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!
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.
What started as an idea in 2020 of developing a School District’s local career technical education (CTE) program, quickly turned into a more expansive vision as the Sheridan School District set their sights on a building.
The challenging question that confronted Sheridan SD Superintendent Dorie Vickery Ed.D was how to raise the funds for a projected $20M project. Ongoing efforts from SEDCOR (Strategic Economic Development Corporation) whose mission is “Serving Willamette Valley’s most unique and vital industries” generated commitments in various forms from companies such as Hampton Lumber, Tectonics Tuning, Cascade Steel and Forest River manufacturing (a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary).
Looking for additional support, Superintendent Vickery enlisted the aid of Emerald Flash LLC. Led by Brent Nielsen, the group was created from the simple proposition that organizations must combine agility with clarity of purpose. “We are firmly rooted in the concepts of innovation and change management. We work with our clients to help them build a message about their passions, but then we take this further. Our focus is to help organizations create tangible proof of their intent. These proofs of concept often challenge conventional wisdom; they show a different way of doing things.”
Emerald Flash, Superintendent Vickery, and other stakeholders (including the City of Sheridan, the Sheridan Fire Department, and Program Manager Otak) have been working to secure education funding from Local, State and Federal resources. For example, after submitting an initial request to the Oregon Budget Committee for $1.9 million from the Oregon Lottery, funding came through six months later to support the building’s purchase. The school district also received additional funding from other sources including a CTE revitalization grant, Yamhill County ARPA funds, and $500,000 from the Omnibus.
Four months after receiving funding, purchase of the 24,000 square-foot facility was complete. The facility, named after former Oregon Governor Barbara Roberts, is set to be the centerpiece of developing Sheridan School District’s CTE program, which aims to cultivate local talent and opportunities for students.
What is The Barbara Roberts CTE Center?
In 2021 Sheridan School District began creating CTE pathways with the vision of experiential classes and hand-on training opportunities that are open to high school students in Sheridan and surrounding districts. The development of a collaborative, regional CTE program will encourage more students to see the connection between their education and their future while cultivating pride in the pursuit of careers that require technical and trade skills.
The Barbara Roberts Career Technical Education Center (Roberts CTEC), spearheaded by Dorie Vickery, is a 24,000 square-foot facility that aims to fully develop the program. With the help of funding from the Oregon budget committee, Yamhill County ARPA funds, and a CTE revitalization grant, the building is currently in design and early construction procurement to renovate the entire building and site.
Why Are CTE Centers Critical for Education and Today’s Workforce?
CTE centers are crucial for education as trade jobs are increasingly in demand for a workforce experiencing a skilled labor shortage. For context, the application rate for technical jobs dropped by 49% between 2020 and 2022.
The CTE center offers programs in truck driving, manufacturing/welding, fire/EMT training, and agribusiness, with graduates being able to complete high school with monetizable skills and immediately earn a profitable living. The career pathways were selected based on Oregon employment data, leading to a living wage job, and employee demands from our local industries.
Fire Science
The Fire Science program will be developed in partnership with the Sheridan Fire District. Instructors for the program will be provided by Sheridan Fire, who will also coordinate funding and resources for a training tower to be built on site. Students who successfully complete the Fire Science tract will be prepared to demonstrate competency with regards to fire suppression and will have developed skills related to working as a team, personal responsibility, and professional communication.
Diesel and Heavy Equipment – Truck, Logistics & Diesel Mechanics
Students who participate in the Truck Driving and Diesel Mechanics program will develop foundational driving skills, as well as specific skills using a semi-truck driving simulator. Students will also learn basic mechanics for maintenance of diesel trucks. Long-term goals for this tract include a full-scale auto body and repair program.
Students who successfully complete this tract will be prepared to obtain their Commercial Driver’s license (CDL) and have hands-on experience with operation and basic maintenance of diesel trucks. Students will also have developed skills related to record-keeping, personal responsibility, and professional communication.
Manufacturing Technology
Manufacturing will utilize existing equipment and staffing to expand opportunities for students interested in career paths based on manufacturing skills. Students participating in this tract will also learn business skills necessary to run a small business. Students who successfully complete this tract will be able to operate basic equipment and tools, and have a basic understanding of the steps involved for setting up their own small business.
Agribusiness-Sustainable Plant Science and Technology
Agribusiness will focus on sustainable farming practices and bring large-scale agriculture into the classroom setting. Local resources, including visits to local farms and mentorships with local agricultural professionals will also help students understand the variety of careers available in agriculture. Students who complete the Agricultural Business tract will have an in-depth understanding of practices in a variety of careers related to agriculture, including business/sales, hands-on farming, and professional communication.
