Portland EXPO Center Stormwater Green Wall Grand Opening

A grand opening was held on October 1, 2014 at Portland’s EXPO Center to celebrate the completion of The Portland EXPO Center Stormwater Green Wall. The event was well attended by the many project partners that worked together to realize this new and innovative approach to the sustainable management of stormwater using a vertical green wall system. They included representatives from City of Portland Environmental Services, Metro and Metro Exposition and Recreation Commission members, Portland EXPO Center and the Design team led by GreenWorks and Cascade Design Professionals. The event also featured speeches of recognition by Matthew Rotchford, Director of the Portland EXPO Center; Scott Robinson, Metro’s Deputy COO and Interim General Manager of Visitor Venues; Dean Marriott, Director of the Bureau of Environmental Services; Tony Barber, Director of Oregon office of the EPA; and Mike Faha, Principal of GreenWorks. The project has received quite a bit of press recently, which can be viewed using the web links provided below.

http://www.oregonmetro.gov/news/stormwater-green-wall-gets-warm-welcome-portland-expo-center

http://www.oregonmetro.gov/news/portland-expo-center-debuts-unique-living-stormwater-green-wall

http://djcoregon.com/news/2014/09/26/stormwater-management-goes-vertical/

http://portlandtribune.com/sl/235333-100755-expo-center-adds-innovative-wall-to-vent-storm-drainage-

http://www.portlandonline.com/fish/index.cfm?a=505073&

Construction of the Expo Stormwater/Green Wall Nearing Completion

Construction is nearing completion of a GreenWorks designed, first of its kind, 2,000 square foot custom green wall that manages 9,400 square feet of roof stormwater runoff. The stormwater wall structure was designed in partnership with the City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) as a pilot project that they will use to monitor and learn from for future potential green wall/stormwater wall projects. The stormwater wall is a freestanding custom metal structure composed of twelve vegetated channels. A water distribution system divides and distributes the collected stormwater to each of the vegetated channels where pollutants are filtered out before passing back into the building’s existing drainage system. The stormwater wall is prominently located at METRO’s Portland EXPO Center where it will also provide an exciting and attractive new sustainable and educational feature greeting visitors to the EXPO. Cascade Design Professionals provided structural design on the project and Colton Construction Co. is the General Contractor.

Exciting Developments at the Lloyd Center

GreenWorks has teamed with Waterleaf Architecture to design improvements for the Lloyd Center. Check out this article in the DJC for the most recent design updates by Waterleaf.  

Poetry at the Beach Grand Opening

Come join GreenWorks and the Human Access Project (HAP) for Poetry at the Beach! Mike Faha, Principal of GreenWorks and current board member of HAP, and GreenWorks Landscape Designer Jeff Boggess assisted with the design of this poetry walk. GreenWorks is excited to support Will Levenson as Director of the Human Access Project and we look forward to further collaborations. See details of the event below.

GreenWorks Teaches HS Students About LID Stormwater Standards

GreenWorks is preparing a master plan for Clackamas High School that identifies potential stormwater low impact development retrofit projects for Clackamas County Water Environment Services.  The purpose is to ultimately build one or more projects (such as rain gardens, green roofs, structural soils, etc.) that can visibly demonstrate the benefits of low impact development practices to students, teachers, parents and the general public. As part of the project, we are interacting with high school science classes, telling students about Low Impact Development (LID) and our specific project, as well as gathering student input on project options. Hopefully, the students will have opportunities to help with planting and long-term care of the projects.

Pioneer Park Dedication Ceremony

Pioneer Park, located in the Tualatin Hills and Recreation District (THPRD), embodies some unique natural features including approximately 7.5 acres of wetlands, stream corridors, and upland forest. The park was redeveloped with funding from the district’s 2008 voter-approved bond measure and is an amenity for the surrounding neighborhood. GreenWorks provided general park upgrades, recommendations for increased habitat value, and an approach to stewardship while creating a memorable and enjoyable recreation space. The park improvements respect the natural amenities on site including hundreds of mature native trees and a seasonally wet field. The design team followed City of Beaverton, Clean Water Services, Division of State Lands and Army Corps of Engineers guidelines for development in sensitive ecosystems.

From 11am to 3pm on Saturday, May 10th, THPRD hosted a Nature Day in the Park, where park users could learn about the park’s resident animals, and explore the forest and fields in search of wildlife. Face painting, hotdogs, and a ribbon cutting ceremony officially commemorated the completion of the park improvements. Come experience and play in this new community space!

From SW Walker Road, go north on SW Meadow Drive until it meets NW Pioneer Road. The park is on the northwest corner of the intersection.

GreenWorks Awarded by Oregon Community Trees

GreenWorks was recently honored with the Organization Award by Oregon Community Trees! Check out their website for more details.

Memorial Parking Lot Redesign & Expansion Project Completed

Construction was recently completed for the redesigned and expanded parking lot that serves the lower area of Memorial Park in the City of Wilsonville. The new design, developed by GreenWorks and Wallis Engineering with the City of Wilsonville, implements a new vehicular circulation pattern that better utilizes the space while also enhancing pedestrian access routes through the parking area and to the park.

The new design is also sensitive to mature existing conifer trees in the parking area, many of which were saved and incorporated into the design of the new parking area. The project also features five vegetated stormwater treatment swales that stormwater flows into from the paved areas of the parking area.

Prior to the project, stormwater from the parking area had been piped directly to an adjacent creek. The contractor on the project was Kersey Construction, Inc.

Trillium Creek Park is Nearing Completion

With an anticipated opening date in late May or early June, Trillium Creek Park will be the first substantial neighborhood park in the City of Damascus. The park is within the City limits and will be part of the extensive park's system of North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District (NCPRD). GreenWorks worked closely with NCPRD, the City, and community to develop the design of this one-acre neighborhood park from concept through construction which includes an inclusive playground, universally accessible walking paths, a picnic shelter, basketball court, seating areas, and native plantings.

Metro Design Standards

The Parks and Natural Areas Levy, passed by the region’s voters in 2013, created an opportunity to bring high design standards to Metro’s parks and natural areas around the metropolitan area. These standards are the foundation that will guide the design and implementation of dozens of projects throughout the life of the levy, establishing the signature elements of Metro’s parks. This can best be accomplished with these standards, which provide a firm foundation from which to make decisions and proceed with a clear process. This site furnishings standard document ensures that the selection, purchase, and installation of all site furnishings for projects within the levy process and beyond will reaffirm the Metro Compass, Metro Values, and overall vision for the levy work. The standards were developed in the fall of 2013, through a collaborative process involving a cross-departmental committee of Metro staff and the professional services of GreenWorks, PC. The document was completed using observation, inventory of existing site furnishings, and input from staff. Over the course of four stakeholder meetings, the committee refined the final list of furnishings, commented on the merits of existing Metro site furnishings, reviewed an inventory of several other park systems’ site furnishing standards, and refined GreenWorks’ initial recommendations.