It’s time again for Otak to laud a member of our staff who’s taken tangible steps toward being a more sustainable, environmentally conscious professional. Congratulations to our own Phillip Pittsenbarger, project architect, on earning his Green Globes certification.
Philip joined Otak’s architecture group 5½ years ago, specializing in multi-family housing and hospitality, and has current work in our public sector practice. Since college, sustainability has always been a primary interest of his due to his strong connection with the outdoors. He saw the need to tie nature and the built environment together, and strove to become a designer capable of doing their work with the least amount of impact on the planet possible. His portfolio includes projects at the federal and state levels, including for national parks.
Philip saw the greater push for more accredited professionals within our architecture group, and wanted to pursue something different than a standard LEED certification. He identified Green Globes as an alternative thanks to its growing popularity among public projects, and wanted to learn about sustainable building principles and use it as a framework to keep in mind on any project. To him, all projects should be as sustainable as possible, and with emphasis on energy-efficient envelopes, water conservation, and sustainable materials, he began his work on earning the certification.
What is Green Globes?
Green Globes is a green building accreditation available to professionals who work in the built environment. According to the Green Building Initiative (GBI), Green Globes is a comprehensive, science-based building rating system that supports a wide range of new construction and existing building project types. Environmental objectives pursued through Green Globes lead to lower energy and water bills, reduced emissions, optimized health and wellness benefits, and minimized waste.
When asked about what his accreditation allows him to do, Philip defined the process as one of technical mastery and attention to detail. He directly interfaces with a Green Globes auditor, and works to facilitate meetings, organize paperwork, and be the lead on the overall sustainability efforts on any given project he might be working on. He says Green Globes does a great job of integrating sustainability into the overall design-build process, so things are not value-engineered out of the project.
Future Work
The hallmark of Philip’s efforts comes back to one value of his—that sustainability is not a money issue but a central aspect of any project. Through this recent certification, Philip is able to understand important benchmarks and track the health of a project all while getting owners recognition for their sustainable, resilient building. The system is far from perfect, but to Philip, it’s a good start.
Otak continues to grow the depth and breadth of our capabilities. With the acquisition of Tarr Whitman Group (TWG), an advanced project controls firm, it enables us to unveil a new practice area to better serve our clients and aid them in making informed, data-driven decisions at all stages of a project’s lifecycle.
What is project controls, and what is advanced project controls?
Project controls is scope, schedule, and budget. It is the core of project and contract management for projects. But how does this help our clients?
According to TWG President Walter Tarr, project controls comes down to data management and communication. Our new team members specialize in reporting on projects and programs. They help define the success metrics and reporting systems for project managers, clients, and other stakeholders in a digestible fashion, allowing for quick decisions that are rooted in data science and relevant forecasts on things like cost impacts, notices, timelines, and risks involved in a project. Advanced project controls means our new team can provide the software, systems, resources, and processes for large projects and programs.
See a Need, Fill a Need
Tarr saw the need for this service early on in his career. He noticed while working at a construction management firm that larger organizations weren’t getting the most out of their data, or were often making decisions that were reactive, rather than proactive when it comes to project and contract management. Thanks to existing relationships with owners and decision-makers at other firms and the niche market in which it existed, TWG was born as a one-stop for project controls services with both him and Dave Hawkins at the helm.
An Art and a Science
Tarr emphasizes that while project controls is highly technical, there’s an art to it as well. Professionals in this sphere need to be jacks-of-all-trades, having a deep understanding of factors like scheduling, software, cost, construction management, design, and risk management around a project. Greater still, one must be able to communicate this information so PM’s and PIC’s can make decisions at a glance. It’s a trade that involves both macro-level understanding and micro-level attention to detail. To Tarr, TWG is more along the lines of being business managers, helping stakeholders understand where their project as a business sits, and addressing both known and unknown issues—a concept that’s rare in the industry today.
The Differentiator
projectcontrols.online home page
To tackle the herculean task of making sense of multi-million (and sometimes billion) dollar programs, Tarr created Projectcontrols.online, as simple web app born out of a dissatisfaction with existing project reporting system tools and their pricing structures. Most of these tools try to solve the same problem of how to roll up and monitor projects in an easy way, and Projectcontrols.online does just that in a way that doesn’t require endless input from the user. What’s more, the app allows for easy communication of results which is suited for PM’s concerned with the day-to-day. By utilizing project controls, those same PM’s can look ahead and begin to make projections anywhere from one month to one year ahead of time. Firms immediately saw the value in Tarr’s work, and TWG got brought onto high-profile projects as a result.
The Projects
SR 520 for WSDOT – floating bridge program
To view TWG’s body of work is to become acquainted with some of the most high-profile programs in the Puget Sound region. The Sound Transit Eastlink Program, Lynnwood Link Light Rail, SR 520 for WSDOT, and the Port of Seattle are all examples of the exemplary work TWG has done as part of Otak’s broader portfolio of projects. These huge projects align with TWG’s business model—land programs with high capital allowances and high price ceilings. The combination of the work and the approach have made TWG successful.
The Team and the Future
When asked about essential members of his team that make TWG’s work possible, Tarr immediately recognized Brian Muñoz, Warren Jordan, and Tim Sattler as key players in the project controls division who allow the firm to deliver on its promises. As projects only get larger and more complex, Tarr sees the need to continue to grow his team to meet the demand for project controls in the industry as a whole. With greater access to private work via the merger with Otak, Tarr is confident that the relationship will continue to bear fruit and ultimately make both firms stronger.
