Zeke Bolon: Meet Our Expert Series

Picturing what’s next 

Zeke Bolon is a Visualization Specialist and founder of OHM Advisors’ Visualization team. We sat down with Zeke to learn more about his career path and how he helps clients envision their future spaces and places.

Zooming out to zero in: Turning ideas into imagery

Zeke joined OHM Advisors after interning with the firm during college. After starting in our Planning and Landscape Architecture (PLACE) group, Zeke later broadened his focus beyond landscape architecture, specializing in visualization applied to a variety of project types and across multiple disciplines.  Today, he uses emerging technologies—reality capture, drone imagery, 3D modeling, conceptual renderings, animation, and virtual reality—to communicate design with clarity and impact. Driven by an interest in the intersection of design and human experience, Zeke creates immersive environments that allow clients and their stakeholders to understand and engage with spaces before they are built.

Quick Facts

• Title: Visualization Specialist
• Experience: With OHM since 2017

Let’s talk about your career path—What were some of your early influences, and what led you to your current role as Visualization Specialist? 

My degree in landscape architecture at Ohio State University and my early years of experience with the PLACE group at OHM Advisors were integral parts of my journey to becoming a Visualization Specialist. But looking back even further, multiple people and life experiences influenced the path I am on now. My grandmother was a painter, my uncle was an architect, and—in high school—I job shadowed landscape architects at a neighborhood studio. During my sophomore year, I took a 3D modeling course and quickly developed a passion for using 3D modeling as a tool to explore, refine, and effectively communicate design. 

When I joined OHM Advisors as a full-time employee, I created renderings and models as part of my landscape architecture role. On occasion, our architects or engineers would ask me to create renderings for their projects, and I discovered that my interest in making models and renderings applied regardless of project type or discipline. Whether it’s a roundabout, a bridge, buildings, or an environmental resource, the common thread is these are spaces for people, and 3D images are effective communication tools for helping people understand complex design solutions.

My degree in landscape architecture at Ohio State University and my early years of experience with the PLACE group at OHM Advisors were integral parts of my journey to becoming a Visualization Specialist. But looking back even further, multiple people and life experiences influenced the path I am on now.

I expressed my interest to OHM Advisors’ leaders, and they offered me the opportunity to lead our visualization group, which specializes in providing visualization services for all our disciplines. It has been extremely fulfilling to see the growth of our visualization capabilities and to see colleagues adopting it as part of their toolbox. 

What are some project examples that help illustrate OHM Advisors’ visualization capabilities?

Our visualization team collaborates with other disciplines to support a variety of projects.

We’re doing a lot of work with our survey team, turning their reality capture data into imagery that is easily understood. For the Falls Edge Glass Walkway at Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park in Ohio, our multidisciplinary approach was a critical part of the design and construction process. The walkway is located on a challenging site that overlooks a gorge and waterfall. After our survey team scanned the site, we used their point cloud data to create a 3D model of the site and illustrative renderings and video of the proposed bridge structure. Our engineers were then able to use this model to determine how the bridge would be mounted to the cliff face.

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Our transportation group is using our visualization capabilities to engage and educate stakeholders on the impacts of new infrastructure. For example, OHM Advisors is leading the team for the W. Warren Avenue Transformation in Dearborn, Michigan, which includes a proposed five-point roundabout. Roundabouts are fairly new to the community, so rather than relying solely on stationary 2D renderings, we produced a video that demonstrates how traffic flows through the roundabout. The video includes an aerial view as well as driver and pedestrian vantagepoints. It served as an effective communication tool shared at a public meeting. 

For many projects, like the covered Spellacy Bridge in Holmes County, Ohio, we’ve created imagery that supported clients’ grant pursuits. We’ve also done work with external partners, creating an assembly animation to showcase their modular bridge system and how it comes together on the project site. 

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What are some other ways you collaborate with the multiple disciplines at OHM Advisors? 

Our visualization team also works closely with our architecture and interior design teams, whether it’s showcasing interior and exterior spaces in a combined visualization or creating detailed renderings that link site and architectural models. I’m also a licensed drone pilot, and we use drone imagery, video, and scans to show site conditions before and after the proposed improvements.

I’m also a licensed drone pilot, and we use drone imagery, video, and scans to show site conditions before and after the proposed improvements.

OHM’s municipal group has engaged us to develop renderings of underground utilities and phasing plans for improvement projects. We have also worked with our environmental and water resources group to create renderings of regional stormwater and sanitary sewer solutions. I really enjoy the opportunity to work on such a wide variety of projects for the communities we serve. 

What do you enjoy most about being a Visualization Specialist at OHM Advisors? 

The part of the process I enjoy most is when we share images with clients and I see their emotions and reactions to what we’ve produced. They tend to be very happy and excited, and one client was even brought to tears because the moment represented a long-time vision finally being realized. This applies internally, as well. It’s fun to watch our engineers’ reactions when they see a model of a roadway, bridge, or structure that they’ve designed. No matter what I’m modeling, what matters most to me is how it helps people see and understand their project.

No matter what I’m modeling, what matters most to me is how it helps people see and understand their project.

What are the main takeaway clients and potential clients should know as it relates to OHM Advisors’ visualization capabilities? 

We can translate your ideas into imagery that can be seen and shared with others. This allows you to be confident that the built project will align with your vision. 

What keeps you busy outside of work? 

Outside of work, my wife and I stay busy raising our four children and supporting their many activities. I also enjoy hands-on projects, particularly tinkering on motorcycles and the ongoing renovation of our 115-year-old home.
 

See more of our visualization capabilities here.

Watch video of the Falls Edge Glass Walkway at Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park here.

Watch video of traffic flowing through a proposed roundabout in Dearborn, Michigan here.