Westlake has supported Friends of the Children (FOTC), a non-profit children’s mentoring group, since 2010 with employee-giving programs. In 2014, Westlake was chosen to be part of the Design / Build Project Team to perform civil engineering services for FOTC’s new Rockwood Facility uniquely co-located within a city park in Gresham, Oregon. FOTC leases the property from the city of Gresham for $1.00 per year. Westlake was more than happy to contribute to the new facility with discounted fees. The non-profit organization also received $5 million in donations from the community to ensure the successful completion of the new facility.

The site location was tightly constrained, with slopes and a sidewalk above grade, which required our engineering team to pay special attention to the site design and City requirements. During the process, it was found that Preliminary Concept plans did not meet all current City requirements. Westlake’s engineering team worked closely with the architect and design team to ensure all regulations were met by the design plans.

The design development process included a utility plan, an updated storm report for the detention and water quality treatment facility, revised layout for fire access, grading, parking, and multiple ADA ramps. In addition, the site grade discrepancies required regrading plans for the retaining walls. Westlake provided research and coordination with PGE for low-voltage underground effort for the street frontage.

Westlake’s Brett Musick, Project Manager, attended the new Rockwood Facility grand opening on January 21, 2016. “In attending the grand opening,” says Musick, “it was good to see that the efforts of the Project Team resulted in a facility that appeared to be well received by the community.”