Please join us in giving a long overdue welcome to the TWG team, and we’re excited to see how this practice area evolves along with our operations.
For coastal communities, resilience design has shifted from nice-to-have to necessary
With a rapidly warming planet and increasing ferocity of weather patterns, coastal adaptation through resilience design has an added emphasis for today’s built environments.
It’s for good reason too. Currently, more than 50% of the US population – some 164 million Americans – live in coastal watershed communities while generating 58% of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP). And that number is only growing as more than 1.2 million move to the coast each year.
These coastal communities often bear the brunt of unpredictable weather and seismic events. Vulnerable communities like these must be resilient by design, and able to bounce back after even the most intense storm, tidal wave, earthquake or other catastrophic event.
Sustainability in planning and design, a core tenant of Otak’s mission, aligns directly with an approach to coastal adaptation. In this piece, we’ll discuss how a focus on coastal adaptation planning and resilience design translates into stronger coastal infrastructure and communities, at a time when they’re needed more than ever.
Coastal Resilience is defined as “building the ability of a community to bounce back after hazardous events such as hurricanes, coastal storms, and flooding—rather than simply reacting to impacts.”
Resilient design is a matter of preparedness, of being ready for natural hazards before they happen, and of informing clients to be aware of all factors in the design-build process. For example, the overdue cascadia earthquake presents a significant challenge in designing along the coastal fault line. Decisions and plans need to be made to anticipate and mitigate these environmental inevitabilities.
An illustration of how resilience design allows for quick recovery and multi-purpose utility of building operations during a catastrophic event
Why is Coastal Adaptation and Resilience Design Important?
Such high priority is placed on the resilient design of coastal communities for a variety of reasons. Among them is the simple fact that it’s a matter of survival. Not just the survival of the people in that community, but also the survival of critical infrastructures like power grids, water management systems, bridges, and schools.
This causes us to ask unique questions when we go to work. For instance, how will this community function when, not if, a major environmental event happens? How can existing structures be made into multi-use facilities in times of crisis? Most of all, how can the community adapt to these impacts? It all comes back to how these questions are answered during resilience design and planning.
4 Elements of Coastal Adaptation and Resilience
While there are a variety of variables that come with each specific situation and environment, there are also some overarching factors that impact any coastal resilience planning. These factors help assess vulnerabilities, investigate possible solutions, and set priorities among options that address those highest risks.
As a foundation for designers and planners, these factors can help communities, cities, regions, and governments quantify their vulnerability and risk, while prioritizing people, ecosystems, and economics into their plans.
1. Structurally Sound Built Environments
The first step to designing these communities is making sure all buildings are structurally and architecturally sound.
Regional specifics inform these design choices for coastal structures, like adding stilts to houses to account for sea-level rise, among others. It’s about taking a long-term view of creating a space, being mindful of how the community lifecycle will function in 50-100 years into the future.
2. Design for Environmental Sensitivities
Local environments have a direct impact on the vulnerabilities and potential hazards that need to be considered during coastal resilience planning. Those details, such as water restoration, also factor into the design of structures themselves and how recovery will affect the surrounding area.
Especially when talking about environmentally sensitive sites, the design should match those nuances and be able to respond to the natural environment accordingly. This can inform decisions down to the last detail. For example, the choice between building with stainless versus galvanized steel can be critical in ensuring the resilience of the structure.
3. Efficiency and Sustainability in Upkeep and Recovery
As hazards and extreme events become more commonplace, the question now often becomes not how does coastal adaptation planning avoid damage, but rather, how does it allow structures (and communities) to recover after the fact?
What happens in the aftermath of a catastrophic event can be equally, if not more important than what happens during. The ability for infrastructure to remain functional, despite sustaining damage, can be all the difference when the fundamentals for survival are at a premium.
How a built environment operates outside of a catastrophic event also has an impact. Limiting the amount of maintenance and upkeep increases preparedness while efficiency and sustainability factors help ensure that built environment isn’t contributing to the underlying causes of climate change while also keeping the costs of waste at a minimum.
4. Planning for Community Vulnerabilities
The process of coastal adaptation and resilience is a constant state of analysis, an ongoing attempt to answer the question of how these communities will function both before and after a catastrophic event.
Building resilience and equity into planning is ultimately about protecting people and saving lives. And it’s important to recognize that certain areas or demographics of a single community can often be more vulnerable than others. Addressing these disparities should come through in the design of infrastructure and the intent behind its built environments.
Adaptive-use structures, or buildings with more than one purpose, are just one way to account for this issue. This means designing spaces like schools that can become shelters with their own generators in case of power grid failure, or we add height to bridges to account for flooding. When we design with intention of keeping people safe, communities are better able to respond on their own until help arrives and are ultimately more prepared to survive.
Pre-Existing Structure2D Modeling for 100-Year-PlanningConstruction of Three-Span BridgeOnce considered the second most hazardous bridge in Oregon, Lommen Bridge was at risk of collapse. Using the latest resilience technology, Otak replaced the structure while designing for sustainable elements like rain gardens, erosion control, and drainage features.
