City of Lebanon Justice Center & Library
Fletcher Farr Ayotte (FFA), a Portland architecture, planning and interior design firm is designing a new Justice Center for The City of Lebanon, which includes a police facility, information technology department, municipal court and 12-person jail. The City’s existing facilities are undersized and challenging for the staff to work in. FFA worked closely with the clients and the community to design the new 30,000 square foot Justice Center in the center of town. The building design interweaves the complex relationship of high security and public access spaces while presenting a civic building façade to the community and street. The project is designed to have similar massing and materials to the library across the street, which FFA is also designing. This opportunity creates a ‘civic campus’ feel and allows for connectivity between the two buildings as well as the existing senior center nearby.
The new 19,400 square foot library, which, as mentioned, will be located across the street on the City’s historic Academy Square Park, will serve as the "front door" to the city of Lebanon and will help establish the identity of the community. The library will become the city's "living room" and will provide a civic presence as well as warm, inviting spaces for all ages. The building will incorporate the essence of the historic site as a center for cultural gatherings and educational exchange. Construction for both projects is anticipated to begin in June 2008.
The FFA project team includes Principal in Charge Troy Ainsworth, AIA; Project Manager Karyn Goodfriend, AIA; Project Designer Richard Grace; Project Architects Tiffonnie Carroll, AIA; Jason Stiefel; Interior Designer Colleen Kraushaar, AIA; Interns Zach Childs, Laura Roark and Catie Vandehaar; and Senior Specifications Writer Dave Shelman, AIA, CSI. Consultants include structural engineers KPFF Consulting Engineers; mechanical and electrical engineers Interface Engineering; landscape architects Walker-Macy; civil engineers TetraTech/KCM.; cost consultants Rider Levett Bucknall; and Justice Center consultants, Berry Architects.
[January 2008]
Fletcher Farr Ayotte Names Six New Associates
Portland Architecture firm Fletcher Farr Ayotte has named six new associates - Erica Ceder, Richard Grace; Brenda Katz, Hai Luc, Tim Mitchell and Mary Smith. In an all-company meeting held on January 11th, glasses were raised and congratulations extended as the announcements were made at the firm's new offices in the historic Pacific Building.
Erica Ceder, LEED AP, has been with FFA for four years. Most recently, she has been the job captain on the soon-to-be-completed White Stag Block Rehabilitation / University of Oregon Portland project.
Project Designer Richard Grace has been a member of the staff for two years and is currently working on several projects including the Richland Public Library Renovation and Addition, OSU Education Hall Rehabilitation, and the Lebanon Justice Center and Library.
Brenda Katz, AIA, who joined the firm three years ago, is an Interior Designer who is working on the City of Boise West Branch Library and the Pacific Crest Community School renovation.
Hai Luc, AIA, is a Project Architect who just celebrated 12 years with FFA. His current projects include the ODOT Sylvan Maintenance Facility and the Richland Public Library Renovation and Addition.
Job Captain Tim Mitchell is a member of the construction management team for the new Paradise Visitor Center and the Paradise Inn and Annex Rehabilitation projects on Mount Rainier and has been with FFA for seven years.
Mary Smith, IIDA, LEED AP is an Interior Designer who has been a member of the FFA staff for three years and recently completed work on The Wyatt apartments. She is currently providing services for several other projects, including the Clearwater Casino and Resort as well as a new office building at Cascade Station.
[January 2008]
On the Boards - City of Boise West Branch Library
Fletcher Farr Ayotte (FFA), a Portland architecture, planning and interior design firm has recently completed design development for a new 15,000 square foot branch library in Boise, Idaho.
The programming of the City of Boise West Branch Library will be used as semi-prototypical design criteria for future branches. Located on what was a neglected retail strip, the facility will serve as a catalyst for the revitalization of the surrounding area and will include meeting spaces for the community which will be available for after-hours gatherings and events. The building design maximizes daylighting, utilizing a 25-foot-high glass curtain wall as well as a series of skylights over the main reading room. The city's goal is for the project to achieve a LEED Silver or Gold certification. Construction is slated to begin in May 2008 and is anticipated to be complete in May 2009.
