(USFS Sisters Ranger District | Renderings Courtesy of STEELE Associates Architects)
We asked Scott Steele, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, founder and president of Bend-based STEELE Associates Architects, to reflect on the most memorable aspects of his firm’s quarter-century of design, and what the future holds.
To what do you attribute STEELE’s longevity and success in architecture? We are very creative and hardworking, and this leads to excellent design and enduring client relationships. We never take our clients and their projects for granted, and we are always striving to learn, grow and improve in every way. In addition to being a passionate and creative design firm with a focus on sustainability, we have built a strong reputation for our document quality, for meeting budgets and schedules and for delivering a high level of service with both clients and contractors. Contractors and trades often tell us they appreciate our thorough drawings and our responsiveness during construction. STEELE has always held contractors and trades in high regard for their skill and expertise, and we know that without them, our client’s projects will not transform from paper into beautiful buildings. Longevity as an architecture firm ultimately ties to building lasting relationships of mutual respect and camaraderie, repeatedly providing creative design solutions and high-level service from design inception through construction and being a proactive team member along with the client and contractor.
What have you learned or discovered over your 25-year history that you did not anticipate? The sheer number of great projects we have designed and the sense of fulfillment one gets from realizing what an incredibly positive impact our buildings have had on people, communities and the economy. For instance, the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center put Central Oregon on the map for national events, is an economic boon to our local economy and brings joy to young and old at fair time; Madras City Hall/Police Station and Sisters City Hall continue to serve their communities with beautiful contextual facilities; The U.S. Forest Service Facilities we have designed help protect and manage the forests for all; and our local schools and higher-education facilities will provide excellent education environments for generations to come. We have designed hundreds of buildings and spaces for businesses and developers, and it is always uplifting to hear them tell us how our designs have helped their business and productivity by providing aesthetically pleasing, efficient and comfortable environments in which to work. We are also very pleased with how Franklin Crossing, 919 Bond (the building Zydeco is in), St. Clair Place, 1051 Bond (the building Brother Jon’s is in) and the remodel and addition of the Deschutes County Justice Center ushered in an urban renaissance and repaired and enhanced significant areas of undeveloped and blighted areas of Downtown Bend, making it much more vibrant and attractive. I was born on “Hospital Hill” in Downtown Bend, and, as a kid, never would have guessed I would someday be so involved in shaping the built environment of Bend and Central Oregon.
What does the current design market look like for STEELE? We have been fortunate, and the last five years have been very robust with continued growth and expansion into new markets and geographic areas. The Central Oregon market, as always, is strong for us, and we continue designing great local projects for our long-term repeat clients and developers. Our reputation has also brought many new clients to us, and we are enjoying building those relationships as well. Many locals do not realize that we design far beyond Central Oregon and have had projects on the Oregon coast, Salem, Forest Grove, Sweet Home, Condon, Crescent, North Lake, Vale, Klamath Falls, California, Washington, Montana, Idaho, Colorado, Arizona and Utah. We design a broad variety of public and private project types and have teams that specialize in commercial/retail, mixed-use, multi-family, medical, education, public/civic, senior care/housing, industrial, tech/research, utility campuses, residential, interiors and master planning.
How are you planning for the future of STEELE Associates Architects? We are elevating key leaders in the firm who have the passion, integrity and skill to make certain STEELE remains a leading Pacific Northwest design firm for the next 25 years. Adam Stephen and Darek Olson are being elevated to principals, and Chanda Villano, Chris Thome, Tristan Shepherd and Andy Harmon are being elevated to associates. We will be issuing a press release soon with more details about these great team members, some of whom joined the firm many years ago and diligently worked their way to the top. We will ceaselessly continue to learn, grow and push ourselves to provide even better services and creative sustainable design solutions for our clients.
Do you have any final thoughts about your 25-year milestone? We are thankful for having the opportunity to work and collaborate with so many wonderful clients, consultants, contractors, trades and brokers (many of whom are now great friends) over the past 25 years, and we feel blessed to do what we love for a living, as architecture is a unique and creative profession that plays a huge role in a community’s quality of life.
STEELE will continue forward collaborating and creating great design with our clients and team into the future. Our focus will remain on creative, sustainable and efficient designs that enrich the lives of building occupants and the fabric of communities across the western/southwestern states and beyond. And as Central Oregon continues to grow, we will do our part to provide beautiful, sustainable, cost-effective projects and housing solutions for public agencies, businesses, families and seniors alike.
We look forward to the next 25 years of creating a “Bright Future Through Brilliant Design!”
Please note Steele Associates Architects’ new location and address: 1567 SW Chandler, Suite 203, Bend, OR 97703. Scott Steele, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, founder/president of Bend-based STEELE Associates Architects, steele-arch.com, 541-382-9867.
