In expanding access to Washington State’s first Swift bus rapid transit (BRT) system, the Green Line adds greater connectivity to the region across 33 station sites. Otak led design and permitting while also providing construction engineering support for new transit platforms, the installation of custom shelters, and other associated transit improvements.
Designing Expanded Public Transit Infrastructure while Improving Corridor Safety
Spanning 12 miles, the Community Transit Green Line BRT extends from the Canyon Park Park-and-Ride on I-405 to the new Seaway Transit Center, located across from the Boeing Everett site. The project also included construction of roadway and signal improvements at three locations to improve transit reliability and safety in the corridor, including widening improvements for queue bypass lanes. Roadway improvements required retaining walls to minimize property and environmental impacts at several locations, including the relocation and improvement of the Interurban Trail. Otak’s efforts included coordination and obtaining site and shelter design approvals from WSDOT, Snohomish County, and the cities of Bothell, Mill Creek, and Everett; preparation of NEPA documentation, wetland mitigation design and permitting, preparation of PS&E to meet FTA/FHWA requirements, utility coordination, and ADA compliance.
With a unique approach that blends historic renovation with new construction into a cohesive structure, the Buckley adds mixed-use space and affordable housing to the growing outer Southeast District of Portland, Oregon. In leading the design, Otak incorporated elements from the original structure while expanding its space and access to light rail, contributing to the city’s broader goals for transit oriented development.
Adaptive Reuse Adds a Unique Mixed-Use Building to a Growing Urban Environment
The adaptive reuse design of the Lents Building incorporates three, two-story loft units, trusses, artwork, and other features into its character that date back to 1913 while also adding a new structure that replaces an adjacent parking lot. The renovation of the historic building required creative problem solving (including a structural brace frame) to maintain and enhance the original architectural character of the Lents Neighborhood while also incorporating modern design elements. With five floors, the building adds 47 residential units that meet average median income (AMI) requirements and a ground floor with commercial space. The complete design also includes a community room and a green roof that improves heat absorption and water runoff. Despite a tight site, the design maintains an active streetscape and setback that’s fully integrated with its urban setting.
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.
Working with a visionary developer, Skip Grodahl, The Fields Apartments is designed as a 264-unit affordable multifamily development with 100,000 square feet of office space in Tigard, Oregon. The ground-breaking project makes housing affordable to those earning 60 percent of median family income.
Overcoming Site Challenges for a Ground-Breaking Affordable Housing Design
Working with a visionary developer, Skip Grodahl, Otak designed a 264-unit affordable multifamily development with 100,000 square feet of office space in Tigard, Oregon. The site was challenging to develop because of its substantial slope, access constraints, and the desire to protect a substantial stand of trees on the site. The project team worked closely with City staff and nearby residents to design a project that met the City’s economic development goals, connectivity requirements, and the neighbors’ desires, while providing attractive and well-located housing and office space. The 24-acre site will include five apartment buildings, a clubhouse with a green roof, and up to 100,000 of commercial office space. This type of integrated affordable housing keeps our communities vital and accessible to people at all stages of life. In leading the design, Otak provided survey, civil engineering, architecture, land use planning, and landscape architecture services for this ground-breaking project.
Once constrained by by a 585-foot-long railroad bridge, the Dungeness River floodplain was restored while reusing that existing trestle structure to design its river-worthy, salmon-friendly replacement. Located on the Dungeness River at Railroad Bridge Park in Sequim, this multifaceted project supports Olympic Discovery Trail and the broader redevelopment of the Dungeness River Nature Center.
Working with a Local Tribe to Repurpose a Bridge, Reconnect a Floodplain, and Enhance Aquatic Habitats
The restoration and structural design was accomplished in coordination with the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe with the goal of redesigning multiple features that constrained the floodplain process. Along with the railroad trestle, a parking lot would also be replaced with 350 feet of side-channel and log revetments. Along with levee setbacks, these improvements enhance the local salmonid rearing and spawning habitat. A unique no-rise analysis including two-dimensional hydraulic modeling and large wood stability calculations was used for the dynamic river setting. In utilizing the existing railroad bridge, a unique wishbone approach connects the trails and nature center. From preliminary to final design and preferred alternatives, the Otak team prepared each step of the process including permitting, technical specifications, costs, and bid documentation.
Wade Creek Park represents the culmination of a 15-year vision to create a library, park, and community meeting space for the City of Estacada. This third phase of development improves the park’s utility and connections to the surrounding environment by adding a multi-use community center and converting an existing pond back to its natural stream.
A Multi-Use Community Center Designed Around a Restored Stream
From an outdoor amphitheater, stage area, and boardwalk to an indoor community room, restroom facilities, and picnic area, a number of amenities improved Wade Creek park while restoring its natural stream and adding wetland areas. The architectural design of the community center also includes a roof that drains into a rain garden featuring native plants and locally-sourced materials for the structure that highlight the local timber industry. Wade Creek meanders through the middle of the park and improving the habitat was important to the City. A geomorphic and hydrologic study determined the restoration design of Wade Creek, focusing on enhanced flood management, tree health, and aquatic habitat diversity. Multiple alternatives were presented to the public using an online survey in partnership with GreenWorks to engage the community in the design process. A hydraulic computer model was used to evaluate maximum water surface elevations for the design alternatives. The final design includes a riffle, pool, channel complex with riparian plantings, and a new fish passage culvert under Wade Street.
