Celebrating their 24th year, the annual DJC Oregon Awards took place this June, recognizing 53 ‘Top Projects’ from across the Pacific Northwest. Among the honorees were four Otak projects whose improvements to their community ranged from water quality and public facilities to affordable housing.
This year’s recognized work showcased the breadth of our multidisciplinary expertise, with contributions from our architecture, structural, survey, and owner’s representative teams. Learn more about the new additions to our collection of award-winning work and their broad benefits to the region below.
Wecoma Place
For a community displaced by wildfires, Wecoma Place is an affordable housing project that adds 44 residential units to the community of Lincoln City, Oregon. Our architecture team designed the building to emulate the enduring nature of the area’s coastal landscape.
After nearly 55 years of service, an outfall to the Columbia River from the Salmon Creek Water Treatment Plant was decommissioned and replaced. The new outfall was designed to cross numerous obstacles including infrastructure, property, and natural barriers. The survey and mapping team utilized a comprehensive set of tools, from traditional ground surveying to UAV aerial photogrammetry and a bathymetric drone to make construction of this essential public asset possible.
As part of a larger bond program, the Multnomah County Holgate Library triples the size of the original facility while also representing the most energy-efficient library ever built in the county. Supporting one of the most culturally diverse areas in the region, extensive public engagement led to a design that reflects those diverse communities through a variety of features including signage, color patterns, and art installations throughout. Our owner’s representative team has led overall program management for the entire $380M program.
The Leiser Road Overpass crossing State Route 14 in Vancouver had a history of vehicle impacts on the low chord of the bridge girders. After an oversized load hauling a wind turbine struck the overpass causing significant damage, Tapani partnered with Otak’s structural group in working with WSDOT to repair the bridge. That work included replacing one girder, repairing 5 others, and repouring the deck and guardrail over the replaced girder. Otak provided a shipping and lifting analysis for the precast concrete girder, as well as designing temporary shoring for the girder and deck forms.
A cornerstone of any growing community is its connectivity. Roadway engineering provides more than just conduits for cars; it forms the framework for mobility in a community that leverages a variety of modes of transportation.
A well-designed transportation network featuring different types of roadways can have widespread impact on economic development and individual wellness. This includes improvements that ensure all areas—especially underserved populations—have access to jobs, essential services, and amenities as well as healthier lifestyles through reductions in emissions and the promotion of active transportation. In this blog we discuss how roadway designs exist at the intersection of planning and transportation engineering to support the growth of healthier, more sustainable communities.
Roadway engineering is the planning, design, and construction of transportation infrastructure that enhances existing roadways or establishes new connections within a community. The practice integrates technical expertise, urban planning, and environmental considerations to develop safe, efficient, and accessible transportation systems that serve both current and future needs.
The design process starts with an assessment of existing conditions, including topographic mapping, survey and GIS, to understand site constraints. From there, engineers develop roadway layouts that meet design and safety standards. The final design incorporates permitting requirements, cost considerations, and agency coordination to ensure a smooth transition from planning through construction. The end result is a completed roadway that enhances connection across a community.
Stormwater Infrastructure and Low Impact Development
An extremely common aspect of roadway engineering involves the inclusion of stormwater infrastructure considerations. While accounting for increased impervious surfaces and polluted runoff, stormwater features reduce flooding and improve water quality for a community.
With new development comes the potential for negative environmental impact, but proper analysis of natural resources can mitigate adverse effects. Existing culverts are notoriously inefficient and are also among the most common barriers to fish passage. Today, culverts are being replaced to protect aquatic habitat, reduce flooding, and preserve water rights for property owners.
An important piece of roadway engineering is consideration of how it facilitates more than just cars. Multimodal design gives communities options for how they get from point A to point B, all while reducing carbon emissions and promoting physical health through active transportation. Emphasizing pedestrian mobility features like pedestrian bridges, protected bike lanes, cross walks, and traffic stripping reduces traffic conflicts for all.
Safety is the top priority of any roadway project. With updated traffic signals and signage, drivers are more aware, creating a safer environment for themselves and pedestrians. As the design of a roadway considers number of lanes and width, control of speed can also be effectively managed.
A healthy transportation network is a diverse transportation network. As roadway projects increase in size, so do opportunities to incorporate multimodal features. This can include accommodating mass transit with new stations, specialized lanes, or connection to adjacent trail systems. All ultimately contribute to traffic calming, creating a more connected community.
From small neighborhood streets to large arterials, each roadway type must be designed with the specific needs of the community in mind. A critical aspect of any design is engaging with the public to ensure buy-in and minimize disruption. The larger the initiative, the more essential public outreach becomes, and each project presents its own unique impacts to the connectivity of the communities it serves.
Types of Roadways and Their Impact on Communities
Different types of roadways serve unique, though connected, purposes in a transportation network. Their design often begins with comprehensive planning efforts which help identify the transportation needs of a community. Potential projects can then be developed with the focus of serving both community and client goals.