The FFA project team includes Principal in Charge Troy Ainsworth, AIA; Project Manager Eric Wilcox, AIA; Project Designer Richard Grace; Project Architect Karl Refi, AIA; Interior Designer Brenda Katz, AIA; Intern Rebecca McKenna; and Senior Specifications Writer Dave Shelman, AIA, CSI. Consultants include structural engineers KPFF Consulting Engineers; M/E/P engineers Interface Engineering; landscape architects Jensen-Belt Associates; civil engineers Quadrant Consulting, Inc.; and cost consultants Rider Levett Bucknall.
[November 2007]
Committee Enjoys Keeping Fletcher Farr Ayotte a Great Place to Work
Fletcher Farr Ayotte (FFA), a Portland architecture, planning, and interior design firm, has been attracting talented design professionals to their staff throughout their 51-year history. As with any firm, attracting and retaining the best and brightest is a necessity of FFA's continued success. What draws people to FFA is the reputation the firm has for doing great work on some very high-profile buildings as well as many exciting, albeit lesser-known projects. Keeping new opportunities in the pipeline and presenting different ways for people to grow professionally is obviously crucial to the vitality of the firm and to the happiness of the workforce. However, there is whole other set of components that impacts employee morale. These are areas that are given special attention by a dedicated internal group known as "The Best Place to Work" Committee (BPTW).
Since its inception a decade ago, BPTW has been comprised of a broad representation of FFA staffers from Administrative Assistants and I.S. Managers, to Associate Principals and Interns - and everyone in-between. Members of the group act as employee advocates, keeping their fingers on the pulse of the spirit of the office and fielding suggestions from co-workers about ways to improve the working environment, thoughts on new opportunities, and ideas for company social events. "One of our primary roles is to act as a bridge between the 'working schmos' and upper management," explained Amalia Groebe, current BPTW Chair. "People tend to feel more comfortable communicating their thoughts, ideas - and sometimes their complaints - to a peer-group, knowing they will be presented to the decision-makers by an established team who has proven that its interests lie in maintaining a place where people will enjoy coming every day," she added.
In recent years, the committee has also adopted as part of their charter, a pledge to community outreach. "When the time came to determine a charity that we wanted to ally FFA with, there was an early consensus on The Oregon Food Bank," said former Chair Josh Rosenbaum, who has been a member of the committee for the past five years. FFA's association with OFB has had great success, not only with the firm's annual participation in the CANstruction Design Competition (where competing firms build sculptures using non-perishable food items which are ultimately donated to the food bank), but also in holiday food drives. "It didn't take long to figure out that creating some friendly competition among co-workers was the key to a great food drive," Rosenbaum said. "The minute we added the competitive angle, the stakes were somehow raised, and the resulting spirit of good-natured rivalry produced amazing results for the drives and a lot of fun for the employees." The firm also tries to organize at least two Volunteer Nights at OFB each year, where employees and their families spend a few hours boxing food for distribution.
Although BPTW clearly has loftier goals and accomplishments than being the "company party planners", it's true that employee social events and celebrations are an important part of their contribution. In addition to year-end holiday parties and summer picnics, the annual all-family Halloween Party has become a popular staple. Employees have also come to look forward to bowling nights, karaoke nights and casino nights, which are scheduled periodically throughout the year as a way to encourage friendships and the chance for people to simply get silly with their peers.
This year, BPTW has devised a unique and fun way to familiarize both long-term and recently-hired employees with a half-century of FFA projects while at the same time creating opportunities for interaction among those who may not work together directly on a daily basis. The "Great Scavenger Hunt of 2007" was launched early in the year. In it, pre-selected teams of FFA-ers have until December to snap as many photos as possible of FFA-deigned buildings. The catch is that at least one member of each team must also appear in the photo. "The more people on your team who appear up in the pictures, the more points your team will be awarded. Super-bonus points will be given for team photos of lesser-known and older projects," explained Natalie Andrzejeski, FFA's receptionist and 2008 Chair-Elect of BPTW.