Higher Education Certification
All CTE programs will include instruction on post-secondary opportunities through community colleges, universities, trade schools and apprenticeships. CTE Pathways will be aligned with community college and trade school requirements. Students will be able to earn some college credits while in high school, and then complete the industry certification requirements at the college level.
The Impact of CTE Center Development
Roberts CTEC is set to make a significant impact, not just on the Sheridan community, but the greater workforce of Oregon. The Center will provide high school students with CTE courses aligned to industry standards, preparing the future workforce. Participating students across the West Valley region will be equipped to enter their industries or further their education with advanced certification. Sheridan School District recognizes the combined effort of Emerald Flash, Otak, and BRIC in the fundraising, project management, and design of the CTE center.
Otak CPM is proud to be a supporter of the Roberts CTEC because of its expansive vision for empowering students to enter needed career and technical trades. If you would like to get involved in supporting this project, please contact Bob Collins, bob.collins@otak.com or Dorie Vickery, Superintendent about joining us in supporting this exciting and needed project.
In a major transformation across their facilities, Multnomah County Library is expanding spaces and upgrading technology to benefit the community through a comprehensive capital bond program. The Otak owner’s representative team provided leadership and overall program management for the entire $380 million program.
Expanding for the Community
The library is renovating and expanding five buildings while building four more, one of which is an Operations Center for sorting materials and housing library outreach teams. The new and expanded libraries offer a wide range of features focused on representing diverse cultures through art as well as space for youth to play, study, and express themselves creatively. Altogether, the projects add more than approximately 34,000 square feet of new community space; approximately 6,500 square feet of youth space; and approximately 50,000 square feet of outdoor space. An estimated 395,000 new books and media will be going on shelves as well. Among the technology upgrades is gigabit speed internet for all libraries as well as automated materials handling designed to get patrons materials faster.
Time to raise glasses at Otak! We’re happy to report three of our projects took home awards at the 2023 DJC Top Projects Gala! We’re taking a closer look into the three projects that took home some hardware, so check out the work below.
Located in Vancouver, WA with primetime views of downtown and the Columbia River, our client, Kirkland Development, made it a priority take full advantage of the location. Enter a 12-story luxury condo tower with 40 units, and the boutique-style Hotel Indigo, a 138-room high-rise.
Otak provided comprehensive planning and design services for the mixed-use property, which also includes 10,000 square feet of retail and 7,700 square feet of restaurant space. The design highlights the hotel chain’s signature brand while creating an iconic destination on the prime site. A six-story atrium, second-level meeting and conference hall, rooftop bar, expansive terrace, and valet parking will provide visitors and residents with luxury amenities and an inviting setting to enjoy the riverfront festival street and parks. The hotel, one of the few Indigo properties west of the Mississippi, is within easy walking distance of downtown Vancouver.
Taking home 2nd place in the Hospitality & Other Special Purposes category, this project will provide a unique mixed-use hospitality and residential environment for visitors and residents on the Vancouver waterfront. Otak is excited to see this project come to life and earn recognition for its efforts to create a vibrant new community along the Columbia River.
Originally constructed in the 1970s, the unused two-story structure on Casino Road has found a new purpose as an administrative headquarters for a bustling transit company, Community Transit. A complete rehabilitation of the 70,000 square-foot concrete tilt panel building involved full design from our team – from programming through construction documents to ultimately becoming the new home of a number of groups’ operations.
Key to this design was an adaptive re-use project delivery method, including an upgrade to nearly all building systems to meet current building, fire protection, energy, and electrical codes. An added data facility that required enhanced security was also solved in the renovation plans. Added daylighting throughout the building is one element of this energy efficient design.
With 14 user groups set to call the admin building home, the needs of each were considered throughout the process. Through continuous visioning sessions and interviews with key stakeholders, a consensus was met in designing an open office environment that features a large, stadium style gathering space as well as a rooftop deck that offers an employee lounge and amenities.
Taking home 2nd place in the Tenant Improvement & Major Renovation category, this is another project we hang our hat on – exemplifying a dynamic relationship between community, innovation, sustainability, and quality design.
Otak CPM is proud to be a part of this award-winning project, made possible by close teaming with our partners at: Pacific Medical Buildings, ZGF Architects, and Andersen Construction. With over 121,000 square-feet added as a apart of their three-site expansion program, The Vancouver Clinic grew its ability to provide healthcare services for communities across Southwest Washington.
Utilizing a Lean Integrated Design / Design Build approach, the Vancouver Clinic expansion designed all three facilities concurrently. The design processes were augmented by full-scale mock-ups to confirm functionality while leveraging the experiences of clinical staff and medical consultants to prioritize patient care with optimal clinic workflows.
