structural engineering design, including: railroad bridges, highway bridges, industrial structures, bridge inspections, and ratings.
With strong analytical and communication skills, his background also includes project and staff management. Todd received his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a Master of Science in Structural Engineering from the Southern Illinois University. He is a licensed professional engineer in Colorado, Missouri, Washington, Idaho, and California, and a licensed structural engineer in Illinois. Prior to joining Otak, Todd worked for American Rail Engineers in Denver, as General Director of Bridge Design.
Todd expresses his excitement to lead at Otak: “In taking this opportunity at Otak, I was drawn to the experienced people and exciting projects. I’ve found my team to be technically savvy, providing a great foundation for the growth of our group. With plenty of diverse and unique structures, Otak’s approach to projects fits my experience – and where I’d like it to go – perfectly.”
Kevin Dooley, Transportation & Infrastructure Business Unit Leader
Kevin has been with Otak’s Louisville office since 2017 as Transportation Project Manager, contributing his talents to much of the region’s major transportation work including: City of Boulder’s 30th & Colorado Underpass, City of Aspen’s Paepcke Transit Hub, Eagle County’s Eagle Valley Trail, City of Longmont’s Coffman Street Mobility Improvements, and the SH119 (Diagonal) Reconstruction project.
Confirming his confidence in the regional team, Kevin shares, “We currently have the best group of T&I staff that I have seen in my time here. From mentorship and training to the work itself, everyone is already adept at working together very well. This has us set up to provide opportunities for everyone to grow professionally while taking on new technical and managerial challenges.”
Building on more than 17 years of civil engineering experience, including the design and management of complex transportation and civil improvement projects, Kevin’s expertise spans roadway and trail design, drainage, and utility design of local agencies and federally funded projects. His field experience gives him valuable insight into the complete project delivery cycle and his hands-on approach to management and design ensures that projects will have an accurate and reliable set of construction documents. Kevin also participates in Otak’s sustainability leadership group, assisting with green initiatives in the company’s practice areas and training.
“The Colorado Region leadership has never been as strong and engaged as the team we have in place now… Their focus on client care, high quality, timely service delivery, solving for our clients, and mentorship skills makes me confident in their ability to develop the best team possible in our market.”
– Scott Dreher, COO of Otak
Otak is excited to continue generating momentum for our work in the Rocky Mountain region with the addition and promotion of top talent. The company is eager to see Henry, Todd, and Kevin thrive as leaders and develop project work and partnerships with key regional clients.
Field Notes is a recurring series where impactful aspects of projects are brought into focus from the field, along with the people who make it possible.
There’s something special about transportation projects and the impact connectivity can have on a community. With greater connectivity comes greater access to healthier lifestyles, vital resources, and a wider range of opportunities. For public transit and infrastructure, this is especially true.
The Sound Transit East Link Extension project, which is designed to expand the light rail connection between Seattle, WA and its surrounding area, certainly fits this notion. As an analyst within our project controls group, our team has had the opportunity to bring efficiencies through tools and data to the development of this unique public asset.
I was honored to also have an opportunity to visit the project site itself, which I’d spent the last few years of my life working on from afar. What I found in this one-of-a-kind rail transport that features a floating bridge only reinforced my view of this feat of engineering, and my pride in being part of it bringing value to the community it aims to service.
Adreanna on-site at the Sound Transit East Link Extension.
The light rail has a combination of Direct-Fixation Tracks and Ballasted Tracks through the tunnels. Furthering the unique design of the 14-mile run connecting Seattle, Mercer Island, Bellevue and Redmond.
Welcome to Judkins Park Station: Through the Eyes of An Engineer
Judkins Park Station (or JPS), located on 23rd Ave S, in the center of I-90, is one of the stations within the E130 scope and one of ten under construction within the 14-mile Eastlink Extension.
The access to this station allows the community to commute from Seattle to South Bellevue via light rail. JPS is right across the street from the Northwest Jimi Hendrix Park and is designed for people to walk, bike, or bus directly to the station!
Experiencing the East Link Light Rail
The Light Rail runs from the International District in Seattle, through Mount Baker Tunnel, to Mercer Island and concludes at Redmond. The Eastlink Extension creates yet another way for folks to commute without leaving behind a carbon imprint on our environment. The station itself is beautiful, and has a special flow of artwork and intentional landscaping throughout.
