A STEAM Connect POP-UP Recap

Our latest STEAM Connect Pop Up was an extraordinary, extended four hour deep dive into one of the Pacific Northwest’s most critical infrastructure initiatives: the Interstate Bridge Replacement (IBR) program. Held on Tuesday, June 16, 2026 this special event brought together over 20 participants, including students, parents, and teachers, for a collaborative look at civil engineering, environmental logistics, and public transit planning.

We were thrilled to partner with iUrbanTeen for this event, and we look forward to collaborating with them on future pop ups to expand our community outreach.

The Complex History and Science of the Bridge

The IBR team pulled back the curtain on the massive regional coordination required between transportation entities, including the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT), the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), TriMet, Coast Guard, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and others.

A panel of experts from the project team shared their insights, including Barbi Alexander-Brown (WSDOT Economic Opportunities and Compliance Specialist, who shared her unique career pivot from medical school), Nathan Potter (Project Manager and Engineer), Meghan Hodges (WSDOT Community and Government Relations Manager), Fabian Hidalgo Guerrero (Community Engagement Manager), Brenda Siragusa, and others.

Students discovered the intense engineering realities behind the existing crossing and the future replacement spans:

• A Century of Transit: The existing crossing consists of two twin lift bridges. The Southbound span was built in 1917, while the Northbound span was completed in 1958. It remains the only traffic light on the Interstate 5 corridor between Mexico and Canada. (more info)
• The Cost of Doing Nothing: Keeping the existing structure operational is a monumental task. The bridge is staffed 24/7, undergoes a complete structural inspection every two years, and costs approximately $1.8 million annually just to operate and maintain.
• The Opportunity: Replacing the bridge eliminates all traffic delays caused by bridge lifts. It improves traffic flow by adding lanes in both directions. It also adds modes of transportion between Portland and Vancouver with proposed two-direction light rail line and bike lanes. Pedestrian crossing paths will be greatly improved for safety, and dedicated bus lanes are being proposed as well.
• “Pretzels in Chocolate Pudding”: Engineers Eric Forsyth (TriMet Project Manager), Nathan Potter (ODOT Civil Engineer, who holds a nuclear engineering degree from OSU), and Casey (WSDOT Civil Engineer and a 14 year veteran of the prior Columbia River Crossing project) used this unforgettable phrase to describe the current bridge’s timber pilings sitting in the silty, liquefiable soil at the bottom of the Columbia River. They are buried only about 60ft currently. To ensure modern seismic stability, the new bridge’s 6 foot diameter pillars must drive down 200 feet deep.
• Three Channels for River Traffic: The team explained that there are three distinct water channels under the bridge for marine traffic. The deepest channel sits directly under the lift spans for the tallest commercial boats, which can request a bridge lift at almost any time, with minor limitations during peak rush hour. The middle channel, known as the “hump,” accommodates tall ships with shallower drafts, such as sailboats. Finally, the south most channel is designated for smaller recreational vessels.
• The Traffic Tightrope: The bridge currently accommodates 143,000 vehicles per day. The design team must solve major spatial constraints, particularly on the Vancouver side where the freeway must lift over a Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) rail main line without disrupting active operations. The new alignment must also manage complex connections to WA-14 and several ramps leading into downtown Vancouver.
• Multi Modal Transit Expansion: The project includes the highly anticipated and intricate plan to extend TriMet light rail across the river. The proposed route would continue from the current terminus at the Expo Center, cross the Columbia River to add a vital stop on Hayden Island, continue to the Vancouver riverfront, and eventually follow a future routing to a yet to be determined terminus in Vancouver.
• Construction Logistics: Building the future infrastructure while keeping the region moving is a major puzzle. The plan involves building the first new span on the west side of the current southbound lane, which will eventually become the future southbound I 5 lanes. Once that span is ready, SB traffic will temporarily shift over so the old northbound bridge can be deconstructed and the new northbound span can rise in its place. While traffic capabilities will be preserved, there will be a challenging construction window where north and south traffic will be highly limited, resulting in likely significant traffic backups in both directions for a period of time.

Hands On Engineering: The Ultimate Truss Challenge

After returning to the project office, our students transitioned from observers to practitioners. The participants split into four competitive design teams, each mentored directly by an IBR engineer or architect.

Every student was handed a professional role sheet detailing a specific workplace title and set of responsibilities to portray during the simulation: Project Manager: Overseeing timelines and team coordination: Architect: Shaping the visual and aesthetic design of the span; Lead Construction: Managing the structural assembly; etc.

