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Month: October 2023

The Advantages of Sustainable Development with Accredited Staff

Posted on by OTAK Team

In an era marked by increasing concerns about environmental resilience and social equity, sustainable development is no longer just a buzzword – it’s the new “business as usual”. Sustainable development encompasses a wide range of practices aimed at reducing or eliminating the negative impact of human activities on the environment while fostering healthy and equitable communities.

In this piece, we’ll explore the numerous advantages of sustainable development practices, with a particular focus on the valuable role of sustainable professional accreditations in achieving these goals.

What are the Advantages of Sustainable Development?

The advantages of sustainable development are multifaceted, extending across the natural and built environments, social systems, and the economy. Approaches must be forward-thinking and use a wide lens to evaluate potential impacts. From protecting natural resources to emphasizing active transportation, when community building aligns with sustainable practices, quality of life is improved for all.

Infographic displaying some common sustainability frameworks and the unique mission behind each.

Resource Efficiency and Cost Savings

One of the most significant advantages of sustainable development lies in its resource efficiency and cost-saving potential. With an emphasis on more efficient use of resources, sustainable design results in long-term savings that have the potential to outweigh initial investment. For example, water conservation measures and low-impact development (LID) strategies can significantly reduce water bills and alleviate the strain on local water resources over the long-term, which are becoming increasingly scarce in many areas.

Additionally, sustainable buildings incorporate energy-efficient features such as daylighting and insulation, leading to reduced energy consumption and lower energy costs. Over time, these designs pay dividends by reducing both operational costs and energy-use intensity, which is a key objective of the AIA 2030.

Resilience in Design

As our planet faces increasingly unpredictable and extreme environmental conditions, designing projects with resilience in mind becomes paramount. These projects often use more durable materials and construction methods that extend the lifespan of structures, reducing waste and future maintenance and replacement costs. This resilience extends to addressing challenges like climate change, seismic activity, and flooding – ensuring that projects remain functional during times of external stressors due to extreme weather, instability or resource challenges. Many of the services provided by this type of infrastructure are critical – hospitals, power generation facilities, emergency services, and essential ecosystem services.

Low impact development (LID) and stormwater planning for instance are crucial aspects of resilience. With growing concerns from disasters like wildfire and flooding making certain areas uninsurable, resiliency planning can help mitigate the growing threats as well as the associated costs of damage and recovery.

Property Value and Market Demand

In the world of vertical construction, properties with sustainability certifications often command higher market values than their non-certified counterparts. As sustainability becomes a more prominent concern for individuals and businesses, certification from frameworks like LEED, WELL, and SITES can significantly impact the demand for properties. Prospective buyers and tenants increasingly seek out environmentally friendly spaces that result in healthier and more productive spaces, making certified properties more appealing and valuable across markets.

Graphic featuring a quote from Scott Thayer on sustainable accreditation.

Healthier Communities and Biodiversity

Sustainable development also contributes to the creation of healthier communities and supports biodiversity in several ways. Indoor spaces benefit from improved air quality and other features that enhance occupant health and productivity. Outdoor spaces, too, play a crucial role, as sustainable development often involves projects like rain gardens, brownfield cleanups, and habitat restoration efforts. These initiatives not only enhance the aesthetics of the community but also contribute to the well-being of the natural world on which we all rely.

Reducing carbon emissions collectively improves the health of communities by mitigating the impacts of climate change while also creating greater mobility and community connectivity. Acknowledging and rewarding such efforts is crucial to fostering a sense of responsibility for our environment.

Profiles in Sustainable Accredited Staff

See Danah’s Profile
See Charles’ Profile
See Omar’s Profile

The Value of Professional Accreditations on a Project Team

Having staff with sustainable accreditations on a project team can be vital to the successful implementation of the practices discussed above. Various sustainability certification frameworks, each with its own unique processes and criteria, require expertise to navigate effectively. Having accredited team members streamlines the certification process, is often a requirement, and ensures that projects meet the rigorous sustainability standards set by these frameworks.