A Unique Design to Connect Communities
In the eye of an engineer, the project as a whole is a tangible form of beauty. The I-90 bridge is made up of several pontoons with a density less than water, allowing them to literally float! As astonishing as that may be, the bridge carries large volumes of traffic flow daily and will soon be carrying the additional weight of the light speed rail.
One of the most fascinating pieces of this experience is that the design of the light speed rail had to account for the water displacement caused by the weight of the materials and equipment required to build the tracks for the light speed rail. Additionally, the design had to account for the respective impacts on the bridge itself prior to construction.
One of the many things that make Judkins Park Station special is the artwork found throughout the station.
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!
For something as inherently valuable as education, the means for updating its facilities are often less than straightforward.
The process for improving education community assets often relies on many steps over a complex timeline that involves a variety of different stakeholders. Education professionals typically maintain full schedules in keeping their schools functioning as well as possible. With so many complex and moving parts, many organizations benefit from partnering with a bond program manager with the technical expertise to ensure a bond management process runs smoothly alongside typical operations.
In this piece, we’ll examine the elements of a successful school bond program and the role of an owner’s representative, or bond program manager plays in supporting the client.
A school bond program is a form of financing for capital construction projects that many communities rely on for improving their facilities. The projects that comprise a bond program can range from new construction or facilities renovation to addressing deferred maintenance. The cost for these often exceeds typical operating budgets so additional funds are sought from voters in general elections.
Falling into the category of general obligation (GO) bonds, school bonds are generally funded by leveraging property taxes, proposed during general elections. Beyond just improving the built environment for students, teachers, and the community – or in supporting the longevity of an asset – to pass bonds school districts must be thoughtful and strategic about the needs and interests of their community and appeal to those voters.
Bonds may focus on life, fire, safety, and ADA concerns. Some will also address more targeted goals like seismic improvements, pedagogy, or curriculum advancements such as career-technical education facilities. At their heart, bond programs and their passage are an expression of public trust by taxpayers.
Use of bond funds is also subject to financial management and procurement requirements established by state and local municipalities. In many states, additional grants and “match” funding are also available to help taxpayer dollars go farther to support education.
No two school bond programs are the same. Some bonds may be focused on one or a few projects, while others may touch every school within the district’s portfolio. Depending on the size and complexity, a bond may be conceived with multiple projects, budgets, and project teams. It may involve multi-phasing to prepare interim facilities and swing spaces ahead of final projects.
To account for this variety and unanticipated conditions that can arise during construction, successful program management requires experience in facilities, design, educational paradigms, administration, all phases of construction project management, managing multiple levels of stakeholders, team leadership, and community relations.
How are Bond Programs Similar?
With unique goals and requirements, each school bond program will require processes tailored to their specifications. However, there are a number of key elements that are common denominators with any successful program.
A priority for any school bond program is maximizing the impact of locally approved funding by preserving as much money as possible for the projects themselves.
Part of this effort may involve minimizing overhead, but it’s important to consider the big picture as the greatest savings are found in efficiencies throughout the process. For example, a 1–3% upfront investment in pre-planning work can result in much lower costs over the full lifecycle of the project. This is one area where a program manager can have the most value.
In pre-planning, a school district may have identified immediate and long-range needs, but determining the best solutions to meet district needs can be guided and facilitated by the program manager.
A crucial step for any school bond program is often one of the first. In selecting a project – and even prior to it – extensive planning begins with the identification of long-range district goals. This process can include focused due diligence such as facility assessments and enrollment forecasting needs (over at least 10 years), and eventually lead to project selection itself. Without these steps, projects may be compromised by short-sightedness or even subject to future rework if they are not considered in the context of a larger plan.
According to a study by Autodesk, poor schedule management is cited by 68% of project trades as the main cause of decline in worker productivity. Experience in construction management and front-end planning of a bond’s budget, scope, and timeframe components can help design the best execution strategy that maximizes approved funding impact. With this breadth of experience and knowledge, a bond program manager will be able to provide cost projections and cost-benefit analyses for potential project scenarios, and advising as such when a District is determining whether to renovate and upgrade existing facilities or initiate new construction.
In this stage of the school bond program, standardizing processes also provides the opportunity to bring together key project players and establish consensus in planning. Clear expectations for input and decision making need to be established to secure trust with these stakeholders so they can constructively engage in the design/construction process. From public engagement stakeholders and consultants to bond counsel and legal representation, coordination between the complete team early on can be an essential step in collecting necessary information to help inform project scope.
