15 Firms and Projects to Watch in Oregon in 2021
Innovation and sustainability are alive and well in Oregon. We are sharing 15 leading firms in Oregon that are sure to inspire in 2021! We invite you to take a look at a selection of their upcoming and recently completed projects and let us know your favorites in the comments.
Firms on the “15 Firms and Projects to Watch in Oregon” are listed alphabetically.
Ankrom Moisan
Follow Ankrom Moisan: LinkedIn | Instagram | www.ankrommoisan.com
Location: Portland, Oregon; Bend, Oregon; Spokane, Washington; and Tacoma, Washington
Founded in: 1983
Featured Project: “Active Wellness Center”
Location of Project: Oregon
Completion Date: Estimated 2022
Ankrom Moisan is helping their client bring their vision of a community focused active wellness center to life by integrating clinical services with general fitness spaces that are able to be used for both public and private programs - all in a warm and healing environment.
“Our hope is that this radical new facility feels like it’s part of Main Street while feeling kinetic yet relaxing, empower and healing, and unlike anything else out there.” Active Wellness Center
BLRB
Follow BLRB: LinkedIn | www.blrb.com
Location: Portland, Oregon; Bend, Oregon; Spokane, Washington; and Tacoma, Washington
Founded in: 1953
Featured Project: Conflux Brewing Co.
Location of Project: Missoula, Montana
Completion Date: 2018
We are excited to see the growth of BLRB, including their acquisition of Bend architectural firm, Ascent Architecture and Interiors, in 2019. BLRB has worked on a variety of projects in the region including Conflux Brewing Co. This local brewery features lots of natural light and easy transitions to outdoor spaces through the use of rollup doors and balcony spaces. They matched the feel of the neighborhood by incorporating brick inside and out.
“We worked closely with the owners and their brewer to create a space that integrates into Missoula’s historic downtown while supporting the brewery’s contemporary brand.”
BRIC Architecture
Follow BRIC: LinkedIn | Instagram | www.bric-arch.com
Location: Portland, Oregon
Founded in: 2017
Featured Project: Sherwood High School
Location of Project: Sherwood, Oregon
Completion Date: Summer 2021
This massive 362,000 sq ft high school built on a 74 acre campus was built to help the community of Sherwood remain a single high-school community as the city population continues to grow. In addition to flexible classroom and social spaces the new Sherwood High School also offers state of the art performing art center, wood and metal shops and expansive athletic fields and facilities.
“From the building to the landscape, the design team strove to enrich the high school with meaningful “Points of attraction,” along with the Commons, Media Center, and multi-story student atrium with views to Mt. Hood are slated to become metaphorical intersections where all Sherwood High School Students – regardless of the particular paths of their educational journey – come together”
Bora Architecture and Interiors
Follow Bora Architecture and Interiors: LinkedIn | Instagram | bora.co
Location: Portland, Oregon
Founded in: 1958
Featured Project: Bora Architecture and Interiors Headquarters
Location of Project: Portland, Oregon
Completion Date: Estimated 2021
Bora Architecture and Interiors has the unique opportunity to help transform a 30,000 sq ft warehouse on the Eastside into their new headquarters and studio space as well design additional office space in the building. Bora is also keeping true to their commitment to sustainability by targeting to have this new project be net zero energy.
“Teaming with Killian Pacific on this transformational renovation of the OEG [Oregon Electric Group] building aligns with our values of low carbon projects that promote health, wellness and equity in our built environment. We want our new home to outwardly express those values"
Carleton Hart Architecture
Follow Carleton Hart Architecture: LinkedIn | Instagram | www.carletonhart.com
Location: Portland, Oregon
Founded in: 1994
Featured Project: Hayu Tilixam
Location of Project: Portland, Oregon
Completion Date: Construction is expected to begin in Spring 2021
Hayu Tilixam (which means “Many Nations” in the indigenous Chinookan language) will be built on the 18,300 square foot site awarded by the Portland Housing Bureau to Community Development Partners and the Native American Youth and Family Center. Carleton Hart was successful in providing a thoughtful and inspired unit layout for the required 50 dwelling units that maximized the somewhat constrained mid-block site.
