Message from the AIA Oregon President

Kaley Fought, AIA
AIA Oregon President

A Night of Celebration

I am looking forward to next Thursday, November 9, as AIA Oregon celebrates Architectural and Professional achievements with our night of honors and awards at the Portland Art Museum. This year, we hope members from all over the state will be able to join us again to network, see the exemplary work of our colleagues, and have more than a little fun.

The Awards presentation has changed over the years, and I think one of the most exciting additions is the access to Portland Art Museum Galleries ahead of the evening’s presentation. If you purchase a ticket or table to the evening, you’ll have the chance to view the Black Artists of Oregon, the first of its kind to consider the work of Black artists collectively in Oregon; as well as Throughlines: Connections in the Collection which embraces wonder and curiosity, bringing together artworks from across the Museum’s collections to explore the range of artistic innovation. Members will have access to these galleries from 5-7pm, so I hope you can arrive early after work and explore before the festivities.

We’ll have drinks and food, of course, and an opportunity to cut loose with a dance floor and a DJ! A bubbly toast goes with dessert, and everyone leaves with a little swag, whether you win an award or not. Our jurors will also be around to mingle and get to know our members. You won’t want to miss this night!

Thank you to all who entered. It is not an easy process to put together your work for presentation, and we appreciate your continued support of the program, as well as your inspiring work. The jurors had 68 entries to deliberate this year and the decisions were not easy. In general, they thanked our chapter for having such a robust set of projects to select from and encouraged more entrants to consider entering the 2030 calculator information. There is a clear indication that projects, moving forward, must be beautiful as well as highly functional and resilient; as architects, we have the responsibility to lead these conversations with our ideas and built work.

I can’t wait to hear all of the other thoughtful words and view the award-winning projects for 2023. We’ll also be honoring our two Professional Achievement Award winners – the President’s Award and the Young Architect Award. Jay Raskin, FAIA, and Nicole Becker, AIA, will be honored for the two awards, respectively, and I have the pleasure of handing them their accolades.

It’s been a humbling and personally gratifying facet of my Presidency to gather the jurors and participate in the presentation of awards and will be looking forward to sharing next Thursday with all of you! As I come to the end of my term as President of the Chapter, I am so grateful for the opportunity I’ve had to serve. I will enjoy the chance to express my gratitude in person on November 9th – I hope to see you there!

Let’s Celebrate!
Kaley Fought, AIA

Message from the CoEDI Chair

Mohamed Fakhry, Associate AIA
Chair, Committee on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Co-Chair, Emerging Professionals Committee

NOMA Conference Recap

A few weeks ago, I attended the Annual NOMA Conference in Portland - Towards Just and Joyful Futures (October 11-15), along close to 1,200 others NOMA members and non-members from all across the country and the world!

I am grateful to my firm ZGF for offering me the opportunity to join the conference and join all the beautiful souls that came to Portland, to celebrate BIPOC and POC contribution to architecture through the lenses of advancing and advocating for more Diversity, Equity, and inclusion in the profession of Architecture.

Some of my most inspiring moments at the conference happened when I meet a few of the NOMA founders and pioneers, and I listened, as they shared countless memories of their journey, advices, and words of encouragements. Indeed, pushing and advocating for more sustainable and equitable bridges in the profession of architecture is hard work and challenging work, and it it requires a lot of efforts, commitment, and dedication, not just from a few of us, but from all of us. The NOMA founders and pioneers along the many emerging professionals who attended the conference in Portland, they all reminded me of one thing, it is not about perfection, it is about keeping up and carrying on.

As a Deaf designer, I am most thankful to NOMAPDX for making this conference one to remember and of the most accessible ones I have attended since my early journey in architecture. There are still doors standing very tall and heavy all across the world when it comes to accessibility, but NOMAPDX broke some of those doors open and uplifted me and thousands others by providing closed captions and sign language accommodations for all, and that is beautiful and impactful progress. I hope that will set as a precedent for future conferences on architecture nationwide and worldwide to push for accessibility and breaking the barriers towards people with disabilities.

« Building Bridges towards Just and Joyful Futures » is indeed a slogan that is palpable and we can get there if we dare to believe in change. Again, we all need to ask ourselves, isn’t now the time to come together and build those bridges? I believe it is!

