10-29-2020
Part 1: AFT Arrow
By Matt Steiner & Jen Murphy
Many utility ratepayers are currently struggling with economic security. At the same time, energy costs are rising and the impact of uncertain material and equipment markets is driving project costs up and making capital planning less predictable. As such, it is important that as engineers that we leverage all available tools to optimize each project’s capital and operational costs. Almost just as important is sharing what we learn with not only our colleagues, but the wider engineering community.
The Aeration systems at Resource Recovery Facilities (Wastewater Treatment Plants) account for 30 to 80 percent of a plant’s energy usage, making them typically the single largest source of energy use within the facility. They’re also the most complex and capital intensive systems within a plant. This integral system, which ... (more)
10-28-2020
By Mark Mazzola
The federal Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) recently finalized new rules for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which became effective on September 14, 2020. This was the first major revision to NEPA in over 40 years. The impetus for the updated rules is to streamline the NEPA process, which is often subject to delays from lengthy decision-making processes and litigation. The CEQ found that it takes an average of 4.5 years to complete a NEPA environmental impact statement (EIS) process, from a notice of intent to the issuance of a record of decision, with many projects taking over 10 years to complete their EIS process. The new regulations are meant to clarify and codify what is already required by NEPA, its implementing regulations, guidance, and case law (Venable 2020a).
Following is a summary of the major changes to NEPA made by the new rules. The discussion is taken primar... (more)
10-13-2020
Clara Olson is a water engineer based out of our Portland, OR office who recently earned her Professional Engineer license. Learn more about Clara, the projects she’s worked on, and her advice for others taking the PE test.
Tell us about yourself.
I grew up in Portland and after four years of college in Spokane (Go Zags!) and two years in the Puyallup office, Portland was calling me home again. I’ve been back in Portland for over two years and couldn’t be happier. The Portland office was an easy transition and I love having the community in both Puyallup and Portland.
I love the outdoors and have been getting more and more into backpacking trips in the Pacific Northwest. This summer included a lot of hiking, camping, and backpacking! Mt. Rainier is one of my favorite places on earth and I was lucky enough to spend three different weekends in th... (more)
9-03-2020
On August 17, Civil FX became a division of Parametrix. This partnership combines Parametrix’s expertise in engineering with Civil FX’s industry-leading interactive visualization capabilities. Meet and learn more about the seven talented individuals who have joined us in Las Vegas as Civil FX, A Division of Parametrix.
Wayne Sullivan
Wayne has over 20 years of experience in project visualization, specifically for civil infrastructure... (more)
7-23-2020
As a former Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), Parametrix believes in the importance of creating meaningful partnerships with other DBE and Minority Business Enterprises (MBE). We’re introducing you to a few of the MBE/DBE firms we’ve had the pleasure of working with.
Meet Michael Minor, President of Michael Minor & Associates, a noise, vibration, and air quality consultant founded in 1990 and based in Portland, OR. Michael has over 30 years of experience working on highway, rail, bus, and airport projects along with industrial and commercial projects throughout the northwest.
Michael Minor & Associates partners with many of the northwest’s largest and most prestigious consulting firms and also works directly with federal, state, and local agencies. The firm believes in using a team approach to perform detailed environmental analysis services on maj... (more)
7-21-2020
We're pleased to have several interns joining us virtually this summer for our first-ever work from home internship experience. While this year looks a little different than others, we're still committed providinge challenging, hands-on project experience to students entering our industry.
Meet our summer 2020 interns:
Sneha Raza | Puyallup, WA
Education: I graduated with a Master’s degree in Electrical engineering from University of Colorado Denver this spring.
Hometown: I’m from Chennai, India.
more)
7-16-2020
As a former Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), Parametrix believes in the importance of creating meaningful partnerships with DBE and Minority Business Enterprises (MBE). We’re introducing you to a few of the MBE/DBE firms we’ve had
the pleasure of working with.
Bright Engineering, Inc. was founded in 1997 by Ade Bright, PE, SE. The firm specializes in structural engineering and is a certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Minority Business Enterprise (MBE).
Located in downtown Seattle, Bright Engineering has designed essential components of many prestigious projects in the region, such as Century Link Stadium (home of the Seattle Seahawks), Sound Transit’s SeaTac Airport Station, the West Seattle Water
Taxi, and Washington State University’s Recreation Center in Pullman.
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7-09-2020
As part of our on-call contract with the City of Bothell, Parametrix is providing construction management services for the replacement of a pedestrian bridge across the Sammamish River at the Park at Bothell Landing. The Parametrix team includes Matt Kastberg (project manager), Jeff Sweet, and David Ulrich.
The new structure is a timber-truss bridge with a 12-foot wide deck that meets current structural and ADA standards while maintaining the iconic arched look of the old bridge. The flatter deck and approach grades provide a fully accessible shared-use, non-motorized path for bicyclists and pedestrians.
Funding for the project came from a $1,175,000 Federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement grant and a $1,080,300 State Recreation and Conservation Office Washington Wildlife and Recreation trails grant.
Last month, the new bridge was hoisted into place. Jeff Sweet put together this video showing t... (more)
7-01-2020
We’re extending our celebration of Pride Month for one more employee-owner feature. Michael Baker is a transportation planner based out of our Salt Lake City office. He has been with Parametrix for nearly 10 years.
What does Pride Month mean to you?
To me, Pride Month is about embracing who you truly are. It's exhausting and unsustainable to pretend that a part of my family doesn't exist while embracing other aspects of who I am. Hence in the spirit of Pride Month, I’d like to take this opportunity to come out as bisexual and in two happy, ethical polyamorous relationships. Naturally, this can make introductions (not to mention scheduling) a tad complicated as in, “this is my fiancée Erika, my boyfriend Austin, and his husband Arlo.” The four of us regularly spend time together whether that is over brunch, dinner, or a weekend of camping. I've been blessed to have Erika i... (more)
6-30-2020
Over the last few weeks we’ve shared the stories of Parametrix employee-owners who identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community. Savanna Hasegawa was a catalyst in encouraging this series. Thank you, Savanna, for advocating for greater visibility and representation of the LGBTQ+ community at Parametrix.
She says that as someone who came out at 14 years old, she’s very comfortable being “out” at work, but hoped this series might serve as a way to make others feel more confident being fully themself in a work environment.
Savanna was hired at Parametrix in 2015 as an Administrative Assistant in the Puyallup office. She now serves as a Project Coordinator for the Puget Sound Community Building group. In this role she is often working out of client project offices.
Last year, Savanna and her wife, Anika, got married and began their pregnancy journey.
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