Architecture Foundation of Oregon

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As we get ready to kick off another season of Architects in Schools, we are reminiscing on our annual Creative Spark event – a time when we celebrate AiS alongside some friendly competition! Swipe to see our design competition entries and awards designated by a panel of AiS elementary student judges!

Inspired by the idea of being “In Motion”, this year’s design challenge was to create a model of a space or feature that plays on the idea of movement, sited at Mount Tabor Park in SE Portland. Our incredible design teams stepped up to the challenge to create truly unique, kid-friendly designs.

Architects in Schools is all about introducing youth to the power and possibilities of design while connecting AEC professionals to the communities they are designing and building for. Creative Spark is a chance to celebrate this, and we hope you will join us for another season of spreading free design education across the state!

Huge thank you to our host and event sponsor @dlr_group and our program sponsor @pcl_construction for helping us bring this event to life.

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We’re celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Van Evera Bailey Fellowship this year and are pleased to showcase this striking home designed by the fellowship’s namesake in 1962.

Built for the Pfahl family, the home was created with maximized viewing of the distant mountains in mind, utilizing careful siting and window placement. On the outside, it is surrounded by the terraced work of Barbara Fealy, a renowned mid-century landscape architect who worked closely with many architects of Northwest Regional Modernism. Tour this Northwest gem and enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres with owners Mike and Mac.

Hosted by Michael Hanauska, Mac Teer, and @scottedwardsarchitecture.

Monday, September 14
5:00-7:00pm
Pfahl House, West Linn

Link in bio.

Our summer Dine & Design event series is a fundraiser benefitting AFO programming, including Architects in Schools and AFO Scholarships.

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Jeff used his VEB Fellowship to travel to renowned light festivals across Europe, explore how cities around the world activate public spaces after dark, and bring those lessons back to Portland. The result: the founding of the @portlandwinterlightfestival, which has grown into a beloved annual event that transforms dark, winter nights into celebrations of art, community, and creativity. “The Fellowship gave me an opportunity to not only experience light festivals in poor weather locations, but afforded me the opportunity to interview those festival's organizers. I was able to be a better collaborator with our light festival team because I could better understand and communicate the infrastructure, organization, and financial realities that were required for what would become the Portland Winter Light Festival.” PDXWLF Photos by Eddy Nunez #vebfellowship

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Join @aforegon and @aiaoregon for a work session to inspire firms and professionals to take concrete action toward supporting pathways into architecture, engineering, and construction fields!

What to expect:
➡️ Chris Brida, Director of Career + Technical Education at Portland Public Schools, will lead a fast-moving interactive experience to discover why industry participation in CTE is essential to developing a more skilled, curious, and diverse talent pathway.
➡️ Emerging professional Evon Calabrese, Healthcare Designer at NBBJ, will share the key moments that influenced her pathway to the AEC industry.
➡️ Peer firm leaders will lead breakout sessions on three different topics: Policy, Culture, Action!

This session is for AEC firm leaders, changemakers, current and prospective volunteers, and anyone passionate about increasing student access to design and building fields.

The goal of this event is for AEC professionals to walk away with tools and resources to define or strengthen your approach, from policy to culture to structured programs. We believe that every firm can develop a civic-minded professional culture to strengthen our communities and meet the demand for volunteering, funding, and mentoring.

Wednesday, September 9
5:00-7:30pm
@mahlumarch
Free to attend

Link in bio.

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Joseph used his fellowship to explore urban vibrancy and street vitality. His research reinforces the idea that a successful public realm cannot rely on buildings alone. The spaces between—the streets—are what bring our cities to life.

He used his fellowship to “make me a better design professional and a more effective teacher.”

#vebfellowship

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Last month, @aforegon, @oregonhistoricalsociety, and @restoreoregon gathered for a special two-part event series celebrating the opening of the Rothko Pavilion at the Portland Art Museum. Together, we explored how contemporary museum design can shape civic identity, open cultural gateways, and enhance public life.

