(Photo above: (L-R) Back row: Matthew Guthrie, Samantha Pohler, Daniel Pyle, Jeremy Harper, Matt Appleby, Kevin Shaver, Katherine Decker and Brigitte Lewis. Middle row: Martha McNall, Garland Days, Michelle Wilson, Julie Still, Sherry Jako, Heidi Slaybaugh and Genevra Obregon. Front row: Renée Alexander, Al Levage and Todd Turner | Photo by PhotosbyKim)
Bend Architects Celebrate Milestone Marked by Close Client Collaboration
In the Cascade Business News article September 21 headlined ‘BBT’s 40 Years of Excellence’ regarding BBT Architects, it should have been clarified that the company was founded as Waldron Huston Barber Architects in 1976 with partners David Waldron, Neal Huston and Ron Barber. Other former principals included Jim Barrett Don Stevens, and Don Tompos.
A successful history of listening to client needs, pioneering sustainable practices and helping create numerous regional public, educational and commercial landmarks is being celebrated by Bend-based BBT Architects as it marks “40 years of excellence.”
The firm was launched in its original incarnation from a location close to Drake Park in 1976 with a mission to raise the bar for design services.
“The motivating philosophy in starting the company was to provide the highest level of architectural professionalism in Central Oregon rather than clients having to seek such design expertise outside the area, which had been typically the case previously,” said Todd Turner, who joined the company in its early years and is one of its leaders along with current fellow principals Renee Alexander and Al Levage.
Early projects included La Pine High School and Mt Bachelor facilities at a time when Bend’s population hovered around 15,000, together with a significant amount of resort work, including on the iconic Black Butte Ranch.
“We saw the potential in the resort sector moving forward and also worked on a wide variety of educational, health care and transportation facilities as the area grew,” added Turner.
Through the decades, BBT has been involved in multiple facets of the region’s design landscape including everything from High Desert Museum, Deschutes County and Bend City Hall administration facilities, to the nascent Redmond Airport Terminal, numerous office and commercial buildings and extensive experience with the Bend-La Pine and other school districts.
The firm is mainly active in Central Oregon, but is licensed in three states and has over the years expanded its geographical reach, including recent work on Klamath Community
College facilities.
Alexander said, “We have always had a bigger presence on this side of the mountains, but have also bid on projects in the more established metro areas across the Cascades with some success.
“We do work all over the state and beyond, but this is our home and we really value the Central Oregon region and its supportive community which we enjoy giving back to.”
Turner remarked that Bend-La Pine School District has been a repeat client in a mutually fruitful relationship evolved over the last four decades, adding, “We really developed expertise in working with school districts and are experienced in all the associated nuances.
“To date we have been involved with 75 educational facilities and 25
school districts.”
He said Alexander, a noted educational design and programming specialist and past president of the Pacific NW Region of the Association for Learning Environments, had also helped take the firm to “a whole new level” for K-12 design.
BBT has also long been at the forefront of sustainable design methods, including integration of passive solar into
design concepts.
Turner observed, “Designing buildings that are energy efficient and environmentally friendly has been one of the foundations of the company.
“Long before the more current green, sustainable and high performance building trends, BBT was designing energy efficient buildings to reduce operating costs with a design portfolio including active and passive solar buildings since the 1970s.”
As part of that movement, in the 1980s BBT designed waste heat recovery systems for clients such as Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort, while in the following decade the firm designed an educational facility that was adopted as the State of Oregon’s “model school” for energy design.
In more recent history, the COCC Redmond Technology Education Center designed by BBT blazed a sustainable trail as Central Oregon’s first Earth Advantage “Commercial Platinum” certified building — a third party green building rating that recognizes responsible building practices based on standards in categories of energy, health, land, minerals and water.
Alexander added, “A focus on ‘healthy’ buildings is another avenue of sustainability we promote in terms of the working environment provided for employees and for hiring prospects, including features such as making sure non-toxic materials are used, natural light is maximized and mechanical systems are designed, for instance, to handle air filtration well.”
Turner emphasized that BBT’s practice has always been centered on close collaboration with clients, which has proven a successful formula, as evidenced by the majority of work being client referral or repeat customer business.
He said, “We work to understand the challenges that our clients face, as well as their aspirations. Before you can design a building you need to listen to needs and wants in meeting goals and be cognizant of the project’s relationship with the wider community.
“Excellence is everything is our mantra and our philosophy is based on fostering open communication between all the stakeholders as part of the design team to develop specific criteria reflecting the uniqueness of an assignment.
“We pride ourselves on being excellent listeners and I think distinguish ourselves by being personable and leaving our egos at the door.”
Levage said an example of a project incorporating multiple viewpoints was the new K-8 school in Warm Springs which involved working with the (three) tribes of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and Jefferson School District to achieve goals including evoking local culture and tradition.
He said, “Throughout programming and initial design, a community-wide engagement process was utilized with stakeholders such as community members, tribal elders and school staff, including a new principal.
“Working with two clients each with specific agendas, required intensive collaboration through the early programming and design phases of the project.”
A spokesman for Wenaha Group, which acted as the construction management entity, called the facility, “A tribute to an all-round team effort which incorporates Tribal historical and cultural elements as well as accommodating uses not common to other school district facilities.”
One feature of the school’s commons area is an artful flooring design illustrating the Columbia River and its tributaries, which have played such an important role in the lifeblood of the tribal region in Oregon and Washington.
Every BBT project sees a principal actively involved, providing personal attention to each phase of design and construction, and supporting the project managers as needed which Turner said provides accessibility to clients, enhanced information flow and decision-making accountability.
He added that giving back to the community and promoting charitable efforts was an important part of BBT’s mission and the company has assisted non-profit organizations such as United Way, Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, City Club and Habitat for Humanity, as well as offering time and service to other worthy projects in material ways.
BBT is also active in local education, including teaching architecture through the Architects in Schools program and offering an annual scholarship recognizing the achievements of a Central Oregon high school student looking to pursue a career in a design profession.
Alexander said, “Internally, we strive to foster an open culture of engagement and empowerment as well as embracing implementation of new technology and incorporation of perspectives supportive of younger staff members.”
As for the future, Turner said, “We see the firm carrying on this exciting path of growth regarding quality of design, diversity of project types, promotion of the culture and client retention.
“Our clients are our best allies as well as tested and trusted contractor relationships, especially in a competitive environment, and we are looking forward to continuing into the next 40 years.”
Established in 1976, BBT Architects, Inc. is an award-winning architectural firm located in Bend, with over 40 years of experience designing public, commercial and educational buildings. The current ownership includes principals Todd Turner, AIA, Renée Alexander, AIA and Al Levage, who lead the firm. With a diverse staff of 18 talented professionals, including eight licensed architects, BBT is small enough to ensure the involvement of a principal on each project, yet of sufficient size to handle the complexities of larger projects. BBT offers services in: Architecture, Planning, Commercial Design, Historical Preservation, Sustainable Design and Interior Design.
BBT Architects, Inc. 541-382-5535,
