Blog

Land Connections–Technological Advancements in Visualizing Landscapes Through Virtual Reality

From ancient to modern times humans have evolved our communication methods from primitive cave paintings to modern computer-aided drawings; the evolution is largely attributed to advances in technology. Virtual reality (VR) is the latest advancement in technology that can aid humanity in our evolution. What sets VR apart from previous visual communication technologies is that […]

Nototomne Park Awarded ASLA Sierra Chapter 2022 Merit Award

O’Dell Engineering is delighted to announce that Nototomne Park has been awarded the ASLA Sierra Chapter 2022 Merit Award under the Research/Analysis/Planning/ Communication/Unbuilt category. During the construction of the River Islands Development, artifacts from the Tomchom village of the Northern Valley Yokuts were uncovered. In light of this discovery, Nototomne Park was born. We loved […]

Land Connections–The Seven Tenets of Resilient Spaces

The measure of any great civilization is in its cities, and the measure of a city’s greatness is to be found in the quality of its public spaces, its parks and squares. John Ruskin Yesterday and Today There has been much uncertainty over the past two years and if that period has taught us anything, […]

O’Dell Engineering Named PSMJ 2022 Circle of Excellence Firm

We are incredibly proud to announce that O’Dell Engineering has been awarded the PSMJ 2022 Circle of Excellence award. PSMJ is the world’s leading authority on the effective management of architecture, engineering, and construction firms. This distinction highlights the top 20% of successfully managed firms that have demonstrated outstanding achievements across 13 key performance metrics. […]

An Awesome Day in Modesto: The Awesome Spot Playground Groundbreaking!

Construction has officially begun on The Awesome Spot Playground at Beyer Community Park. We are so excited to be one step closer to realizing this amazing recreational asset in the Modesto community! The Awesome Spot is a socially inclusive and sensory-integrated playground designed to eliminate social, physical, and cognitive barriers from play. From a phone […]

Land Connections–Creating Healthy Landscapes

Healthy landscapes help create healthy communities. A healthy landscape is an outdoor space designed to promote the health and well-being of people and the environment. There are many social, ecological, and environmental benefits associated with healthy landscapes, including improving quality of life and mitigating environmental impacts. The Landscape Institute provides five principles that are believed […]

O’Dell Named Best Places to Work Central Valley 2022 and Announces Executive Team Progression

For the fourth year, O’Dell Engineering has been named a “Best Places to Work: Central Valley”! The program, presented by Best Companies Group, recognizes organizations with strong, positive workplace environments. We are grateful to be counted as one of these workplaces in 2018, 2019, 2020, and now 2022! Unfortunately, the program did not take place […]

New Ralston Tower Senior-Focused Park Coming Soon!

The new Ralston Tower Park is officially on its way! O’Dell provided master planning, design development, and construction documentation for this amazing senior playground! We are now happy to provide construction support services. The new park will feature walking paths, game tables, a plaza, a horseshoe pit, fitness equipment, benches, and a drinking fountain. The […]

Land Connections–Homelessness in the Built Landscape: How Can We Help?

How do landscape architects address homelessness in the built landscape? What are we doing wrong? What are we doing right? What can we do better?  Architects, Civil Engineers, Landscape Architects, and Urban Planners in the public and private sectors have a responsibility to design cities that serve the entire community, including the homeless. Government policies, […]

Shortage of Electrical Transformers May Cause Construction Delays

With the demand for new homes as strong as it has been in many years, there are many factors now affecting the delivery of new home construction. Shortages of labor and materials have driven prices higher and extended lead times for construction. One of the most significant shortages relates to the installation of electric facilities […]