Multiple Disciplines Working Toward a Common Goal

Sustainable design takes shape in a variety of ways and across all phases of project development. From meeting – or exceeding – formal sustainable certification goals to simply finding efficiencies, a team with a diverse skillset brings a holistic perspective to the entire process.

Taking this multidisciplinary approach maximizes collaboration between a diverse and deep understanding of how sustainability applies to interconnected project elements, which can be critical to delivering on green goals. Equally as important is bringing these teams together early and keeping them engaged from project conception through construction and commissioning.

Streamlining the Certification Process

Accredited team members play a pivotal role in streamlining the certification process. Given the variations in certification frameworks, their expertise ensures that the project team selects the most suitable framework, understands the available design and reporting options, and efficiently navigates the submittal process. This knowledge helps the project progress smoothly towards achieving, verifying, and communicating its sustainability goals.

Graphic featuring a quote from Rose Horton on sustainable accreditation.

Obtaining and Maintaining Sustainable Accreditation

Earning and maintaining sustainability accreditation is an ongoing process. As the industry quickly innovates, new techniques and case studies routinely become available to advance our understanding and practical implementation of what is considered “sustainable design”. Keeping up on those is also a requirement of keeping an accreditation.

Individuals value their accreditation as a mark of expertise and commitment to sustainability. Organizations like Otak support their accredited staff by encouraging them to earn and maintain their accreditations. Through initiatives like our OtakU, staff members have opportunities to enhance their skills and keep their knowledge current.

Designing for sustainability offers a multitude of advantages, from resource efficiency and cost savings to healthier communities and enhanced biodiversity. Having an accredited project team is instrumental in realizing these benefits, as it streamlines the certification process and ensures that projects meet the highest sustainability standards. With the increasing importance of sustainability in today’s world, having accredited staff members on your team is not just an asset – it’s a necessity for creating a better, more sustainable future.

Graphic featuring a quote from Eva Ho on sustainable accreditation.
See Our Sustainable Work

Hispanic Heritage in AEC: Four Perspectives on Improving Communities

Posted on by OTAK Team

This year and every year, we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with reverence and mindfulness. Reverence for the contributions Hispanic individuals have made on both our industry and our firm, and mindful of the fact that we have much left to do to advance equity for underrepresented groups essential to the ecosystem of AEC work.

Observed from September 15th to October 15th, Hispanic Heritage Month is dedicated to celebrating the histories, culture, and contributions of Hispanic Americans with ancestors from across the globe. At Otak and across firms in the built environment, we use this month to highlight Hispanic culture’s contributions to and growing influence on the industry.

Hispanic individuals make up 31% of the construction workforce in the US, and the share of Hispanic people earning a bachelor’s degree in STEM related fields is up 5% in the last decade. The impact of Hispanic Americans on the AEC industry cannot be overlooked and Otak sees this in practice through our project work. From Pritsker Prize-winning architects at RCR Arquitectes in Spain, to a construction worker you may pass by on a job site, a myriad of cultures and perspectives influence our built environment.

We asked Hispanic team members from across Otak’s offices: What about your lived experience has been impactful in your approach to work and community involvement?

The answers we got were insightful and valuable.

Josh Guerra – Senior Project Architect

Josh is a proud second generation Mexican American, and says he is continually inspired by the story of his grandparents emigrating to the US in the early 20th century – something to which he credits his work ethic and ambition.

Rooted in his Hispanic heritage, his biggest design influences as an architect include pre-Columbian, megalithic architecture of the Mayans, Aztecs, and Inca, as well as modern, Spanish architecture styles a la the work of Antoni Gaudi, Enric Miralles, and Santiago Calatrava — garnered from his time abroad as a graduate student in Barcelona. In Josh’s case, his heritage and inspirations translates to nearly every project he touches!

