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In the 20-plus years that architects Bill Hart and Brian Carleton have worked together, they’ve had one overriding philosophy: give back to their community.

Before founding Carleton Hart Architecture in 1994, both men had worked for other firms for years. But both wanted to be more hands-on and see where they were making a difference in Portland’s neighborhoods through both community projects and affordable housing.

鈥淲e were both focused on community development and both worked in firms where we felt somewhat disconnected from our clients,鈥� Carleton said. 鈥淚 think we both really wanted to connect with the people we were designing for.鈥�

The firm has kept that philosophy and attracted employees with a similar outlook. Carleton Hart Architecture has grown steadily over the years, outgrowing its space in Old Town Chinatown. That is why it recently repurposed the entire second floor at 830 S.W. 10th Ave. to serve its 31 employees. The firm relocated in November.

While the firm performs a wide variety of projects 鈥� from the extensive redesign of the Portland International Airport‘s baggage handling system to work with the city of Portland on new affordable housing 鈥� new hires are drawn by the partners’ interest in community, Carleton said.

It’s all about being personally connected, Hart said.

鈥淲hat I hear from a lot of folks is that I never get the chance to see any of the work I’ve done,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hereas here, we encourage folks to get involved in the community in some way and then these projects are in their neighborhoods. They can be on this side of the fence and then through design to actual construction they can see the impact it has later on.鈥�

The firm takes on jobs in the Northwest, including Washington and 鈥渁ll over the state of Oregon,鈥� Hart said. He and Carleton are actively looking to hire people at all skill levels and with a variety of design experience.

鈥淲e are looking for people to join our team that are passionate about architecture and excited about growing and professional development,鈥� Hart said.

鈥淲e’re looking for designers, architects, project managers,鈥� Carleton said. 鈥淧eople with passion 鈥� and talent.鈥�

By hiring people with a variety of backgrounds, the firm has been able to expand into many areas, although affordable housing has been a primary focus in the past.

For example, when project manager Corey Morris came to work for Carleton Hart about four years ago, he had designed health care facilities for 15 years; however, his experience transferred well, Hart said.

鈥淭he health care market was kind of drying up and (Morris) was looking to do something different,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd because of the complexity of the medical stuff, he was able to help out with projects that need a lot of programming, like the aviation stuff we’re doing. Pretty intense project management services are needed and fit right into his experience.鈥�

Another person hired in the past five years, architect Jennifer Hoffman, recently was promoted to associate principal. She took a few years off to raise young children after designing mostly libraries and educational facilities for Hacker, Carleton said.

鈥淲e now have a project for public schools and she’s putting that experience to use,鈥� he said.

Carleton and Hart have also been heavily involved individually with the city working on community projects. Hart, who mentors leaders of minority-owned firms, is working with the Portland Housing Bureau on an affordable housing project in Northeast Portland intended to bring back African-American citizens previously displaced because of gentrification. Preference of prospective tenants is race-neutral, however, and given to those with residency ties to the area.

鈥淚t’s in the early programming stages and we’re trying to figure out the number of units and with about 8,000 square feet of retail, trying to figure out what retail to use,鈥� he said.

Hart has worked closely on the Northeast Portland project with Karl Dinkelspiel, housing and investment preservation program manager for the Portland Housing Bureau. He said it’s been a mutually beneficial relationship.

鈥淭he Portland Housing Bureau appreciates the partnership of Carleton Hart and their dedication to the goals of our north and northeast housing strategy,鈥� Dinkelspiel said. 鈥淲e appreciate their continued close partnership with our development team that includes Portland Community Reinvestment Initiatives Inc., Gerding Edlen and Colas Construction.鈥�

Also, Carleton is working with the city of Beaverton to try and create a development based on the model of Bridge Meadows, an intergenerational complex of homes in North Portland that combines senior citizens with families that have adopted children from foster care.

The project is still in the design stage, Carleton said, but it has enthusiastic local support.

鈥淭he city councilors took a tour of Bridge Meadows (in Portland) and brought Mayor (Denny) Doyle out,鈥� he said. 鈥淗e said, 鈥楬ow can we get this for Beaverton?’ And we have been working with them very closely helping to find a property and helping in certain ways to fund the project.鈥�

That enthusiasm for the public good helps define the firm, Carleton said.

鈥淚t’s not that our client has to be a nonprofit or a public agency, but is typically someone who wants to enhance a neighborhood and enhance economic development in a positive way,鈥� Carleton said.

Some clients have commercial projects, some have institutional ones and some have housing ones, but a common thread is 鈥減eople who are trying to make a difference, somehow,鈥� Carleton said.

鈥淚t’s important to be working with people who care about what they are doing and care about the people they might affect,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat’s where our philosophy comes from. People who come here to work at the firm want to make a difference, want to do good things, and our clients want to do the same.鈥