While establishing internal planning for anticipated projects is essential, they will not move forward without determining what the tax base will support. Knowing what taxpayers in the district can afford and what they value or view as necessary is key. To answer these questions, studies and polling can help tailor the dollar amount and scope of work before being put out for a vote. In-person meetings where community groups are represented can be essential engagement tools to connect with potential community champions and identify any initial dissenting opinions. Educating the public about bond goals and outcomes to garner support is also an essential investment.
After the bond’s passage, the real work begins to engage the many stakeholders invested in the success of a project including students/teachers/school-based staff, district personnel, and the partners/community members that may also use the facilities.
With a high level of scrutiny on expenditure of bond funds, districts should consider establishing an external oversight committee to observe the process. Typically comprised of interested community members, a bond manager will support the selection and engagement of the oversight committee to identify potential expertise that may be useful for supporting the bond and preparing reporting and presentations for their review across the bond’s duration.
At the end of the day, voters will want to know why a bond is needed: does it provide the best solution; what will it cost; can they afford it; and how will life continue in the meantime? To answers these questions and gain taxpayer support, a bond campaign will need to be outlined and implemented.
Strong Execution – Project Delivery, Documentation and Reporting
At the core of any successful school bond program is execution and delivery. While that may seem obvious, the path to effectively managing these steps is often anything but. Research of construction planning efficiency and delivery times by Wrike found that project planners typically have only a 58% accuracy rate when predicting delivery dates. These inconsistencies can have major impacts on staff, operations, and even student safety. In keeping complex school bond processes on track, documentation and reporting is key.
From start to finish, workflows and protocols are essential to facilitating review, approvals, and overall decision making. From augmenting project management resources at the outset of a project to setting consistent system specifications for maintenance following project completion, the establishment of strong document control and management systems helps ensure nothing slips through the cracks. The ability to quickly reference and produce consistent records also streamlines what can be complex legal processes.
When it comes to capital improvement projects, managing public contracts within a school bond requires an understanding of public procurement laws as they pertain to architectural design, engineering, construction, and consulting contracts. Contracts in the public sector are more complicated than the private sector and tend to have higher levels of scrutiny and oversight—every expenditure requires public justification. Ultimately, strong documentation and reporting in the school bond process prepares stakeholders throughout project delivery to help ensure staff needs are met and the safety of students is prioritized.
Setting Transition, Turnover and Community Use Expectations
While it’s easy to get swept away in the planning, engagement, and execution of school facility improvements, it’s important to remember that while the project itself is underway, life goes on. An important factor that is often, but should not be, overlooked is how people and programs are transitioned. This is because, as all educators are aware: the kids come back.
“We have seen projects come to completion, the owner moves in, and then it takes another 18 months before they know how to operate the building.”
– Henry Alaman, Otak Senior VP
Eighteen months is not atypical in a complex new facility where the existing facilities employees are not familiar with the new technology, systems, or equipment. To ensure the transition is seamless, all staff should receive the tools and training necessary to operate the building. Additionally, documents (drawings, plans, manuals, etc.) should be provided and stored electronically so they can be easily accessed.
Even the most well-established timelines and plans need to be prepared for unforeseen challenges. As a project progresses, the need to adapt is often inevitable. The ability to anticipate these challenges and quickly resolve them in the form of change management also becomes an important factor where the experience of an owner’s representative can prove invaluable.
Taking a Multidisciplinary Approach to Augmenting the Bond Process
Delivering a school bond, no matter the scale, is a complex process and a program manager isn’t successful without operating in an owner’s representative capacity. The ability to coalesce diverse sets of expertise from different team members and align them with individual client goals is essential to bringing the work and the promises made to the community to fruition.
As a multi-disciplinary firm, Otak provides a unique combination of program, bond, and construction management expertise, as well as knowledge and understanding of public procurement laws governing bond spending, local industry, and market knowledge. Our firm has proudly worked with many urban and rural school districts in bond development and delivery. Check out some of that work below!
The Portland Building is a 15-story high-rise occupied by City of Portland bureaus. As an internationally renowned architectural example of Post-Modernism designed by Michael Graves, the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Constructed in 1982 as a design-bid-build project, the building had developed problems with its structure, exterior, and operational systems that repairs alone could not address. As part of the city project management team, Otak worked directly with the designer (DLR Group) and contractor (Howard S. Wright), utilizing a progressive design build delivery method, to develop the award-winning project along established requirements including budget, schedule, structural upgrades, MEP system replacement, and resolving water infiltration issues.
