SĀJ Architecture

Here's one of those moments that makes us really, really enjoy working on K-12 education projects. Our design process for the Kalama School District's Natural Resource Learning Facility includes meetings in which our architects guide stakeholders through hands-on design exercises. These activities help groups define, organize, and visualize spaces. For this project, Principal Architect Jonah Jensen conceptualized and designed 3D building model pieces that click together. He then worked with CTE student Luke Schmeusser, a junior at Kalama High School, who used his own 3D printer to produce the pieces.   “I always try to find ways to do interactive activities with people where there’s a low barrier to entry; one where participants don't have to be trained as architects,” Jonah says. “The 3D model we created is to scale and, thanks to Luke, it turned out great.” The stakeholder group included Luke and representatives from Kalama School District, Cascadia Tech Academy, and Rsg Forest Products. Read more: https://lnkd.in/giizy6Um

Congratulations to everyone involved with Trinity Lutheran School on the groundbreaking of their new 27,690-square-foot middle and high school school in Bend! In addition to classrooms and an expansive commons space, the building includes a state-of-the-art performing arts center that will also serve as the congregation's worship space. Sunwest Builders | Walker Structural Engineering PC | Säzän Group Inc. | Hickman, Williams & Associates (HWA) | SZABO Landscape Architecture | PLA Designs, INC | Coffman Engineers | BLACKMORE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, LLC

Principal Architect Jonah Jensen joined the Port of Kalama to help start the digging during Spencer Creek Station's groundbreaking ceremony last week. We look forward to seeing the first building in this 70-acre business park go vertical!

Congratulations to Seth Anderson, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, Principal Architect, on successfully completing the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA)’s comprehensive education, training, and certification testing program to achieve the design-build industry’s designation as a nationally certified Associate Design-Build Professional (Assoc. DBIA). We are pleased to offer clients our expertise in this additional project delivery method.

BBSD | Black Butte School’s renovation is currently in the drywall phase, with painting set to begin soon. The two original classrooms will be renovated and ready for students at the beginning of the school year. The sixth through eighth grade students, who will occupy the new addition, can look forward to their new space being ready this winter. SĀJ Architecture HMK COMPANY Griffin Construction LLC #oregon #hmkco #concepttocompletion #projectmanagers #projectmanagement #ownersrepresentative #construction #educationfunding #architect #bondplanning

Thank you to Cascade Business News for featuring Horizon Realty Advisors' The Current, a new luxury apartment building in Bend. The Current's amenities include a rooftop spa with mountain views, a rooftop deck with barbecue grills and a pizza oven, coworking spaces, an "all wash" for pets and recreational equipment, bicycle and gear storage, and a fitness center. This building's interiors are filled with tasteful design touches and soothing colors inspired by nature. The lobby even features a two-story "living wall." Our team also selected the beautiful furniture, finishes, and art placed throughout the common spaces and staged units. We delivered the 202-unit building with sustainability in mind. For example, a170-kilowatt rooftop solar array provides enough electricity to power the building's lighting, cooling, and elevators. This project is currently pursuing LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Read the CBN article here: https://lnkd.in/gXw_cMFJ CS Construction SZABO Landscape Architecture | Walker Structural Engineering PC | Säzän Group Inc. | Hickman, Williams & Associates (HWA) | CEA Consulting Engineers | Wallace Group | CARLSON TESTING, INC.

Congratulations to SĀJ Architecture Project Manager Amy McCarthy-Smith, NCARB, on being accepted into the Leadership Bend Class of 2025! Amy is a licensed architect in Oregon with 18 years of experience in the field. Her work includes independent schools, K-12 public schools, senior housing, retail, and multifamily housing. Her current projects include Trinity Lutheran’s new middle/high school and performing arts center, in Bend, and Sisters School District’s new elementary school. Amy has worked with SĀJ Architecture Principal Architect Seth Anderson, AIA, NCARB, LEED, since moving to Bend in 2018. He says the following about her: "Amy is a thoughtful leader who's willing to work hard, embrace challenges with a positive outlook, and rally her team to rise to any occasion. Leadership Bend will increase her knowledge of how our community functions, allowing her to better apply her skills as an architect to make a greater community impact, whether through volunteerism or her work on firm projects.” We are glad to have Amy as a leader and mentor in our firm, and we look forward to seeing the work she does with Leadership Bend! https://lnkd.in/gZsw3KGw

Wow, time flies! With SĀJ celebrating our one-year anniversary this month, we are taking a moment to pause and reflect on this mad-dash of a year. We are thankful for the support we’ve received from our clients, consultants, and families as we formed the new firm. On the most basic level, our name is an acronym of the firm owners’ first initials (Seth, Amy, and Jonah). But we know from experience that successful firms are more than the names on the door. To us, SĀJ Architecture represents the combined wisdom and creativity of everyone on our team. With that in mind, we are especially grateful that our architects, designers, and staff had faith in joining us on this adventure—we couldn't have done it without them! They are producing amazing design work, delivering exceptional client service, and helping the firm attract new, interesting, and meaningful projects. Here's a quick look at just a few of many highlights from the past year: 1. Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife hired us to create Eastern Oregon design aesthetics for the agency and design a new admin building in Pendleton, so of course Casey and Rebecca needed to take a fieldtrip to the High Desert Museum. 2. Jonah, Ellie, and Lee help break ground at Black Butte School. 3. Amy V. digs in at the Gresham-Barlow School District 10J Student Health Center ground breaking. 4. Scott and Lee trekked from Bend to our Portland office for a design charrette with Angela, Priya, Jonah, and Amy. 5. Angela presents materials for Port of Kalama's Mountain Timber Market. 6. Lee works with Black Butte School students on the design of their school. 7. Rebecca and Brad chat during a site visit. 8. Seeing our work in person during a site visit at The Current. 9. Amy Mc-S. and Amy V. facilitate a stakeholder meeting for Trinity Lutheran's new middle and high school.

Seth Anderson, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, made a quick trip (and dodged wildfires along I-84!) to Kennewick, Washington, to represent SĀJ Architecture at the Southridge Apartments groundbreaking last week. After a year of planning and design, we're excited to see the project go vertical. Congratulations to Cordillera for making this project a reality!

We're at the Oregon Association of School Business Officials Summer Conference in Bend today, and Amy McCarthy-Smith, NCARB, Amy Vohs, AIA, ALEP, NCARB, and Jonah Jensen are ready to answer your school design questions and introduce you to our firm. We've stocked the candy bowl, so please stop by our booth and learn how we can help your district! #oasbo #OregonASBO #OregonASBOSummerConference2024