Tasked with bridging an open gap between two separated tables, the teams brainstormed structural concepts on paper before building physical models out of marshmallows and hard spaghetti and lasgne noodles. Teams tested various truss and suspension configurations for sturdiness, while exhibiting their roles. When time expired the project managers were asked to demonstrat the bridges by placing Matchbox cars across the spans to see how much weight they could hold before failing- NONE FELL!!

The afternoon closed with excellent one on one communication between parents, students, and active project staff. Contact information was exchanged, paving the way for future mentorship opportunities and continued exploration into civil service, structural and traffic engineering, and infrastructure logistics.

A massive thank you to the entire IBR team and our partners at iUrbanTeen for dedicating four hours to inspiring our Next Gen Pros!

Looking Ahead

Our pop up series connects young learners with the local workplaces transforming our region. These monthly visits are entirely free of charge, with participants providing their own transportation to the host sites.

Check the Official STEAM Connect Schedule to view upcoming dates and secure a spot for your student!

Our latest STEAM Connect Pop Up took a group of Next-Gen Pros behind the scenes of Portland’s iconic Lan Su Chinese Garden on May 13, 2026. Led by Haley, Volunteer Coordinator, and Patrick, the Head Gardener/Horticulturist, our students/guests spent 90 minutes exploring how 16th-century Ming Dynasty artistry intersects with modern science and engineering.

The Science of the Scenery

The tour revealed that maintaining a “living museum” requires constant scientific monitoring and unique structural solutions:

• Ancient Structural Engineering: Patrick pointed out that the garden’s buildings contain no metal fasteners. Following traditional Chinese techniques, each structure is held together by precision wood joinery and pegs, allowing the buildings to remain flexible.
• The Art of Rain: Haley drew attention to the intentional design of the roof tiles. The convex shape and the specialized “drip tiles” feature small nubs at the edge. These are designed to disperse water constantly, creating a fantastic visual effect where rain streams down in decorative, curved patterns rather than a flat sheet.

• Urban Nature: Nestled in the core of Portland’s urban Chinatown district, we discussed the ecosystem’s frequent other visitors, from the hummingbirds in the blossoms, the duck family from the waterfall story Patrick shared, to the herons that occasionally visit the pond (and sometimes even eat the koi!).
• Balancing the Ecosystem: Patrick shared some of the other very real scientific challenges: testing the pond water and managing pH levels, challenges of maintaining a water level and in doing so, the impact of adding chlorinated city water, which damages the important biology of the pond. Koi fish have to be constantly monitored (monthly testing) for parasitic infection and treatment, including a quarantine tank he showed us in one the non-public areas. Planting locations also matter, for example, rhododendrons and azaleas are highly toxic to fish, so they cannot be placed near the water’s edge.

• The “Foot Massage” Pathways: Students were fascinated by the beautiful stone pathways. The varied textures and specific placement of the stones were traditionally designed to provide a therapeutic “foot massage” to those walking through the garden.

Career Pathways: Non-Linear Journeys

A core part of the STEAM Connect mission is showing students that there is no single way to enter a STEAM field. Our hosts each shared their own inspiring, non-linear career stories, rooted in family, curiosity, and community:

• Patrick’s Path: Patrick grew up with a mother involved in geology, volcanoes, and construction. However, he originally taught English in Turkey, New York, and London. He eventually followed his passion for plants, transitioning into horticulture through self learning and building deep community relationships.
• Haley’s Path: Originally from Indiana, Haley’s background was in public art exhibits and volunteer coordination. After navigating pandemic-era challenges, she moved to Portland and utilized her skills in community organizing and now leads volunteer efforts at Lan Su, and has expanded her role to include serving as a regular guide.

The Business and Operations of STEAM

The event concluded with a lovely tea service, where we discussed the professional operations of the site:

• Organizational Scale: Many were surprised to learn that Lan Su employs 40 people. Beyond the gardening and hospitality staff, there is a dedicated team nearby managing finance and marketing. Lan Su depends on an important volunteer network to help guide the garden’s regular visitors and facilitate the numerous events that happen throughout the year (Note: volunteering provides excellent opportunities to make new contacts for networking and career exploration! Check it out here)
• Future Growth: The garden is looking toward the future with long term plans to expand into the block currently used for parking and a greenhouse, creating new opportunities for future professionals.