How to Approach Coastal Adaptation with Resilience Design
While there are a multitude of factors that must be accounted for when planning a community’s resilience design, the approach is often threefold:
Assess regional risk in resilience design by understanding the locations, unique environmental factors, cost details, and most importantly opportunities for improvement in any building phase.
Plan how structures will function during hazardous events, and be converted for multiple uses in times of crisis.
Considerthe sustainability of the structure and how it will be used 50-100 years from now, understanding the current carbon footprint and how to reduce it.
However, there are societal and social factors that go into how resilient communities are designed which should also be taken into account.
Identifying Social Vulnerabilities
It is critical to note here that climate change and weather events affect lower-income and houseless people to a higher degree than those with more resources. Clients need to be advised of the social impacts their projects entail because there is a relationship between houseless populations and how we plan for resiliency.
The lack of reasonable, low-income housing is just one issue that exacerbates this reality, which is why resilient communities must account for the whole of the population. Encouraging clients to think about these ideas ultimately makes for a stronger structure that can serve everyone, regardless of socioeconomic background. The reality is natural hazards do not discern between social standing, and communities that are truly resilient are also built with equity and the marginalized in mind.
Accounting for Climate Change Adaptation
While designing with resilience in mind, it’s imperative for coastal communities that projects come down to client goals. It’s important to gauge how clients feel they play into a municipality’s ability to adapt, using this information to inform how we present solutions to their problems.
During resilience planning and design, it’s of utmost importance to stress what the intent of the development truly aims to accomplish. Again, all pieces of infrastructure must be structurally and architecturally sound while meeting those goals.
The result is a resilient community with that also benefits from a reduced carbon footprint in the process.
Climate Change is Impacting the Risks Faced by Coastal Communities Including Increased Flooding
Lake Shorelines versus Ocean Shorelines
It’s also important to note, not all coastlines are the same. Resilience on shorelines doesn’t just apply to coastal communities. In fact, inland lake shorelines (not to mention river, creek and other shorelines with their own unique properties) must also be planned with a resilient design top of mind. The differences are plenty, however, there is a key distinction between the two.
For instance, if a coastline is not fraught with natural disasters every day, clients can take advantage of good weather conditions by harnessing alternative energy sources like solar power, wind power, and hydraulic power.
Inland lakes lack a tidal risk factor, meaning that communities along ocean shorelines must contend with events like king tides, or tidal shifts that can drastically affect the ferocity of coastal storms. While wind hazards are risk factors for both types of shorelines, there are decisions that need to be made when dealing with one versus the other.
Coastal Resilience Examples: How Otak Builds Resilience in Coastal Communities
Much like the weather events we’ve discussed, Otak’s work is also defined by intersections, and one of the biggest of these is the relationship between our built and natural environment. So, what makes our approach unique?
For one, Otak’s experience is multinational, meaning we have experience across different types of coastlines worldwide and have utilized design solutions that other firms may not have access to.
As a globally positioned organization, Otak has a unique vantage point that cannot be replicated. Just one example of our experience with different locales is our work for the Nestucca Valley School District, a rural educational model that satisfies our requirements of resiliency in an area at risk of wildfires. The school was renovated for existing students but designed for the whole community as a multi-use facility. With a full generator system, and grass fields big enough for helicopter transport, the school can house 3000 people with full power for 3-4 days.
Nestucca Valley Emergency Use Project
Second, Otak’s experience with public infrastructure sets us apart. Not only are we designing for structures that can stand up to harsh weather events, but we’re also planning for how quickly these buildings can bounce back, post-event. This can affect systems like a community’s water supply, wastewater management, and transportation infrastructure.
That’s why we build redundancies into existing systems. From making sure bridges are high enough to account for sea-level rise, to making sure secondary routes are available for evacuated motorists, to installing multiple pipelines in case of earthquakes. When it comes to resilience design, Otak’s work with coastal communities means we can walk our talk.
Want to discover more sustainable projects? Check out more examples of our work in sustainable, resilient design spaces and see how they aim to serve every aspect of the community.
When it comes to nurturing talent, Otak is working in numerous ways to bolster our teams with new, fresh and, diverse minds ready to take on the complexities of elevating our built environment now and in the future.
Our previous work with the ACE Scholarship Program of Oregon, where we donated school supplies to high school students going on to earn degrees in architecture, engineering, or construction, is just one example of this commitment.
PMCM Internship Program: The First Look
This is why we’re happy to say OtakCPM, our comprehensive project management (PMCM) division, has taken this idea and expanded it with one of Otak’s first internship programs. An idea that started on sticky note cards, the program quickly grew to four people strong.
Otak would like to give recognition to Grant Eldridge, project manager for OtakCPM, who spearheaded the program with the goal of hiring young, creative professionals in a time where hiring struggles are impacting firms nationwide.
PMCM Internship Program: The Benefits
The benefits of an internship with OtakCPM are threefold. First, it allows interns to be trained and familiarized with one method of operations and culture from the outset of their careers, whether they be engineers, architects, or project managers. When young people are able to learn and grow within one company and ultimately be hired, it doesn’t take as much effort to bring them up to speed.
Second, interns are given a clear path to being hired, and the goal is to hire all of them. Interns get direct experience in a highly technical field, meaning they can be equipped with skills to make them more competitive. When provided with explicit instructions on how to improve and get hired, interns are that much more likely to be successful.
