Welcome to the website for GreenWorks, a Portland based design firm specializing in landscape architecture and environmental design.

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GreenWorker Showcases Art at First Thursday

Greenworks landscape designer, Azad Sadjadi, will be displaying some paintings at Graeter Art Gallery for an upcoming art show.  His work, along with Roscoe Hall II, Joseph McVetty, and Jeff Betz will showcase from February 2^nd until February 25^th.   The show is entitled “Mapquest,” and is summarized by the gallery as, “Four visionaries’ creative masquerade in search of their contemporary identity and the ambiguous plotting of a marginal address.”

The First Thursday opening reception will be from 5PM-10PM on February 2^nd at Graeter Art Gallery (131 NW 2^nd Ave, Portland).

You can see more of Azad’s work at his website: azadsadjadi.wordpress.com

A Neighborhood Shows Support for Their New Park

GreenWorks recently conducted the first of two public workshops for the Anderegg Property Park in the City of Damascus.  The purpose of the open house was to engage the community to learn what they would like to see in their new neighborhood park.   The event was well attended with residents and children from the Trillium neighborhood who were all excited to hear about the plans for a park and provide feedback on what they would like included in the design of the park.  Children were also allowed to participate and provided imaginative designs for their vision of a park as illustrated in the image below.  The park is a joint partnership with the City of Damascus and the North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District.

Ben Johnson (GreenWorks) presenting Site Analysis information with Michelle Healy (North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District) and Chris Hawes (Damascas Citizens Community Involvement)

Inspirational Kid Sketch from Public Meeting

FINAL DESIGN: CAROLWOOD PARK PLAYGROUND UPGRADE

Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District (THPRD) has posted the final design renderings for the new playground design at Carolwood Park.  The park district is replacing another old and out-of-date playground in a continued effort to maintain recreational opportunities for young people that are up-to-date, safe and fun.  GreenWorks helped THRPD develop a new playground design based on feedback from a public meeting and an online survey conducted earlier this year. In addition to the new playground equipment, new site amenities include:  an ADA accessible pathway and ramp, a bench and picnic table.

The new playground will be completed this summer. THPRD is looking for volunteers in the neighborhood to help with installation. More information can be found on the park district website.

Happy Holidays from GreenWorks

GreenWorks Awarded On-Call Civil Engineering Contract

 

GreenWorks was recently awarded a contract with the Portland Bureau of Environmental Services for On-Call Engineering Services. We will provide BES services for work under Category 4: Drainage, Water Quality and Habitat Enhancement.  GreenWorks is dedicated to developing innovative and sustainable solutions for the management of stormwater and the restoration of our natural systems, and our history of working with engineers and BES gives us a solid foundation on which to provide services for Category 4 work.

This is a unique situation to lead this effort as landscape architects; engineers typically lead the contract. We are excited about our lead role in the upcoming projects regarding drainage, water quality and habitat enhancements.

 

Our full team includes the following specialists for the Category 4 projects:

GreenWorks – Project Managers | Landscape Architecture

KPFF Civil Engineers

ESA – Environmental Science and Planning

Salmon River Engineering, LLC

Habitat Concepts – Restoration Specialist

Geotechnics, LLC

Wyeth Columbia River Treaty Fishing Access Site – Planting after 1 Year

Plants have been in the ground at the Wyeth site for nearly one year now and are thriving, as the comparison photos showing the condition at time of planting and a year later attest to. The Wyeth project is now complete having met requirements for a one year plant establishment period. To find out more about this project, please use the links provided below for past articles about this project.

 

http://greenworkspc.wordpress.com/2011/01/28/rufus-restoration-planting-completed/

http://greenworkspc.wordpress.com/2011/01/21/native-planting-restoration-begins-at-the-wyeth-columbia-river-treaty-fishing-access-site/

http://greenworkspc.wordpress.com/2010/07/19/wyeth-columbia-river-treaty-fishing-access-site-breaks-ground/

 

Photo taken January 2011, after plant and seed installation

Photo taken end of October 2011

Madrona Studios Revitalizes Rose Quarter Housing

As part of the design team for Madrona Studios, GreenWorks provided landscape architecture services for the project, which is featured in the Fall Oregon Facilities issue highlighting the revitalized affordable housing building. Formerly a Ramada Inn within Portland’s Rose Quarter, Madrona Studios added 176 affordable housing units that now use, “27 percent less energy than a standard building of the same costs.”  The article explains ways the project team found to cut water, energy, heat, and lighting consumption for the retrofitted building.  The project resulted in an overall $42,000 annual cost savings for the project led by Central City Concern.

