Otak Inc. has been selected as ENR Northwest's Design Firm of the Year 2022.

Portland-based Otak is an architecture, engineering, design and management firm specializing in smart urban growth planning, sustainable design and innovative transportation solutions. After weathering the industry's pandemic-related downturn, the firm has seen its public and private clients begin to resumine efforts to develop infrastructure projects. 

A past trend of client underinvestment in program management has become an area of strong growth for the firm as new funding initiatives come online. Otak also reports strong growth in it's architectural design arm.

The Manley Road project in Clark County involved roadway embankment and stream improvements that helped facilitate fish passage, all while enhancing road safety for motorists. 

Otak is also currently providing construction engineering support for the Swift BRT Orange Line project for Community Transit, in Snohomish County, which will connect services to Edmonds College, Lynnwood city center, Alderwood Mall, Mill Creek, four park-and-ride, and three future Sound Transit Link light rail stations. Key projects also include the Kitsap County Maintenance base and recycling facility and the WSDOT’s NW Region Fish Passage GEC.

Otak has a strong relationship with the National Park Service and has provided construction administration support and design services to improve campsites and rehabilitate roads in Yosemite National Park. It also led rehabilitation of the Mount Rushmore visitor’s center.

The company has chosen to back its stated commitment to helping clients meet sustainability targets by becoming became certified as carbon neutral in company operations. 

Otak's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Northwest is demonstrated by the recent hiring of a DEI manager to focus these priorities across all company projects. On a practical level, it is also working to assist its DBE and small business subcontractors by paying them in 30 days to meet more immediate cash flow needs.

Otak has sought out ways to help the communities it is part of by becoming a sponsor of FORTERRA in Puget Sound, an organization that works to restore key reaches of degraded waterways.

For more on Otak and its accomplishments across the Pacific Northwest, check out the June 13 print issue of ENR Northwest.