Design Workshop for Gateway Green

GreenWorks recently held a Design Workshop for Gateway Green, a once forgotten 24-acre parcel located at the confluence of I-205 and I-84 in Portland, Oregon. During the workshop the advisory committee was encouraged to provide feedback on desired programming, circulation, and general layout of the park. By utilizing a mix of tactile objects such as post-its, colored string, and movable icons, participants were able to discuss the pros and cons of various layouts and engage in dynamic conversations about the project. GreenWorks gained an insurmountable amount of feedback from the experience, and is excited to use the information as guidance while navigating the project’s ultimate design.

GreenWorks is Silver Certified

GreenWorks is excited to announce it's official recognition as Silver Certified through the City of Portland's Sustainability at Work program. The program offers three levels of certification to recognize Portland business’s positive impact on the environment and the community. We look forward to working with the City of Portland on our journey towards Gold Certified! For more information on how to green your workplace, please visit: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/sustainabilityatwork/  

GreenWorks Welcomes Kelly Stoecklein

We are pleased to announce that Kelly Stoecklein has joined GreenWorks as a Landscape Designer. Her landscape design experience includes public and private projects of all types and scales in both Portland and Los Angeles where she has enjoyed site planning, planting design, and engaging with clients. While growing up in Vermont she worked in her father’s nursery and now appreciates that her family spent vacations visiting botanical gardens throughout New England. Welcome Kelly!

International Rose Test Garden Celebration

Our thanks to Portland Parks & Recreation for hosting the 100 Years of Roses event and the Accessibility Improvements Project ribbon cutting ceremony. It was a beautiful summer day in Washington Park’s International Rose Test Garden. A multitude of proud Portlanders, Royal Rosarians, families, musicians, artists, and visitors to the Rose City celebrated amid a stunning display of roses. Portland Parks Director Mike Abbate and City Commissioner Amanda Fritz spoke, and Gill Williams (the project’s Principal-in-Charge) and Mike Faha represented GreenWorks. Our thanks to the project team: PP& R Project Manager, Robin Laughlin PP&R Botanical Specialist/Curator International Rose Test Garden, Harry A. Landers Public Involvement, Maija Spencer Owner’s Representative, Suzanne Carey Contractor, Brown Contracting, Inc., Beau Biron, Project Superintendent

(Photo Credit: KLiK Concepts)

Starting Off the Week at Columbia Tech

This morning, Ben Johnson and Flora Yeh (pictured left) visited the Columbia Tech Nature Play Area now under construction in Vancouver, Washington. Great progress has been made since we last blogged about the project in August. Photos really don’t do it justice; the scale of this play area will surely make this a popular destination once complete. We’re thrilled to be working on this exciting project for PacTrust!

Mayor Ted Wheeler Declares August 2017 “International Rose Test Garden Centennial Month”

Portland Parks & Recreation is hosting 100 Years of Roses, the International Rose Test Garden Celebration on Saturday, August 26^th, 11:00 AM-8:30 PM. The GreenWorks team will be in attendance to celebrate the completion of the Accessibility Improvements Project, which removes barriers to access and provides accessibility upgrades to meet current ADA standards while maintaining and enhancing the historic character of the International Rose Test Garden. The GreenWorks team would like to acknowledge… PP& R Project Manager, Robin Laughlin PP&R Botanical Specialist/Curator International Rose Test Garden, Harry A. Landers Public Involvement, Maija Spencer Owner’s Representative, Suzanne Carey Contractor, Brown Contracting, Inc., Beau Biron, Project Superintendent

GreenWorks Welcomes Flora Yeh

We are pleased to announce that Flora Yeh has joined GreenWorks as Senior Project Manager. Flora is a licensed landscape architect in Washington State and Texas and is a LEED Accredited Professional. Flora brings experience in a diverse range of projects, from parks and residential gardens to urban design and master planning. Flora is passionate about achieving “a balance of biology, community, and artistry” through her work. Welcome Flora!

GreenWorks welcomes Matthew Crampton

This week, Matthew Crampton joined GreenWorks as Senior Project Manager. With almost a decade of experience, Matthew brings an energy and passion for context appropriate placemaking on urban design, planning, parks, higher education, and transportation projects. Welcome Matthew!

Hike Canemah Bluff!

It’s the perfect time of year for family-friendly hike on the Canemah Bluff Overlook Trail in Oregon City. The Camas flowers have been in bloom this spring, and Derek Sergison recently visited to take these beautiful photos. GreenWorks completed this Metro project in 2016. For more information and directions, see Metro’s website: http://www.oregonmetro.gov/parks/canemah-bluff-nature-park

Gill Williams at The University of Oregon, Portland School of Architecture

Gill went back to school this spring term, co-teaching a design studio at the University of Oregon’s School of Architecture. Co-led by Tim Smith, Principal at SERA Architects, the studio entitled Portland Green Loop: A Placemaking Armature for the 21st Century City explored how the public infrastructure of cities “can be a catalyst for the (re)generation of whole and beautiful city districts and neighborhoods, and why the public realm needs to be multi-functional from an economic, environmental, and social standpoint.” (excerpt from the syllabus) The 6-mile long Green Loop is a linear greenway envisioned for Portland’s central city area. Spanning the Willamette River and touching a variety of close-in districts and neighborhoods this pedestrian-centric facility is envisioned as a park, transportation corridor, urban placemaking catalyst, habitat and social experiment. 25 first year masters students spent 10 weeks exploring the possibilities of “The Green Loop” and the re-imagining of the neighborhoods along the alignment. Guest speakers during the studio included representatives from the City of Portland, the local development community and architecture, planning and landscape architecture practitioners. The studio culminated in two days of presentations by the students to a variety of local professionals.