The full article can be found at:

http://issuu.com/jengomedia/docs/orfall2011?mode=window&backgroundColor=%23222222

GreenWorks designed frontage improvements that improve safety and accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists in and around the site. Frontage improvements include the conversion of a vacated street into a striking and lush new planting area that provides year-round interest along this heavily travelled corridor. Additionally, GreenWorks worked closely with architects and engineers in retrofitting the building’s parking garage deck to accommodate new ecoroof planting areas, a gathering area with special paving, and improved ADA-accessibility for residents.

Madrona Studios

Phytoremediation in Landscape Architecture

Jeff Boggess, Landscape Designer

GreenWorks’ Associate Jeff Boggess recently attended the Constructed Wetlands and Poplar Remediation Technical Tour, put on by the International Phytotechnology Society as part of their 8^th Annual Conference in Portland this September.  Jeff gave an in-office lunchtime presentation on the experience, followed-up by an online article in this month’s Oregon ASLA LANDbytes.  Inside he recaps the tour stops at 5 constructed wetlands and poplar plantations in the Willamette Valley Region and talks about potential opportunities for landscape architects to further enrich their stewardship role by making phytotechnology common practice in their designs.

You can check out the article here:

http://www.aslaoregon.org/updates/articles/phytoremediation-in-landscape-architecture

Derek Sergison Joins GreenWorks

GreenWorks recently welcomed Derek Sergison to the team as a Landscape Designer.  Derek joins us from California where he studied Landscape Architecture at California State Polytechnic University in Pomona.  Derek’s direct experience in environmental, transportation, and graphic design projects makes him a valuable addition to our firm.  Derek’s primary interests lie in urban growth and the way it impacts protecting and enhancing natural resources.  He is currently taking on a diverse range of projects including green infrastructure, urban development, recreation, and environmental enhancements.  Derek’s personal activities include mountain biking, hockey, golf, skydiving, drawing, and photography.

Derek Sergison, Landscape Designer

Beverly Cleary School Completes Bioswale Construction

The school community at Beverly Cleary School in NE Portland recently completed construction on a bioswale as part of an overall landscape plan entitled the “Learning Landscape Project.” The project was inspired to develop a system that improved the school’s impact on urban stormwater. The bioswale works to mitigate the impact of polluted stormwater by collecting and filtering the water before it drains in to sewers, rivers, or streams.

GreenWorks’ Michelle Mathis led the design effort of this project working with the Beverly Cleary School community. The Beverly Cleary K-8 School is a two-campus school; Kindergarten and first grade students are housed at the Hollyrood campus, and the second through eighth grade students are housed at the Fernwood campus. They built and planted a swale at the Fernwood School in the spring of 2006, but the downspouts were never disconnected to feed into the swale.

For more information and a video on the downspout visit:

http://greenworkspc.wordpress.com/2011/01/05/2501/

GreenWorks Co-Founder Appointed Portland Parks Bureau Director

Congratulations to Mike Abbaté for his appointment as the new Director of Portland Parks!  After a national search to replace Park’s Director Zari Santner, Commissioner Nick Fish selected Abbaté, calling him  “’innovative’ and an able manager whose work examining the parks’ assets will be a big plus when the bureau goes out for a parks bond.”

Mike Abbaté, Director of Portland Parks

Mike Abbaté co-founded GreenWorks in 1997.  Abbaté brought to the firm great expertise in interpretive, outdoor recreation and ecotourism facilities. He was instrumental in expanding the firm’s services in planning and design for interpretive facilities; urban park design; and planning and design for regional, state and national parks. Prior to GreenWorks, Mike worked for the U.S. Forest Service and in the private sector for many years. Abbaté left GreenWorks in 2007 to become the Planning Director for the City of Gresham.