Our first event offered an intimate, first-hand look at the pavilion's design. Guided by Andrew Smith, AIA and Tim Eddy, FAIA of Hennebery Eddy Architects, attendees toured the magnificent new space that prioritizes public accessibility and creates expansive new areas for artwork.

The momentum continued with a panel discussion exploring the pavilion's urban presence on the Park Blocks. The panel examined the choice of materials, structural concepts, and the dialogue between historic and contemporary campus spaces, and sparked meaningful dialogue on how cultural institutions can serve as spaces for intersectional community building.

Thank you to our incredible partners, brilliant speakers, and everyone who joined us to celebrate this major milestone in Portland's cultural landscape!

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Inspire the next generation of changemakers — join Architects in Schools!

Applications are now open for teachers and design/building professionals to participate in the 2026–27 program. Together, we can bring free, hands-on design curriculum to more Oregon students.

Students leave the program as curious, creative problem-solvers who understand their environment and its impact on people’s lives. With your participation, students of every learning style have the chance to create and thrive.

Apply by Sunday, October 18! Link in bio.

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With their VEB Fellowship, Bill and Toni embarked on a research, mapping and design project to identify, improve and create public ritual spaces in Portland. Their goal was to discover ways to enrich and enhance Portland’s existing network and propose potential new rituals and ritual spaces to strengthen community. #vebfellowship

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Enjoy a Hillsboro Hops game on a summer evening in the beautiful new ballpark – one of the most recent local projects from Populous Architects.

You’ll get to hear from the design team that helped build the new stadium and take a guided tour before the action begins. Then, enjoy the game against the Tri-City Dust Devils in the comfort of a suite while you nosh on ballpark food and drink.

Hosted by @wearepopulous.

Wednesday, August 26
4:30-8:00pm
Hillsboro Ballpark, Hillsboro

Link in bio.

Our summer Dine & Design event series is a fundraiser benefitting AFO programming, including Architects in Schools and AFO Scholarships.

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Are you a design or building professional contributing to Oregon's built environment? Explore our two unique fellowship opportunities to advance your career!

AFO offers two fellowships: the $50,000 Van Evera Bailey Fellowship in partnership with @the_ocf and the up to $3,000 Pat Sanchez Women’s Fellowship in partnership with @opsis.architecture.

Our fellowships exist to inspire design and building professionals to deepen their understanding of design’s role in creating an Oregon where everyone can thrive. Apply by October 25, 2026, to be considered and stay tuned for upcoming info sessions.

Link in bio.

Image courtesy of 2018 VEB Fellow, Rick Potestio

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With her fellowship, Erica conducted post-occupancy evaluations of nine Net Zero Energy Buildings to better understand how we can design these spaces to be user-friendly and easy to maintain. Her research culminated in statewide presentations in collaboration with Energy Trust of Oregon and inspired the inception program’s Zero Energy Fellowship.

“Before the fellowship I felt like I had a job as an architect, but after the fellowship, I felt like I had a career.”

#vebfellowship

Emi Day

2026 Van Evera Bailey Fellow

Emi is using fellowship funds to realize Bridging Portland, a citywide dinner series that reimagines Portland’s bridges as cherished public venues—temporary festival streets where people gather, eat, create, and celebrate together. By transforming these iconic structures into civic tables through community-driven programming, the project demonstrates how shared ritual in public space can renew trust, spark joy, and strengthen Portland’s collective identity. Learn more about the Van Evera Bailey Fellowship.

Heather McGinn-Girón

2026 Pat Sanchez Women’s Fellow

Heather is using fellowship funds to support her participation in the Portland Metro Chamber’s 2026 Best Practices Trip to Vancouver, B.C. This experience will advance her emerging architecture practice by deepening policy fluency, strengthening relationships, and supporting the adaptation of her own housing design strategies. Learn more about the Pat Sanchez Women’s Fellowship.

Architects in Schools