Neighborhood Streets
Neighborhood streets are designed with a primary focus on safety and accessibility, often placing an emphasis on pedestrians, cyclists, and access to public transit. The more limited scope of neighborhood street projects makes cost-effective construction strategies vital to fit within local budgets.
With this localized focus on enhancing connectivity and accessibility, neighborhood streets also typically include ADA-compliant sidewalks and crosswalks while speed bumps or curb extensions are among traffic calming measures. This roadway type requires extra attention to minimizing impact on adjacent properties while maximizing the benefits to those who call the neighborhood home, including the public assets that often exist in the area.
Tualatin, OR Adds Safe Routes to School
Among some of the most important improvements that can be made to neighborhood streets are those that create a safer environment for children that play and travel in the area. For many parents at Tualatin Elementary, it was clear that updates to the neighborhood streets could make a real difference for the kids walking and biking to and from school.
As part of Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs, which provides grants for these types of improvements, work on 95th and Avery made a variety of upgrades to enhance pedestrian safety, particularly for the kids of Tualatin Elementary.
Multiple intersections were improved with high visibility striping in crosswalks, rectangular rapid-flashing beacons (RRFB), and other features to create safer pedestrian crossings and reduce conflicts with vehicles. Deficient sidewalks and gaps were replaced to further enhance the pedestrian experience.
Mid-Size Collectors and Corridors
Mid-size collectors and corridors serve as vital connections between neighborhoods and larger roadways. This roadway type supports moderate traffic volumes and often incorporates improvements that enhance transportation operations and facilitate flow between developing areas.
Corridors generally aim to improve access to commercial areas, parks, and transit hubs in response to increasing traffic demand. As part of planning efforts, these improvements are sometimes made in anticipation of future development. The larger scope often involves coordination with utility companies and various agencies, as they can have a substantial impact on not only the community but the surrounding environment.
Silverdale, WA Sees Reduced Congestion and an Enhanced Waterfront
The community of Silverdale had long looked to improve on poor waterfront access. Where the Clear Creek Estuary crosses under Bucklin Hill Road and meets Dyes Inlet, high traffic was common which was especially problematic considering its semi-rural setting. Altogether, the area represented a missed opportunity to create an appealing place for recreation, community connections, and growth for local businesses.
Improvements to Bucklin Hill Road and Bridge changed that. Two additional travel lanes eliminated congestion while new bike lanes and facilities were added where there had been none. Widened sidewalks and new trail connections added to new active transportation opportunities for the community. Extensive public outreach, including the “Scout Your Route” campaign to keep the public informed of closures, minimized disruption while reducing construction duration. These improvements had a direct, broad impact on all community members, including residents at senior living facilities in the area that now benefit from greater accessibility to their local businesses.
Large Arterials and Highways
Large arterials and highways are critical for regional mobility, commerce, and overarching economic development. Linking rural and urban areas, these roadways provide communities of all sizes access to important resources like employment and healthcare in metropolitan centers, while supporting the social and cultural networks between different areas. The scale of large highway upgrades can lead to wider improvements to transit-oriented development that diversify modes of transportation and maximize project value.
These roadways often present unique engineering challenges and draw from multiple funding sources, requiring close coordination with agencies to ensure regulatory compliance. As long-term, high-visibility projects, managing timelines and minimizing construction impacts is essential to minimizing disruptions that, at this scale, can be especially costly. This includes effectively communicating project updates with the surrounding community through informational websites, local representatives, and other channels to provide clarity and achieve buy-in.
Salem, OR Supports Rapid Growth and Underserved Areas
In a historically underserved area of Salem, Oregon, where 36% of parcels are underutilized, the McGilchrist Complete Street Project is designed to enhance business development, job creation, and multimodal transportation options for members of the community. It’s part of a 20-year vision for economic growth as well as transportation safety and environmental sustainability.
Considering the large and lasting impact of this work on the community, it was imperative to include them. Extensive stakeholder engagement went above and beyond, working directly with property owners, businesses, and local agencies to ensure the project addressed real community needs. These efforts led to the incorporation of refinements such as the protected cycle track and intersection realignments.
Based on feedback from public outreach, 74% of the corridor features protected bike lanes and new sidewalks. The design aims to significantly improve pedestrian accessibility while minimizing pedestrian-vehicle conflicts, resulting in fewer severe crashes and lives lost. The inclusion of $15 million of stormwater infrastructure upgrades also means this work plays a critical role in not only reducing future flooding for the community but improving habitat for fish.
Making the Complete Connection
Roadways are essential to creating vibrant, connected, and equitable communities. Because of their widespread impact, roadway projects of any size involve a diverse set of considerations to ensure that impact is comprehensive and long lasting. Through thoughtful planning, collaboration, and public engagement, Otak’s multidisciplinary teams take a cohesive approach to designing more connected communities that address current and future needs.
With the mission of advancing the science around urban ecosystems, the 23rd Annual Urban Ecology and Conservation Symposium took place featuring a presentation detailing work on the Springwater Wetlands Restoration project. Project lead, Rose Horton, presented alongside the client, Portland Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) and the City of Portland, to discuss the variety of ways improvements to this watershed are designed to improve the local habitat and surrounding community.
