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The Best Office Architects in Portland

10 Min Read
Photo by Bora Architecture & Interiors

Situated in northwestern Oregon, Portland is the largest city in the state. The populous city is renowned for its livability and provides easy access to the ocean and the mountains. Besides being one of the best places to live on the West Coast, Portland is also a great place to start a business and invest in office space properties thanks to its thriving business environment. If you need to build office space in the area, our editorial team has compiled 12 of the best office architects working in Portland.


Hennebery Eddy Architects

921 SW Washington Street, Suite 250, Portland, OR 97205

Hennebery Eddy Architects is an architecture, interior design, and planning firm in Portland. It is passionate about connecting people to nature and building communities. Established 30 years ago, the firm focuses on historic resources and net-positive design solutions. Since its inception, the firm has built a diverse portfolio, including academic, aviation, civic, commercial, design-build, interiors, and historical projects. Hennebery Eddy Architects fosters environmental responsibility for today and for future generations.

The company operates under the leadership of Tim Eddy. He is the president and founding principal of Hennebery Eddy Architects; he personally guides his project teams. His portfolio includes various award-winning sustainable projects for institutions and commercial interests. Tim is a registered architect in 10 U.S. states, including Oregon, Montana, Washington, Arizona, Tennessee, and Maryland.


SERA Architects

600 SW 10th Avenue, Suite 500, Portland, OR 97205

SERA Architects is a 100% employee-owned multi-disciplinary firm committed to creating sustainable solutions. It has been in the business since 1968; it has always strived to shape the world through intelligent planning and enduring design. The firm specializes in architecture, interior design, urban design, planning, and sustainability resources. It serves clients across Portland, Salem, and McMinnville. For over five decades, it has created numerous successful, award-winning projects, earning the respect of many clients.

As an employee-owned company, SERA Architects empowers every staff in decision-making. Among the firm’s principals are Becky Epstein, David Stephenson, and Gauri Rajbaidya—all LEED accredited professionals. SERA Architects has won multiple recognitions since its founding, including the 2021 Palladio Craftsmanship Award, the 2019 National Design-Build Award, and the 2016 AIA COTE Top Ten+ Award.


ZGF Architects

1223 SW Washington Street, Suite 200, Portland, OR 97205

ZGF Architects is an architecture practice committed to the stewardship of people, places, and the surroundings. It was formed in 1942. Today it provides architecture, interior design, urban design, planning, landscape architecture, environmental design, fabrication, and experience design throughout Portland. Since its inception, the firm’s goal has been to pioneer a holistic and humane understanding of the relationship between the built environment, people, and the natural environment. With six office locations across North America, ZGF Architects has established a national reputation. Its work has been recognized by the American Institute of Architects with the Architecture Firm Award.

Jan Willemse is a native Oregonian and leads ZGF Architects Portland. His design process involves a strong sense of social responsibility and environmental stewardship. Over the years, ZGF Architects was featured by multiple media outlets, including Architectural Record and Architectural Magazine.

Lever Architecture

4713 N Albina Avenue, 4th Floor, Portland, OR 97217

Lever Architecture is a design firm creating buildings that elevate the human experience. The firm was formed in 2009 and focuses on providing architecture, planning, and design services to Portland and Bend. The firm fosters collaboration between all stakeholders, including clients, to develop successful projects that meet expectations. Since its founding, Lever Architecture has established a portfolio of institutional, cultural, housing, and office projects and has earned national recognition for its pioneering work with mass timber construction.

Thomas Robinson is the founding principal of Lever Architecture and develops the design vision for each project. Before establishing the firm, he led cultural and institutional projects for Allied Works and Herzog & de Meuron. He completed his master’s in architecture from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design.


GBD Architects, Inc.

1120 NW Couch Street, Suite 300, Portland, OR 97209

GBD Architects is a Portland-based inter-disciplinary architecture, urban design, interior design, and space planning firm constructing enduring buildings that are thoughtfully and artfully crafted. Since 1969, the firm has provided architecture, urban design, interior design, space planning, and master planning services to Portland, Beaverton, Hillsboro, and Bend. The firm remains passionate about making beautiful spaces while respecting the beauty of the natural environment. GBD Architects was one of the early adopters of green building rating systems and has remained one of the country’s leaders in sustainable planning, design, and development.

Agustin Enriquez, Katherine Schultz, and Phil Beyl direct the company. Agustin is the design director who wants to provide meaningful built environments for future generations. Katherine’s deep expertise in design and project management ensures the successful completion of every project. Phil manages the firm as the president—he has led more than $1.5 billion of developer-led work.


Bora Architecture & Interiors

720 SW Washington, Suite 800, Portland, OR 97205

Founded in 1958, Bora Architecture & Interiors is a national design practice headquartered in Portland. The firm specializes in architecture, programming, design, planning, interior design, experiential graphics, and sustainability services in Portland, Neskowin, Happy Valley, Newberg, and Eugene. During its 64 years in the industry, the firm has built meaningful architecture that transforms the lives of everyone it touches. The firm’s specialties include cultural facilities, educational buildings, residential design, and workplace environments.

The firm operates under the guidance of Michael Tingley, an architect who takes a highly creative and interactive approach. Under his oversight, Bora Architecture & Interiors has amassed multiple awards, including the 2021 IIDA Oregon Chapter Honorable Mention Award in Education and two 2020 AIA Oregon Architecture Awards For Adaptive Reuse.