Third, interns have the opportunity to be new, fresh minds in an industry that is increasingly complex. They’re given a safe, open space to give their ideas, which is especially beneficial when the talent pool is diverse and competitive. Interns have an opportunity to change projects by bringing new ways of thinking even leadership might not have thought of previously. That’s why we’re so grateful to have them aboard, and we’re always looking for more.
Explore Internship Opportunities
To Eldridge, the ultimate goal is to bring resourceful talent into the owner’s rep world. So if getting hands-on experience in a rapidly changing field sounds like something you want to do, you’re invited to check out our careers page here and view our open internships OtakCPM. We’re always looking for young talent to nurture, so apply today and get started on the next step of your career.
When Otak’s Equity and Inclusion Committee began talking about Pride Month, Tobias Wisner quickly jumped to the front of the conversation. For Tobias, Pride represents “a radical act of self-love” and is particularly personal to his understanding of both himself and the world. Tobias explains, “It means giving yourself permission to celebrate and be a part of a community where people just want you to have fun. It’s also about awareness, that members of your closest circles of all different shapes, sizes, colors, and gender expressions are here and queer. And it means having hope that kids, teens, and adults can see the celebrations and feel comfortable and that being queer is something to celebrate and love about yourself.”
[Pride represents] having hope that kids, teens, and adults can see the celebrations and feel comfortable and that being queer is something to celebrate and love about yourself.”
TOBIAS WISNER
Tobias is quick to point out that Pride Month is not exclusively for people who identify as queer or as belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community. He lists several ways that his peers here at Otak can get involved and participate in Pride activities and wants to remind us all that, at its core, “Pride is a celebration.” Tobias suggests consulting the Human Rights Campaign website for locating opportunities to join in that celebration. For those interested in demonstrating their support of Pride and the queer community, you can check out the Trevor Project. The Trevor Project is a crisis service for LGBTQIA+ teens and youth, with a focus on suicide prevention and harm reduction. Tobias told me that the Trevor Project was meaningful to him growing up and that he knows there are many people who are struggling internally and may be experiencing serious mental health issues.
Pride Month, while it is a celebration, acknowledges and commemorates the Stonewall Riots. For Tobias, Stonewall represents, much like Pride, the direct action that is needed to courageously challenge systems of oppression. Pride is also a time to recognize the allies, advocates, and accomplices around us. Tobias quickly identifies his coworkers Laura Merriman and Anna Sutton as accomplices “mainly because of how accepted and comfortable I felt talking about myself with them from day 1. There were no assumptions made by either of them and it felt great to share this part of who I am with them.” Laura and Anna represent models for the rest of us in how to invite others into our spaces and work intentionally toward equity and belonging with care and compassion.
Equity and inclusion are aspirational, and Tobias suggests that, in order to guide our learning and growth, check out the Anti-Defamation League’s resources. Also, Tobias believes that “Something as small as a googling local orgs and celebrations in your area can do a world of good.” A simple Google search of “Pride in my area” will yield information about local organizations, Pride event sponsorship opportunities, and ways to participate in or attend a Pride parade. Further, Tobias believes that aspiration and representation are directly linked and challenges us to consider this in our work interactions and decisions, “Decision-makers and leaders that are part of the LGBTQ+ community have unique perspectives, and I think we can all aspire to lift those people up and give them a voice from the very top.”
Outside of work, Tobias challenges us to “aspire to think about heteronormativity and how [we] can be more inclusive in [our] thinking, using gender-neutral terms like ‘partner’ to refer to our significant other is one example, be mindful that not all sexualities exist on a binary, and not all assumptions about people you make are true.”
With Pride Month upon us, I urge all of us to exhibit care, compassion, and courage as we aspire to be more equitable and inclusive. Remember that Pride is a celebration as well as a commemoration and find a way to participate in Pride events. Otak is working with Pride NW to encourage volunteering among our staff. If you’re interested you can use this sign-up sheet to choose the volunteer opportunity for Portland Pride that is right for you.
Our #EmployeeSpotlight shines on a brand new Otakian, one who has already enhanced our capabilities just by coming on board. Please give a warm welcome to Dave Hawkins, Principal at Tarr Whitman Group (TWG), a new division of Otak!
The Making of an Industry Leader
Dave is a graduate of the University of Washington (UW) with a B.S. in Building Construction, along with an MBA from the UW’s Foster School of Business. Dave’s connection with the UW runs deep, as his father even ran the College of Engineering. His career has spanned over 25 years on both the contractor and owner sides helping deliver some of the biggest capital projects and programs in the Pacific Northwest. He describes his expertise as the intersection of business and engineering, and his background includes contracts, value engineering, risk management, scheduling, and change management among others. Dave also loves the outdoors. He leads Canyoneering trips with the Seattle Mountaineers and is trained as a river raft guide. With more than enough experience under his belt and a shared love of natural spaces, Dave and the TWG team seemed like a prime fit into the Otak family.
New Horizons, New Services
Dave and the rest of the TWG team joined Otak in January 2022, and they have already hit the ground running in making our service lines stronger. The addition of TWG comes with the unveiling of Otak Project Controls. When asked what excites him about joining Otak, Dave said,
“Otak has an outstanding leadership team. We were impressed with the Otak team immediately. Otak and TWG plan to grow together and pursue what TWG does best – deliver mega projects and programs.”
To us, the feeling is mutual. We at Otak were immediately impressed with not only Dave as a leader, but also the TWG and their extensive, far-reaching body of work.
