Mixed Use Architecture Archives - Page 2 of 3

Meet the Team: Otak’s Denver Architecture Studio

Posted on February 27, 2023February 21, 2024 by OTAK Team

Otak’s architectural practice extends well beyond the borders of the Pacific Northwest. We also have roots in the Rocky Mountains, and as we continue to build a robust team of architects in our studio, we’re happy to announce that our investment in the Denver Metro area has never been stronger.

Our Louisville office has been in Colorado for years, and with the opening of our Denver studio we remain excited about playing an active role in what make’s Denver’s built environment so interesting. From Coors Field to Larimer Square to Union Station, the history of Denver’s architecture is storied and worthy of praise across the country. Now, Otak lives where that story is most prominent — Downtown Denver.

Our ‘One Otak’ approach plays a critical role here, and the values of our whole company align with the impact we’re making in Denver. When you work with us, you work with multidisciplinary professionals who are able to look at a project and see not only the macro elements, but also the micro details of how it will affect communities and people that live in whatever space we occupy.

All of this is why Otak thinks it best to introduce the world to our Denver studio, and talk more about our appreciation for both them and our ability to serve the area.

In this piece, Otak invites you to meet our stellar Denver Architecture team, and learn more about where that team is involved, the type of work we do, and how we prioritize that work.

Otak’s History in Colorado

Though our architecture presence in Denver is new in comparison, Otak has been serving the Rocky Mountain West throughout nearly our whole history out of multiple locations in the state. Just some of our milestone projects in the region include: It’s a history that includes a variety of services and a number of milestone projects in the region that include a few recent highlights:

Aerial view of the "Linking Lookout" Interchange

“Linking Lookout” Interchange (2017)

Designed to serve as an urban park as well as a major multi-modal transportation conduit, the US6 and 19th Street interchange improved connectivity between residential areas and the Colorado School of Mines campus, while also improving the vehicular level of service. The concept would also lead to work on the “Heritage Lid” Interchange design project.

Reimagining the Colfax and Federal Cloverleaf (2018)

The 29-acre cloverleaf intersection of Colfax Avenue and Federal Boulevard represented one of the most dangerous intersections for pedestrians and bicyclists in Denver. Otak led the design of transportation infrastructure modifications with numerous stakeholders and hosted public participation meetings in reimagining the area.

Led process to reimagine a dangerous intersection in Denver

Construction work being done at Godfrey Ditch

Godfrey Ditch Diversion Structure Reconstruction (2020)

In partnership with Naranjo Civil Constructors, this complete design-build project replaces the Godfrey Ditch Diversion structure located on the Middle South Platte River in Weld County, Colorado. The multiple-benefit diversion project reduced sediment transport disruptions, improved maintenance requirements, limited damage potential from future floods, enhanced aquatic and riparian habitats, and enable fish and safe recreational boating passage—all while delivering the full decree of water.

Why Denver?

Our presence in Denver serves distinct strategic purposes. For one, it opens up our practice to projects in urbanized areas — places where Otak services are needed. From affordable housing and mission critical facilities to mixed use and multifamily high rises, Otak has experience with addressing and exceeding the needs of both our clients and the community.

Second, being in Denver expands our footprint in the region for growing involvement with the community. From this location, we continue to build on our core commitments of equity and sustainability with both the projects we take on in the area and as part of our broader business operations.

On the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains, Denver is uniquely positioned to provide a perfect addition for our continued work with preserving our natural landscapes. From projects with the National Park Service to studies involving our visitor use management and water and natural resources teams, the deep connection between Denver and the value of outdoor spaces will enhance our own emphasis in that area.

Meet the Denver Architecture Team

Kurt Basford – Denver Studio Lead

“For me, architecture has always been a passion. As a young artist, I connected with the profession as a physical extension of my creativity. Designing spaces that inspire and shape our cultural dynamics bring me joy in every project. Being raised around construction sites and building a background in finance, I have been able to bring these experiences to the built environment to create meaningful spaces, balance the art + science of architecture, and deliver innovative solutions for our clients. Architecture has allowed me to travel the world working with incredible clients and afforded me the experience of every building type. It truly is a joy to be an architect and I enjoy my work with colleagues every day. I can honestly say I love my job as every day is a new adventure.”