For more information on Mike’s new appointment visit:

http://blog.oregonlive.com/portlandcityhall/2011/10/portland_parks_bureau_hires_in.html

Lewis and Clark Park and Festival Grounds Reconnects the Dalles

The Dalles Riverfront Connections continues to push forward with an article published in this week’s Daily Journal of Commerce, discussing the park’s urban connection between the Downtown Business District and the historic Columbia Riverfront.  GreenWorks worked closely with KPFF and Nathan Good Architects on this project, developing a park design that connects the two distinct areas between I-84 while enhancing community identity and encouraging economic development.  For more on the featured Lewis and Clark Park and Festival Grounds visit:

http://djcoregon.com/news/2011/10/11/park-to-connect-the-dalles-downtown-to-riverfront/

The project went out to bid last month and construction is expected to start in November.

Lewis and Clark Park Rendering by Craig Holmes

 

Pavilion Rendering by Craig Holmes

GreenWorks Awarded 2011 ASLA Oregon Merit Award

ASLA Oregon’s 2011 Design Awards were held this month, celebrating landscape design in our region.  GreenWorks took home the Merit Award in the Research & Communication Category for our work on the Clean Water Services Low Impact Development Approaches Handbook.

The Clean Water Services Low Impact Development Approaches Handbook promotes sustainable stormwater management and site design practices that protect precious natural resources. It is a practical tool for those who make or influence development decisions in the urban portions of the Tualatin River Basin, Washington County, Oregon. The handbook communicates using colorful graphics, photos and tables to present stormwater management measures that are aesthetically appealing and can be readily incorporated into site landscaping and architecture.

Congrats to GreenWorks and all the winners at this year’s ASLA Awards!

To view all of the Oregon ASLA Awards visit:  http://www.aslaoregon.org/blog/2011/10/11/asla-oregon-2011-design-awards-winners-announced

SE Clay Street Green Street Open House

Join GreenWorks and the Portland Bureau of Environmental Services at Indent Studios for an Open House discussing SE Clay Street Green Street this Thursday the 13^th from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m.  The Open House will present the latest information on the project and answer questions about the community impact of the new green street.  GreenWorks worked with the Portland Bureau of Environmental Services on the streetscape design for 12 block section ofSE Clay Street in the Central Eastside Industrial District (CEID).  The new green street will provide a pedestrian friendly corridor from Ladd’s Addition to the Eastbank Esplanade.

We hope to see you there!

For more information visit:

http://www.portlandonline.com/bes/index.cfm?c=47012&a=367456

GreenWorks Competes in Bike to Work Challenge

The results are in!  GreenWorks participated in this year’s Bike Commute Challenge, totaling 1239 miles during the month of September.  The Bike Commute Challenge takes place every September in Portland – putting workplace against workplace to see who can commute the most by bicycle.  GreenWorks finished this year with 68% ridership.

GreenWorks also held its annual internal Bike Commute Challenge with “Most Days Biked” awarded to Azad Sadjadi (19), “Most Trips” to Andrea Cameron (100%), and “Most Miles Biked” to Alex Perove (418 miles).  Congrats to GreenWorks for your miles put in and hard work in this year’s challenge!

Ben Johnson Joins GreenWorks

GreenWorks is proud to announce the addition of Ben Johnson to the firm.

 

Ben Johnson, Landscape Architect

Johnson recently joined GreenWorks as a landscape architect with 12 years of experience primarily in waterfront parks, regional trails and greenways, community parks, public plazas, streetscapes, and sustainable higher education projects. Johnson’s professional experience has been in the Pacific Northwest and he has gained a reputation for strong technical skills and successful collaboration with clients and consultants while successfully managing multi-million dollar public projects. His experience and skills have allowed him to contribute and lead projects from master plan through implementation.  A recent signature project, which Ben is proud of, is the Nancy Russell Overlook along the Cape Horn trail on the Washington side of the Gorge. This spectacular viewpoint was constructed in honor of Nancy Russell.  While at Walker Macy, Ben worked with the Friends of the Columbia River Gorge, Forest Service, and Cape Horn Trail Conservancy to develop the vision for the overlook and then managed the project from concept design through construction. Johnson received a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the University of Florida.