Ken Vigil – Senior Project Manger/Engineer

Ken, senior project manager and engineer in our water resources group, is also extremely proud of his Hispanic heritage, and says it lends him a unique lens toward stakeholder involvement across all sorts of projects.

A believer in working hard, serving family, and uplifting communities – he points to his recent involvement with managing habitat restoration at the confluence of Deep Creek along the Clackamas River in Oregon. Ken says he was selected not just thanks to his technical expertise, but also thanks to his cultural values and awareness, especially when working with indigenous community members to restore a culturally significant site based on their needs and desires. To Ken – heritage and cultural knowledge translate to results when shaping the built environment and restoring natural spaces.

Sandy Stewart – Office Manager

Sandy heads our office operations out of our Louisville office in Colorado, and says her Guatemalan heritage has shaped her life and defines her to this day.

She describes her culture as colorful, vibrant, rich in tradition and values, and characterized by a fusion of Spanish and indigenous influences with which she recalls growing up. Her values of hard work, integrity, family, and good food translate directly to the bright and tenacious identity she brings to work with her every day. In her 23 years at Otak, she’s also helped deliver on many successful projects – being especially proud of the McCaslin Boulevard Underpass in her backyard of Louisville.

Javier Buenrostro – Marketing Intern

Javier is a fresh face among our Otak marketing team, and as someone who has lived in both Mexico and the United States – he says his experiences have deeply influenced both his approach to work and community service. Working with our team on relevant project pursuits has made him appreciate the impact he can have on underrepresented communities when we win work to improve their built and natural environments, and he strives to represent his heritage in authentic and relevant ways when a fresh perspective is needed.

Taking a Community-Driven Approach to Design

Otak views it as paramount that we remain intentional about enhancing the daily lives of our community members through thoughtful development, this month and every month. From ensuring accessibility and affordability in housing to investing in essential public works and fostering robust public engagement, we and our teaming partners within the industry hold the power to shape thriving communities, no matter the socioeconomic background or ethnic makeup. By embracing these values, we can pave the way for a brighter and more inclusive future, where every individual can enjoy the benefits of a well-designed and compassionate neighborhood.

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month from Otak!

School Bond Program Management: Piecing Together the Puzzle of Success

Posted on by Otak Staff

For something as inherently valuable as education, the means for updating its facilities are often less than straightforward.

The process for improving education community assets often relies on many steps over a complex timeline that involves a variety of different stakeholders. Education professionals typically maintain full schedules in keeping their schools functioning as well as possible. With so many complex and moving parts, many organizations benefit from partnering with a bond program manager with the technical expertise to ensure a bond management process runs smoothly alongside typical operations.

In this piece, we’ll examine the elements of a successful school bond program and the role of an owner’s representative, or bond program manager plays in supporting the client.

Read on or skip ahead:

What is a School Bond Program?

A school bond program is a form of financing for capital construction projects that many communities rely on for improving their facilities. The projects that comprise a bond program can range from new construction or facilities renovation to addressing deferred maintenance. The cost for these often exceeds typical operating budgets so additional funds are sought from voters in general elections.

Falling into the category of general obligation (GO) bonds, school bonds are generally funded by leveraging property taxes, proposed during general elections. Beyond just improving the built environment for students, teachers, and the community – or in supporting the longevity of an asset – to pass bonds school districts must be thoughtful and strategic about the needs and interests of their community and appeal to those voters.

Bonds may focus on life, fire, safety, and ADA concerns. Some will also address more targeted goals like seismic improvements, pedagogy, or curriculum advancements such as career-technical education facilities. At their heart, bond programs and their passage are an expression of public trust by taxpayers. 

Use of bond funds is also subject to financial management and procurement requirements established by state and local municipalities. In many states, additional grants and “match” funding are also available to help taxpayer dollars go farther to support education.