“At a really well attended conference, it was great to be part of all the wildlife research and knowledge that was shared… it’s important to show how restoring wetlands also protects people with solutions like naturally improving flood storage.”
– Rose Horton, PE|Team Leader, WNR
What is the Urban Ecology and Conservation Symposium?
The event is hosted by the Urban Ecosystem Research Consortium (UERC) of Portland/Vancouver and was held at Portland State University. Made up of members from educational institutions, state agencies, local governments, and non-profits, the UERC offers professionals opportunities to gather and share knowledge about urban ecology. Several speakers across a range of organizations gave presentations to share knowledge and ecological data with a focus on building communities in the region.
Insights from the Springwater Wetlands Restoration
Among the presentations given on ‘Restoration and Monitoring’ at the 2025 UERC was a unique, 70-acre urban wetland enhancement project that aimed to address decades of attempts to reduce flooding in the Portland area. Johnson Creek is one of the few free-flowing streams in Portland and has a long history of nuisance and catastrophic flooding. The restoration of the Springwater Wetlands focused on reducing that flooding while also enhancing habitat and improving community amenities for the city.
Co-presenting with client representatives, Rose detailed how this restoration work removed non-native fill and improved flood storage to protect neighborhoods from Johnson Creek and advance the city’s goals. This work also added more connections to the Johnson Creek trail system, including educational signs and site features made from WPA rock that connect the area’s history with its natural environment.
The Otak project team and client at the 2025 ACEC WA Engineering Excellence Awards Banquet.
This year’s American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Washington Awards Banquet celebrated a variety of projects from the region that improve communities through innovative engineering solutions. We’re proud to share that Otak’s NE 40th Stormwater Trunk Extension and Water Quality Facility project was honored with a Silver Award for Successful Fulfillment of Client/Owner Needs, highlighting the exceptional work and the dedication of our stormwater planning and environmental teams to collaborate closely with our client partners.
In further developing the City of Redmond’s stormwater infrastructure, this project stood out for a design that ensures water quality for people and natural habitat alike, while encouraging investment in the redevelopment of the area.
About Phase 1: Street Stormwater Trunk Extension
Redmond’s proactive approach to stormwater management included extension of a stormwater trunkline to a new direct outfall into Lake Sammamish to accommodate future redevelopment without the need for large on-site flow control facilities. This allows for higher density in a growing urban area around the new Redmond Technology Light Rail Station.
At the upstream end of the trunkline basin, the NE 40th Street Water Quality Facility was established to treat highly polluted runoff from 19 acres of a high-traffic roadway area. The new retrofit treatment site includes a unique leaf-shaped biofiltration facility that is viewable by pedestrians and transit center users at a gateway node within the city.
Congratulations to our team, client, and project partners for their hard work and dedication! We look forward to continuing our mission of delivering innovative and sustainable built solutions.
With many disciplines working together on a variety of projects, perhaps the best way to get a feel for a firm’s impact is simply, a coffee with… the people doing the work.
This video series features experts sharing insights gained during their time in the AEC industry, with an emphasis on the importance of collaboration to meet a common goal of creating improved communities.
In this edition, we sit down with a leader of our transportation engineering group and a member of our structural engineering group to hear how their work intersects to create infrastructure that gives people the independence to move.
Find out in the video and its transcript below:
Introduction
Greg: The interface between, you know, roadway and civil and bridges is really about that, that connection of community.
Amanda: Well, that urban built environment was really cool to me too. You know, being able to actually walk through your projects as an engineer drive by.
Greg: ‘I did that,’ right?
Amanda: Exactly.
My name is Amanda Owings. I am the transportation and infrastructure business unit lead for the Oregon and Southwest Washington offices.
Greg: My name is Greg Mines. I am a structures engineer in our bridge group out of Vancouver.
Greg: I mean, bridges are both, you know, literal and metaphorical. So you have, you know, like you’re connecting, you know, connecting communities. And then also, we’ve done a few projects replacing connections that were lost.
Or you’re either trying to help people move through an environment or you’re trying to connect different communities with each other in different areas of community.
Amanda: And adding on to that is giving people options when they don’t have any, right, If they have an alternate way to get somewhere or an independent way to move about their community.
That’s what I think is really heartwarming about the work that we do is that you are now eliminating barriers. You’re giving people independence to move. And that’s something that everybody wants to have. They want that freedom.
Greg: I’ve worn many hats at Otak. I started out doing bridges and then for a while actually went and did some buildings for the national parks. And I get, I get a lot of projects that don’t fit in any particular bin of, of someone’s specialty. So I’ve [done things like] gone scuba diving for projects etc.
I’ve been here for 14 years. But why don’t you kind of fill me in on, on kind of your history with the company?
Amanda: Oh, sure. I started at Otak in 2000. That was my first job out of college. So I was an EIT, worked into my PE as well as project management, and then found that I wanted to try a little bit on the public side.
