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Ankrom Moisan Architects co-founder Tom Moisan isn’t just retiring; he’s sailing off into the sunset 鈥� literally.

鈥淲e have a boat that we have been working on for almost a year now,鈥� he said in reference to himself and his wife. 鈥淢ay 3, we are getting on this boat and sailing around the world. Be back in four years.鈥�

The 69-year-old father of four and grandfather of six has slowly reduced his workload during the past two years. In 2015 he turned over his role as company president to Dave Heater, a 25-year veteran of the Portland-based firm. Now Moisan is relinquishing his title as board chairman. Co-founder Stewart Ankrom retired in 2012.

Over 34 years, Ankrom Moisan Architects has grown from a small, two-partner operation working on tenant improvements and small, private projects into a major force along the West Coast. The firm has established offices in Seattle and San Francisco, and has completed two significant projects in downtown Los Angeles 鈥� Elleven South Lofts and Luma South Lofts.

鈥淲e have had a big impact in L.A.,鈥� Moisan said. 鈥淚n the early 2000s we had some really different kinds of buildings that were very groundbreaking in their own way.鈥�

The projects contributed to development of the L.A. Live entertainment district that now includes restaurants, theaters and the Staples Center.

Ankrom Moisan Architects also has helped form Portland’s Pearl District. The firm has been involved in 18 projects in the district in the past 20 years. An area filled with run-down warehouses became one of the trendiest parts of the city.

鈥淭he most impactful projects have been our projects in the Pearl District,鈥� Moisan said. 鈥淲e really helped set the tone in that district in the early years. In terms of an area, we had a big impact.鈥�

Development in the district happened organically, he said. No grand plan was formed to create what is there now.

鈥淭hey had roads that weren’t paved,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey had old warehouses and old brick buildings. It was just collection of old stuff. There was nothing much over there to recommend it. It was not the city of Portland or the PDC. It just happened.鈥�

That boom, however, was a far cry from five years ago, when construction came to a screeching halt. Like most firms during the Great Recession, Ankrom Moisan Architects took a hit.

鈥淲e were all in the private world; we didn’t have a lot of public work,鈥� Moisan said. 鈥淧rivate developers couldn’t do anything. It was just horrendous time.鈥�

Remnants of that collapse are still evident, Moisan added. Investors and developers now scrutinize potential projects much more now, he said.

鈥淚n economic terms, the past several years have not seen people rushing into projects the way they were before the downturn,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 personally don’t worry that we are way overbuilt or that we aren’t being somewhat cautious. We are slowing down because people are getting nervous. They remember what happened in 2008 and 2009. That is almost a decade away and people still remember.鈥�

Ankrom Moisan Architects’ founders may no longer guiding operations, but Heater is optimistic about the future.

鈥淲e have incredibly talented people in our organization,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 look forward to continuing the traditions that have led to our success over the past 30 years.鈥