((L-R) Kyle Burke, Kourtney Strong and Renée Alexander make up the partnership team at BBT Architects | Photo courtesy of BBT Architects)
One of Central Oregon’s longest-standing architecture firms is reflecting on a half-century of shaping the region’s schools, civic spaces and landmark buildings. BBT Architects, a Bend-based firm with deep roots across Oregon, is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026, marking five decades of work defined by local relationships, collaborative design and a focus on educational environments.
Founded in Bend and built on a small-firm, community-driven approach, BBT has grown alongside Central Oregon while maintaining its emphasis on listening to clients and understanding the needs of the communities it serves. Over time, that philosophy has influenced not only the firm’s project portfolio but also its internal culture and leadership model.
Today, the firm’s leadership team represents a new chapter as BBT balances continuity with forward-looking strategy and evolving design priorities. With a renewed shared leadership structure, the firm is positioning itself for the future while staying grounded in its values. Senior Partner Renée Alexander, Managing Partner Kourtney Strong and Partner Kyle Burke spoke to the Cascade Business News about the firm’s accomplishments and hopes for the years to come.
“What I love about this work is its everyday impact,” said Strong. “Even when people don’t consciously notice it, the built environment shapes how we learn, gather, move and feel.”
A Legacy Rooted in Education and Community
BBT’s identity has been shaped largely through its extensive work in K-12 education, a sector that has defined much of the firm’s portfolio.
Their work includes design for new builds as well as modernization, phased replacement and renovation of existing schools, integrating flexible learning spaces, community-use areas and culturally responsive design while preserving important historic and community connections.
Over time, BBT has completed a wide range of educational projects, including the planning and design of new K-12 educational facilities in Gresham, Pendleton, Springfield and on the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and the renovation of a middle school in Ashland.
Central Oregon projects include Pacific Crest Middle School, which was completed in 2015, and the Caldera High School campus, which opened in southeast Bend in 2021. A phased modernization project for Bend Senior High is ongoing. That project is significant for Burke. “My work at Bend High has been one of the most meaningful projects of my career. I started work on the campus during 2018 with the Maxwell building, and by the time the project is complete, I will have worked on the campus for a decade,” Burke shared. “I’ve also volunteered as a coach with the tennis team, which has given me the unique opportunity of getting to know the kids and ingrain myself in the culture and ethos of the school.”
Many of the education-focused projects were shaped through long-term collaboration with educators, students and families, reflecting a belief that architecture should respond directly to the people and communities who use spaces every day rather than conform to a singular aesthetic style.
BBT’s portfolio also includes civic and regional landmarks and ongoing work with nonprofits and community organizations. Staff regularly contribute volunteer hours and professional expertise to local building initiatives, reinforcing a broader commitment to Oregon.
Evolving Role of Architecture
Over the past five decades, the role of architecture within community life has shifted significantly. While the firm began with a focus on functional, regionally responsive design, today’s projects are shaped by broader expectations around sustainability, social equity and long-term environmental impact.
Contemporary architecture requires deeper engagement with how buildings affect both people and the planet. Human-centered design, sustainable materials and equitable community engagement have become integral to project planning and delivery. These priorities influence not only building performance but also how design teams interact with stakeholders and incorporate feedback throughout the design process.
“There is far greater scrutiny on architecture’s impact today than when BBT was founded,” Strong noted. “The influence of the built environment on both the planet and the people who inhabit it has moved to the forefront of our work. Human-centered design, sustainable design, and, more recently, socially equitable design have reshaped not only the buildings we create, but the way architects and designers engage with communities and approach the design process itself.”
Listening, curiosity, responsibility and collaboration continue to guide BBT’s project development and internal culture.
Leadership and Culture
BBT’s leadership structure has evolved alongside the firm’s growth. After operating under a sole-partner model for a period, the firm transitioned back to a shared leadership approach to support long-term stability and expanded capacity. The current structure allows each partner to focus on areas of strength, from design leadership and studio operations to strategic planning and business development.