So for 9 years I was working at two different agencies and really kind of missed consulting, missed the networking, missed working with multidisciplinary teams. So it’s been really nice coming back and being able to work with lots of different people.
Greg: What’s some of the like perspective that you brought from that that public work and, and working for who is frequently our client and coming back again?
Amanda: It’s really helpful to know where their pain points are and what things that they struggle with getting through their councils or through budget or really just working with the public.
So when, when it comes to how a design is put together or how a project is presented, if the public can’t quite understand it then and we need to redesign it. And so I, I have that perspective that’s really helpful just to see it from how the agency is going to be able to pay for it, explain it, maintain it in the future.
What’s it like working closely with the public and local communities?
Amanda: Well, the urban planning side of my work is quite rewarding because it does create projects and work with the communities directly. So the community is really giving their voice to what the design team is working on, and it’s really does make for a much more creative project in the end, and you’re really doing something that the public wants.
One of the communities that I worked in is that there was an intersection that had lots of crashes. It was really unsafe and we worked really hard to get that intersection repaired. And now it’s not even on the safety list and nobody ever thinks about that intersection anymore.
It’s those kinds of things that it’s like, you know, you’ve done a good job when nobody talks about it anymore. A backwards way of finding pride in your projects. But it’s true.
Amanda: We had a project for Washington County, was Olson Rd. And it was one of my very first projects and it had taken almost two years to really get through all the design. There’s like 100 driveways to sign, lots of public outreach.
But that project sticks with me because I can drive it. In fact, I drive it as many times as I can.
The second project that was really rewarding to me was a project in Tigard through their downtown, and we submitted and got a national APWA award for it.
So it was on the cover of the magazine that we really need to see.
Greg: We did one project in Olympic National Park. Crystal Creek Bridge is the name of it, and it was a suspension bridge. It was asymmetrical. It was a design build project. So we’re working with the contractor really closely and making the decisions.
So there was kind of this additional insight that we had during design and it came out and it’s a really cool bridge.
How does your work benefit from a multidisciplinary environment?
Amanda: It is important to work with other disciplines in the industry because it does help you kind of foresee some of the issues that you know are going to be coming. And the more that you can relate with their work kind of makes you design more stuff that much better.
It just goes that much more smoothly.
Greg: Especially early on in a project. I feel like sometimes you’ll get like a maybe a plan set and, and you can tell that it’s not a project yet. It’s four or five individual projects, each discipline kind of doing their own.
And then you start doing that collaboration where you, you sit down and you know, you’re all, if you do a plan sheet turn or whatever, but you trade and then you look at everybody else’s and you’re like, ‘oh, hey, I think we can change this here.’ And then when you start to blend that together.
Amanda: Or asking the questions, ‘why did you do it this way? What can I do to make this a little bit easier for you?’
Greg: And working with the same people you kind of get to know, this is something that, you know, we looked at previously with, with Amanda… she can probably solve this.
The deep bench that we have of that expertise in and, and have it all just in house, You’re just blown away by what you can find.
Amanda: I love that I can pick up the phone and call you anytime when I have a structural question that’s not even related to a project that we’re working on together. But just having that access to you or your team is really helpful to our transportation group.
Imagine an orchestra without a conductor. Musicians may play their individual parts well, but without cohesion. The result? Chaos. Managing capital improvement projects can be just as complex—without the right leadership, even small projects can easily go off track. That’s where an owner’s representative comes in. Acting as the project’s conductor, they represent the owner’s interests, allowing clients to focus on their day-to-day responsibilities and engage more meaningfully as a stakeholder in the project.
It’s clear why large projects benefit from an owner’s rep. Multiple contractors, complex requirements, and tight timelines make coordination especially crucial. But for smaller projects, it may not always seem as necessary. With rising costs, many owners think skipping an owner’s rep is a smart way to save. After all, many organizations have capable project managers on staff. The question is: Can the organization’s internal staff juggle project facilitation and oversight alongside their primary duties without compromising quality and the ability to manage risks for both?
The reality is that there are no truly “small” projects. Even modest ones involve the steps of choosing the right consultants, managing budgets and schedules, and navigating the design and construction phases. Smaller projects often have similar complexities as larger ones, such as coordinating with multiple stakeholders or managing challenging logistics. In fact, larger projects can sometimes be more straightforward thanks to broader teams and experienced partners!
In this article, we dive into the role of an owner’s representative on capital improvement projects, with an eye on four key ways it adds value, even to “small” projects.
1. Aligning Clear, Attainable Goals with the Client’s Vision
Hiring an owner’s rep on capital improvement projects ensures that the finer details are managed while the owner’s vision remains front and center. They help define priorities and ensure that the project stays true to those goals. For instance, if an owner wants to prioritize local contractors or work with historically underrepresented firms, an owner’s rep can guide those outcomes.
With a focus on budget and schedule management, the owner’s rep allows the client to stay focused on their mission while maintaining transparency. This accountability is invaluable for both private organizations and taxpayer-funded entities, as it demonstrates fiscal responsibility. Plus, a well-planned master budget provides confidence as owners better understand their financial exposure for the total project costs, not just direct construction, and make informed decisions when changes arise.
