TVA Architects

Friends of Noise does amazing work supporting Portland’s youth and creating access to the music industry. At TVA, we’ve admired their mission, so when the chance came to help design their new music venue, we were all in! It’s been a privilege to collaborate with them, and we’re thrilled to see this space take shape. We can’t wait to watch it become a creative hub for the community and see its positive impact on the young artists and music lovers. We believe that great things happen when good people work together, and this project is proof of that. Check out this article from the Portland Tribune to learn more about Friends of Noise’s mission and the exciting plans for this new venue: https://bit.ly/4iEx4tw

Our people make us who we are! Today, we’re honored to recognize Eric Li and celebrate his remarkable 28 years with TVA! Since 1997, Eric has been instrumental in bringing a wide-range of projects to life—spanning mixed-use housing, commercial offices, education, and industrial spaces. His extensive knowledge of construction, planning, zoning, and building codes, along with his troubleshooting expertise, has made him an invaluable asset to our team. Thank you, Eric, for your dedication, expertise, and years of inspiring work. Happy anniversary! 🎉

At TVA, we believe that great things happen when good people come together, nothing great is made alone. Even a casual viewer of March Madness can see how true that is. Success on the court, just like in architecture, comes from teamwork, trust, and a shared commitment to excellence.   Congratulations to the Oregon Ducks Men’s and Women’s basketball teams on their impressive runs in this year’s Big Dance. We’re very proud to be even a small part of the U of O Athletics story through our work. Sco Ducks!! 🦆 University of Oregon University of Oregon Athletic Department Oregon Duck Hoffman Construction Company (Matthew Knight Arena General Contractor) Fortis Construction, Inc. (Coaches’ Office General Contractor)  Downstream (Branding)

As we reflect on TVA’s 40-year history, we’re not just looking back at what we’ve built—we’re also recognizing how our work embodies our core beliefs. One of our guiding principles is that architecture is a service: to our clients, to the people who use our buildings, and to the communities we serve. A powerful example of this is our work with the Oregon Department of Human Services. Designed with trauma-informed principles in collaboration with the mission-driven team at Rubicon Investments, these Multi-Service Centers provide essential services to a broad cross-section of Oregonians, many in underserved areas where buildings of this type and quality are rare. We take immense pride in the collaboration and passion that bring these projects to life. It’s an honor to help create spaces that support and uplift communities in need. Rubicon Investments Corporation, Oregon Department of Human Services, Pence Contractors, KPFF Consulting Engineers, Interface Engineering, Inc., m.thrailkill.architect.llc, Shapiro Didway, GreenWorks, Brightworks Sustainability #ArchitectureForGood #CommunityImpact #TraumaInformedDesign #TVA40

Big changes are coming to Bend’s Old Mill District! Three new mixed-use buildings are set to enhance the district’s dynamic blend of retail, entertainment, and pedestrian-friendly spaces. At the beginning of his career, TVA’s Tim Wybenga collaborated with the late, visionary developer Bill Smith on the first seven buildings in the Old Mill District. Reflecting on its evolution, Tim shares, “To see what was envisioned then come to reality and become this huge success is just fantastic, and it’s really exciting to be connected to the future success of this place.” With construction on the horizon, we’re eager to see this next chapter unfold—stay tuned for more updates! Congratulations to the team: Contractor: Kirby Nagelhout Construction Company Structural: Froelich Engineers MEP: ColeBreit Engineering Civil: Hickman, Williams & Associates (HWA) Landscape: SZABO Landscape Architecture Specifications: m.thrailkill.architect.llc Read more about the plans in Cascade Business News below!

Building on the strong leadership that has guided us since our founding in 1984, TVA became a majority women-owned business when Mandy Butler and Pamela Saftler became majority shareholders in 2019. TVA is dedicated to supporting and advocating for women in the field of design by bringing a diversity of perspectives and experiences to our projects, serving as inspiration for other women in the profession, and promoting a work-life balance. Happy International Women’s Day!

Shevlin Crossing’s second building is taking shape, and it’s exciting to see the vision become reality! Located in Bend’s sought-after NorthWest Crossing neighborhood, this project pays tribute to the region’s and developer’s rich timber heritage through the use of CLT and environmentally conscious design. Mass timber, operable windows, and glazed roll-up doors create a seamless connection between indoors and out. Big thanks to Timberlab for their expertise and for sharing this great video!

Hitting the age of 40 as a firm gives us an opportunity to not only reflect on the projects we’ve completed but also to honor the core values and principles that have been central to our design work and form the foundation of who we are. As we celebrate this huge milestone and look ahead to the next era of TVA, we’re planning to share a series of posts highlighting our ideals, our team, and our projects—past, present, and future. You might see projects you were a part of, ones you didn’t realize were TVA-designed, and hopefully you’ll see something that inspires you. Here’s to 40 years of design, collaboration, and impact—and the many years ahead!

We're proud to see the transformation of Luther Hall into the Innovation Building at the University of Oregon’s Portland campus highlighted in DJC Oregon’s Building Blocks! This dynamic space brings together UO’s Sports Product Design, Sports Product Management, Product Design, Multimedia Journalism, Immersive Media Communication, and Strategic Communication programs, along with the Oregon Reality Lab. With state-of-the-art maker spaces, the Innovation Building fosters cross-disciplinary collaboration to tackle real-world challenges. A huge thank you to our project partners and the incredible team that made this vision a reality!

Our people make us who we are! Congratulations to Flo Woodbury on eight years with TVA! Her hard work, dedication, and invaluable contributions have played a key role in shaping our projects and our team. We appreciate Flo’s commitment to excellence and the impact she’s made over the years. Happy anniversary!