Mystery Arch

Check out this incredible picture taken by GreenWorker, Derek Sergison! Can you guess where it is?

DJC TopProjects 2013

GreenWorks would like to congratulate the many firms and contractors that received recognition for their great work according to the DJC Magazine Top Projects 2013. Every year the DJC magazine publishes their “TopProjects 2013” and ranks the best public and private buildings, renovations, and public works and transportation projects in Oregon and Southwest Washington. All top projects 2013 nominees are recognized and honored as leaders in their area of expertise. GreenWorks is very pleased that The Lewis and Clark Festival Park project received an honoree mention in the category of Public Buildings. Congratulations to our entire design and construction team for creating this notable park within the City of The Dalles. http://static1.squarespace.com/static/5ae7afd3b105982d79d627e8/5b75be18a8d7a597e42f629f/5b75bf1aa8d7a597e42f8685/1534443290015/a?format=original>

Design and Construction Team: Engineers: KPFF Consulting Engineers Architect: Nathan Good Architects Landscape Architect: GreenWorks, PC General Contractor: Kirby Nagelhout Construction Co.

Go to the following link to see all of the finalists considered this year’s best of the best: http://djcoregon.com/topprojects/

City of Gresham Springwater Trail Spur

Construction is complete on a new trail connecting the Springwater Trail through Gresham Main City Park to downtown Gresham. The approximately 1000 foot long multi-use trail improves pedestrian and bicycle connections through the park on an attractive, ADA accessible 15 foot wide promenade. The trail promenade is a key design element of the Main City Park Master Plan which GreenWorks developed with the City in 2008. The trail also features a distinctive gateway structure and plaza at the south end at the connection to the Springwater trail as well as rain gardens that treat stormwater run-off. Funding sponsors on the project included Metro, Oregon Parks and Recreation, Urban Trails Funding and Parks System Development Fees. The design team on the project was comprised of GreenWorks as the prime, KPFF Consulting Engineers (civil engineering), Kittelson & Associates, Inc. (lighting and electrical engineering), and Pacific Geotechnical, Inc.

For more information about the project click here.

GreenWorker Rides in 2013 Rose Festival Starlight Parade

The annual running of the Starlight Parade was held on Saturday, June 1st kicking-off the Portland Rose Festival. Riding on one of the floats was GreenWorker Shawn Kummer, representing the Portland-Kaohsiung Sister City Association, Dragon Boat Paddling and the team he paddles for, Team Dumples (they don’t sound tough, but their combination of spirit, enthusiasm and might makes them a force to be reckoned with). The dragon boat float and festive Team Dumples made the front page of the Metro Section of the Sunday Oregonian! This is just a glimpse into the diverse activities that GreenWorks staff are engaged in outside the office. Click here to read the article.

Metro Natural Areas Levy Passed!

On Tuesday, Metro region voters approved a property tax levy to pay for parks and natural areas funding. The tax will provide Metro with approximately $10 million a year for maintenance and restoration at its properties. Read the full article here. GreenWorks is pleased that the region has spoken in favor of funding parks and natural areas. As landscape architects we support this movement to protect the area’s vibrant network of outdoor destinations and protected land. As volunteers and consultants we’ve collaborated with Metro for many years and look forward to working together on future projects that safeguard our parks and natural areas for future generations.

Wilsonville SMART Operations Fleet Facility Construction Complete

Construction has been completed on the City of Wilsonville South Metro Area Regional Transit (SMART)  Operations Fleet Facility.  The project includes a 12,600 square foot Fleet and Administration Building located on an approximately 4.5 acre site.  Site improvements include employee and bus parking, fleet maintenance, and administrative services, and is located on SW Boberg Road adjacent to the Wilsonville Westside Express Service (WES) Station. Design services provided by GreenWorks, include Conceptual Site Design and Grading Coordination, type ‘C’ Tree Preservation and Removal Plans, and Final Construction Documentation.  The design team developed a budget sensitive sustainable plan that embraces the natural characteristics of the site, and architectural design features.  Habitat and buffering improvements integrated adjacent to the Significant Resource Overlay Zone (SROZ), provide a transition and embraced the landscape strategy of incorporating native and drought tolerant plants, in combination with a temporary irrigation system.  Stormwater is managed through on site conveyance in channels and basins, and is celebrated through roof rainwater capture and outfall at architectural scuppers along the building entrance.

It's Spring in Tanner Springs Park!

Humans and heron alike are enjoying the beautiful weather at Tanner Springs Park located in NW Portland in the Pearl District. Check out these awesome photos courtesy of Mike Houck (Urban Greenspaces Institute)!

Expo Center Stormwater Wall

GreenWorks is working with the City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services to design a Green Wall at the Expo Center that will also manage roof stormwater runoff. Because of this added function, we have taken to calling this project a Stormwater Wall. A design workshop was just recently held on April 16^th with our project partners at Metro and the Expo Center along with participants from BES and GreenWorks. There was a lot of good conversation, information and design ideas generated during the work session from which to move forward with into the design phase of the project. The Storm Water Wall project will serve as a prototype for BES from which they can monitor and learn from for future green wall projects. It will also provide an exciting and attractive new green sustainable feature to the the Expo Center.

It's National Arbor Month and National Landscape Architecture Month!

April is a busy month for landscape architects and lovers of trees.  This month is dedicated to Arbor Month and National Landscape Architecture Month (NLAM). The City of Portland began the celebration for Arbor Month by adorning valuable trees with price tags.  The city is holding events all month long for those interested in getting involved and learning about Portland’s trees!

On the national front, National Landscape Architecture Month brings awareness to the profession and our role in the built environment. This year’s theme is Healthy Living Through Design.  Check it out!

Mirror Pond Visioning Project in Bend, Oregon

GreenWorks has started consulting work with Bend Parks and Recreation District on alternatives that will provide four different solutions for the community to  consider for the iconic Mirror Pond on the Deschutes River in Bend, Oregon. Each option, ranging from taking out a dam to dredging or something in between, will illustrate the visual impact, cost estimates, regulatory requirements, challenges and opportunities. GreenWorks visited the site recently. Click on this link to watch a video for more information

Mirror Pond in Bend, Oregon