Past experience equals future success
Dave and TWG bring with them extensive program work at the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), Sound Transit, the Port of Seattle, Amgen, Microsoft, and even on the Blue Origin Rocket Program. Their legacy in the area has already expedited Otak’s access to major work programs across the Pacific Northwest. In the Puget Sound region, TWG has given Otak a platform for the growth of its construction management vision thanks to their existing relationships within the project controls sector. When asked about TWG’s past success, Dave gave deference to Walter Tarr, their President and CEO:
“Walter Tarr started the company 16 years ago and is a big part of our past and current successes. We also hired smart people who did great work. That great work built a lot of trust with our clients. Those clients keep coming back to us and asking us to do more.”
We wholeheartedly agree. Otak prides itself on being a team of leaders, and when more leaders come into the fold, we only get more agile, and more experienced.
The Same Great Service, Only Bigger
Dave stresses the importance of maintaining existing relationships with TWG clients, adding that as Otak becomes more capable, TWG does too:
Over time we believe our clients will come to understand that joining Otak brings additional service offerings that go way beyond what TWG has done for them. Our team now has the depth and breadth to prime bigger projects, get involved earlier in programs, and bring more service offerings to our existing clients.
It’s go big or go home at Otak, and when we find someone who exemplifies that value, we can’t help but find a way to bring them on board. We’re glad to have Dave and his team among our ranks, and there is no doubt that Otak and TWG will continue to grow together under the same umbrella.
Let’s hear it for Dave, and here’s to all the great things that Otak and TWG can accomplish together.
At Otak, we deal in cornerstones. Whether it be on a beautiful building or one of our values— cornerstones make us who we are in every sense of the word. One of these cornerstones is our projects, the work we do to elevate our communities and make them accessible, sustainable, and vibrant. Which is why when we were called upon to handle one of the biggest school bond programs in Oregon’s history, we welcomed the challenge, rolled up our sleeves, and got to work.
This was the case in 2018, when voters approved a $619.7 million funding bond for the Salem-Keizer School District. The goals? Relieve overcrowding, expand vocational and science learning spaces, improve safety and security throughout the buildings, protect the public investment with planning for upgrading infrastructure, and expand the wireless network for improved equity of access to technology in mind. With the bond addressing every educational and support building in the district, our multidisciplinary approach wasn’t just desired, it was vital to the project’s success.
Building a Team
The project needed a qualified manager. Looking no further than our own team, we tappedBob Collins, PMP, CCM, to lead 19 other Otak employees in working with the district to ensure strong project planning and delivery. Tasked with developing a plan to make the district’s aspirations a reality, we provided management services so voters could be confident their tax dollars would be stretched for maximum benefit to students and the community.
Tools of the Trade
We utilized a variety of tools to accomplish this. First, we introduced the district to Smartsheet, a significantly less costly project management information system that allows for easy tracking of costs, tasks, and schedules. Smartsheet made it simple for them (and us) to cross-reference and standardize work so that each project optimally benefitted from the influx of funding.
Second, we developed a set of guiding principles and official specifications for the scope of work, establishing a clear roadmap to project completion. Serving as a guiding light for 25 pre-qualified, local contractors and architects, we provided an action plan that contended with the ambitions of the district. Our project management and construction management capabilities presented a direct benefit to this program, and were a key factor in how we won such a far-reaching project.
Reinforcing our Values
This all ties into Otak’s “Why.” When it comes to making equitable communities and elevating our built environment, we do those things not because it’s lucrative, but because the project has benefits that will last generations to come. We believe in creating places that will benefit the many, not just the few, and our growing experience with schools is a prime example. When students have adequate facilities for learning and growth, the benefit to society extends beyond our body of work, and instead translates to value-added approach that serves the public good.
In Bob’s own words, “We are actively matching and meeting the goals of the bond with all of the tools at our disposal. We do this by making taxpayer dollars stretch further with tools like Smartsheet, and through our expertise, we’re confident we can deliver facilities to students that need them.”
So, join us in celebrating the work we do that benefits scores of children within the Salem-Keizer district, and here’s to continued success as we leverage everything we can to accomplish this work for the good of all.
As we prepare to observe Black History Month here in the United States, we are reminded of the significant ways that Black Americans have contributed to and improved our communities through innovation. As we consider the Architecture and Engineering industry, one cannot separate the transformative nature of the work that we perform on a daily basis from the people who made so much of what we do possible. And even when we aren’t working, we see, use and enjoy inventions that Black Americans developed to improve our way of life.
Are you considering a roundabout as an engineering solution to improve traffic flow and relieve congestion? You can thank Benjamin Banneker, a watchmaker, almanac author and surveyor, who led the redesign of the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.) incorporating a series of traffic circles to address the misalignment of roads left by a previous roadway designer. Are you designing a signalized intersection? Look to the genius of Garrett A. Morgan who developed the three-light traffic signal. Do the streets that you designed need to be maintained? Charles Brooks has just what you need – a motorized street sweeper.
Do you enjoy the variation in color that you are able to use when drafting engineering designs? You can thank Mark Dean for co-inventing the IBM PC monitor. And speaking of computers, something that none of us can do without, the gigahertz chip – a revolutionary piece of technology that is able to do a billion calculations per second and is in every modern computer, was also invented by Mark Dean.
