As we approach the 30th anniversary of our practice (20 years as GreenWorks), we decided to have an office-wide flat file clean-out. We turned up the music, enjoyed some pizza, and found out just how much paper can fit inside a recycle bin.
It is always nice to be recognized for a job well done. But the most gratifying accolades are those that highlight work born of passion -- work that inspires us and of which we are most proud. Founding Principal Mike Faha’s passion is in creating livable, sustainable communities that balance economic, ecological, and social needs. This year, he was recognized with the highest honor in his profession for a body of work that spans four decades and defines his legacy as both a pioneer and innovator of sustainable design. Sunday, at the ASLA Annual Meeting and Expo in Chicago, Mike was honored for his contribution to his profession and to society by being named a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects (FASLA) for 2015. This great honor comes on the heels of another career milestone for Mike. In October, he was recognized by the American Public Works Association Oregon Chapter (APWA) with the Individual Award in Sustainability Practices for his contribution to projects that enhance the economic development, financial stability, education, safety, enjoyment, livability, environmental stewardship, conservation, and energy efficiency in communities throughout Oregon. With over 30 years’ experience restoring the health of urban watersheds, Mike tirelessly advocates for low impact development and promotes urban stormwater planning and design as an integral part of the work of landscape architects. His approach to projects integrates various professional disciplines in order to realize multiple-objective community design goals. To be acknowledged by his peers for the work that is closest to his heart is a tremendous moment in his career.
Cheers to Mike! This truly caps off a year that can only be described as an annus mirabilis for Mike and GreenWorks. With Gill Williams joining GreenWorks in March and numerous awards for our projects, GreenWorks truly has many reasons to give thanks for a wonderful year.
As we start the month of October, so ends another Bike Commute Challenge. We’ve had great ridership this year! The 10 participants logged a total of 1,185 miles, with Senior Landscape Architect, Dave Walters logging 306 of those miles all on his own! GreenWorks is very active in community events that promote and enrich our local Portland culture and the Bicycle Transportation Association’s annual Bike Commute Challenge is one of our favorites. As early leaders working with the BTA, GreenWorks actively promotes bike ridership. In 2000, GreenWorks won first place in the first annual BTA Bike Commute Challenge, and we have won four additional first place awards since then. Here’s to another great year!
Mike Faha, a founding principal of GreenWorks, was recently selected as an ASLA Fellow for 2015! Click here for more details.
We are excited to welcome Jennifer as the newest member of the GreenWorks team! Jennifer has over 13 years of experience as a biologist and landscape designer. Drawing upon her experience from these two disciplines, Jennifer is a project manager at GreenWorks on a variety of planning and design projects consisting of stormwater management, green infrastructure, natural resource planning, recreation and interpretive design, and environmental restoration and enhancement. Jennifer is a certified as a Professional Wetland Scientist and experience includes landscape design, wetland delineation and permitting, habitat assessment, biological surveys, visual analysis, regulatory compliance, construction management and monitoring. In her free time, Jennifer can be found in her garden, on a hike or a backpacking trip (maybe you can find her), practicing yoga, or frequenting one of Portland’s amazing restaurants.
On January 30th, GreenWorks hosted four college students from the University of Oregon as part of the 22nd Annual Shadow Mentor Day, an event organized by the Department of Landscape Architecture, Student ASLA and ASLA Oregon. The students spent part of the day with GreenWork’s staffers-Michael Corrente, Ben Johnson, Shawn Kummer, and Robin Moodie-who each gave presentations about the effort and commitment behind a variety of project types, as well as providing insight into the role professionals’ play in marketing efforts. After a casual Q and A lunch with GreenWorks staff, the students toured a few recent and past projects giving the students a broad overview of the Landscape Architecture profession.
As part of the Werbin Park development with the City of Portland Parks & Recreation, GreenWorks is supporting the Cully Neighborhood’s commitment to social equity. GreenWorks is providing outreach for underprivileged neighborhood children who, ultimately, are the true clients of this new park. The Werbin Park project is being used as a platform for teaching kids in the program about park design and the building process. Partnered with Verde and Hacienda’s Expresiones after school program which engages 5th, 6th and 7th graders during the summer, GreenWorks is providing a series of events with Expresiones. The program consists of six weeks of activities including a site visit to Werbin Park and other similar parks. On the first field trip to GreenWorks, students learned about the design process, saw how construction drawings are put together, and participated in activities to develop their design skills. GreenWorks employees Ben Johnson, Claire Maulhardt and Jeff Boggess planned the interactive office visit with the students. GreenWorks is working with Travis Ruybal (City of Portland), Tony Defalco and Nestor Campos (Verde), and Anna Gordon (Expresiones, Hacienda) in planning the summer field trips.
Check out this incredible picture taken by GreenWorker, Derek Sergison! Can you guess where it is?
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.
GreenWorks hosted ACE Mentoring, a national program with the mission to engage, excite, and enlighten high school students to pursue careers in architecture, landscape architecture, engineering and construction. As one of the team leaders of ACE, Claire Maulhardt, landscape designer with GreenWorks, has been involved with this student group to promote the relationship between students and the Landscape Architecture profession.
On January 24th, GreenWorks hosted an ACE Mentoring session geared toward site analysis, site design and the urban landscape. The ACE project this year is focused on an existing high school site that needs a new Career/Technical Education Addition or Arts Addition. Over the course of five months, the mentors will walk the students through the design and construction process using the project as an example. In an effort to instill sustainability in the minds of the students, the design will endeavor to reduce energy, conserve/store water, reduce and/or reuse waste, utilize on-site renewable energy sources, and incorporate the use of recycled materials.
The photographs below show a site planning exercise conducted by the students to determine the best location for the new addition on the existing school site.
Integrating people and nature through creative and sustainable design.
Landscape Architecture | Environmental Design
110 SE Main St, Suite 100, Portland, OR 97214
e. info@greenworkspc.com p. 503.222.5612 f. 503.222.2283
