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Even though Yost Grube Hall Architecture has only one office 鈥� in Portland 鈥� it’s known as an international company. That’s not surprising, given that the 52-year-old firm has designed projects in 10 states and 66 countries.

One of YGH’s current projects 鈥� a building for the U.S. State Department at its embassy in Rangoon, Burma (aka Yangon, Myanmar) 鈥� depends on collaboration with local architects.

鈥淲e’re not in the business of going into another country and taking away jobs from local firms,鈥� YGH marketing director Amy Winterowd said.

Instead, YGH joins in its overseas work with firms like Burma-based SPiNE Architects. It’s working closely with YGH on the new American Center in Rangoon.

The Portland firm also is working on projects for embassies in Mozambique and Turkmenistan.

鈥淲e have been successful because of our collaborative nature, forming the right relationships to create the right team for those clients,鈥� YGH principal Tom Robbins said.

Some firms in other countries may not have the resources of a U.S.-based firm, but they have more knowledge of the local situation, so the relationship can be beneficial to both.

That attitude leads to a 鈥渟ymbiotic partnership,鈥� Winterowd said. 鈥淭here’s something for each of our firms to gain and learn. Together we make it stronger.鈥�

Working with SPiNE Architects gave YGH the knowledge it needed to build local materials into the design for the new American Center. The two-story center will include classrooms, a library, a caf茅 and outdoor balconies.

As a result, the American Center will feature local materials such as teakwood to balance security features the embassy requires.

鈥淭he security grills will mimic traditional sunscreens you see over there,鈥� Robbins said. 鈥淵ou’ll see a layered building that is picking up teakwood aesthetics and behind that is another layer of glass or metal and then (behind that are) the security screens.鈥�

Working with local firms like SPiNE helps architects at YGH understand local materials, construction techniques and schedules, Robbins said.

鈥淭here’s only so much we can do in Portland,鈥� he said.

But the relationship with foreign architecture firms is not just long-distance, said YGH principal John Medvec, and architects from YGH will visit their projects in other countries at least three or four times during the life of the project.

Architects from overseas firms also come to Portland to work in the YGH office. FMA Architecture in Abuja, Nigeria is a long-term collaborator, said Medvec, and over the two firms’ 40-year relationship, sharing resources has become standard.

鈥淲e do a lot of staff sharing and have had architects from FMA in our office working on computers for three and four weeks at a time,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o when we go to their country, it’s not just two weeks doing meetings, it’s being on their systems working on building design.鈥�

That philosophy for close collaboration with other firms doesn’t just extend to foreign projects, Winterowd said.

鈥淚t is very much our culture and the way we prefer to practice,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he ability to work in different places 鈥� we see that as additional enrichment for local projects as well. We’re gratified when we bring something we’ve learned outside to our home here in Oregon.鈥�

Design Beyond Borders is a 91视频 feature offering a look at the projects outside of Oregon being tackled by local architecture firms. To have your firm’s projects considered, contact 91视频 architecture and engineering reporter Beverly Corbell at 503-802-7224 or [email protected].