Designing a light rail corridor? Concerned about fuel efficiency and climate friendly solutions? Well, you can look to Granville T. Woods who invented the ‘troller,” a grooved metal wheel that allowed street cars (later known as “trolleys”) to collect electric power from overhead wires. And speaking of trains (or better stated, rail) don’t forget about the automatic car coupler (invented by Andrew Jackson Beard) because the railcars need to connect with ease.
Need to make a Teams or Zoom call? Make sure that your microphone (developed by James West) isn’t on mute! It’s a good thing that we have Marian Croak’s voice-over Internet protocol (VoIP) to keep us connected. And don’t forget to add a GIF before you end the meeting…thanks for the laughs, Lisa Gelobter. Taking a ride to the 8th floor on the elevator? The automatic elevator doors were invented by Alexander Miles over 100 years ago with design elements that have stood the test of time.
Are you going to take a client out for an afternoon of golf? Well, don’t forget the golf tees created by Dr. George Grant. And, if you get lost on your way to the course, pull up your GPS (invented by Gladys West) and make a quick call on your cellular phone (invented by Henry Sampson) to let your foursome know that you’ll be late. Thank goodness there’s caller ID on your touch-tone telephone (both invented by Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson) allowing you to find their contact information and dial with ease.
Going to the company picnic? Don’t forget your Super Soakers (Lonnie Johnson). Going on vacation and need to take a long-distance flight (not the first flight…the first long-distance one)? Charles W. Chappelle can help you fly the friendly skies. Just need to take a short hop to your next destination? Let Paul E. Williams helicopter get you there. And Katherine Johnson, the NASA research mathematician who made the 1969 moon landing possible, can get you to the moon and back.
While I’ve listed several inventors of significance, there are hundreds of individuals with thousands of inventions, that I haven’t. If you’re interested in learning more, visit your local library or check out sites like www.ASALH.org (Association for the Study of African American Life and History), Daily Hive – Inventions by Black People, or this list of inventors and scientists.
…and that, folks, is the ‘Real McCoy’ (a phrase suggesting authenticity that is attributed to Elijah McCoy who received nearly 60 patents related to lubrication systems, who developed designs for modern ironing boards, the lawn sprinkler and other machines)!
During an equity and design conversation held within the PLA group this summer, Alex Padgett and I chose to discuss the inequities within the existing homeless crisis, calling to action the need to focus on communities of color for affordable housing projects. During our conversation, many designers brought up nuances and complications with affordable housing policies and design, and it became apparent that while many of us within the field of planning and design may understand the need for affordable housing, our clients and communities may not. Stigma surrounding affordable housing often leads to opposition within communities, leading to questioning surrounding “the type of people” who will be living in affordable units. Furthermore, so many people in our conversation were shocked to hear how heavily impacted communities of color were by homelessness that I felt compelled to help provide some resources so that we can all be on the same page in identifying the problem at hand. During my research, I was curious to help formulate a current snapshot of where housing affordability stands right now by seeing how much the pandemic may have worsened housing disparities or exacerbated numbers of houseless individuals, particularly in Portland. I believe that in order to properly address the housing crisis, we need to extensively educate ourselves on best practices for navigating policies, advocating for change and designing for our clients. I hope the information provided here will give you a similar interest in learning more about how we can solve this problem at hand.
What is affordable housing?
Affordable housing is a term that causes a lot of misconception within our communities. Many assume that affordable housing is only for those in the lowest income bracket, and while that group is most impacted by increased housing costs, we all have a threshold for what is considered “affordable”. The department of housing and urban development defines affordable housing as the cost for housing and utilities that does not exceed a percentage threshold of the occupants’ gross income. In the 1940s, federal subsidized housing set the affordable rent rate at 20% of gross income. This number rose to 25% in 1961, and 30% in 1981, where it has become the standard indicator of affordability for housing, whether it be rented or owned. Households that spend more than this are considered cost-burdened, and those who spend more than 50% of their income on housing are considered severely cost-burdened.
Who can’t afford housing?
As housing costs have risen more rapidly than wages since the 1960s, the issue of cost burdening has become ever more prevalent. In 2019, 30.2% of all households nationwide were cost-burdened and 14% were severely cost-burdened. Renters face higher cost burdening, at rates of 46% moderately cost-burdened and 24% severely cost-burdened, compared to homeowners at 21% and 9% respectively. By contrast, in 1960, only 12% of renters were considered cost-burdened. The primary reason for this is that housing costs have risen faster than the median wage, especially among renters. For the past eight years in a row, the median sales price of single-family homes rose faster than median household income.
Due to high housing costs, homeownership has been in a steady decline for over a decade. High expenditures of income towards rent make saving to purchase a home much more difficult. To combat severe cost burdens, those seeking housing often have to look further away from where they work, overcrowd their families into houses that are too small, and reduce spending in other areas such as transportation, health care, food, and education. Households that are cost-burdened are also much less likely to have sufficient savings for unexpected events such as illness, unemployment, or disaster.
Who is most impacted by housing cost burdens?
The U.S. has a long and recent history of discrimination against African Americans, stemming from lasting impacts of the Jim Crow era, and filled with redlining policies and systematic displacement of black communities. From 1933 to 1964, public policies denied housing, mortgages, and insurance to black Americans and segregated black families into urban housing projects with little access to community infrastructure. Meanwhile, white middle- and lower-class families were able to purchase housing at state-sponsored rates and have continued to reap the benefits of owning that property as it gains value, passing down that accrued wealth through generations. Once communities of color were established in segregated areas, many were displaced for developments intended to benefit white communities. One example is Portland’s Albina district, which suffered resident displacement and tearing down of homes during the ‘60s and ‘70s to build the I-5 freeway and expand a local hospital.
