GreenWorks Collaborates with Area Leaders as Part of the Oregon Sustainability Experience

On July 20, 2010, Jim Figurski, Principal and Technical Director at GreenWorks, led an on-site discussion of the sustainable principles incorporated in the design at Tanner Springs Park in the Pearl District.  The tour and discussion was part of the annual Oregon Sustainability Experience.  Jim’s discussion of the design principles and goals for the park was followed by a discussion of on-going maintenance practices and the evolution of the Park by Mark  Griswold Wilson, a Restoration Ecologist working for Portland Parks and Recreation. You can learn more about the Oregon Sustainability Experience at: http://www.thesustainabilityexperience.org/2010/urban_leaders.html

George Rogers Park Kiosk Unveiling & Garden Dedication

Come join us at George Rogers Park in Lake Oswego, this Saturday, July 24^th at 10:00am to celebrate the unveiling of a new Interpretive Kiosk for the Oswego Iron Furnace and the dedication of the Gerber Memorial Garden.  GreenWorks provided design services for the Gerber Memorial Garden, the Interpretive Kiosk, and the flagstone plaza surrounding the restored Oswego Iron Furnace.

Wyeth Columbia River Treaty Fishing Access Site Breaks Ground

The Wyeth Columbia River Treaty Fishing Access Site broke ground recently with a ceremony celebrating the historic project.  GreenWorks staff attended the ceremony to celebrate as members of the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Columbia Inter Tribal Fish Commission, Oregon State Parks, Advanced American Construction, and Native American Tribes engaged in the ceremonial shovel turn.  The Native American Tribes involved with the groundbreaking included the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Region, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation, and the Nez Perce Tribe. GreenWorks is providing restoration and environmental improvement design for 3 sites in Oregon along the Columbia River including Wyeth Fishing Site, Celilo and Rufus.  The Wyeth site will include design of a single span bridge, roadway improvements, boat dock and ramp, restroom and fish cleaning station.  Wyeth will also include a picnic area, stormwater facilities, and campground. GreenWorks will provide design for restoration and revegetation.

Pendleton’s Let’er Buck Statue Unveiled

The City of Pendleton gathered last month to unveil the new Let'er Buck Statue designed by Austin Barton.  The statue is in the heart of the new Pendleton Centennial Plaza which GreenWorks designed.  GreenWorks worked with City Staff and the Pendleton Round-Up Association to design major improvements to the Plaza on a short time-frame to enable completed construction by the 2010 Pendleton Round-Up.  Let'er Buck commemorates the 100th Anniversary of the Pendleton Round-Up.  The City hosted a parade, unveiling ceremony, and activities at the Round-Up Grounds and nearby Roy Raley Park to celebrate the new statue.  GreenWorks' Principal Mike Faha was in Pendleton to catch the unveiling and share the celebration with the Pendleton community.

First & Main Building Grand Opening

Earlier this month developer Shorenstein Properties unveiled Portland's newest downtown office building, First & Main.  GreenWorks took part in this $100 million, 15-story office tower in the downtown Portland core with views of the waterfront as well as downtown open spaces.  Slated for LEED-Gold, this tower offers unique amenities, including a large- bike hub, as well a 13,000 s.f. of extensive ecoroof and a 15,000 square foot rooftop terrace.  Both of these amenities work to achieve the stormwater management strategies, as well as provide habitat, reduce heat island effect, and provide a pleasant place to relax for office workers.  Included in the terrace is a large open plaza zone, looping pathway for exercise, and large planters with a range of lush vegetation.  Acting as an oasis in the city, these spaces add to the sustainability and marketability of this high-profile project which includes highly-efficient irrigation, quality materials, and innovative design.

Nature Based Playground Group Tour

GreenWorks organized and led a Nature Based Play Tour early this year. We had an increasing number of clients, peers and local agencies that were showing an interest in natural play options. Many of these agencies are still working through questions like; how nature play works, what makes something nature play, and what are the benefits and nature play. GreenWorks and members from Oregon Park and Recreation Department, Portland Parks and Recreation, Metro, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Miller Hull, and Mahlum Architects met to talk over issues surrounding nature play and visit some examples.