A First of its Kind, Progressive Design Build
The City of Portland initiated a $195 million project to reconstruct the building, making it the city’s largest capital project and an unprecedented use of a progressive design build as a delivery method. Addressed building envelope issues, the project covers the concrete façade with a unitized curtain wall and terracotta rain screen tiles that eliminated leaking while preserving its historic status and appearance. The restored façade also greatly improved the poor natural lighting which, combined with a full interior remodel, drastically transformed the building’s working environment. The team also organized the temporary relocation of all city staff – more than 1200 people – to ensure that the city maintained normal operations throughout the project. To prepare the staff to return to the building, employees were engaged in a comprehensive change management process, including virtual reality simulations, extensive mock-ups and providing 3D walkthroughs of the new workspace before construction. Along with seismic upgrades and system replacements, the building also exceeded its original sustainability goal of LEED Gold standards and achieve LEED Platinum Certification. In addition, the Portland Building is targeting WELL certification, a first in the Pacific Northwest. The progressive design build delivery method resulted in the project being completed significantly under budget and one year ahead of schedule.
Critical infrastructure updates and subsequent restoration of the surrounding floodplain eliminate county road flooding and improve safety for non-motorized traffic along the lower reach of the Big Quilcene River. A new bridge along with levee removal / relocation are part of a design emphasizing a number of habitat enhancement features. Otak completed baseline environmental documentation to support permit submittals for construction, led the road and bridge design, and supported the riverscape restoration design through detailed geomorphic, sediment transport, and hydraulic analyses.
Updating Critical Infrastructure while Reconnecting a Floodplain
In close collaboration with associated stakeholders, including the Hood Canal Enhancement Group and the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, a design focused on integrated floodplain protection replaces an 80-foot-long bridge with a 1,040-foot-long floodplain-spanning bridge. For a channel that had been historically leveed, the Linger Longer Road bridge replacement and associated riverscape restoration allows more area for the floodplain to occupy, decreases sediment impacts to Quilcene Bay shellfish beds, and re-establishes a highly-productive corridor for salmon habitat. The features also improve recreational access to fishing, exploring, and wildlife observation.
Skills in the AEC industry are among some of the most technical in the American workforce, and fostering those abilities in the next generation of professionals is critical to the future of our built environment. Future designers need to have the tools to learn practically and grow organically so they are equipped for success when it comes time to earn their license.
Internships are among the best ways Otak can provide our expertise as a learning experience – empowering young people looking to break into design with real world know-how, so they feel not only confident in their passion but also determined to make their mark on the world and how we experience it. This is what’s at the core of our Summer Internship Program.
In this piece, we delve into the heart of Otak’s Internship Program to explore what it is, its unique offerings, and hear directly from current and past interns about the impact it’s made on emerging professionals from across our offices!
Laying the Foundation
The Summer Internship Program at Otak serves as the launchpad for those seeking to pursue a career in the fields of engineering, architecture, and design in the marketing, planning, and construction project management sectors. As part of a greater industry practice, the program aims to create consistency of experience for interns, regardless of their individual backgrounds or interests. It embraces each intern wherever they are in their journey, providing a wealth of knowledge and skills that lay the foundations for a successful career for years to come.
An effort that evolved across Otak’s various departments over the last two years, the goal of the program became to nurture a pipeline of talent. The decision was made to structure the program around a “One Otak” approach to nurturing talent that would be consistent across our practice areas.
Our interns are able to get out in the field as soon as they can – contributing directly to problem solving on the project site while building real-world skills for their future careers.
Meet Our Summer Interns!
With a total of eight interns for the summer – we’re sharing perspectives on their experiences so far and what makes their early work meaningful to them:
Thomas is a student at the University of Colorado – Boulder, pursuing his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering with a minor in Business. He has skills in Civil 3D and coding in C++ and Java, along with a CSWA Solidworks certification in Mechanical Design. In addition to his civil engineering background, Thomas also has experience working as a soccer referee for the U.S. Soccer Federation.
“The most interesting thing I’ve worked on is a project for a multi-use trail in Aspen that had many interesting features. It was cool to see how certain obstacles were overcome to create an impactful project that will benefit the residents of Aspen.”
Javier Buenrostro, Marketing (Portland)
Javier is a marketing student at the University of Portland. He has experience in a variety of different industries including healthcare and retail. He is skilled in Adobe suite, Canva, and Microsoft office. Javier has worked on projects that span brand identity design, product development, and UX design, enhancing user experiences and optimizing product functionality. Additional experience includes working on marketing campaigns to draw brand/product awareness and achieve business objectives.
