(Photo courtesy of LRS Architects)
LRS Architects, a firm that values innovation, creativity, and collaboration, is pleased to announce that Slabtown Square, a seven-story mixed-use multifamily building in Northwest Portland, was awarded a Multi-Housing News 2025 Excellence Bronze Award in the “Best Development & Design: Mid-Rise” category at Multi-Housing News’ 19th Annual Excellence Awards ceremony, which was held on December 4 in New York City. LRS provided planning and design services, and the project team also included Tello Interiors and the developer, Guardian Real Estate Services, among others. The Multi-Housing News Excellence Awards program honored development, renovation, and design projects, individual achievements, and more across 33 categories, recognizing the multifamily housing industry’s most innovative and impactful projects of the year.
“Receiving this Multi-Housing News Excellence Award in Development & Design is an incredible honor for our entire team and project partners,” said Trish Nixon, President and Managing Principal at LRS Architects, and a Multifamily Housing Leader. “This recognition reflects not just our design work, but the collaborative spirit that defines every project we undertake. When you’re working alongside talented partners like Tello Interiors and Guardian, and everyone is focused on creating something meaningful for the community, that’s when exceptional work happens.”
Located at 2070 NW Quimby Street in Portland’s bustling Slabtown neighborhood, the 200-unit Slabtown Square apartment community that was completed in 2024 features a thoughtful array of residences, 11,500 square feet of active retail space, underground parking, and a 16,000-square-foot public square that is central to the neighborhood and creates connections between residents and the broader community. Slabtown Square also addresses Portland’s affordable housing needs, with 40 units designated for households earning up to 80% of the area median income, integrating economic diversity into the fabric of the community.
The architectural design emphasizes transparency and connectivity, particularly on the ground floor, where expansive windows and open sightlines draw pedestrians from the sidewalk into the courtyard and retail spaces. A light, bright color palette illuminates interior spaces, creating an inviting atmosphere that extends the neighborhood’s energy into the building itself.
“We always think about the residents and community in each project we embark on,” said Nixon. “At Slabtown Square, we prioritized creating a welcoming space for residents that was dynamic and open, with communal amenity spaces that blend seamlessly with the activity of the neighborhood. This Multi-Housing News recognition validates our belief that exceptional design doesn’t require compromising on functionality or sustainability.”
Slabtown Square offers residents an extensive array of amenities, including a rooftop terrace with BBQ facilities and fire pits, providing sweeping views across Portland to Forest Park. The building features a state-of-the-art clubroom with a professional-grade exhibition kitchen, fitness centers, and additional community spaces, including a library, game room, screening room, and activity space. A mural by local artist Devin Finley in the breezeway reinforces the project’s commitment to community connection and Portland’s vibrant arts culture.
“Slabtown Square honors the context and history of the site while celebrating the evolution of the neighborhood,” said Nixon. “We’re proud that this project continues to win awards, as it previously received Two Green Globes ratings from the Green Building Initiative in the Multifamily for New Construction category, demonstrating our commitment to environmental responsibility alongside design excellence.”
About LRS Architects:
LRS Architects is a majority woman-owned architecture and interior design firm with offices in Portland and Bend, Oregon. Founded in 1976, the award-winning practice is driven by a passion for good design that goes beyond aesthetics to create vibrant communities and spaces that support the well-being of those who inhabit them. With 100+ design professionals, the firm is committed to partnering collaboratively with clients to positively shape the human experience through the physical environment. The diversity of the firm’s project experience provides a broad perspective and proven expertise in design, problem solving, documentation, and project delivery methods. The firm’s work, while centered in the Pacific Northwest, is found throughout the United States in over 30 states and internationally. Recognized with dozens of awards, the practice’s work has been featured in hundreds of publications, including ARCHITECT, Fast Company, ENR, Archello, and Office Snapshots, among many others. LRS holds national certification as a women-owned business through the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and is a participant in the International Living Future Institute’s Just Label program. The firm has been named an Oregonian Top Workplace Award Winner annually since 2016.