Even today, implicit bias and racism among banks and realtors results in fewer black families being approved for mortgages. According to 2020 data from the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, lenders deny mortgages for black applicants at a rate 80% higher than that of white applicants, further immobilizing black families on the path to homeownership. Racism, segregation, redlining, and further displacement of black communities have resulted in only 43% of black households owning their home, compared to 73% of white households. People of color (POC) are twice as likely to live in neighborhoods with concentrated poverty and 5-12% more likely to have cost burdens than their white counterparts. The lack in homeownership has only increased the wealth gap between white and black families, thus perpetuating a cycle of black households bearing a larger and larger portion of housing cost burdens.
In Portland, homelessness disproportionately impacts communities of color, with POC accounting for 39% of the homeless population. In particular, Portland recorded a 48% increase in unsheltered African Americans from 2013-2015 and saw increases in homelessness among Native Americans, Latinos, and Asians. While Portland’s homeless shelters are consistently overcrowded, half of Portland’s homeless population remained unsheltered in 2015. Nationwide, African Americans comprise 13% of the general population and 40% of the homeless population. Native Americans represent 1% of the general population and 4.2% of the homeless population. Those who share the highest housing cost burdens are also most likely to face housing insecurity and homelessness.
How has COVID-19 impacted the housing crisis?
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the housing market and housing crisis in multiple ways. For those already living in a cost-burdened situation, COVID presented as an unforeseen and uncontrollable disaster. Overcrowded homes prohibited quarantine in the case of infection, disproportionately impacting Hispanic, Asian, Native American, and African American households. Many people lost their jobs, and in the summer of 2020, 25% of renters failed to make a rent payment in full or on time. Many cities saw an increase in homeless individuals during the start of the pandemic due to evictions and loss of income, and systems in place to provide aid faced the additional stress of maintaining safe measures to protect this particularly vulnerable population. Data has shown that loss of income from the pandemic and failure to pay rent and mortgages has disproportionately affected POC.
In order to protect renters who were unable to pay rent due to COVID’s impacts, the federal government put a moratorium on evictions. This, however, has only been a temporary solution to what will likely be a long-term issue. As we see the moratorium expiring, many tenants will be expected not only to resume paying regular rent, but also promptly pay backlogged rent from previously missed months. Some states, such as Oregon, have enacted extensions on paying backlogged rent and are requiring renters who take advantage of this system to apply for rent assistance. These systems have been confusing and difficult to navigate for tenants, and it is not known if these programs will be enough to combat the disparity in rent payments, or if we will still be seeing evictions increase once government protections expire.
Not only has COVID created additional strain between renters and landlords, but it has heavily impacted the market value of homes. Between quarter 1 of 2020 and quarter 1 of 2021, housing prices increased by 16% on average nationwide, with some metropolitan areas, such as Boise, ID, seeing 28% increase in housing values. Portland saw a slightly less, but still precipitous, increase of 14%, with the highest increases seen among homes below median market value. This was due to a restricted housing market with fewer homes selling during the pandemic and increased buyer demand driving up the market value. This growth is unsustainable and further exacerbates the affordable housing gap, decreasing the likelihood of those looking to get out of the renting cycle being able to purchase their first home anytime soon. Homes being built during the pandemic with increased costs of materials will likely further increase market value for new homes for purchase.
Conclusion
People of color have consistently faced greater barriers to acquiring affordable housing, and despite U.S. policy no longer explicitly allowing segregation and redlining, the structural racism of the Jim Crow era remains in the housing market to this day. The pandemic has only further exacerbated existing disparities in housing affordability and homelessness among people of color, with people of color experiencing higher rates of layoffs, more difficulty paying rent on time, and higher exposure to COVID-19 itself. The challenge of providing affordable housing for all is greater than ever, and it requires careful and considerate planning and design to be successful and avoid further alienation of the communities of color who need it most.
“2020 State of the Nation’s Housing Report: 4 Key Takeaways for 2021.” Cost of Home. Habitat for Humanity. Accessed 2021. https://www.habitat.org/costofhome/2020-state-nations-housing-report-lack-affordable-housing.
Balasubramanian, Sai. “The Covid-19 Pandemic Has Fueled a Crisis in the Housing Market.” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, April 27, 2021. https://www.forbes.com/sites/saibala/2021/04/27/the-covid-19-pandemic-has-fueled-a-crisis-in-the-housing-market/?sh=4d8cb60a5928.
Bloom, Ester. “A Shocking Number of Americans Live in Housing They Can’t Afford, According to Harvard Study.” CNBC. CNBC, July 13, 2017. https://www.cnbc.com/2017/07/13/harvard-study-heres-how-many-americans-cant-afford-housing.html.
“COVID-19 Homelessness Response.” A Home for Everyone. A Home for Everyone, February 2, 2021. http://ahomeforeveryone.net/covid-homelessness.
“Defining Housing Affordability: Hud User.” Defining Housing Affordability | PD&R Edge. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Accessed August 18, 2021. https://www.huduser.gov/portal/pdredge/pdr-edge-featd-article-081417.html.