Kelly Buchanan – Architect

“Architecture is about people and placemaking. I believe in the power of placemaking and crafting spaces to be inclusive, sustainable, and relevant. Having studied in Las Vegas, Portland, OR, and a brief time in Italy, I have seen how architecture adapts to the context and culture of a place. I grew up along the front range and moved to Denver to once again be closer to family. I’ve always appreciated the unique style of Mountain West architecture and the influence of both the mountains and prairies. The natural landscape is deeply embedded in the culture of Colorado communities and offers an exciting backdrop for practicing architecture and place-based problem solving.”

Zaq Dahallow EcoDistricts AP LEED Green Associate Designer

Zaq Dohallow – Designer

“I chose a career in architecture in order to better serve my passion for integrating nature into the built environment. Architecture is one of many options for addressing the challenges related to a rapidly changing climate, however, architecture and design also provide an outlet for creativity and inventive thought. Designing buildings and spaces in Colorado is a welcome challenge. Due to our extreme weather and drastically different seasonal considerations Colorado buildings are a great way to expand our understanding of flexible and adaptive design. Energy saving strategies and passive measures are tested in our hot and cold, wet and dry seasons and provide a template for strategies which can be applied to various parts of the world with more stable weather patterns.”

Levi Wall – Architect

“Like many architects, I found architecture first through Legos, but also from gleaning art and woodworking skills from my mom, which got me hooked on shaping the physical world. Colorado is a great place to practice architecture for many of the same reasons it’s an great place to live: the natural beauty, the vibrant growing cities, and a dynamic business environment all provide the context for beautiful architecture. Population growth and climate change also bring challenges to our way of life, which are exciting challenges to address in designing the built environment.”

Tom Hoover – Architect

“I became interested in Architecture at a very young age, 8 years old to be exact. My family moved to Colorado after time in Europe and my parents procured a piece of land on a hilltop with fabulous views to the west. My parents collected several Herman Miller & Eames furniture pieces long before I knew what good design translated to. My parents engaged the services of an architect whom designed a mid-century modern home nestled into that hillside. Growing up in that house, in a mountain setting, with choreographed interior elements that supplemented the feel of the space gave me an appreciation for how it came together through the architect. I grew up with desire to create fabulous spaces & experiences in Colorado doing just what that architect did.”

Karen Smith – Interior Designer

“I feel privileged to live in such a beautiful place and have witnessed a coming of age with local and national architectural groups. I had the opportunity to work for some local icons that were Colorado natives, and now of course everyone wants to be here! Throughout my career I have learned that working in tandem with architects yields the greatest results for the overall vision of the project. Blending the two disciplines seamlessly is one area where I have great expertise and an ongoing passion. Above all, design is a way of thinking, of looking at the world around us, and appreciating the fine details. There’s no better place to do this than here!”

Interested in joining the Denver architecture team, take a look at openings here!

What Does the Denver Architecture Team Do?

As a multidisciplinary firm, it follows that our people have multifaceted experience and a holistic view of all kinds of projects. Our team’s industry knowledge is extensive — our main areas of expertise are as follows:

Primary

Secondary

Tertiary

Architecture
Interior Design
Specification Proficiency
Master Planning
Visitor Use Management Integration

Program Planning
Fixtures, Furnishings, and Equipment (FFE)
Historic Preservation Data Driven Design (Parametric/Algorithmic)3D/Meta Design
Contract Administration/Forensic Services

Human Factors Engineering (HFE)
Post Occupancy Analysis (with VUM)
Smart Cities Pre-Design Consultant Services Signage/Branding
Code Consulting

What Motivates the Studio?

The values that bind the Denver studio are distinct while still falling under our ‘One Otak’ umbrella, and much of our work in the PNW translates directly into the work we do in Colorado. From affordable housing, higher education, civic, and institutional to specializations including corporate offices, data facilities, and mission critical infrastructure, Denver injects expertise and community involvement at every step of project delivery.