“The most interesting thing I’ve had the opportunity to work on was the Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs (OAME) conference. It was an incredibly rewarding experience as I got to attend and represent Otak. What made it so special was the cause of inclusion it supported, which I deeply resonate with.”
Davis is an Architectural Engineering student at Oregon State University pursuing a bachelor’s degree. He has an interest in design and construction. He has experience using software including Microsoft Office, AutoCAD and Bluebeam Revu. He has a passion for math and problem solving that has led him to choose engineering as a career path.
“I got to observe the process of a modular getting delivered to an elementary school which is simply just a portable classroom. I thought it was so neat because they have to make a pre-built foundation for the modular, and from there they have to connect all of the electrical and plumbing lines back to the school’s main building.”
Chiara is a student at Oregon State University pursing an Architectural Engineering Bachelor’s degree. She is a current member of the Oregon Army National Guard. Chiara is an effective communicator and has held several leadership positions in the military for BCT and AIT. She has experience working for Linn County Road Department helping in county road marking and sign fabrication.
Isaac is a student at Oregon State University pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. He is skilled in technical writing, computer-aided design and structural analysis program. Isaac has experience tutoring various disciplines including writing, engineering classes, and college access programs. He became interested in Otak when he learned about the company’s sustainable and equitable practices in structural design which deeply resonated with him.
“The most interesting thing I have gotten to work on so far is the Clark County Railroad Bridge repair project. It has been interesting getting to inspect the bridge and help out with wetland delineation.”
Samantha is a student at the University of Washington, Seattle, working on her Master of Urban Planning. Samantha has experience in planning research, data entry, code compliance, and editing agenda reports. She is skilled in QGIS, quantitative and qualitative research, and Adobe Illustrator.
Brendan earned his Bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies from Boise State University and is currently pursuing a Master of Urban Planning at The University of Washington, Seattle. Brendan has skills in Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Illustrator, and GIS programs including arcMap, and ArcGIS Pro. He has previous GIS and planning intern experience which allowed to work on LiMAr maps, mapbooks, contourmaps, and reviewing land use permits.
“The most interesting project that I’ve been a part of has been our partnership with the City of SeaTac to hold public engagement meetings about updates and changes to their Airport City Center District plan. I’ve been able to tackle all manner of tasks which are making me use a wide variety of skills!”
Alex is a student at the University of Washington, Seattle, pursuing his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. He has skills in the Microsoft Office Suite and AutoCAD. In addition to his civil engineering background, Alex has experience working as a basketball coach for the Home Court of Woodinville.
“The most interesting project I’ve worked on so far is the Redmond Central Connector project – construction is happening right across the road from the office. I got to attend a site meeting where all of the construction entities met to discuss some construction challenges and I appreciated getting to witness how so many groups collaborate to solve problems.“
Guidance and Multidisciplinary Exposure
One of the program’s unique strengths lies in its emphasis on mentorship. Unlike typical internships where supervisors may serve as mentors, Otak offers a totally holistic guidance system where interns are paired with experienced professionals from different practice areas. This multidisciplinary approach is facilitated by Otak’s size and structure, allowing interns to gain diverse exposure and discover their true passions through experimentation and hands-on experiences.
Throughout the internship, Otak strives to give its interns the best possible experience. Leaders from various practice areas present to interns regularly, offering career guidance, self-development opportunities, and professional brand-building insights – ensuring that each intern is equipped with the necessary tools to thrive in their chosen craft.
The Unique Otak Experience
Otak’s Internship Program differentiator lies in its two key factors – the immersive expertise sessions offered to interns, and interdisciplinary mentorship from the diverse skillsets of our team. The expertise session structure allows interns to engage in a number of meetings culminating in a presentation of their own, fostering connections with various groups and initiatives within the firm and among themselves. Just recently the interns were welcomed to Otak by our Interim CEO, Scott Dreher, and are slated to meet with members of our Transportation and Infrastructure teams, our Water and Natural Resources teams, and our Planning and Landscape team in the coming weeks.
Interns are encouraged to bounce ideas off each other and contribute to discussions where everyone gets a seat at the table. Simultaneously, mentorship from seasoned leaders provides interns with a more comprehensive professional development experience, supplementing their direct supervision with the tools to be leaders early on in their careers.
Want to Learn More?