Site Visits Included:

Catlin Gable School

Providence Montessori School

Cooper Mountain Nature Area

Memorial Park - City of Wilsonville

GreenWorks is currently working with Oregon Parks and Recreation Department to design their first natural play area at Silver Falls State Park to open in 2011.

Trends in the Landscape Industry

GreenWorks' Principal Mike Faha recently hosted an Education Session at the 2009 Oregon Landscape Expo, discussing Trends in the Landscape Industry.

"The session will identify future trends in the landscape industry with the current focus on sustainability and the means of implementation for construction and maintenance projects.  What new projects can be expected in the future will also be discussed."

To see Mike Faha's full powerpoint presentation, click the link below:

Green Trends

Green From the Ground Up

NEW GREEN FROM THE GROUND UP SEMINAR: SWALES, RAIN GARDENS AND THE NEW LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT APPROACHES HANDBOOK

Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009 8:30 to 11 a.m. Portland Community College Rock Creek Campus Event Center 17705 NW Springville Road, Portland $10 registration fee

The Home Builders Association (HBA) Green Building Council, Clean Water Services and Metro have brought together speakers to present a balanced perspective and complete spectrum of information on swales and rain gardens.

estacada library rain garden

Carrie Pak, engineering division manger from Clean Water Services will be introducing their new Low Impact Development Approaches (LIDA) Handbook for the Tualatin Basin. Other presenters include Paul Dedyo, PE, KPFF Engineering, Mike Faha, Landscape Architect, Green Works and Alan Hipolito, Executive Director and business manager, Verde. The presenters will share experience-based insights and lessons learned about swale and rain garden design, installation – from sizing to plant selection – and operations, maintenance, project examples and case studies.

Register online now! Find out more about this seminar Find out more about nature-friendly – or low impact – development

Historic Kenton Main Street to Get Makeover

On Tuesday, August 25th a crowd braved a spot of summer rain to attend a  news conference to kick off Kenton business district streetscape project.  Portland Mayor Sam Adams and representatives of the Portland Development Commission, Multnomah County Libraries, N. Denver Avenue businesses, and the Kenton Neighborhood Association were all in attendance.  Some info from the PDC media advisory:

"Lots of new changes are coming to a historic part of town as a full range of streetscape improvements begin construction on N. Denver Avenue, the main street in the Kenton neighborhood. Construction is expected to begin in early September to renovate the 4.5-block stretch of N. Denver Avenue (Interstate Avenue south to Watts Street).  Improvements include wider sidewalks, new street trees, stormwater planters, pedestrian lighting, concrete street resurfacing, a granite public art sculpture and seven carved stone benches. The $2.85 million N. Denver Avenue Streetscape Improvement Project is funded by PDC in coordination with the Portland Bureau of Transportation. The city has been working with local businesses, community representatives, and technical experts since 2006 to plan the right mix of attractive, functional improvements.

The N. Denver Avenue project exemplifies the vision of 20-minute neighborhoods called out as a key element of the city’s new economic development strategy. Related revitalization projects include Multnomah County’s remodeling of 8226 N. Denver for a new North Portland library branch;  renovation of the iconic Paul Bunyan statue at the intersection of N. Denver and Interstate Avenue; and the opening of new businesses in the district. "

Images © GreenWorks PC.  For more information about this project check out our website.  Also see these recent articles in the Portland Business Journal and the Portland Tribune.

A Hopeful Rooftop Harvest

The Multnomah County Hope Garden installed in mid-June as a GreenWorks pro-bono project with a host of other partners, continues to thrive.  On August 19th hosted a crowd to continue the harvest.  Commissioner Judy Shiprack, Sustainability Coordinator Kat West, and many others celebrated with a brief  'harvest' ceremony to celebrate the donations of time, labor, and materials from a wide range of people and local businesses.

The produce will be donated to the Oregon Food Bank to combat hunger issues in our region, and if you have surplus veggies from your garden, these can be donated to OFB through the Plant a Row for the Hungry campaign.  Over 4000 pounds of produce so far this year has been donated from local gardeners - over 50 of which came for this very productive 150 square feet of rooftop.

commissioner shiprack addresses the crowd

the bounty grows

the plaque showing donations and volunteers