In line with our Green Otak (GO) and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, Denver also undertakes projects where environmental resilience meets serving underrepresented communitiesTo serve these projects, the team is involved with organizations like Housing Colorado and the Urban Land Institute.

In summary the Denver studio is strategically placed and positioned to serve clients in the Denver Metro area with a unique perspective, one that’s distinctly Otak.

A Piece of the Otak Architecture Puzzle

Otak’s Denver studio exists to impact a variety of new bottom lines when it comes to serving clients, which expands our reach and relationships even further into the state of Colorado. It’s a crucial new piece of Otak that aligns with our greater architecture practice and strategy.

With our new Denver office opening this past year, learn more about our whole architecture business unit. Otak is proud to take this step in our continuing commitment to resilient, practical, and beautiful design.

Philip Pittsenbarger Earns Green Globes Certification

Posted on August 23, 2022March 31, 2023 by OTAK Team

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.

Explore Sustainable Project Examples

Why Green Globes?

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.

Congratulations, Philip, and we look forward to supporting the rest of your project work on our team.

The Yards at Union Station

What began as an underutilized quasi-industrial site in Portland’s Pearl District neighborhood was transformed into a nationally-recognized example of successful urban redevelopment. The Yards at Union Station would mark the district’s first housing project, and it set the tone for subsequent redevelopment in the area. An existing development of four and five-story buildings would grow to include turning 7.5 acres of decommissioned rail yards into a vibrant addition to the newly minted residential community with an emphasis on affordable housing, altogether offering a total of 724 rental and for-sale units for tenants of varying income ranges.

Brownfield Site Development to Revitalize Portland’s Historic Union Station Railyards

Constructed in 1896, Portland Union Station is an established landmark for the city that’s easily recognizable for both it’s Romanesque and Queen Anne architecture as well as its 150-foot clock tower. Sitting adjacent to the Yards at Union Station project site, terra cotta and molded brick of the Union Station building – which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 – provides the basis for a cohesive motif in the neighborhood. Use of the rail yards contaminated the soil meaning The Yards at Union Station would be developed on a brownfield site. The opportunity to clean up the site for redevelopment allows for the space to be safely reinvested in the community. This sustainable design also includes stormwater planters, energy-efficient lighting and native plantings among other features. With a priority on equity the city of Portland emphasizes that its investment make sure projects address the community’s greatest unmet community needs not only in housing but in economic equity. With over 200 jobs created, this project also exceeds the City’s MWESB goals for diversity in contracting on its way to becoming a viable residential neighborhood in the heart of the city.

Mosaic Mixed-Use Condominiums

The Mosaic is a high-rise mixed-use development located at the intersection of University Street and Ash Avenue in downtown Tempe, AZ. The project is comprised of multi-level on site parking, street level retail, grocery store, and a residential tower. The goal of this development is to provide urban scale for sale housing and amenities to transform a primarily vehicular/commercial oriented intersection at the edge of downtown into a vibrant pedestrian friendly environment.

The Mosaic is a building of many uses and has been design to express those distinctions. The urban grocer and retail hold the street edges. The tallest element, the residential tower, has been located to the north edge in order to relieve the University face from the buildings greatest mass. The placement of the residential tower minimizes its exposure to the harsh western sun and maximizes exposure north and south, the primary view corridors. The grocer is the major use along University with the corner at Ash occupied by an entrance for the residential/retail uses. Parking levels above the grocer are screened by a perforated masonry wall. The east edge of the parking garage is screened by the grocer and retail space, with residential units above.

Al Bateen Hotel & Residences

The Al Bateen Wharf is designed as a five-star business hotel and high-rise condominium in Abu Dhabi. In addition to the main hotel and apartments, there are extensive five-star amenities such as restaurants and coffee shops. The facility also includes a large conference center, banquet hall, health club, and spa. There are a number of water features and swimming pools along with several sidewalk cafes on the waterfront promenade. The design opts for simple volumes wrapped with a fluid and transparent veil-like screen. While maintaining visual transparency, the screen creates a sustainable building through the use of diffused natural lighting, façade elements to achieve energy savings by passive cooling, and shielding from intense sun. The design also carefully considers natural and local materials in relation with marine life.