In support of expanding quality, accessible housing in the State of Oregon, Sunshine Park Apartments adds an influx of affordable units to the community of Roseburg. The Otak design places an emphasis on community-oriented spaces and family-focused amenities.
A Family-Focused Design Improves Community Access to Affordable Housing
The affordable housing development of Sunshine Park Apartments is comprised of 144 apartments for households with incomes up to 60% of the area median income. An emphasis on community in the design incorporates playgrounds, open landscape areas, and a communal building, with buildings oriented around a seasonal creek that runs through the development. With families top of mind, Sunshine Park Apartments offers a range of amenities, with a central clubhouse serving as a hub for community activities. The clubhouse features a fireplace, community kitchen, exercise equipment, and a covered BBQ area. The amenity spaces are strategically clustered to create a vibrant and inclusive environment, particularly catering to families with children. The project was made possible through OHCS 4% Low Income Housing Tax Credits and LIFT Award funding, reflecting a commitment from the state of Oregon to making quality housing accessible.
To enhance visitor experiences at Olympic National Park in northwest Washington, this 210-foot pedestrian bridge was designed as an integral component of the trail system near Staircase Rapids. With a design-build delivery method, Otak led the survey, engineering analysis, and ensuing design for the project through construction using unique approaches with partners to accommodate the site’s isolated location.
A Design-Build Structure for a Scenic Trail Site
Spanning the Skokomish River, the Staircase Rapids Trail Bridge is a steel-framed suspension bridge in an old growth area of the Pacific Northwest. Its design included a detailed analysis of vibration with the bridge span due to pedestrian footfall. A computer model of the bridge was compiled and subjected to a battery of dynamic pedestrian loads. A physical model of the bridge was also constructed to model the oscillations and allow the bridge designers to gauge their impact. These findings led to the inclusion of a passive tuned mass damper device – consisting of steel plates suspended on a spring – to reduce vibrations on the bridge, enhancing the experience of crossing for all. The dampers were adjusted through field tests and measurements of the bridge dynamics near the end of construction. Because the project’s location in a wilderness area, all equipment and materials were flown in via helicopter. During construction, two temporary bridges were installed to allow the contractor access from one side of the river to the other. When construction finished, the temporary bridges were flown out along with equipment and unused materials.
Along state and interstate highways across the state of Washington, work is being done to remove fish barriers and restore streams to their natural ecological processes. Site analysis is informing designs to reestablish aquatic habitats and honor the right to take fish guaranteed to the Northwest Washington Tribes.
Puget Sound Site Analysis to Restore Streams and Deliver Fish Passage Design
With sites throughout the Puget Sound region, a uniquely assembled team continues work in developing Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Preliminary Hydraulic Design (PHD) on the way to the Final Hydraulic Design (FHD) in restoring fish passage at roadway crossings. Topographic data and survey are being used to build hydraulic modeling – using SRH-2D (H&H analysis) to characterize existing and future conditions in the field. From scour analysis to stream channel slope and alignment, an assessment of prevailing geomorphic processes is central to the structure design and established construction methods. In restoring aquatic habitat for ESA-listed Salmonids, fish presence and habitat evaluation guides plan for improved wildlife connectivity. As part of a general engineering contract (GEC) team, Otak collaborates closely with all project stakeholders and co-managers, including the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and Northwest tribes to develop designs in accordance with Water Crossing Design Guidelines and WSDOT’s Hydraulics Manual.
Enhanced treatment of highly-polluted highway stormwater runoff is accomplished across 19 acres with the unique design of this water treatment facility. In developing the city of Redmond’s Basin Surface Water Master Plan, the facility addresses water quality for what flows into its stormwater trunk extension using a custom pump and distribution system.
A Unique Water Treatment Facility Utilizing Bioretention for Highly-Polluted Stormwater Runoff
Located alongside the busy highway, SR 520, a unique pump system diverts stormwater runoff through a custom soil mix and vegetated facility designed for biofiltration before eventually reaching the outfall at Lake Sammamish. The resulting bioretention maintains treatment function over time as a custom steel distribution system spreads flow evenly to optimize the footprint across the facility and prevent scouring. Data collected to inform the Basin Surface Water Master Plan was used to identify the optimal location for capturing polluted runoff while continued monitoring refines the runoff model and better defines pollutants. An integrated approach including landscape architecture focused on urban design led to a facility that resembles a leaf. Otak also supported the city in obtaining an ecology grant for the stormwater retrofit by building a report that demonstrates how the facility would function and how the water quality benefits would benefit the community.
Manage Cookie Consent
To provide the best experience, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