“The design team incorporated two Native-American consultants: Seattle firm 7 Directions for cultural research and design and Akana as landscape architecture. With an emphasis on outreach, our team conducted meetings and focus groups with the local indigenous community in order to develop a design that resonates with the Native culture. Through iterative stages of design and critique, the project arrived at an exterior façade that expresses the building’s characteristically Native identity in an elegant urban shape. Throughout the exterior and interior of the building, architectural detailing and art references the patterns, iconography, textures, and colors of the Native peoples it represents.”
CIDA
Follow CIDA: LinkedIn | www.cidainc.com
Locations: Portland,Oregon; Bend, Oregon; and Seattle, Washington
Founded in: 1991
Featured Project: Center for Equity and Inclusion
Location of Project: Portland, Oregon
Completion Date: Estimated 2021
CIDA is helping to transform a 107 year old building in the Alberta Arts District. This building will be the new home of the Center for Equity and Inclusion (CEI) and was a powerful opportunity for the CEI team to hold on to a piece of this historically Black neighborhood that has experienced the effects of gentrification in recent years. Part of the renovation for this building includes seismic improvements to ensure the safety of the occupants.
“The building, constructed in 1914, previously held Solae’s Lounge, along with three residential apartments on the second floor. CIDA’s design will transform most of the ground floor into a large, flexible space for trainings, and the second floor into offices.”
GBD Architects
Follow GBD: LinkedIn | Instagram | www.gbdarchitects.com
Location: Portland, Oregon
Founded in: 1969
Featured Project: Block 216
Location of Project: Portland, Oregon
Completion Date: Estimated March 2023
This project is one of the most talked about new developments in the region. Upon completion, it will be Portland’s 5th tallest building. The new tower will be home to office, retail, hotel and residential space and is the first project being built on the Portland Greenloop. We’ve certainly had a lot of fun watching this go up from our own headquarters across the street.
“Designers sought an understated yet elegant resolution to the dynamic tower vernacular. Standing at 460 feet tall, the building’s enclosure itself is the shape of a pure “gem” in Portland’s skyline.”
Gensler
Follow Gensler: LinkedIn | Instagram | www.gensler.com
Locations: Multi-national (Including an office in Portland, Oregon)
Founded in: 1965
Featured Project: Banfield Pet Hospital Corporate Headquarters
Location of Project: Vancouver, Washington
Completion Date: Completed Summer 2016
While this project isn’t necessarily new, it’s certainly an achievement that the region when it comes to sustainability. This LEED Platinum building was designed to support over 800 employees and 220 dogs. Throughout construction, they were able to recycle 75% of their construction waste (750 tons) in partnership with TVA who provided the core and shell design for the building.
“The collaborative design is pet-friendly and environmentally responsible, with unique amenities such as pet food, doggy drinking fountains, a cat cafe and pet-friendly group exercise. This headquarters not only houses more than 800 employees, it's a first-class training facility for Banfield veterinarians to learn and innovate around preventative care for pets. As a workplace, the space embodies the brand’s promise, values and principles of elevating the pet-human bond and making a better world for pets through preventative care education.”
Hacker
Follow Hacker: LinkedIn | Instagram | www.hackerarchitects.com
Location: Portland, Oregon
Founded in: 1983
Featured Project: Salem Public Library
Location of Project: Salem, Oregon
Completion Date: Estimated 2021
This project was kicked off by the need to make seismic improvements to the building to ensure the safety of all who enter this public space. Hacker was able to work with a very limited budget to not only make the needed seismic improvements, but also add additional design and functional improvements.
“The design team for Salem Public Library needed to get creative finding ways to make every dollar spent do double-duty. Each aspect of the design is filtered through a practical lens of how each choice can contribute to improved seismic and life safety, from shelving and furniture to circulation, visibility, and new points of entry.”
LRS
Follow LRS: LinkedIn | Instagram | www.lrsarchitects.com
Locations: Portland,Oregon and Shanghai,China
Founded in: 1976
Featured Project: Block 290
Location of Project: Portland, Oregon
Completion Date: Estimated 2021
This mixed use building in Slabtown was thoughtfully designed to maximize daylight throughout the year, while providing a space that both occupants and pedestrians can stop and enjoy. LRS was also careful to pay attention to the materials in nearby buildings and matched the traditional brick composition, while adding in elements of zinc and glass to give it a unique touch.
“The U-shape of Block 290 was modified extensively to create a unique and neighborhood-appropriate building. The building masses are broken into different volumes of varying heights, with alterations in the façade articulation through setbacks and different materials. Balconies and canopies break up façades, adding visual interest to the building form.”