As owner’s representative, Otak CPM was involved through the design and early site work of the Salmon Creek 2 medical office building. At the onset of the pandemic, the project delivery method changed from Design Build approach to a developer-based project with Pacific Medical Buildings (PMB). The original Design Build team of Andersen Construction and ZGF Architects was retained to construct the building in partnership with PMB, with Otak CPM remaining in an advisory role to Vancouver Clinic through the conclusion of the project.
We would like congratulate our partners: Andersen Construction, ZGF Architects, Pacific Medical Buildings, and our client Vancouver Clinic on this wonderful award.
We’re officially rounding out the end of Spring conference season in Oregon, where we’ve continued to form lasting partnerships, meet the clients we serve, and showcase what we’re about. We love the opportunities conferences give us to support and connect with organizations rooted in the communities we call home.
OAME and APWA Oregon, the two most recent conferences we attended, are organizations we have a long history of partnering with. Read on to find out more about each conference and hear the why behind what makes each of them so special!
OAME Conference
The 35th Annual Trade Show hosted by the all-inclusive organization, Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs (OAME) provided us with the opportunity to exchange ideas, talk to fellow partners and potential clients, and most importantly support the growth of minority-owned businesses.
We value having a presence at this conference, because enables us to show up directly for minority-run businesses and forge lasting partnerships – from prospective clients to new friends in the industry.
Complete with a booth and Otakians from engineering, architecture, marketing in full attendance, we got the chance to bring who we are to the table: a firm that listens to our communities and their local businesses and uses those connections to improve the project work we do daily.
APWA OR Conference
The American Public Works Association (APWA) is one of the most influential professional organizations in the public works field, dedicated to raising awareness about the vital role public works plays in the communities where we live. Fun fact, our own Ashley Cantlon, senior water resources engineer, is the Oregon chapter President – meaning we have a deep appreciation for our relationship with the organization.
Similarly to the OAME conference, this event allows us to be involved in one of the premier organizations for public works in the state, enabling better connections, better relationships, and better understanding of best practices and industry trends.
With a strong presence from Otak engineering leaders like Kevin Timmins, Amanda Owings, Henry Alaman, and Trista Kobluskie, we spoke with potential clients, new friends, and learned more about how we can enrich neighborhoods through the power of quality design. To mix things up a bit, we brought along a special APWA OR picture frame to encourage some photo opts!
Thank you to both these organizations for hosting us, and we can’t wait to come back next year!
In advancing the goal of improving student capacity across North Clackamas School District, a middle school was converted and expanded into Adrienne C. Nelson High School. In leading each element of project delivery and logistics, Otak provided full project management services in bringing the district’s vision to reality.
Expanding Education Facilities to Meet a District’s Student Capacity Goals
Named in honor of the first African American woman appointed to the Oregon Supreme Court, Adrienne C. Nelson High School received a 140,000-square-foot addition from the original middle school with funding from a successful school bond measure. The conversion project also included updates to increase building energy efficiency and student safety while improving classroom technology infrastructure for STEM and vocational education programs. New classrooms, chemistry labs, and a career center were part of a two-story classroom wing while a 600-seat auditorium highlights the performing arts wing. Athletic facilities across the 66-acre site included improvements to multiple indoor gyms and weight rooms while new outdoor facilities added tennis courts, a football stadium with track and covered bleachers, a press box, and varsity baseball field.
As a major east/west arterial, McGilchrist Street carries significant traffic volumes for the area surrounding Salem, Oregon. The corridor, which provides a vital connection to downtown access as well as I-5 via Highway 22, would undergo multiple phases across three segments of roadway improvements aimed at traffic, railway, bicyclist, and pedestrian use. In leading the roadway design, Otak prepared a corridor analysis and feasibility study, as well as the engineering design and stream analysis to accommodate multiple creek crossings.
Roadway Design Intersects Stream Analysis for an Improved Corridor and Fish Habitat
The roadway design of McGilchrist Street traverses existing railroad tracks along with crossings at Clark Creek as well as the East and West Forks of Pringle Creek. Widening throughout the corridor with additional turn lanes at major intersections featuring new traffic signals – including the realignment of the 22nd Street intersection to a four-leg intersection – aim to reduce traffic congestion while bike facilities including a 10-foot-wide protected cycle track and pedestrian crossings encourage active transportation. In facilitating multiple creek crossings as well as widening of an at-grade track crossing for a Union Pacific Railroad mainline, stream analysis also identified solutions to alleviate bank over-topping and chronic flooding from the creek channel onto adjacent properties and over the existing roadway. Two culverts – including three-sided culvert with a natural bottom to accommodate the road widening – along with large wood debris add to this approach while also improving fish passage and habitat.
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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:
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: 
