BRIC Architecture, Inc.

BRIC Architecture, Inc. Building Relationships & Inspiring Communities is more than just our tagline, it’s at the core of who we are as an architectural firm, who we are as people

Building Relationships | Inspiring Communities

Our doors are open THIS THURSDAY—come check out the 2025–26 Architects in Schools exhibit at BRIC! As one of two differe...
05/04/2026

Our doors are open THIS THURSDAY—come check out the 2025–26 Architects in Schools exhibit at BRIC!

As one of two different reception locations Downtown, we’re proud to host student work from classrooms across the Portland metro area. Join us on Thursday, May 7th from 5:30-7:30pm to explore exciting community design projects that were inspired by more than 3,000 hours of mentorship by 150+ volunteer design professionals.

And the best part? We're just one block from the First Thursday festivities on NW 13th—so make us your first stop (or last!) on your evening out.

All are welcome:
✓ Free & open to the public
✓ Family friendly
✓ No registration required
📍 BRIC Architecture | 1233 NW Northrup St, Suite 100 Portland, OR
🕠 Thursday, May 7 | 5:30–7:30pm

Architecture Foundation of Oregon

One of the most meaningful parts about working with interns is getting to support their growth, both during and after th...
04/02/2026

One of the most meaningful parts about working with interns is getting to support their growth, both during and after their time at BRIC.

BRIC team members recently attended Portland State University's M.Arch midterm open house to connect with two of our interns: Nathalie Hutchinson (current) and Alex Yarovaya (Summer 2023 Cohort).

With an emphasis on subversive community-led design, Nathalie’s thesis explores a “community investment trust” financial structure through a multigenerational housing project in SE Portland. Alex’s thesis project seeks support and empower neurodiverse individuals through the development of an equine therapy center with connections to nature interwoven throughout the program.

From their care and ingenuity to the questions they’re continuing to examine, witnessing the ways Nathalie and Alex are championing social change and holistic wellbeing through design is deeply inspiring. We’re so proud of what they’ve accomplished, and we can’t wait to cheer them on as they continue to grow this semester!

“When we nourish people, we nourish the whole community.” Founded in 2016 by Chef Jacobsen Valentine, Feed the Mass resp...
03/04/2026

“When we nourish people, we nourish the whole community.”

Founded in 2016 by Chef Jacobsen Valentine, Feed the Mass responds to rising food insecurity in Multnomah County by empowering communities through education and action. Their team is dedicated to expanding access to nutritious food, reducing waste, and strengthening connections through shared meals.

BRIC Designer Octavio Gutiérrez and Intern Nathalie Hutchinson are advancing this mission through the design for a Community Market in the new Nourish Building, projected to open this fall.

Located in Portland’s Old Town, the four-story Nourish Building transforms a former office space into a vibrant community hub for food access, workforce training, entrepreneurship, health services, and family connection. BRIC developed the test fit and prepared sketch renderings for the first-floor Community Market. The market will bring together fresh food, local goods, and children’s cooking classes to create opportunities for connection and education in a space rooted in dignity and possibility.

As food insecurity continues to impact thousands of Oregonians, we’re honored to support Feed the Mass and amplify their mission throughout our community. To learn more about the organization and their story, visit: www.feedthemass.org

Students, communities, and local industries all benefit from accessible, future-ready Career Technical Education (CTE) p...
02/27/2026

Students, communities, and local industries all benefit from accessible, future-ready Career Technical Education (CTE) programs. We’re inspired to see districts deepening their commitment to hands-on, industry-connected learning—sparking curiosity, building confidence, and opening doors to meaningful futures. BRIC is proud to partner with districts throughout the PNW to create environments across all grade levels where exploration is tangible, skills are relevant, and every student can see a pathway from classroom to career.

In honor of CTE Month, we’re highlighting the recently completed David Douglas High School CTE Center. The 44,500 SF facility offers flexible, student-centered spaces designed to foster collaboration, innovation, and career exploration. Intentional visual transparency and shared gathering spaces remove barriers so students can see one another working and discover new pathways.

➡️ Industry-aligned CTE spaces empower students to take ownership of their futures while strengthening connections among peers, educators, and community partners.

➡️ A high-performance enclosure and efficient mechanical and electrical systems—paired with a solar PV array offsetting more than half the building’s energy use—support sustainability, adaptability, and long-term district stewardship.

David Douglas School District

How can school districts leverage innovative K-12 design trends to create compelling bond programs that address communit...
02/05/2026

How can school districts leverage innovative K-12 design trends to create compelling bond programs that address community needs?

At this Friday’s Bonds, Ballots, and Buildings Conference, Karina Ruiz and Dan Hess will join a panel of industry leaders for “Designing for the Future: Navigating Innovation Amid Cost Pressures and Changing Community Needs.”

