Better Construction Collaboration Makes Long-Anticipated Project Possible

Challenge: A Vision with No Takers

Four miles downstream from downtown Portland, nestled along the eastern bank of the Willamette River, is the Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge. A 170-acre nature preserve consisting of woods and wetlands, Oaks Bottom gives city residents a chance to escape the city buzz and researchers an opportunity to observe the natural scenery of northern Oregon.

For several years, city planners had been wanting to add a viewing platform to the Springwater Corridor Trail, a bike and walking trail that runs adjacent to Oak Bottoms, so passers-by could stop for a better view of the preserve. They even had designs drawn up and took the project to bid through a traditional bidding process. But complexities in the project design and the complications of building near wetlands prevented the project from being procured.

Solution: A New Level of Construction Collaboration

Eventually, a project manager at the city’s Bureau of Environmental Services inquired about Gordian’s Job Order Contracting (JOC) solution. JOC is a versatile alternative construction procurement method that is ideal for small to medium-sized projects with complicated scopes, because it increases construction collaboration between contractors, owners and design teams.

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The city team held a Joint Scope Meeting with the project designers, engineers, Gordian JOC experts and the awarded contractor, Faison Construction. Together, this team surveyed the job site to determine a Detailed Scope of Work and create a plan for the best way to complete the platform, while simultaneously developing a price for the project.

Result: A Long-Awaited View

Once the project scope was agreed upon by all parties, Faison Construction’s team got to work. Construction began in late July, and the highly anticipated project was finished before the end of October. Plus, thanks to careful planning, the trail remained open through the duration of the construction process. In the end, the project was only made possible through the unique level of construction collaboration that JOC provides.

The observation platform now overlooks a marsh on the Oak Bottoms preserve, and a project long hoped for by city officials has finally come to fruition. With an accessible ramp that connects to the trail and a bicycle parking station to accommodate bike commuters, the platform will provide Portland’s residents with a new view of their city’s natural beauty for years to come.