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Phil Rude has seen the Portland skyline change dramatically in the past 50 years.

Since moving to the city to take his first architecture job in 1964, the FFA Architecture and Interiors associate has been a part of that evolution. While the practice of architecture has changed many ways, there are constants that motivate Rude, 73, to continue to come into work at FFA once a week.

鈥淚t’s still a very honorable profession,鈥� he said. 鈥淲ithin the office, there is a collegial environment. I think the mix of ages and experiences helps me to thrive. I enjoy the people, I enjoy the challenge and I think that I still make a contribution.鈥�

Rude continues to prove his value to FFA through his extensive design experience and numerous industry connections he’s made over the years, principal Troy Ainsworth said.

鈥淔ifty years of technical and design experience is irreplaceable,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat’s very special and it’s just great to have someone (on staff) with that much experience in the profession.鈥�

Other Portland design professionals who’ve worked with Rude say his way with people is one of his greatest strengths. This extends to managing a project team, interacting with clients and mentoring the next generation of architects.

鈥淧hil was always that management thread,鈥� said Herb Giffin, a principal at GBJ Architecture and one of Rude’s former colleagues. 鈥淗e’s always been a people person. He can go into a room and work it. He enjoyed it.鈥�

After earning a bachelor’s degree in architectural engineering from Washington State University, Rude spent the early part of his career at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. The architecture firm no longer has a Portland office, but 50 years ago its office was one of the largest in town, he said.

Rude, 23 at that point, wasn’t the only young face in the office.

鈥淪kidmore was a young place for young people,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e enjoyed it. We worked hard. We partied hard.鈥�

In those days, a Portland architecture office looked a lot different from the way it does today, he said.

鈥淲e drafted by hand,鈥� he said. 鈥淓veryone always wore white shirts and ties.鈥�

Rude spent 24 years with SOM before the firm closed its Portland office. While there, he helped design various office towers, including the Standard Plaza and One Main Place buildings in downtown Portland. He also worked on Autzen Stadium at the University of Oregon in Eugene, the parking garage at the Portland International Airport and an expansion to the Branford Price Millar Library at Portland State University that features a curved facade to preserve a large tree.

After the stint at SOM, Rude worked for Yost Grube Hall Architecture for a dozen years, mostly on health care projects. He then spent a year at Hoffman Construction Co. before joining FFA.

These days, Rude helps out on various FFA projects, including many historic restorations. He often provides insight for renovations and tenant improvements in buildings that he helped design originally, Ainsworth said.

鈥淗e also brings knowledge of players on new projects,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey’re new to us, but old to him 鈥� He’s great for having that background.鈥�

Rude’s extensive network is a huge asset, said Sue Johnson, FFA marketing director.

鈥淧hil can pick up the phone and call anybody,鈥� she said. 鈥淗e knows everybody.鈥�

Giffin worked with Rude at SOM for 10 years in the 1970s and ’80s. At the time, Giffin was a recent architecture school graduate who considered Rude a mentor. Rude later mentored Giffin’s daughter, Jody Giffin, when she worked at FFA.

鈥淧hil Rude was such a Father Time that he mentored me and my daughter,鈥� Giffin said. 鈥淗e just knew all the ropes and everything (and) how to handle clients.鈥�

John Weekes, a principal at Dull Olson Weekes-IBI Group Architects, also worked with Rude at SOM as a young architecture school graduate and considered him a mentor.

鈥淗e was just kind of a quiet, careful thinker,鈥� Weekes said. 鈥淗e was very supportive of me. He is someone I have enormous respect for.鈥�

Weekes said he’s always been impressed with Rude’s project management skills.

鈥淗e was the guy who made sure we got done what was supposed to be done, and he was quiet about it,鈥� Weekes said.

It was watching Rude in his element that inspired THA Architecture’s Stefee Knudsen to go into project management. She has adopted his understated, yet effective management style into her own work.

鈥淚t’s really about client relationships and taking care of your team,鈥� she said.

Rude hired Knudsen for her first real architecture job at Yost Grube Hall and has served as a mentor throughout her career, she said.

鈥淗e’s been my most prominent mentor,鈥� she said. 鈥淰ery early on, he differed from the norm. Even though I was a very young intern, he took me on meetings with the client. He took care to make sure I was prepared without making me think about what he was doing.鈥�

Knudsen admires his approach to architecture.

鈥淗e has a real ethic about him that’s about more than what you do at your desk,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t’s about how you treat people.鈥�

The enjoyment of work as part of a team to achieve a common goal is one reason why Rude has no plans to retire from architecture completely.

鈥淚t’s nice to have your thumb still in (the industry),鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou’re proud of what you’ve done. When it’s all said and done, you’re proud of what you’re part of.鈥