Engaging an owner’s rep early can also offer guidance on project delivery methods, like when to choose design-build over CM/GC or design-bid-build. Their expertise helps streamline the process, ensuring the right partners are involved at the right time.
2. Expanding Resources and Building Relationships for Future Projects
If you foresee more capital projects on the horizon, working with an owner’s rep on a smaller project is an excellent way to “test drive” the relationship. It allows owners an opportunity to assess their approach, communication style, and fit, setting the stage for future collaboration. This effort can lead to establishing a trusted, lasting partnership that grows with an organization’s capital program.
Owner’s reps also offer a seamless way to bring specialized resources into a project. For public agencies, which often face long hiring timelines and competitive searches for qualified candidates, an owner’s rep contract provides instant access to essential expertise and staff augmentation. Rather than managing multiple RFPs or contracts for inspections, commissioning, or early due diligence, an owner’s rep can efficiently subcontract these services, saving time and streamlining the process. In smaller projects, where time is money, this efficiency is particularly beneficial and supports timely outcomes.
3. Enhancing Communication and Coordination with Stakeholders
Bringing the right team together at the right time can make or break a project. A skilled owner’s rep fosters open communication, innovation, problem solving, conflict resolution, and keeps everyone aligned.
For example, on the Vancouver Clinic expansion projects, Otak as owner’s rep led a collaborative project team environment, resulting in a project delivered three weeks early and $3 million under budget—even during the challenges of the pandemic.
Make no mistake, challenges occur on every project. Having the right combination of leadership, collaboration and engagement determines whether these challenges add to or detract from project outcomes.
4. Finding Efficiencies in Project Processes
With their experience managing multiple projects, owner’s reps often spot efficiencies that save time and money. This can be especially important when managing public funds such as school bonds.
An owner’s rep can anticipate supply chain issues or regional labor shortages and adjust the project plan accordingly. For instance, during the Medford School District’s Oakdale Middle School project, utilization of an owner’s rep expedited the procurement of long-lead items like window systems to avoid delays.
Oakdale Middle School (Photo Credit: Josh Partee)
A Partner That Fits the Project
With capital improvement projects covering a wide range of objectives, Otak’s owner representation services are scalable to fit each project’s unique needs. The group has helped clients with everything from drafting RFPs for an HOA’s paving contractor to offering design phase management on a county health services project until the agency felt comfortable taking over to manage in-house. Using a tailored approach means clients get the expertise they need when they need it, whether that’s for a single phase or the entire project.
Capital improvement projects—large or small—can be complicated but incredibly rewarding. By partnering with an owner’s representative, a project gains an advocate who understands it’s overarching vision and manages the details necessary to reach it. An owner’s representative orchestrates complexities at any scale so project owners can stay focused on the primary mission, giving confidence in completing projects with lasting impact.
This October, the annual Sustaining Colorado Watersheds Conference took place with the overarching theme of ‘Flowing Through Change.’ With that focus, attendees explored the relentless nature of change when it comes to work on natural systems. As part of the conference lineup, Ethan Ader (Otak Fluvial Geomorphologist) presented on how the evolving practice of adaptive management is addressing challenges to create lasting desired outcomes in the field of environmental science.
“Every opportunity to share data on adaptive management and monitoring helps the industry move closer to creating standardization for this type of work, so we’ll able to draw large scale conclusions.”
– Ethan Ader, Fluvial Geomorphologist
What is the Sustaining Colorado Watersheds Conference?
Watersheds represent some of our most valuable natural resources. In partnership between Water Education Colorado, the Colorado Riparian Association and the Colorado Watershed Assembly, the Sustaining Colorado Watersheds Conference takes place each year, bringing together environmental professionals to advance best practices in work on natural systems. With the goal of expanding cooperation and collaboration throughout the state in natural resource conservation, protection, and enhancement, the event engages participants on topical issues facing the practice. Along with a valuable opportunity to learn about emerging practices, the conference also facilitates important connections between industry professionals.
Sharing Lessons from an Adaptive Management Plan to Improve Industry Standardization
In addition to discussing ideas and networking, the Sustaining Colorado Watersheds Conference also explores real world examples of how approaches are being applied in the field. This year, Ethan Ader was there to do just that with his presentation titled Preparing for Inevitable Change Through Adaptive Management and Monitoring Along St. Vrain Creek. By sharing a look at an adaptive management plan and demonstrating how commonly competing interests don’t have to be at odds with one another in this type of work, he also aimed to help advance the standardization of this practice in the industry.
“[Through conferences like this] it’s important to be able to communicate two successful examples of where fish passage and water delivery can go hand in hand.”
– Ethan Ader, Fluvial Geomorphologist
While walking through the process for adaptive management, which involves ongoing monitoring that allows for responsive decision-making and project updates, Ethan detailed how the practice is being applied at two fish passage projects constructed along St. Vrain Creek. Fish passage projects can come with the negative perception that they can adversely impact water delivery to properties in the project area, but with data from these sites, Ethan demonstrated how this stream was performing as designed without interrupting flow to other entities.