Are you a young and aspiring designer seeking to take your first steps into the world of engineering and architecture? Are you exploring what you want to specialize in for your career? Otak is continuing our internship programming beyond our summer series and is always on the look-out for interested candidates.
If you’re ready to take your first step towards a rewarding career in engineering, architecture, design, or one of our many other practice areas, Otak’s Internship Program is where you belong. Keep track of our openings and follow us on social to keep an eye out for the opportunity to apply. A conversation with Brooke Henderson or Susan Dull on our talent acquisition team could lead to joining a team of talented interns who have already begun their transformative journey with us. Come unleash your potential to improve the built environment!
It’s official! Our partners at Multnomah County Library have broken ground on a state-of-the-art library in East County, promising a dynamic landmark that will transform the community’s access to learning, play, and connection. The groundbreaking ceremony for the impressive project took place on July 12, 2023, showcasing the library’s commitment to innovation and community engagement.
The future East County Library will span an impressive 95,000 square feet, making it comparable in size to Central Library in downtown Portland. The library’s strategic location will provide convenient accessibility for all residents of East County.
Otak’s PM/CM & owner’s representative team, led by Project Manager Mike Day, is proud to have a role in making this project a reality by providing owner’s representative and bond program management services in partnership with Multnomah County library.
The Road to the Perfect Site
The journey to find the ideal site for this ambitious project culminated with the purchase of the former Gresham City Hall Park and Ride (1297 NW Eastman Pkwy, Gresham) from TriMet. The collaborative agreement between Multnomah County Library and TriMet marks the end of years of extensive search efforts, ensuring the library’s placement meets the needs of the community while allowing for future transit-oriented development by TriMet. The City of Gresham will also play a role in shaping the vision for the surrounding civic space.
The groundbreaking ceremony featured Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson, District 4 Commissioner Lori Stegmann, Multnomah County Library Director Vailey Oehlke, Gresham Mayor Travis Stovall, and other key members of the community. Programming also included a land blessing performed by the NARA (Native American Rehabilitation Assoc.) northwest chapter, a local non-profit group. The event celebrated the library’s role as a transformative space – bringing together the diverse population of East County.
Designed by the Community, for the Community
At the heart of the library’s design is community engagement, with insights and dreams from residents of East County driving the vision for the project. Through the Community Library Champions program, members of community organizations like El Programa Hispano Católico and Black Economic Collective worked directly with residents to gather their input and aspirations for the library.
Rendering courtesy of Holst Architecture
Among the exciting features inspired by community input are:
Large Auditorium: The library will house a spacious auditorium with flexible seating, catering to cultural celebrations, lectures, performances, and family programs. This multi-purpose space will be a true asset to East County, providing a venue for events that were previously unavailable in the area.
A Makerspace: A dedicated area will be provided for classes and exploration of various disciplines, from robotics to construction to 3D printing, encouraging hands-on learning and creativity.
Audio Visual Studio: The library will incorporate a top-of-the-line audio visual studio, offering users a professional-grade studio experience within the library’s premises.
Teen Space: With technology, connection, and creativity in mind, the library will feature a sizable teen space, providing an inviting environment for young people to engage with the latest technologies.
Diverse Collections: To reflect the cultural and linguistic diversity of the neighborhood, the library will curate diverse collections that cater to the interests and backgrounds of its patrons.
Dedicated Family Space: The library will prioritize family-centric spaces, offering secure indoor and outdoor play and learning areas for children.
Outdoor Community Space: With an outdoor amphitheater and plaza, the library will become a central gathering place for community members, hosting music, speakers, and other events.
More than a Library
The East County Library project will go beyond providing a physical space for books and information, aiming to enrich lives and foster community connections. The building will be designed with sustainability in mind, pursuing LEED Gold certification, and incorporating eco-friendly elements such as native plants, energy-efficient systems, and the use of recycled and locally sourced materials.
Rendering courtesy of Holst Architecture
“This new library will be beautiful, accessible, and representative of the people of East County. A public library should reflect our highest ideals and aspirations, and we are making that a reality,” said Vailey Oehlke, Director of Libraries.
The library construction process, scheduled to begin in August 2023, is estimated to cost approximately $147 million, with completion anticipated in fall 2025. As the plans for the East County Library take shape, anticipation and excitement are building within the community, marking the beginning of a new era in public libraries for Multnomah County.
For more information on the East County Library project and Multnomah County Library’s initiatives, visit their website at www.multcolib.org.
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