With competition for talented design professionals at an all-time high, FFA has remained one step ahead of the game due, in large part, to the effects this established and dedicated committee has had. "Knowing that employers and co-workers appreciate that there's more to job satisfaction than just what comes across people's desks, is part of what keeps us motivated and excited about being here," said Karyn Goodfriend, who has been with the firm for 12 years. "In a lot of ways, FFA is like a family, and that's a great thing, especially when you consider how much time we all spend here."
[August 2007]
FLETCHER FARR AYOTTE MOVES TO NEWLY-RENOVATED OFFICES IN THE PACIFIC BUILDING.
After 14 years in Portland's historic Mohawk Building, Fletcher Farr Ayotte (FFA) is moving. The 51-year-old architecture, planning and interior design firm is renovating the entire 9th floor of the Pacific Building, a historic landmark located at 520 SW Yamhill Street, across the street from Pioneer Courthouse.
Designed entirely by FFA staff members, down to the last light fixture, the new LEED-registered office space will be the ideal place to continue creative collaboration among some of Portland's most accomplished and recognized design professionals. Renovation isn't scheduled to be complete until this fall. In the interim, the firm has located in temporary office space on the floor directly above. "The previous tenants at the new space had to stay longer than planned, and the new tenants for our old space needed to get in sooner than we'd hoped, so we'll have to make this move in two steps," explained FFA's newest Principal, Troy Ainsworth. "Although it's not exactly the way we would have chosen to do this, it is a unique opportunity for our design team to be literally steps away from their project on a daily basis as it's being constructed. We can watch our new workspace take shape practically before their eyes."
Ainsworth, who, after 15 years as a Senior Project Manager and Associate Principal with FFA, was named Principal last month, is able to see the upside of the less-than-perfect moving schedule. "Our current workload as well as our large backlog includes some really exciting projects. The firm is turning out some of the best work we've ever seen and we're looking forward to adding several new staff members in the coming weeks," he added.
Karen Niemi, Director of FFA's Interiors Group and recently-named Partner, has a similar take on the momentum the firm is experiencing and the impact the new offices will have. "It's exciting to be relocating to this historic Portland Landmark; the A.E. Doyle-designed classic Pacific Building. Our expanded offices will be in the heart of the city, overlooking Portland's "Living Room", Pioneer Square. With architecture so clearly a collaborative act - our new studio environment on the 9th floor will reinforce teamwork, open dialogue, and embrace creative synergy."
[July 2007]
FLETCHER FARR AYOTTE PROMOTES AINSWORTH AND NIEMI
Fletcher Farr Ayotte (FFA), a Portland architecture, planning, and interior design firm, has made two recent shareholder promotions. Troy Ainsworth, AIA, an FFA staff member since 1992, has been promoted to Principal, and Karen Niemi, IIDA, who has been with the firm since 2005, has been named Partner.
During Ainsworth's tenure as a Senior Project Manager with FFA, his primary focus has been libraries and higher education planning and design. He was the Project Manager for the historic restorations and additions of the Multnomah County Central and the Camas Public Libraries. The new Medford Central Library was one of several projects he led for the Jackson County Library System. Other projects have included: Reed College Heritage Master Plan, Education Hall Rehabilitation Study at Oregon State University, and the Benton Center Rehabilitation and Addition for Linn-Benton Community College. He is currently leading the design teams for the new Public Library and Justice Center in Lebanon, Oregon, the rehabilitation and expansion of the Richland Public Library in Richland, Washington, and a new branch library in Boise, Idaho.
As Director of the Interiors Group at FFA, Niemi has increased FFA's ability to offer a full range of interior design, programming and planning services to their clients through her extensive experience in the development of innovative design solutions for commercial, public, residential and higher education clients. Recent projects include Knowledge Learning Corporation Headquarters, Living Room Theaters and the law offices of Landerholm, Memovich, Lansverk & Whitesides. Current projects include University of Oregon Portland/White Stag Block Rehabilitation, The Wyatt Mixed-Use Condominiums, Education Hall Rehabilitation at Oregon State University, and Mittleman Jewish Community Center. Karen is the recipient of many regional and national design awards, including 12 IIDA Honor Awards.