“The firm’s character and core values have been very consistent over the years. What has changed is how those values show up in our work,” Alexander said. “Curiosity continues to start with listening, but today it means engaging more intentionally with communities and understanding a broader range of perspectives. Responsibility has expanded from doing things well and thoughtfully to considering long-term environmental impact, resilience and the health of the people who use our buildings every day.
“Courage still means asking questions and challenging assumptions, but now it also means advocating for more sustainable, inclusive outcomes in an increasingly complex world. Those values continue to guide how we design — focused on people, place and lasting impact.”
Within the firm, emphasis is placed on mentorship, collaboration and professional development. Staff are encouraged to seek mentors both within and outside the organization, and leadership creates opportunities for emerging architects to take on greater responsibility.
As a majority woman-owned firm with a predominantly female staff, BBT views its organizational makeup as part of a broader effort to support inclusion and leadership development within the architecture profession.
“That mindset carries through in how we mentor the next generation — passing the baton intentionally and creating opportunities for leadership so knowledge, responsibility and care for the work continue forward,” Strong said.
Measuring Impact Beyond Aesthetics
For BBT, the success of a project is measured less by visual appearance and more by how well a building supports the people who use it. The firm relies heavily on community engagement, including listening sessions, focus groups and immersive experiences that allow designers to understand daily routines and user needs.
“We want to retain our ‘small-town’ approachability and listening to the needs of our clients and their communities even as we continue to push our sustainability goals,” Burke shared.
In educational projects, team members may spend time observing school operations firsthand to gain insight into how spaces function throughout the day.
This process-driven approach ensures that design decisions reflect real-world use rather than purely conceptual goals. When a building becomes an actively used part of its community, it is considered a primary indicator of success.
“Honoring our history means staying grounded in the way we work: listening first, building trust and remaining closely connected to the people and places behind each project. Our commitment to educational institutions remains foundational, shaped by long-standing partnerships with educators, students and families,” Strong said.
“At the same time, we see opportunities to apply that same community-centered approach more deeply with community colleges, healthcare organizations and city, county and tribal governments. In that way, growth is less about scale and more about impact — bringing what we do best into more civic contexts where thoughtful, collaborative design can make a lasting difference.”
As Central Oregon continues to grow, preserving a sense of place has become another key consideration. BBT works to integrate regional history, climate and cultural context into its designs, often blending contemporary materials and technologies with references to local industries and landscapes. The goal is to create buildings that feel both current and rooted in their surroundings, reflecting the character of the communities they serve.
Sustainability and the Future
Sustainability has become a foundational element of BBT’s design philosophy. Rather than treating it as an optional feature, the BBT team incorporates sustainable strategies and healthy building practices into projects from the outset. This includes energy modeling, careful material selection and long-term operational planning to ensure buildings remain efficient and resilient over time.
“Sustainability is no longer an additional service and is something that is deeply ingrained into our design process,” Burke said. “Our projects are inherently sustainable, healthy buildings as a baseline with the option to pursue innovative and ultra-high efficiency systems and equipment.”
Environmental challenges such as wildfire risk and water scarcity are increasingly shaping design priorities in Central Oregon. As a result, the firm is focused on creating buildings that reduce environmental impact while supporting community resilience. Sustainable design decisions are evaluated not only for their environmental benefits but also for their long-term financial and operational performance.
Looking to the Next 50 Years
As BBT Architects enters its sixth decade, its priorities remain grounded in regional identity and long-term relationships. Rather than pursuing rapid geographic expansion, the firm is focused on deepening connections with communities across Oregon and applying its collaborative approach to a broader range of civic, healthcare and educational projects.
“Our role is to help communities articulate what they value, where their needs overlap and how those priorities can be translated into clear project goals,” Alexander said. “When engagement is organized and intentional, it creates space for people to contribute thoughtfully while also staying informed about how the project is progressing and why certain decisions are made.
Just as important, these conversations work both ways. Community members have an opportunity to share their perspectives, but also to better understand the realities and responsibilities involved in designing, building and maintaining public facilities. That shared learning builds trust, strengthens consensus and leads to outcomes that feel genuinely supported rather than imposed.”
The BBT leadership team hopes the firm’s legacy will be defined not only by the buildings it has designed, but also by the partnerships and shared purpose that have shaped its work over the past 50 years.
