As creative builders (and people!), sometimes friends approach us to build things that exist only in their hearts and minds. Friends of Noise, a local non-profit doing incredible work helping facilitate youth-led art, had a need for a mobile PA system they could use for their own events and to run production for those put on by other organizations. They needed something that was battery powered and waterproof, with the ability to run all day, hold all their sound equipment, be loaded and unloaded by two people, and produce sound both while stationary and on the move.
Our facilities manager, with a background in mobile sound in university and skills in electrical work and general tinkering, led the charge in making the dream a reality. We sourced an old truck tool box with a gasketed door, found the appropriate batteries, inverter, and a wiring plan based on a good bit of van conversion research; a few pieces of marine hardware and some ADA grab bars later, we had our working prototype.
Friend’s of Noise mission focuses on empowering youth to produce music and performing art, leaning heavily on the idea that creating spaces and providing training and access are foundations for youth-led self-expression and programming. Created at a time when all ages venues are more scarce than ever, the sound cart allows the organization to make space for creative work on the fly and without restriction.
The fact that we literally get to amplify other’s voices is not lost on us; we’re grateful for the opportunity to step outside what we normally do and use our skills to help others use theirs. Since the build, we’ve spotted the sound cart on the streets and in the parks, helping musicians, poets, activists, teachers, and community leaders get loud.
We learned a lot from the project and hope to use that knowledge to create more carts in the future and teach others to do the same.
If you’d like to support or learn more about Friends of Noise, their website is:
https://friendsofnoise.org/
A couple months ago, as we were trying to organize and consolidate some materials that were salvaged from and/or overages or mis-ordered (yes, it happens) on past projects, an idea was suggested that there would be a better use for all these materials than for them to be sitting in storage indefinitely. The concept of a “tiny office” came to the forefront. Many of our projects are lean and have a light site presence, but for others that have a longer timeline, a place for people to congregate for site meetings, review building plans with crews, or just securely store equipment and set up a computer is necessary. Everyone has seen a job shack, but they are rarely given a second look. Conventional modular construction trailers never properly represent our brand, because they are typically built cheap and made to be intentionally uninteresting. We wanted to take a different approach.
We began by forming an internal “tiny office committee” to lead the effort in designing and building a structure with a few rigid parameters: implement the stored materials, fit the structure on a tiny house trailer platform from local manufacturer, Iron Eagle Trailers, to be easily transportable, and stay within our predetermined budget of $25-30k including the trailer base, materials not included in our yard, and the labor for our crew.
To maximize the opportunity to design and build our own space in its entirety, elevate that portion of our jobsites, and try out some ideas that would not be used otherwise, the tiny office committee kicked off the process with a design charette. Initially working in small groups, generating all sort of ideas, the group eventually reconvened to collaboratively determine the shape, arrangement of openings, and necessary systems for the project. From there, we set a small crew of carpenters loose to start building. With more flexible timelines and expectations than normal, there were opportunities for members of our crew to shadow others in specific processes that they previously were not as experienced in and to pick up new skills in a construction setting with less schedule pressure than is typical on a project. With the tiny office complete, and nearly every company member having some hand in the configuration of its reclaimed and repurposed components, the bright workspace will be a unique representation of OGLLC while it finds its temporary place at our job sites.
Perry Gabbert purchased Fern Bottom Farm in 1910. It has remained in the Gabbert family since that time, as an active farm, retreat and Frisbee golf course, among many other things. Located on 70 acres of retired farm and active forest in the Oregon coast range, it serves as a getaway from cell phones and city life. In addition to the original farmhouse and blacksmith shop, there are several other outbuildings, listed below, built and maintained by multiple generations of Gabberts.
On May 16th, 2014, AIA Portland hosted the Stitch Design Competition at the Center for Architecture. The challenge was to design a solution for capping the section of I-405 highway between SW 13th and 14th near the Portland Art Museum, the central Multnomah County Library branch and Providence Park.
Design: Ben Decherd, Dylan Versteeg, Kai Yonezawa, Owen Gabbert
Our work impacts neighbors and communities. So, in addition to focusing on projects with a positive community impact, Owen Gabbert also volunteers with his neighborhood association, serving on the Boise Neighborhood Land Use and Transportation Committee, in a variety of ways.
As the Catlin Gabel Alumni Board President and member of the Board of Trustees, Owen spends and enjoys a great deal of time on the Catlin Gabel campus. In 2011, inspired by Emily Pilloton and the Studio H program she created in North Carolina, Kai Yonezawa and Owen explored several avenues to engage students in the design/build process.
Ultimately, Owen and Kai ended up participating in–and directing the design and construction of–three structures located in the middle school garden; a variety of community members, including students, parents, faculty and staff, participated in the process. Named after long time shop teacher Tom Tucker, the project is a testament to the Catlin community and its commitment to community service.
Garden Master: Carter Latendresse
Designer: Kai Yonezawa
