Everett is growing. Hundreds of homes, offices and retail spaces are in the works for the waterfront. Industry is investing hundreds of millions of dollars in new facilities, bringing thousands of new jobs to the area. Alaska Airlines is doubling their Everett flight schedule this fall.
“This area used to be more hub-and-spoke with Seattle at the centre, but now it’s a string of pearls along the I-5 corridor,” says Krista Lutz, Director and Co-Lead of the OAC Everett office.
OAC manages the construction of everything from big tech data centers to healthcare projects, schools and municipal buildings, which means they’re working hand-in-hand with the public and private sector building Everett’s expansion.
“We’re part of the fabric, making these communities work. Everett is growing, and we’re helping it grow, while preserving Everett’s unique identity and community feel,” Lutz says.
Krista Lutz, Director and Co-Lead of the OAC Everett office.
They care because they live here
Outside of her work at OAC, Lutz runs an art gallery in Snohomish, and volunteers with the Downtown Everett Association flower program. Her colleague John Olson, a Senior Project Manager, also operates an events venue in Arlington. That means they’re invested in the continued growth of the region, and can better understand the interests of neighbours, contractors, local governments and other stakeholders.
“As a company, OAC believes that employees who feel happy and fulfilled in their lives are better at their jobs, and Krista and I are proof of that,” Olson says. “Having the opportunity to work and serve our local community is powerful and rewarding. We’re always looking for ways to ‘bring better’ to the community.”
Olson has a number of healthcare projects in his current portfolio, which will help alleviate capacity issues in the growing region, and improve the patient experience.
“Building design has a huge impact on how humans feel in a space. It’s not the most glamorous example, but we were working on way-finding for endoscopy patients leaving a facility, and we came up with ways to offer those patients privacy and dignity as they navigate the space,” he says. “It’s important for all of us, and maybe we’re a little more motivated because we live here too.”
John Olson, a Senior Project Manager with OAC Services Everett.
Building a better Everett
Global supply chain disruptions and inflated costs for raw materials have added another wrinkle to construction planning, but Lutz, Olson and their team help clients with a mix of local expertise and international knowledge. OAC analyzes international trends, highway shutdowns and weather patterns to assist in planning, and when one local builder needed storage for lumber and steel while their project was on pause, Olson connected them with a local farmer.
“They were able to store the construction materials in an agricultural barn. We also worked with a farmer to create a hay bale acoustic barrier for a hospital project. In the short term it reduced construction noise for people living near the build, and at the end of the project the hay could still be used to feed livestock,” he says.
Lutz says long term relationships with help ensure there are no hiccups along the way.
“Building relationships is the most important step in all of our projects. Focusing on facilitation and communication brings better outcomes — we’re able to deliver faster and mitigate cost risk. It’s something OAC infuses to every project.” Lutz says.
Learn more about OAC Services’ commitment to Everett at oacsvcs.com/news/story/local-work-for-local-workers.
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