Two years of data presented from St. Vrain Creek show that project goals continue to be successful while, simultaneously, ongoing conversations with ditch companies have ensured their needs are also being met. With this information, the project team is ultimately able to contribute towards advancing adaptive management in the industry. As the approach is more broadly adopted and as more data is collected, the creation of standardization will improve the efficacy of these projects and their impact on community resilience and aquatic habitat.
While Ethan notes there is still a lot of work to do on this front, with a lot of overlapping and reinforcing ideas, the Sustaining Colorado Watersheds Conference represented another step in the right direction and he’s happy to do his part in presenting this use case.
Kevin Dooley (second from left) and other members of the 30th and Colorado Underpass project team accepting the APWA Public Project of the Year Award.
During this year’s American Public Works Association (APWA) event in Atlanta, GA, the 30th and Colorado Underpass was awarded National Project of the Year for its place as a public infrastructure project that promotes excellence in design. After opening a year ago, the project has successfully added safety improvements to a previously dangerous intersection while also advancing the City of Boulder’s multimodal transportation goals.
“This year’s award recipients have shown what happens when you fulfill your commitment to making your community a better place.”
– APWA President Gary Losier, PEng.
The project was also featured during the annual National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) 2023 Designing Cities Conference which was hosted in Denver. Site visits across the area showcased projects that improved access to quality transportation infrastructure, with a particular focus on progressive multimodal networks. Led by our Colorado transportation and structural engineering teams, the 30th and Colorado Underpass joins our list of award-winning work.
About the 30th and Colorado Underpass
At the heart of an essential transportation corridor for the University of Colorado, Boulder campus, the 30th and Colorado Underpass represents the city’s first-ever fully protected intersection. The design places an emphasis on multimodal infrastructure and pedestrian safety. Highlighting lighting, landscaping, and public art features aimed at seamlessly integrating it with the urban fabric.
Pedestrian bridges, also known as footbridges, are vital elements of our communities’ transportation infrastructure. While some are often crossed without much notice, others catch the attention of anyone nearby. In any case, a combination of art and science goes into the design of each structure.
Providing safe passage for pedestrians and cyclists across busy roads, rivers, railways, and other crossings, pedestrian bridges connect communities and enhance overall quality of life through active transportation. But these structures can also serve a greater purpose beyond their practical use, often providing memorable viewpoints, meeting spots, and spaces to enjoy the surrounding environment while making a design statement for communities.
Designed to last for at least 75 years, pedestrian bridges are ingrained in the fabric of the surrounding area and must be resilient to changing environmental conditions to provide long-lasting, accessible, and safe crossing. In this blog, we’ll discuss the steps of the pedestrian bridge design process and key elements around functionality, sustainability, and aesthetics that can make them fixtures of a community for generations.
Pedestrian bridge design creates structures that primarily provide safe crossings for foot traffic, cyclists, and other modes of active transportation, facilitating movement between communities and enhancing its surrounding environment.
As trails grow in popularity (including in urban areas), the role of pedestrian bridges in creating accessible, interconnected networks becomes increasingly crucial. Effective pedestrian bridge design can also enhance the usability and safety of trail systems, allowing for uninterrupted and safe passage across both natural and man-made crossings.
The Pedestrian Bridge Design Process
The design of a pedestrian bridge is a meticulous process that begins with a clear understanding of its intended usage and the specific site conditions. This process involves defining the primary purpose of the bridge, gathering detailed site information, creating preliminary designs, and finally, refining those designs into a comprehensive plan for construction.
Define Usage
The first step in pedestrian bridge design is to define its intended use. This includes understanding whether the bridge will primarily serve pedestrians, cyclists, or in many cases even small vehicles. This determines important factors related to load and bridge width. For example, bridges on pedestrian trails are typically four to six feet wide, while those on interurban trails may need to be 10 to 12 feet or sometimes even wider.
Pedestrian bridges often need to support not only foot traffic but also small vehicles such as maintenance trucks, emergency vehicles, or even snowcats. AASHTO guidelines specify that pedestrian bridges must be designed to handle a pedestrian load of 85 pounds per square foot (PSF), with additional considerations for vehicles, where loads can range from 10,000 pounds for maintenance vehicles to 54,000 pounds for emergency vehicles. In remote areas, the design might also need to accommodate equestrian use.
The rise of e-bikes is another growing consideration; while they enhance accessibility, they also introduce new safety challenges due to their speed and weight. Designers have to stay informed about varying state regulations on e-bike usage to ensure safety and accessibility for all users.
Gather Site Information
Once the intended use is defined, the next step is to gather detailed information about the site. This includes conducting surveys, geotechnical analyses, and environmental assessments. The type of crossing — whether over a stream, roadway, or railway — dictates essential design considerations like clearances. For instance, street and highway crossings require a minimum clearance of 16.5 feet, railroads 25 feet, and waterways at least two feet above a 100-year flood event.