Gartland, Erik. “2019 Income-Rent Gap Underscores Need for Rental Assistance, Census Data Show.” Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. CBPP, September 18, 2020. https://www.cbpp.org/blog/2019-income-rent-gap-underscores-need-for-rental-assistance-census-data-show.
“Homelessness Statistics.” Homelessness Toolkit | City of Portland. The City of Portland, February 12, 2016. https://www.portlandoregon.gov/toolkit/article/562207.
“House Price Index Datasets.” Federal Housing Finance Agency. FHFA, 2021. https://www.fhfa.gov/DataTools/Downloads/Pages/House-Price-Index-Datasets.aspx#qat.
Olick, Diana. “A Troubling Tale of a Black Man Trying to Refinance His Mortgage.” CNBC. CNBC, August 19, 2020. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/19/lenders-deny-mortgages-for-blacks-at-a-rate-80percent-higher-than-whites.html.
“Oregon Eviction Moratorium FAQ.” Portland.gov. City of Portland, Oregon, 2021. https://www.portland.gov/phb/rental-services/helpdesk/oregon-eviction-moratorium-faq.
Parker, Njeri. “The Link Between Racism and Homelessness.” JOIN. JOIN PDX, July 23, 2020. https://joinpdx.org/the-link-between-racism-and-homelessness/.
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Roos, Roy. “Albina Area (Portland).” The Oregon Encyclopedia. The Oregon Historical Society, May 15, 2021. https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/albina_area_portland_/#.YRrGSYhKiUk.
As COVID-19 swept across the globe in 2020, nearly every sector of the US economy was impacted, including the construction industry, which faced supply chain issues, labor shortages, and rising material costs. Now, in the latter half of 2021, as the world is fluctuating between a receding pandemic and variant surges, there is a lingering sense of uncertainty. While the construction industry as a whole is in a strong position (nearly back to pre-pandemic levels), rising costs are a reality project owners and contractors are facing.
At Otak, one of our roles as engineers, architects, planners, and project managers is to help our clients navigate and mitigate the unpredictability of cost variations. This requires accurately projecting the future cost and availability of specific materials and using a collaborative approach and design process that considers all the variables and factors impacting a project’s Total Installed Cost, many of which need to be identified before entering the design phase.
Pre-Design Risk Management
Kevin Dooley, Otak Senior Project Engineer, stresses the importance of gathering accurate data for a project prior to beginning the design. He specifically cites the need for accurate survey and geotechnical data as being critical, stating, “we don’t want to do a design based on an aerial photograph, only to later discover the soil at the project site is not optimal, and the top two feet need to be removed. That’s a significant cost to have to absorb. When we uncover unforeseen site conditions in the early conceptual design stage, we can plan accordingly and eliminate costly surprises.”
Much of the preliminary work that aids in risk management also yields better project outcomes. Kevin explains that Otak’s teams “put in more time in the beginning because we’re doing a lot of research and groundwork that is foundational to good design.” This research includes the aforementioned site analysis, as well as reviewing historical local data relative to materials and construction costs, inflation trends, and current market conditions. “There is a large body of statistical and historical data we can tap into, as well as Otak’s own extensive database of project information,” Matt Marshall, Otak Regional Business Development Manager, says. He adds that “we can apply that data and weigh the options with our clients before deciding which direction to go.”
Despite rising costs in general, Scott Belonger, Otak Senior Project Engineer, points out the need to “verify actual costs and not assume that everything is going up. The commonly held perception may be that prices are up by fifty percent for a specific material, but in reality, we may find the price hasn’t really changed.” Knowing upfront the reality of costs, and communicating those costs to clients, allows teams to effectively proceed with designs and for clients to predictably budget for capital projects. It may take more time upfront, but ultimately, this due diligence saves time and costs in the end.
Integrated Design Approach
Otak’s integrated multidisciplinary approach allows for a full range of expertise and alternate perspectives in project design and helps ensure multiple factors and contingencies have been considered. Collaborating with a team of colleagues, sub-consultants, and partners aids in this process. As Kevin Timmins, Otak Vice President and Water Resource Engineer, says, “it makes us more aware of all the different parts of a given project. It deepens our understanding, not just with the work that each of us does, but also makes it easier to anticipate potential problems and costs.”
Strong relationships with contractors and sub-consultant partners also help project managers paint an accurate picture of total projected costs. “We’ve worked with some sub-consultants enough times now that we know what to expect their services to cost under different situations,” Kevin says. “Having that understanding, we can help our clients build a more reliable project budget.”
Budget Management
Helping clients navigate and manage project costs goes beyond accurately predicting expenditures—it also identifies how a project can be completed within their budget. As Scott explains, “there are a couple of ways we can do this. We can scale back the project or identify ways we can phase in work to reduce the immediate scope, but efficiently add to it in the future.” This requires working collaboratively with clients to ensure they are fully aware of their options and that priority objectives are met for any given project.
Another approach is working with clients to find additional funding sources, which sometimes involves looking at other slated projects in a given area and planning projects in conjunction.
At the end of the day, effectively managing costs, budgets, and removing unpredictability boil down to accurate data, collaboration, and open communication. As Scott and Kevin Timmins both state, “it comes down to us working with the owner to find the best solutions based on a complete cost picture and maintaining regular communication throughout the design process.”
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