Mt. Hood Community College Early Childhood Center Approaches Completion

Mt. Hood Community College Early Childhood Center is nearing completion!  As the first new building on the Troutdale campus in nearly three decades, the center will provide a hands-on environment for college students to work with young children.  GreenWorks designed a Landscape Site Plan for the center creating three distinct areas focused on different learning environments: an area for infants, an area for 3-5 year olds, and an area for free play and exploration which is less structured and serves as a nature classroom.

GreenWorks assisted the client in building a natural play vocabulary, design sense and product knowledge needed to support the development and approval of a nature based playground. Features include earthen mounds, rocks and logs for climbing, a sand and water play area, a sensory garden and art and music features. The playground aims to inspire a deeper connection between young people and nature that they will continue to develop throughout their lives.

Willamette Week’s Finder Guide Highlights Two GreenWorks Projects

Willamette Week’s Finder, an annual guide to Portland’s neighborhood hot spots features two GreenWorks projects in its recent 2011 issue.

The Finder names Da Vinci Middle School as one of Laurelhurst/28^th Avenue’s “Best Kept Secrets.”  GreenWorks designed the site work for this modular 21st century classroom that is certified LEED Platinum.

http://npaper-wehaa.com/finder/13067/?preview=1#2011/08/s1/?page=46

Da Vinci Arts Middle School

 

The Finder also features the GreenWorks’ Kenton Streetscape project with a neighborhood mention by Mayor Sam Adams. While noting the huge Paul Bunyan statue as an icon in the area, Mayor Adams describes Kenton Streetscape as “the real babe of the neighborhood.”  He mentions the neighborhood’s redevelopment as a “fully retrofitted green main street, with wider sidewalks, concrete-and granite benches, and a granite sculpture by Mauricio Saldana.”

http://npaper-wehaa.com/finder/13067/?preview=1#2011/08/s1/?page=50

 

Mayor Sam Adams at the Kenton Streetscape Opening

 

 

 

 

GreenWorks Announces New Hires

GreenWorks announces two professionals join the firm – Jeff Boggess, and Wes Shoger.

Jeff Boggess, Associate rejoins GreenWorks as a landscape designer with experience in recreational, infrastructure and urban design. Beginning in 2002, Jeff enjoyed 2 years with GreenWorks before departing on a five-year venture working for the German firm Atelier Dreiseitl. While with Atelier Dreiseitl, Jeff divided his time between the firm’s offices in Germany, Singapore and China. He gained a broad understanding of the landscape architecture profession and its potential for positive impact to the development and stewardship of our planet at a variety of scales. From new eco-cities designed for 1.5 million inhabitants to small-scale stormwater cleansing biotopes enjoyed by people and wildlife, Jeff gained diverse international experience that he brings back to GreenWorks. Jeff provides a functional design aesthetic that is modern, provocative, and promotes social and environmental accountability.

Jeff Boggess, Associate

Wes Shoger joins GreenWorks as a landscape designer with experience in streetscape, plaza, transit and urban design. Wes’s interests lie in the integration of green infrastructure in cities; He is excited about being a part of a group that practices environmental stewardship as a core belief. Wes enjoys many project types, with a particular interest in urban design and environmental rehabilitation projects.  In his free time, he enjoys hiking, photography, technology, volunteering and craft beer.

 

Wes Shoger

Congratulations and welcome Jeff and Wes!

Riverdale Grade School Final Walk Through Complete

Last week GreenWorks made their final walk through at the new Riverdale School campus, the new development of a 45,000 square foot state-of-the-art, two-story education facility for grades K-8, including approximately 24 classrooms. The project incorporates sustainable site practices and LEED design. In addition to a new education facility, the project provides improved child safety, bus routing, parking and parent drop-off areas as well as a central courtyard for outdoor play and environmental learning areas.