Mackenzie
Follow Mackenzie: Linkedin | Instagram | https://www.mcknze.com
Locations: Portland, Oregon; Seattle, Washington; and Vancouver, Washington
Founded in: 1960
Featured Project: Perlo Headquarters
Location of Project: Tualatin, OR
Completion Date: Completed 2019
Mackenzie was able to bring together a unique blend of materials to reimagine this T.I. and office expansion project. They blended their signature use of wood with other elements such as metal screens, bold acoustical panels and more. This 48,000 sq ft building was modernized by a new layout featuring staff spaces that are organized by themed office pods.
“The space includes flexible areas for employee use and client events, including a large open breakroom with shuffleboard, and separate lounge area and workout room with showers and lockers. Taken as a whole, the new headquarters showcases Perlo’s talent as a general contractor, offers an invigorating space to meet with clients, and provides a holistic tool for growing their business.”
NBBJ
Follow NBBJ: Linkedin | Instagram | http://www.nbbj.com
Locations: Multi-national (Including an office in Portland, Oregon)
Founded in: 1943
Featured Project: OHSU Hospital Expansion
Location of Project: Portland, Oregon
Completion Date: Undisclosed, In Progress.
NBBJ expanded its presence in the PNW in 2019 by opening their first Portland office to help support their on-going work with OHSU as well strengthen their ties to other local projects and opportunities. NBBJ is currently working on a large expansion project with OHSU as well as other regional projects.
ORANGEWALLstudios
Follow Orangewall Studios: Linkedin | Instagram | http://www.orangewallstudios.com
Locations: Portland, Oregon; Oakland, California; and San Diego, California
Founded in: 2004
Featured Project: OHSU DCM Commons
Location of Project: Hillsboro, Oregon
Completion Date: Completed 2020
We are excited to see the new partnership between ORANGEWALLstudios and ID Studios! This will help build on their experience with innovative lab planning and workplace design such as the OHSU DCM (Division of Comparative Medicine) Commons project they recently completed. This 5,200 sq ft building has both labs and office space and features lots of windows to bring in natural light and the local landscape.
“Over the last 17 years, ORANGEWALLstudios has designed and planned wet and dry labs that support immunology, genomics, biochemistry, and neuroscience, as well as support spaces such as vivariums and critical infrastructure. We are looking forward to expanding our West Coast outreach and providing highly technical expertise with ID Studios and a new physical presence in San Diego, CA. ”
SERA
Follow SERA: Linkedin | Instagram | https://www.seradesign.com
Locations: Oakland, California and Portland, Oregon
Founded in: 1968
Featured Project: Hyatt Centric Portland
Location of Project: Portland, Oregon
Completion Date: 2020
SERA brought a lot of fun and whimsy to their latest hotel project in downtown Portland. They allow visitors to explore elements of the Pacfic Northwest without even leaving the building by incorporating local art and materials throughout the space. The bold “basecamp” lobby is sure to catch your eye next time you're downtown.
“Like the trestle bridges and the old growth forest of the region, the hotel mass appears supported by a colonnade of irregular wooden trunks — an “urban forest” sheltering public areas. To capture the expansive range of light in the Pacific Northwest on the greater hotel façade, the design team found inspiration in native basalt. Known for its dynamic geometry, the volcanic rock provides a shape-shifting appearance throughout the day.”
ZGF
Follow ZGF: Linkedin | Instagram | https://www.zgf.com
Locations: Portland, Oregon; Seattle, Washington; Los Angeles, California; Washington DC; New York City, New York and Vancouver, British Columbia
Founded in: 1942
Featured Project: Portland International Airport - Main Terminal
Location of Project: Portland, OR
Completion Date: Estimated 2025
We love (and miss!) our local airport. The Portland International Airport has consistently been rated one of the best airports in America and this ambitious new project will certainly help keep it that way. ZGF has been a long time partner with the Port of Portland, but this expansion is one of the largest. It will help increase the airport’s capacity from 20 million annual travelers to 35 million. The pinnacle of the main terminal is a stunning wood ceiling constructed with locally sourced materials and is designed to withstand seismic events by allowing it to travel 24 inches in any direction during an earthquake.
"The inspiration we really looked to in the beginning was of the place, the natural environment, the really unique regions that we live in." Designs for the new main terminal take inspiration from biophilia and the scale of Portland’s downtown blocks, from foliage to natural materials and finishes.”
