AIA Oregon Summer Section Socials

This summer, take advantage of a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with fellow AIA Oregon members and expand your professional network at our upcoming Section Summer Socials! These casual gatherings are the perfect chance to chat with colleagues, share ideas, and build new relationships within your local AEC community. Enjoy good company and delicious refreshments in a relaxed setting. Don't miss out on these summer events designed to foster connection and camaraderie!

Bend - July 18
1-3pm | Millers Landing

Enjoy an early afternoon break by the river to relax, reconnect and re-engage with fellow AIA members and AEC professionals. Lunch and drinks will be provided to registered attendees.

Cost: free for AIA members, associate members, and recent architecture graduates; $20 for non-members.

Portland - July 24
5:15-8:30pm | White Owl Social Club

Cost: Free – AIA Oregon Member / NOMA / AIAO Allied Individual member/ AIAO Chapter Sponsor 
$10 – Non-Member Students and AXP Candidates
$20 – Non-Member Architects and Allied Professionals
$40 – Public Partner / Portland Community Attendee 

Eugene - August 20
5:30-8pm | Dorris Ranch, Springfield

Come enjoy an evening gathering where you can relax, reconnect and re-engage with fellow AIA, CSI, and ASLA members. Family is welcome

Cost: AIA, CSI, and ASLA Members and their +1 are free, as well as kids 12 and under. Additional kids from 13+ are $10. Non-members / additional adult guests (21 and over) are $25.

Shape the Future of Professional Development at AIA Oregon!

Dear AIA Oregon Members,

Following our recent Strategic Planning Retreat in Bend, we're excited to announce the formation of a new Professional Development Task Force. While the full outcomes of the retreat are still being reviewed by the Board of Directors, the critical need for this task force was a universally agreed-upon priority. To act swiftly, the Executive Committee of the Board has decided to launch this initiative without delay.

The purpose of this task force is to directly influence and enhance the value we provide to our members. You'll play a vital role in setting the direction for, providing input on, and suggesting new education, trends, and technologies that will shape our AIA Oregon continuing education programs, networking opportunities, and firm events.

This task force will convene annually for a focused, three-month period, meeting during August, September, and October. Your contributions during these months will directly inform and produce suggestions for the following year's programming.

This is a unique opportunity to directly impact the professional growth and success of your fellow AIA Oregon members. If you're passionate about professional development and eager to contribute to the future of our organization, we encourage you to express your interest.

Ready to make a difference? Please email Heather Wilson by July 15, 2025 to indicate your interest in joining the Professional Development Task Force.

We look forward to your valuable contributions!

Oregon’s Design Exceptionalism Shines in 2025

Oregon has long been a center of design innovation, and in 2025, Oregon architects and design firms solidified Oregon as the design center of the nation.

Exceptional Architects

Kathy Shaloo Berg FAIA, Stewart Emmons FAIA, and Thomas F. Robinson FAIA were elevated to fellowship.

The Fellowship designation (FAIA) is one of the highest honors bestowed by the American Institute of Architects, recognizing individuals who have made a profound impact on the profession and society. Fewer than 3% of AIA members achieve this distinction.

These architects have demonstrated excellence through design, leadership, mentorship, and service. Their work not only elevates the built environment but also advances the role of architects in shaping a better, more equitable world. We are proud to celebrate their achievements and their lasting contributions to the field.

Corey Squire Young Architect Award Winner

Widely recognized as a visionary strategist and advocate, Corey Squire, AIA, has redefined the role of sustainability in architecture. From co-creating the AIA Framework for Design Excellence to helping firms across the country embed climate and equity into practice, Squire shows how purposeful design can reshape the world—and the profession—for the better.

Exceptional Projects

CannonDesign, formerly SRG Partnership, wins the Education Facility Design Award

Edward J. Ray Hall at Oregon State University-Cascades sets a new benchmark for sustainable, contemporary campus architecture. This Net Zero Energy, mass timber building exemplifies low-carbon innovation, featuring locally sourced timber from restoration and tribal-managed forests. Positioned on a reclaimed 46-acre pumice mine, soon to become the university's west campus, it transforms an industrial scar into a vibrant ecological and academic hub. Designed as a flexible prototype for future campus buildings, it features adaptable, collaboration-focused spaces that foster STEAM learning while celebrating the region’s heritage and identity.

Mackenzie wins the 2025 Justice Facility Review award

Lake Oswego's City Hall and Public Safety building provides an updated home for the Police Department, 911 Dispatch, and City Court, Council and Administrative functions to better serve their growing community. This modern, essential facility is integrated into a challenging site; embracing twenty-eight feet of cross-slope to simultaneously establish natural security for police and 911 dispatch operations and foster meaningful civic engagement for the public. The building organization links visitors to administrative and police functions through multiple entrances off of a community plaza that seamlessly extends into an atmospherically joined three-story lobby, establishing clear and discernible access to city services.

Mahlum wins a 2025 Housing Award 

Learning Independence for Today and Tomorrow (LIFTT) is a 10-month residential program on the Washington State School for the Blind (WSSB) campus. Designed to teach independent living skills to high school graduates aged 18-21 who are blind or have low vision, the program focuses on residents practicing independence before they move into less supervised environments.

Integrus wins with the U.S. Consulate General in Hyderabad

The concept for the U.S. Consulate General in Hyderabad was influenced by the massive boulder formations and significant changes in elevation throughout the site. The design approach minimizes impact, limiting excavation to respect the culturally significant landscape. The sensitive site approach compliments an adjacent nature preserve featuring a lake integral to regional stormwater management, together forming an urban oasis. The building is ensconced with metal panels articulated as a Jali screen unifying the building on the east and west exposures. The Jali screen filters light and views along the primary elevations and moderates natural light to interior representational spaces.