GreenWorker Volunteers for The Columbia Land Trust

The Columbia Land Trust recently enlisted the ALSA Emerging Professionals, the American Planning Association, and other volunteer groups to participate in the Schoolhouse Creek fish and wildlife habitat improvement effort. The event educated volunteers on the creek’s hydrology while promoting stewardship and restoration to youth participants. The most satisfying parts of the event included scenic views of the wetland, surveying the 3-acre site tree plantings, and removing invasive blackberry. Be sure to check out upcoming volunteer opportunities and educational events with the Columbia Land Trust here: http://www.columbialandtrust.org/get-involved/

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.

GreenWorks Presents New Project in Astoria

GreenWorks met with the city of Astoria to present the Downtown Astoria Pedestrian Wayfinding Concept Plan. Those in attendance were city officials, focus group members, and Astoria community members. The presentation focused on distinct sign typologies that direct and inform pedestrians getting around downtown Astoria. Following the presentation was an interactive group discussion about sign locations, aesthetic preferences interpretive sign opportunities.

Echo Valley and Clackamas High School, in the press!

GreenWorks partnered with Clackamas County’s Water Environment Services (WES) to complete two exciting projects -- Echo Valley and Clackamas High School Low Impact Development Retrofit. Check out a recent article on their current impact from the Portland Tribune here!  

Westmoreland Construction in Full Swing

Construction of the Westmoreland Nature Play Area is in full swing and will be completed next month. Cascadian Landscapers is the General Contractor and have done a wonderful job crafting the organically shaped water mound, creek channel, and sand play area. The water mound is comprised of concrete cubes salvaged from the Crystal Springs Creek Restoration project. Adam Kuby, the project’s artist, along with Star Masonry recently installed log and boulder climbing features that are quite spectacular in their scale and composition. Oregon Log Homes fabricated the logs including cutting them to lengths and installing metal brackets for structural support. The Westmoreland Nature Play Area is a pilot project for Portland Parks & Recreation’s Nature-Based Play Initiative. GreenWorks worked with PP&R, the public, and design team to create a unique setting that encourages creative play with the use of natural elements such as sand, water, boulders, and logs. GreenWorks developed a master plan and construction documents that will serve as a model for the region for developing a large scale nature playground targeting all ages and abilities.

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.  

Kʰunamokwst Park Has Begun Construction

The next park in NE Portland has begun construction and has been officially named. Formerly known as the Werbin Property, the site will be called Kʰunamokwst Park (pronounced KAHN-ah-mockst). Kʰunamokwst is Chinook wawa for “together”. Chinook wawa is the language commonly used by the original people of this area. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on August 7th with Portland Parks Commissioner Amanda Fritz and Director Mike Abbate, joined by neighbors and project partners, to unveil the name and officially celebrate the beginning of construction of the first developed park in the Cully neighborhood. GreenWorks was the prime designer for the park starting from the Master Plan through construction. Features of the park include a combination of traditional and nature-based play, skatedot, public art, a modest picnic shelter with an eco-roof, walking paths, sustainable stormwater facilities, half-street improvements, native plantings, and an open lawn for neighborhood events and passive recreation.

Trillium Creek Park Grand Opening

GreenWorks recently celebrated the grand opening of Trillium Creek Park­, the first neighborhood park developed in the City of Damascus. The City, in partnership with Metro and North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District, developed this new park through the 2006 natural areas bond. The process included a successful open house series to inform the public of the park project, solicit feedback on desired program elements, and select options for a preferred design. The unique design carefully uses topography and the placement of elements to maximize the small, one-acre development footprint. The layout provides a comfortable walking path around the perimeter to preserve open space with artfully located elements that provide excellent views and intimate spaces, and also prevent competition between uses. Other key features include a universally accessible bridge that extends out onto the elevated playground structure. This launching point onto the playground structure is a focal point of the park, composed of locally-sourced boulders and plantings along the edge, which enhance the play environment and blend into the natural surroundings. The park, which is adjacent to Trillium Creek, provides a much needed and long awaited place for the community to gather, play, and connect to nature.

Cascade Avenue Under Construction in Sisters, Oregon

Construction of the Sisters Cascade Avenue (US 20) streetscape project is making progress. This project will increase walkability downtown while expressing the identity of Sisters.