« And through architecture, I find sanctuaries and bridges in the world!
And through humans, I find laughter and joy!
And through Peace and freedom, I find 
A life worth of love and dreams! »

Mohamed Fakhry

Message from the AFO Executive Director

Erica Rife
Executive Director, Architecture Foundation of Oregon

On Tuesday, October 10th, community members from the architecture, engineering, and construction industry gathered at the Oregon Convention Center for the annual Honored Citizen celebration. This year’s event was particularly meaningful as it celebrated the 30th anniversary of the award and honored a highly impactful member of our community, Hermann Colas, Jr. The evening was deeply moving, featuring tributes of many friends and family members of Mr. Colas that described how his determination and grit led to a display of representation and leadership in the industry.

As AFO’s new Executive Director, I worked with our team and board to ensure the success of the event over the course of the year. Since joining AFO and learning that it would be our 30th anniversary, the words that kept coming to mind were collective impact. Over 30 years, individuals and organizations have been identified by AFO as making an impact on the state of Oregon’s designed and built community. What, then, was the collective impact of these honorees over the course of the 30 years?

Andrea Lonas Photography 2023

Early on, it was relayed to me that the Honored Citizens selected were not necessarily architects, engineers, and contractors, but those who have been pivotal in the advancement of the AEC industry in the state. Audience members received a booklet that highlighted the 30 years of Honored Citizens, with each honoree categorized in their field of impact. From philanthropists to advocacy workers to community organizations, it is clear that the designed and built ecosystem in Oregon does not exist in isolation. The collection of these honorees allows us to view the deep value that our expansive community gives to the growth and excellence of our state. Several past honorees and their families were in the audience, including Artist Lillian Pitt (2022 Honoree), Architect Don Stastny (2017 Honoree), Urban Naturalist Mike Houck (2005 Honoree), Jonathan Nicholas representing Cycle Oregon (2010 Honoree), and the families of Developer and Philanthropist Bob Gerding (2006 Honoree), Architect Pietro Bellusci (1996 Honoree), and Architect Robert Frasca (2004 Honoree).

We knew that the 30th anniversary of our event deserved a special honoree. Hermann Colas, Jr. was AFO’s first contractor honoree, and his impact is known throughout the city of Portland and state of Oregon. We were so pleased to have the opportunity to honor that legacy through our most prestigious annual award. Over the course of the evening, we heard from Hermann’s family members Aneshka Colas, Andrew Colas, Alex Colas, and Marc-Daniel Domond, along with leaders in the community Karis Stoudamire-Phillips (MODA Health), Stephen Percy (PSU), Kimberly Branam (Prosper Portland), Chandra Robinson (LEVER Architecture), and Michael Alexander (Albina Vision Trust), who made powerful tributes illustrating Hermann’s dedication to his family, work in building housing and community spaces for North and Northeast Portland residents, and his love for his Haitian home and heritage.

View the Video Tribute to Hermann Colas, Jr

Andrea Lonas Photography 2023

The evening highlighted the importance of representation in and access to the AEC industry. Sharon Alitema, Project Engineer at Colas Construction and 2022 AFO Hatfield Scholar, delivered a powerful address that described her journey from Uganda to Portland by way of her studies at the University of Oregon. Through many occurrences of institutions “taking a chance” on her, Sharon has landed on the COLAS team and is able to bring her talents, passion for community, and authentic self to work.

Nate McCoy, AFO Board Member and Executive Director of the National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC) Oregon, presented the Hermann Colas, Jr. Legacy Scholarship, a joint scholarship with NAMC and AFO that will fund construction and engineering students in the state of Oregon. Nate, who is also a former AFO Hatfield Scholar, recounted the importance of scholarships as an investment in emerging professionals and an opportunity for access to the industry in order to diversify and expand excellence.

The evening showed me the power that community holds in advancing our industry forward, and how AFO has risen to meet community needs. Like our scholarships, each program that AFO runs had pivotal individuals at the helm, identifying the needs of the community and working with AFO to design responsive and equitable programming that serve the architect, engineer, contractor, or design enthusiast throughout their academic, professional, and personal lifespan. 

Importantly, the needs of the community are changing, and AFO is changing with it. These changes were made by creating space to listen to folks whose voices have most often been silenced, overlooked, or underserved. Inclusive programming, including our inaugural distribution of the Tsagaglalal Scholarship to Native American art and architecture students at PSU and the statewide expansion of Architects in Schools to serve more rural and Title I schools, are ensuring that our industry continues to thrive with more voices at the design table. The resulting, contemporary AFO, is a reflection of the combined effort towards mission fulfillment by way of the community, and that community was radiating with energy at the 30th anniversary Honored Citizen celebration. I am pleased and humbled to be welcomed so warmly to this position and this work and look forward to many Honored Citizens to come!

Andrea Lonas Photography 2023