Serving as owner's rep and bond program manager
[See the Project] Reynolds School District Bond Program

How are Bond Programs Unique?

No two school bond programs are the same. Some bonds may be focused on one or a few projects, while others may touch every school within the district’s portfolio. Depending on the size and complexity, a bond may be conceived with multiple projects, budgets, and project teams. It may involve multi-phasing to prepare interim facilities and swing spaces ahead of final projects.

To account for this variety and unanticipated conditions that can arise during construction, successful program management requires experience in facilities, design, educational paradigms, administration, all phases of construction project management, managing multiple levels of stakeholders, team leadership, and community relations.

How are Bond Programs Similar?

With unique goals and requirements, each school bond program will require processes tailored to their specifications. However, there are a number of key elements that are common denominators with any successful program.

A priority for any school bond program is maximizing the impact of locally approved funding by preserving as much money as possible for the projects themselves.

Part of this effort may involve minimizing overhead, but it’s important to consider the big picture as the greatest savings are found in efficiencies throughout the process. For example, a 1–3% upfront investment in pre-planning work can result in much lower costs over the full lifecycle of the project. This is one area where a program manager can have the most value.

In pre-planning, a school district may have identified immediate and long-range needs, but determining the best solutions to meet district needs can be guided and facilitated by the program manager.

Aerial view of Nustucca Valley Campus
[See the Project] Nestucca Valley School District Bond Program

Planning and Front-End Alignment

A crucial step for any school bond program is often one of the first. In selecting a project – and even prior to it – extensive planning begins with the identification of long-range district goals. This process can include focused due diligence such as facility assessments and enrollment forecasting needs (over at least 10 years), and eventually lead to project selection itself. Without these steps, projects may be compromised by short-sightedness or even subject to future rework if they are not considered in the context of a larger plan.

According to a study by Autodesk, poor schedule management is cited by 68% of project trades as the main cause of decline in worker productivity. Experience in construction management and front-end planning of a bond’s budget, scope, and timeframe components can help design the best execution strategy that maximizes approved funding impact. With this breadth of experience and knowledge, a bond program manager will be able to provide cost projections and cost-benefit analyses for potential project scenarios, and advising as such when a District is determining whether to renovate and upgrade existing facilities or initiate new construction.

In this stage of the school bond program, standardizing processes also provides the opportunity to bring together key project players and establish consensus in planning. Clear expectations for input and decision making need to be established to secure trust with these stakeholders so they can constructively engage in the design/construction process. From public engagement stakeholders and consultants to bond counsel and legal representation, coordination between the complete team early on can be an essential step in collecting necessary information to help inform project scope.

Role of a Bond Manager

An experienced bond manager understands this entire process and the subtle nuances that can affect the outcome of a yes or no vote. From tailoring polling questions and voting strategies around an election, to how the bond itself is worded, there are variety of aspects that impact its outcome. Competing agendas and politics are invariably part of the overall equation and an experienced bond manager can help guide the district through the entire pre-bond process.

Read Post

Stakeholder and Oversight Engagement

While establishing internal planning for anticipated projects is essential, they will not move forward without determining what the tax base will support. Knowing what taxpayers in the district can afford and what they value or view as necessary is key. To answer these questions, studies and polling can help tailor the dollar amount and scope of work before being put out for a vote. In-person meetings where community groups are represented can be essential engagement tools to connect with potential community champions and identify any initial dissenting opinions. Educating the public about bond goals and outcomes to garner support is also an essential investment.

After the bond’s passage, the real work begins to engage the many stakeholders invested in the success of a project including students/teachers/school-based staff, district personnel, and the partners/community members that may also use the facilities.

With a high level of scrutiny on expenditure of bond funds, districts should consider establishing an external oversight committee to observe the process. Typically comprised of interested community members, a bond manager will support the selection and engagement of the oversight committee to identify potential expertise that may be useful for supporting the bond and preparing reporting and presentations for their review across the bond’s duration.