Dubai Creekside Redevelopment

With our collaborating partners, we have led an international design and technical team tasked with planning and designing a cultural and heritage destination comprising both sides of Dubai Creek for 1 ½ miles through the historical center of Dubai. The project consists of 143 separate buildings to include retail, residential, hospitality, cultural, and entertainment uses, connected by a network of public spaces, covered “souks,” and marinas.

Parking garages, parking access, and vertical circulation have been designed to accommodate 12,000 cars in 2 levels for the entire length of the redevelopment. In January 2008, the government mandated that all future buildings will achieve U.S.G.B.C. LEED Gold certification, and we were selected for this separate contract and to assist the United Arab Emirates to draft the “Emirates Green Building Council” documents, establishing the local criteria for LEED status. In 2008, Dubai Creek Redevelopment was considered the world’s largest LEED certification project.

Jinan Olympic Park

Jinan Olympic Park is the result of a design competition won in November of 2007. Adjacent to the Jinan Olympic venue, the 6 tower Olympic Park complex is comprised of 6 signature office buildings. The tallest building, 55 stories, is made up of both office and a 5-star business hotel. The buildings form an urban garden at the surface, with 2 underground levels of urban shopping and parking.

Kirkland Senior Living – Palisades

The project is located at the east end of Vancouver, Washington, within the Columbia Palisades Mixed Use master plan, which is a site of a former basalt rock quarry along the northwestern boundary of the Columbia Gorge. Benched into a steep-sloped triangular site, the building steps up and embraces the grade as it rises to its height at the northeast corner.

An Amenity-Rich Design for a Unique Site

The exterior design consists of modern and clean lines, gently sloping roof elements at building corners, and is clad in ceramic-coated fiber cement siding. The ground level is articulated with generous storefront windows, brick veneer, and steel canopies and trellises. It has an open lobby lounge that includes formal seating areas centered on fireplaces, casual seating areas, and a bar bistro. A lushly landscaped garden court podium is at the second level with views to the south of the Columbia River. A horseshoe pit, yoga patio and BBQ’s round out the outdoor amenities. Large windows at the second level amenity spaces provide an opportunity to blend indoor and outdoor spaces. The south and west facing units have sweeping views of the Columbia River and the City of Portland to the south.

The Byway at Wood Village

Located on the former site of City Hall in Wood Village, Oregon, The Byway adds 184 multifamily units and retail development across 135,000 square feet. The mixed-use project at the corner of NE Halsey Street and NE 238th Drive includes 8,400 square-feet of leasable retail space.

Regionally Inspired Design for Multi-Use Development

The overall design highlights a Cascadian architecture style, prevalent on the path to the base of Mount Hood, and is highlighted by a signature tower element and pedestrian plaza that anchors the street corner flanked by retail buildings. The remainder of the site consists of seven multifamily buildings, a clubhouse, pool amenity spaces, and playgrounds. The Otak-led design and planning takes advantage of the topography by incorporating stepped three and four-story buildings into the slope. Buildings at the low end of the site include top floor “townhouse” units with views of Mount St. Helens and the Columbia River.

Renaissance Boardwalk

Overlooking the bank of the Columbia River, the Renaissance Boardwalk represents a cornerstone connection for a revitalized Vancouver waterfront. Close collaboration between the City of Vancouver, Department of Ecology, and multiple design disciplines of Otak contributed to the design of this iconic waterfront project.

Designing a Dynamic Mixed-Use Waterfront

In linking Waterfront Gateway and Terminal 1 to the east to Waterfront Park to the west, reestablishment of the boardwalk also serves as a center for cultural activity along the water. The waves of the nine-story residential building reflect the current of the river below, while commercial uses line the boardwalk, anchoring the development to the riverbank. This 400,000+ square foot mixed-use project provides 217 residential units along with 100,000+ square feet of commercial space including entertainment, restaurant, hospitality, and office uses.