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For decades, Carleton Hart Architecture has produced work suggesting that form should indeed follow function, and that its designs exist to serve people entirely and not just their eyes. As the firm celebrates its 25th anniversary, it is not only honoring its past, but also looking at how it can build upon that legacy.

This year, that has involved a leadership change. The firm announced recently that Michelle Black is now a principal, along with co-founders Brian Carleton and Bill Hart. Also, Hart has sold his shares of the company to Carleton, but will stay involved in some capacity.

鈥淚t’s been 25 years of being a firm with a very intentional sense of mission 鈥� really wanting to do good work in our communities,鈥� Carleton said. 鈥淲e got to develop a lot of deep relationships, and a lot of meaningful relationships that have lasted a number of years.鈥�

Carleton Hart Architecture has made a name for itself primarily in the realm of affordable housing. The firm has sought to serve Portland’s marginalized and underrepresented communities and neighborhoods.

鈥淔or me personally, I’ve been trying to work more and more with communities of color,鈥� said Hart, estimating that he is one of fewer than 10 black architects in the Portland-metro area.

Both co-founders worked for a number of firms in Portland and elsewhere before venturing out to create their own. The two shared office space before merging their practices in 1994, united in the desire to break away from corporate projects.

鈥淚 think we both shared a drive to work more with communities,鈥� Carleton said. 鈥淚t really, I think, has defined our firm and defined our sense of mission.鈥�

To succeed in that mission, Carleton Hart Architecture primarily took on public work and affordable housing projects. Few firms were involved in any kind of affordable housing work when Carleton Hart began taking it on in the mid-1990s, Carleton said. The firm dominated that work in the Portland-metro area, he added, until the Great Recession.

Yet diversification has helped the firm navigate challenging times, Hart said. Work began to include community centers, churches and historic buildings 鈥� and even a project at Portland International Airport.

鈥淢y goal was to have a diverse portfolio of work,鈥� Hart said. 鈥淭he flexibility in being able to do all of that is a real strength when the economy changes.鈥�

Hart will continue to diversify his own portfolio. He plans to continue providing architectural services to the community, but also become more involved with real estate development.

Black landed at Carleton Hart Architecture after arriving in Portland from New York in 2015.

鈥淚 was really attracted to Carleton Hart because of the portfolio of nonprofit work,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey’re willing to do things differently and willing to look at things in unique ways.鈥�

While the firm’s legacy of community engagement is inspiring, Black said, she wants to make sure Carleton Hart Architecture doesn’t rest on its history. It’s important, she added, for the firm to keep pace with industry changes.

Carleton and Hart added that more leadership changes will drive the firm into the future. Black’s promotion was inevitable, Carleton said.

鈥淔rom the first time Bill and I interviewed her, we knew where this was probably headed,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e really do see her as the next generation of Carleton Hart.鈥