With a desire to use their geometry for the greater good of Oregonians, founding members John Matteson, AIA, William Fletcher, FAIA, Brooks Gunsul, FAIA, William Merrit, AIA, Gary Michael, FAIA, Richard E. Ritz, AIA, Jon Schleuning, FAIA, and Roger Yost, FAIA, began the Architecture Foundation of Oregon in 1981.
Five founding firms provided initial funding for the fledgling foundation: BOORA Architects, Skidmore Owings & Merrill, SRG Partnership, Yost Grube Hall Architects, and Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership. Each contributed $5,000 to help fund an endowment. Other contributions were received from AIA/Portland, architectural firms and individuals to provide operating funds.
To learn more about how support has continued to grow, allowing the Foundation to increase its annual grants, expand its educational programs and more directly communicate with Oregonians about the triangles, squares, circles, spheres, pyramids, cones and other geometrical figures that shape their daily lives, click here for a detailed history by former AFO Executive Director, Jody Proppe, Hon. AIA.