Environmental factors such as snow, wind, temperature fluctuations, and seismic activity must also be considered to ensure the bridge’s resilience. This information helps determine the appropriate location and type of abutments, as well as the length, width, and height of the bridge.
Environmental assessments are critical in identifying necessary permits and ensuring that the design minimizes impact on local ecosystems. For waterway crossings, hydrologic and hydraulic analyses provide insights into potential water levels during extreme weather events, guiding decisions about pier placement and scour protection. Other environmental considerations include preventing pollution through stormwater management and minimizing disruption to local vegetation and wildlife.
Preliminary Design and Alternative Selection
Based on the gathered data, preliminary designs are developed by structural engineers, accounting for all client and site-specific requirements. These designs include cost estimates and various alternatives, each with its own set of benefits and challenges. Preliminary sketches and renderings help visualize different options, allowing stakeholders to assess feasibility, constructability, and cost-effectiveness before making a final selection.
Final Design
The final design phase involves detailed structural analysis using specialized engineering software. This step ensures that the bridge can withstand all expected loads, including tension and compression forces. Special attention is given to fracture critical members (FCMs), which are vital components whose failure could lead to the collapse of the bridge. These elements, along with welds, are carefully identified in the structural plans.
With the design configuration set, materials are selected to meet the demands of the environment, such as thermal expansion and slip resistance. Safety and reliability are prioritized, leading to the completion of design and construction documents that detail every aspect of the bridge, from structural components to aesthetic elements.
Types of Pedestrian Bridges
While the majority of pedestrian bridges are either beam or truss structures, there are instances where other options are either required for practical reasons or chosen for design preference.
Beam and girder bridges provide many fabrication and construction options while also being typically more cost effective. Used for shorter spans, they are limited in girder depth and vertical clearance. While they are among the most common in pedestrian bridge design, these structures can be built with materials like steel, concrete, or timber, and can integrate bridge railings to create a unique identity.
With simple construction that installs quickly, truss bridges are another common pedestrian bridge type that offers a cost-effective design. While less unique, a railing that’s integral with the structure can be a fitting aesthetic for many applications. Materials for these structures are generally steel, timber, or fiberglass (FRP).
For medium spans that avoid the use of piers, arch bridges provide graceful aesthetics that can be built low below a trail profile. While more expensive, these structures can be advantageous for greater spans and limiting impact to the environment. They are commonly made of steel, concrete, or timber materials.
Offering a low profile for longer spans, cable stay bridges provide a unique look and feel compared to other pedestrian bridge options, typically showcasing a distinctive fan-like pattern created by their cable placement. Cables can be rigged in a mono, harp, fan, or star design, and similar to most other bridge types can be built with steel, timber, or concrete.
The science of long crossings and art of graceful aesthetics are combined in suspension bridge design. This structure type is especially useful for wide rivers and sites with inaccessible pier locations, often providing a statement for a community using steel, concrete, or timber materials.
Functionality Elements in Pedestrian Bridge Design
Regardless of individual goals, functionality is a core objective in any pedestrian bridge design. In creating a durable, safe, and cost-effective structure that meets community needs for decades, the design should consider a variety of factors. A focus on surrounding pedestrian and bicycle facilities, providing logical routes that encourage use and minimize the need for detours, and consideration of alternative crossing opportunities are all essential to maximizing accessibility and safety.
Wayfinding
A pedestrian bridge is only as valuable as the use it gets. The ability to find one’s way to and from the bridge as part of a broader transportation network is critical to that end.
For effective wayfinding, pedestrian bridge design should integrate with existing transportation infrastructure, ensuring that the bridge is easily accessible and does not require users to travel out of their way to cross. Creating logical connections to surrounding facilities increase the bridge’s utility and enhance the user experience. Additionally, designing a system of cohesive icons and signage not only helps guide users through space visually, but can support tourism, and establish the bridge as a gathering space and community landmark.
Approach Ramps and Accessibility
A sometimes-overlooked aspect of pedestrian bridge design are the approach ramps. Approach ramps ensure that the bridge is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. The design of approach ramps must adhere to ADA Guidelines, which often require long ramps to accommodate the necessary vertical clearances. Ramps also provide an opportunity to add some creativity in the design that fits within the site footprint. Although these ramps can represent a significant cost, they are essential for ensuring that the bridge is fully functional and accessible.
Abutments and Piers
Serving as the foundation of the structure, abutments and piers can take shape in a pedestrian bridge design in many ways. Depending on the site conditions, abutment design can range from simple footings to more complex anchoring systems.
Geotechnical analysis plays a key role in determining whether deep foundations are necessary, particularly in areas prone to scour. The type and number of piers used also impacts the cost of the bridge relative to its span length.