By connecting with professionals like Patrick and Haley, our Next Gen Pros saw firsthand that STEAM careers are built on human connections and curious explorations around personal passions. A huge thank you to the Lan Su team for hosting our STEAM Pathways Coalition and community members!

Date: April 22, 2026

Our latest STEAM Connect Pop-Up was a journey through time! We went behind the scenes at the historic Oaks Park, and our “Next Gen Pros” discovered that an amusement park is actually a giant, living laboratory.

📜 The “Trolley Park” Legacy Joshua kicked off our tour in the Dance Pavilion with a fascinating history lesson. Did you know Oaks Park is a “Trolley Park”? Back when trolleys ruled the city, they sat empty on weekends. To boost ridership, companies built amusement parks at the end of the lines. Oaks Park, opened in 1905, just two days before the 1905 Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition, is one of the few remaining examples of this urban engineering in the country! In 1985, the Bollinger family ensured the park’s future by donating the entire 44-acre site to a local non-profit foundation, preserving this historic ‘Trolley Park’ for future generations instead of allowing it to be lost to redevelopment.
Joshua also shared that Oaks Park has frequently experienced floods, and the beautiful floor of the Dance Pavilion was salvaged from the roller skate rink’s floor, damaged in a prior flood. 

🌳 Engineering the Future The park isn’t just staying in the past. Joshua shared their plan to shift several rides into the beautiful forested portion of the park under the tree canopy. Even more exciting? They are preparing for a brand new “Drop” style ride later this year! (Mike later invited us back for a 2027 STEAM Pop-UP to tour that ride!)

Our “Next Gen Pros” got an exclusive look at the “hidden” side of the park. Here is the breakdown of what we discovered:

📐 The Physics of the “Rush”

Tom took us behind-the-scenes of the Adrenaline Peak ride (UNDER the ride), where we got to see the computer systems and sensors logic (including “PLCs” – Programmable Logic Controller) that run the Adrenaline Peak coaster.

Back outside around the track and under the cars, Tom explained:

• The Drop: A 97^o vertical drop (it actually slopes backward slightly!).

• The Loop: It uses a Clothoid (teardrop) shape to keep the G-forces comfortable for the human body.

• Safety First: The cars have a three-wheel system (runners, guides, and upstops) and are completely disassembled and rebuilt every single year for safety! During operation, the coaster is also inspected 3 times per day.

🎠 100 Years of History

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Carousel (technically a Menagerie, since it contains not only animals), built in 1912 by Herschell-Spillman Company, and arriving at the park in 1926!

• We saw the Sea Dragon, one of only three in the world.

• We learned that carousels actually started as training tools for medieval knights to practice jousting!

• The Oaks Park Menagerie is listed in the National Historic Register.

While walking to the skating rink we took a stop at the Scooters (aka bumper cars) and learned about how the electric current flows from ceiling to the floor via the metal collector touching the ceiling, through the tube in the car, and then through one metal wheel on each car, and the motor driven by that current driving 2 rubber wheels.

It was pointed out that the kiddie coaster was made by Miler, a company based in Portland!

🎹 The 100 Decibel Heartbeat

Inside the skating rink, Keith showed us the 1926 Wurlitzer Organ.

• It is an 18-rank pneumatic marvel (1200+ pipes!) that uses specialized sheep leather to control air flow to the pipes. A Rank is a “row” of pipes, each rank is designed to have a unique sound (i.e. classic “church organ, flute, trumpet, string)

• The Floating Floor: The entire rink floor is engineered to float up to 6 feet high to survive Willamette River floods without damage!

💼 The “Non-Linear” Career Path

The best part? Hearing how the team got there. It’s not always a straight line!

• Tom (Maintenance): Went from fixing motorcycles and jet skis to managing park engineering. He shared that he had to fix a toilet even during our tour.

• Joshua (Development Director): Has worked to support fundraising at several other non-profits, schools and healthcare foundations before coming to Oaks Park.
  

• Celeste (Rides Manager): Was studying to be a nurse when a side job as an operator turned into a career managing 100 employees’ schedules.

• Keith (Organist): Combined a background in electrical/mechanical working on digital copiers with a lifelong love of skating. He now maintains the organ and plays it 2 days a week (Th, Sun).

• Sarah (Food/Bev Manager): Also started as a ride operator at age 16, she now oversees all food, catering, and beverage operations at Oaks Park.

A huge thank you to the Oaks Park team for showing us that STEAM careers are everywhere.

Want to join our next adventure?
Sign up here: 👉 https://steampathways.org/steam-connect/

(full photo album from this event)