Founded in 1956, Fletcher Farr Ayotte Inc. is a full-service firm with a professional staff of 45, providing expertise in architecture, planning, historic preservation and interior design. FFA develops designs that fit within the economic and physical fabric of the environment, express and achieve their function, and manifest the image and direction of their clients.
[July 2007]
FLETCHER FARR AYOTTE PROMOTES GOODFRIEND
Fletcher Farr Ayotte (FFA), a Portland architecture, planning, and interior design firm, recently promoted Karyn Goodfriend. An FFA staff member since 1996, Goodfriend has been promoted to Associate Principal and Shareholder. Her project management experience has been instrumental in the success of many of FFA's projects with the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, including the Crater Lake Rim Village Redevelopment and the Historic Guidehouse rehabilitation on Mount Rainier. In addition to her visitor facility experience, Karyn has worked as project manager on a variety of other projects including the recently completed Cathedral Building Mixed-Use project in Sacramento, California.
[February 2007]
Camas Library Wins Citation
The interior design at Camas Library was honored with a Citation Award for Historic Renovation/Preservation from the Oregon Chapter of the International Interior Design Association.
[December 2004]
FFA Collects Two Awards in California
FFA was honored with two awards at the 2004 AIA Central Valley, California Honor Awards Banquet.
Merit Award for the Sliver.
Client: Loftworks
Jury Comments: “We were struck by the deceptively simple solution for a very challenging site. This is a great example of an infill site that is highly responsive to the urban context. The north and south elevation walls of glass, the center face protected by generous balconies. Additional light views are brought deep into the units with shallow projecting bays – also directing light from north and south. The Sliver is a simple minimalist aesthetic inviting individual interpretation and use.”
Citation Award for the Parks at Southport.
Client: Summit Commercial
Jury Comments: “The Parks at Southport creates walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods that blends with and takes advantage of its river access with Main Street ending in a river front park. We were impressed with how it weaves the mixed uses and densities together into a rich fabric of different building types, street types, and park types. Specifically we appreciated how the curving streets create a sense of anticipation and pivot points for special buildings.
[December 2004]
Mike Shea Honored at Better Bricks
Mike Shea was a finalist in the Architect Category of the 2004 Betterbricks Awards. These awards recognize people who have made innovative and successful advances in the building industry. Congratulations Mike!
[December 2004]
FFA has ten LEED Professionals
FFA now has more than ten LEED Accredited Professionals on staff. Congratulations to all who have taken and passed the exam recently.
[2004]
Medford Library Opens
The Grand Opening of the Medford Headquarters Library was held on April 10th.
[2004]
Vancouver Conference Center Under Construction
A ground-breaking ceremony was held on Dec. 30 for the Vancouver hotel and conference center. The city met a Dec. 31 state deadline to begin construction on its Public Facilities District project.Site demolition, including careful deconstruction of buildings to recycle large-dimension wood beams, is expected to be complete by mid-January.
Plans call for a seven-story, 226-room hotel at Sixth and Columbia streets, south of Esther Short Park. The hotel -- including a restaurant, a lounge, a swimming pool and an exercise room -- are to connect to a conference center with two large meeting rooms. The complex is to be built over a 160-vehicle parking garage. The $71.2 million project is expected to be completed in spring 2005.
[2004]
FFA Selected for Parks Projects
Fletcher Farr Ayotte was recently selected by the National Park Service to provide contemporary and historic architecture under an Indefinite Quantity Contract for a variety of projects at National Park sites located throughout California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii and islands of the outer Pacific. This five-year contract allows FFA to continue a 20-year collaboration with the National Park Service.
[2004]
FFA Receives AIA Awards
FFA received a Portland Chapter American Institute of Architects Merit Award,Unbuilt Category for "The Sliver" and Honor Award for the "Ode to Rose's" project.
[2004]
Orenco Station Featured Terrain.org
A recent article at Terrain.org offers a good overview of Orenco Station and how it came about, from the perspective of the owner's Project Manager.
[2004]
Betterbrick's Publishes Article
FFA's Mike Shea has written an article about the firm's experience with sustainable design for BetterBricks.com
[2004]
NPS adds project to website
The National Park Service has included an interesting profile of the Oswald West home restoration on their website.
[2004]