Every Monday morning at GreenWorks we have a meeting to kick off the week. A portion of this meeting is dedicated to ‘sharing’ which can include anything from photos people have taken while on vacation, family and personal updates, images of projects through the phases of design and construction, events and conferences attended, or stories of how people spend their time volunteering. This last part is something special at GreenWorks; as individuals and as GreenWorks employees, we are dedicated to our communities and the environment in so many unique ways. Here are a few ways people at GreenWorks volunteer their time:

GreenWorks was honored to assist landscape architect firm Abbaté Designs by using their two-dimensional design drawings to create immersive, 3D visualizations of a proposed Vietnam War Memorial on the Oregon State Capitol grounds. The memorial is a tribute to Vietnam veterans, and a place to remember the hard lessons and the immense costs of that war.

When I applied to be the office coordinator at GreenWorks, I figured I had the upper hand. I’d been around landscape architecture since I was fifteen (my brother’s a landscape architect). After starting at GreenWorks, however, I quickly learned I was not much further along than people who think landscape architecture is the same as landscaping maintenance. I found myself listening to conversations around the office feeling like that scene in Stranger Things where Winona Ryder’s character is trying to decipher messages through holiday lights strung up on her wall.

Chris Weaver recently joined our team after working with us on the Port of Vancouver Terminal 1 Mixed Use project and finishing a master’s degree at the University of Oregon.

Depave has been replacing local parking lots with paradises by hosting community work parties for more than ten years. With mentions in Time Magazine, the BBC, and The Guardian, it’s become a bit of a phenomenon—so much so it’s now a verb.

We’ve been honored to participate and even help design some of the “depaved” spaces and we’re working on another one right now.

Scarification can be done before new soil is brought in or done in-place, when things are added right on top of existing soil to improve it. Regardless of the method used to create a new planting soil profile, the important takeaway is that scarification makes the soil healthier because the subsoil is loosened a few inches below the new planting soil.

We’re excited to announce that because of our commitment to reducing watershed impacts, healthy-streams advocate Salmon-Safe has recognized GreenWorks with Salmon-Safe accreditation—and we’re the first landscape architecture firm anywhere to do it!

The Portland-based nonprofit Salmon-Safe works with public and private landowners to promote onsite stormwater treatment, water conservation, habitat restoration, and protection of water quality. Firms like GreenWorks are Salmon-Safe accredited for extensive efforts to halt runoff from entering streams and impacting imperiled salmon through integrated stormwater management.

You’ve probably heard planners are considering a new Trimet MAX line to Southwest Portland. The new line, right now known as the Southwest Corridor (SWC) Plan, is in the planning stage. There’s no sure bet the line will happen, as there are many hurdles it’ll need to clear before the project can be completed, but there are lots of people working hard on the design in hopes it will go to construction. GreenWorks Senior Project Manager Jennifer D’Avanzo, as part of the Urban Design Team, has been involved with the project since mid-last year.

Fay Savage recently joined the GreenWorks team and we’re thrilled. She comes to us with an MBA and great experience in the energy, creative, hospitality, and manufacturing industries. She brings innovative, detail-oriented analytical skills, and a wonderful sense of humor. So where has she been and what does she get around to when she’s not helping us pay the bills?

We’re thrilled Vivian Schoung has joined the GreenWorks team as a Landscape Designer. She’s hit the ground running and we’ve really enjoyed having her around. We wanted to get to know her, so we asked why she chose this work, where she’s been, and what she does for fun. Here’s our interview.