Drawing from diverse industry insights and bond program success stories, they’ll explore emerging trends—including career technical education, wellness-centered learning environments, adaptability, and sustainability—along with proven strategies to help districts navigate market volatility and maximize the impact of every bond dollar. The conversation will highlight real-world project examples of how district leaders, architects, and contractors have worked together to overcome cost pressures, manage stakeholder expectations, and deliver long-term value to voters.

📍 Bonds, Ballots, and Buildings Conference�
🗓 Friday, February 6 | 9:45 AM�
📌 Willamette Ballroom C�
👤 Featuring Karina Ruiz & Dan Hess (BRIC Architecture), alongside Trevor Wyckoff (Executive Vice President, Skanska USA) and Cindy Detchon (Special Projects Administrator, North Clackamas Schools)

Stop by the BRIC booth and say hello—we’d love to connect. See you in Salem!

Oregon School Boards Association

Last Monday, our team honored Martin Luther King Jr’s legacy in partnership with local community-centered organizations ...
01/27/2026

Last Monday, our team honored Martin Luther King Jr’s legacy in partnership with local community-centered organizations that champion access, opportunity, and education.

From packing +100 food bags for Portland Backpack to weeding, churning compost piles, and removing blackberry bushes, we gathered at Kindness Farm to learn and serve alongside their staff.

Kindness Farm hosts land-based education opportunities and healing outdoor experiences for students, youth, and adults from marginalized and low-income families. Learning about their regenerative approach to agriculture underscored the important role that equitable and inclusive environments—both natural and built—play in equipping communities with the resources they need to thrive.

To learn more about Kindness Farm, visit their website: www.thekindnessfarm.org

As we transition from the end of one year into the start of another, we’re reflecting on the connections that shape our ...
01/09/2026

As we transition from the end of one year into the start of another, we’re reflecting on the connections that shape our work and our communities.

Our team began the season with a tour of the new CTE Center at David Douglas High School. From central, light-filled gathering spaces to innovative technical spaces, the new CTE Center was designed to underscore DDHS's motto, “A place where connections are made,” through ongoing partnerships between District leaders, design team members, industry partners, and community stakeholders.

That same spirit of connection extends far beyond our projects. This season, we’ve been proud to support incredible outcomes alongside organizations like Milk Crate Kitchen and Beaverton High School’s “Beaver Den”. These initiatives remind us that thriving communities are not only strengthened by the spaces they share, but through the care they extend to one another.

We’re grateful to start the year surrounded by partners and peers who believe in the power of community—and we look forward to the connections we’ll continue to make together in the year ahead!

David Douglas School District Beaverton School District MCK PDX inc
Image 1,2,3: BRIC Staff at the David Douglas CTE Center �Image 4: BRIC celebrating with Milk Crate Kitchen

BRIC’s commitment to co-creating equitable, efficient, and resilient learning spaces is a defining pillar of our work. A...
12/19/2025

BRIC’s commitment to co-creating equitable, efficient, and resilient learning spaces is a defining pillar of our work. As we continue to champion a holistic approach to sustainability, we’re proud to share that we’ve signed the The American Institute of Architects Materials Pledge, an accountability framework designed to promote healthy project outcomes through more thoughtful material specifications.

All five impact areas of the pledge—human health, social health and equity, ecosystem health, climate health, and circular economy—have the capacity to inspire transformative outcomes in each community we serve. We're excited to work alongside clients, stakeholders, and our A/E/C peers to advance this collective commitment to transforming the industry and the spaces we experience every day.

1-2: Renton High School, Renton School District
3-4: Sylvania CT Building Portland Community College, Studio Petretti Architecture

When Tonie Esteban championed BRIC’s first Fall Fest, no one knew what it would become. Eight years later, this celebrat...
11/26/2025

When Tonie Esteban championed BRIC’s first Fall Fest, no one knew what it would become. Eight years later, this celebration of good food, gratitude, and ever-growing traditions is easily one of our most beloved events. We’re grateful for moments like this that invite us to slow down, share our favorite holiday meals, and reconnect with our entire team. In between the incredible potluck lunch and a lively raffle, we pause and raise a toast to our clients, to each other, and to all of the communities that inspire our work.

Cheers to the start of the holiday season!

Today marks BRIC’s 8th anniversary. Since our very first day in 2017, each year has brought exciting changes. New projec...
10/23/2025

Today marks BRIC’s 8th anniversary. Since our very first day in 2017, each year has brought exciting changes. New projects. New markets. New partners. And so many amazing new team members.

But through it all, one thing has never changed: our enduring belief that equitable, value-driven design can empower every learner, every community, every day.

Happy Birthday, BRIC-ers! Cheers to all of the milestones still to come.

Address

1233 NW Northrup Street, Suite 100
Portland, OR
97209

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 6pm
Tuesday 8am - 6pm
Wednesday 8am - 6pm
Thursday 8am - 6pm
Friday 8am - 12pm

Telephone

(503) 595-4900

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