Sustainability and Resilience Elements in Pedestrian Bridge Design
With a more volatile environment, sustainability and resilience are increasingly critical to pedestrian bridge design. Designers must consider environmental impacts, resilience to climate change, and seismic resilience where necessary. For waterway crossings, hydraulic and hydrologic modeling are essential to ensuring that the bridge can withstand extreme weather events and avoid damaging the surrounding ecosystem. There are a few aspects of bridge design where resilience is particularly relevant.
Stormwater and Drainage
Proper stormwater and drainage design is vital to prevent pollution and maintain the structural integrity of the bridge. Deck drains should be placed at regular intervals to keep the bridge watertight, and curbs should be installed on bridges crossing roads or highways to prevent water runoff. These measures help protect both the bridge and the environment.
Sustainable Materials and Energy Efficiency
The use of sustainable building materials and energy-efficient technologies is an important consideration in modern pedestrian bridge design. Recycled materials and energy-efficient lighting, such as LEDs, can reduce the environmental footprint of the bridge. Landscaping can also promote sustainability by supporting local ecosystems and enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the bridge.
When a pedestrian bridge crosses a waterway, special attention must be given to minimizing its impact on the stream and surrounding wetlands. Regulatory requirements often dictate freeboard levels and the number of piers allowed in the water. Designers must also consider fish passage and scour protection to preserve the natural flow and health of the waterway.
Aesthetic Elements in Pedestrian Bridge Design
While functionality and resilience are paramount, sometimes there is great value – particularly as part of a system of brides – in designing a pedestrian bridge that makes a statement. As integral components of the community, aesthetics can play a pivotal role in an area’s growth. A well-designed pedestrian bridge can become a landmark or gateway, enhancing the community’s identity and appeal. While purely functional bridges are often more cost-effective, investing in aesthetically pleasing features can add long-term value to the community.
The opportunity to consider aesthetics isn’t exclusive to grand design choices. There are a wide range of ways where even small features can have a large, lasting impact.
Bridge System Type
The type of bridge system chosen can greatly influence its aesthetic appeal. Beam and truss bridges are generally more functional, while arch, cable-stay, and suspension bridges offer greater creative freedom, allowing designers to create iconic structures that stand out.
Bridge railings are another element where functionality meets aesthetics. While they primarily serve to protect pedestrians and cyclists, railings can also be designed to enhance the visual appeal of the bridge. In urban or high-risk areas, railings are often higher and more enclosed for safety, whereas in rural areas, simpler designs may suffice. Historical railing systems can be preserved or replicated to maintain the cultural heritage of the area.
Bridge Lighting
Bridge lighting serves both functional and aesthetic purposes. It provides safety for users at night and deters vandalism, while also highlighting the bridge as a visual landmark. LED lighting has revolutionized bridge design, offering energy efficiency, reduced maintenance, and a wide range of color options. The right lighting can transform a pedestrian bridge into a striking feature of the nighttime landscape.
Taking a Multidisciplinary Approach to Pedestrian Bridge Design
Just as one community differs from the next, so do the pedestrian bridges that enhance their connectivity. With a considered process and collaborative approach combing the art and science of each project, the variety of design solutions available offer several paths to both meeting functional goals and making a statement for the community.
As a fixture of infrastructure designed to last decades, pedestrian bridges are created with an eye on the future and resilience in mind. Throughout the design process, input from a multidisciplinary team of engineers, planners, and architects is essential to creating landmark bridge design that maximizes the benefits of these public assets for generations to come.
After an event-filled weekend in Portland, Oregon, the Holgate Library is officially open! Grand opening celebrations featured community-centered activities and performances derived from a variety of heritage and backgrounds. The overarching theme of ‘Building Belonging’ emphasized a design approach that reflects the diverse community the library serves.
The Otak team, led by Mike Day, bond program manager, and Senior Project Coordinator Judith Moses was on-hand for the occasion along with leaders and the broader community to celebrate the opening of the first new library building in the county in over a decade.
About the Holgate Library Project
As just one piece of the broader $450 million Multnomah County Bond Program, Holgate Library represents the county’s most energy efficient library ever built. Covering 21,000-square feet, the facility triples the space of the 1971 building.
In making the most of the new space, an extensive public outreach program – including focus groups, public meetings, surveys, and workshops among other approaches – ensured the library’s design represented diverse community members. This effort led to design details such as signage in multiple languages, specific spaces for children and teens, and new art through a partnership with the Regional Arts and Culture Council and the Portland Street Art Alliance. Interior and exterior murals and mosaics are featured, with color and pattern design choices that were voted on by the public.
A combination of added space and technology upgrades make this a modern and flexible facility that will benefit the community for years to come. Otak is proud to serve the Multnomah County community as owner representative in this wide-reaching effort to improve every library across the county. For more information on the Holgate Library project and Multnomah County Library’s initiatives, visit their website at www.multcolib.org.
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At the heart of an essential transportation corridor for the University of Colorado, Boulder campus, the 30th and Colorado Underpass represents the city’s first-ever fully protected intersection. The design places an emphasis on multimodal infrastructure and pedestrian safety. Highlighting lighting, landscaping, and public art features aimed at seamlessly integrating it with the urban fabric.