At the end of the day, voters will want to know why a bond is needed: does it provide the best solution; what will it cost; can they afford it; and how will life continue in the meantime? To answers these questions and gain taxpayer support, a bond campaign will need to be outlined and implemented.

Role of a Bond Manager

A bond manager will be able to guide the district in all decisions and lend technical expertise and construction industry experience to guide the program’s delivery. They can help bridge gaps in personnel capacity and knowledge to bring bond promises to fruition.

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Strong Execution – Project Delivery, Documentation and Reporting

At the core of any successful school bond program is execution and delivery. While that may seem obvious, the path to effectively managing these steps is often anything but. Research of construction planning efficiency and delivery times by Wrike found that project planners typically have only a 58% accuracy rate when predicting delivery dates. These inconsistencies can have major impacts on staff, operations, and even student safety. In keeping complex school bond processes on track, documentation and reporting is key.

From start to finish, workflows and protocols are essential to facilitating review, approvals, and overall decision making. From augmenting project management resources at the outset of a project to setting consistent system specifications for maintenance following project completion, the establishment of strong document control and management systems helps ensure nothing slips through the cracks. The ability to quickly reference and produce consistent records also streamlines what can be complex legal processes.

When it comes to capital improvement projects, managing public contracts within a school bond requires an understanding of public procurement laws as they pertain to architectural design, engineering, construction, and consulting contracts. Contracts in the public sector are more complicated than the private sector and tend to have higher levels of scrutiny and oversight—every expenditure requires public justification. Ultimately, strong documentation and reporting in the school bond process prepares stakeholders throughout project delivery to help ensure staff needs are met and the safety of students is prioritized.

Role of a Bond Manager

A bond manager can help augment district staff efforts with deep knowledge of the way documentation and reporting tools are applied to projects of all shapes and sizes. As a go-between for the Owner with the architect, contractor, and other stakeholders, communication of important details are streamlined while keeping everyone on the same page.

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Setting Transition, Turnover and Community Use Expectations

While it’s easy to get swept away in the planning, engagement, and execution of school facility improvements, it’s important to remember that while the project itself is underway, life goes on. An important factor that is often, but should not be, overlooked is how people and programs are transitioned. This is because, as all educators are aware: the kids come back.

“We have seen projects come to completion, the owner moves in, and then it takes another 18 months before they know how to operate the building.”

– Henry Alaman, Otak Senior VP

Eighteen months is not atypical in a complex new facility where the existing facilities employees are not familiar with the new technology, systems, or equipment. To ensure the transition is seamless, all staff should receive the tools and training necessary to operate the building. Additionally, documents (drawings, plans, manuals, etc.) should be provided and stored electronically so they can be easily accessed.

Even the most well-established timelines and plans need to be prepared for unforeseen challenges. As a project progresses, the need to adapt is often inevitable. The ability to anticipate these challenges and quickly resolve them in the form of change management also becomes an important factor where the experience of an owner’s representative can prove invaluable.

Role of a Bond Manager

With the passage of a school bond measure, the public is placing their trust in the school district to deliver on specific outcomes. Ultimately, the bond manager is an extension of this trust and is responsible for guiding the spend-down of the approved budget and protecting the public and the school district’s interest.

Read Post

Taking a Multidisciplinary Approach to Augmenting the Bond Process

Delivering a school bond, no matter the scale, is a complex process and a program manager isn’t successful without operating in an owner’s representative capacity. The ability to coalesce diverse sets of expertise from different team members and align them with individual client goals is essential to bringing the work and the promises made to the community to fruition.

As a multi-disciplinary firm, Otak provides a unique combination of program, bond, and construction management expertise, as well as knowledge and understanding of public procurement laws governing bond spending, local industry, and market knowledge. Our firm has proudly worked with many urban and rural school districts in bond development and delivery. Check out some of that work below!

See Our School Bond Work