TVA Architects

920 SW Sixth Avenue, Suite 1500, Portland, OR 97204

Established in 1984, TVA Architects is a Portland-based architecture, planning, and interiors firm serving clients across Portland, Lake Oswego, Gresham, Eugene, Bend, and Hillsboro. The firm was formed from Robert Thompson’s commitment to innovation through design and creative problem-solving. It specializes in a wide range of projects, including workplace, housing, hospitality, public work, sports, commercial, and health. Whether it’s a large or small project, the firm offers exceptional service to each client and is dedicated to expressing their unique visions.

Robert Thompson remains TVA Architects’ lead design principal. He has received over 74 local, national and international awards for excellence in design. Robert was the youngest American architect elected into the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows. TVA Architects was featured by multiple media outlets, including DJC Oregon and Statesman Journal.


Scott | Edwards Architecture, LLP.

2525 E Burnside Street, Portland, OR 97214

Scott | Edwards Architecture is a collaborative, people-first architecture firm in Portland. Its design approach puts clients’ visions, goals, and needs at the heart of its creative process. It offers a wide selection of services, including architecture, sustainability, interior design, health care design, hospitality design, Portland architecture, and non-profit architecture, ensuring each work is visually pleasing and technically functional. The firm extends its services to Portland, Bend, Hood River, Lake Oswego, Fairview, Wood Village, and Astoria.

Sid Scott and Kelly Edwards lead the company. In 1990, the former joined Architects Van Lon/Edwards in Portland, where he met Kelly and later became a partner. Seven years later, he formed his own firm; he was joined by Kelly a year later, creating Scott | Edwards Architecture, LLP.


Holst Architecture, Inc.

123 NE 3rd Avenue, Suite 310, Portland, OR 97232

Holst Architecture is a studio shaping places that respect the natural environment while paving new possibilities for the human experience. Founded in 1992, the firm focuses on architecture, planning, and interior services, putting hard work into providing the quality results customers deserve and expect. The firm extends its services to Portland, Newberg, Hood River, Gresham, and Seaside; it has earned a reputation for being easy to work with because of the team’s willingness to learn.

Holst Architecture operates under the management of Dave Otte and Renée Strand. Both principals have worked for numerous design firms before joining the firm; they are known for creating solutions that impact the communities the firm serves. In 2020, the firm received the AIA Oregon Architecture Design Awards Merit Award.


Skylab

413 SW 13th Avenue, Suite 200, Portland, OR 97205

Skylab is an architecture, planning, and interior design firm established over two decades ago. The firm includes architects, designers, creators, and entrepreneurs collaborating to curate innovative spaces that connect people. Skylab prides itself on providing unique and tailored services and a holistic approach to problem-solving. It specializes in a variety of projects, including public, cultural, commercial, workplace, hospitality, multi-family, residential, retail, adaptive, and reuse. It provides those services to Portland, Beaverton, Astoria, and Hood River.

Skylab runs under the direction of Jeff Kovel, Brent Grubb, Susan Barnes, Robin Wilcox, and Nita Posada. Under their oversight, the firm has won numerous recognitions, including the 2020 Commercial Award from the American Architecture Awards and the 2017 Design Excellence Award in the Hospitality category. Multiple press publications, including ArchDaily and Archinect, have also featured Skylab.


LRS Architects, Inc.

720 NW Davis, Suite 300, Portland, OR 97209

LRS Architects, Inc. is a commercial design and planning firm working with various project types, including senior living and multifamily housing, commercial office and workplace, retail and auto, civic buildings, and industrial projects. Founded in 1976, the firm serves clients throughout Portland, Bend, Hillsboro, Beaverton, Wood Village, Happy Valley, Lake Oswego, Wilsonville, Mt. Hood, and Gresham. They make impossible projects possible. The firm is highly recognized for integrating design with an efficient, collaborative process to develop innovative and functional solutions.

Trish Nixon is the president and managing principal of LRS Architects. She oversees multifamily and affordable housing projects and is passionate about sustainability. Her commitment to helping the community led her to establish the LRS Social Responsibility Committee—the goal is a more diverse and inclusive industry.


Fieldwork Design and Architecture

1752 SE Hawthorne Boulevard, Portland, OR 97214

Fieldwork Design and Architecture is a Portland-based architecture, planning, and interiors firm creating forward-thinking, innovative, and timeless solutions that provide clients with meaningful and memorable experiences. For 11 years, the firm has strived to make a direct, profound connection to the natural environment. The firm opened its doors in 2011 and has focused on serving clients in Portland, Yamhill County, Oregon Wine Country, Newberg, and Hillsboro. Its designs also utilize sustainable and local materials.

Cornell Anderson is the principal architect of Fieldwork Design and Architecture. He leads four team members and focuses on creating well-detailed, concept-driven designs. He has been at the forefront of every project and likes to oversee each project closely. Cornell is an American Institute of Architects member, and he worked for multiple architecture firms before launching his company.


Author

  • Alex Mericle is the Chief Editor at Portland Architects with five years of experience in the construction space. Alex has always had a strong interest in residential and commercial construction and architecture, and he has built up technical experience with building permit data, subcontractor operations, and materials procurement over the years. On top of his experience at Portland Architects, he has prior experience at BuildZoom. His analytical skillset, honed through a degree in Business Analytics from Creighton University and from his work experience, allows him to transform complex construction data into actionable insights and useful, captivating content. Expertise: Residential and Commercial Construction, Building Permit Data, Home Design and Build, Architecture, Subcontractor Operations, Material Procurement Key Highlights: Over 5 years of experience writing and editing in the construction space, Chief Editor at Portland Architects, Previous experience at BuildZoom Education: Creighton University, Degree in Business Analytics

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