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Al Levage is a definite outlier in the architecture field, and it鈥檚 been the key to his success.

Unlike most architects who obtain an architecture degree, join a firm and climb the standard career ladder, Levage, who is now a managing principal at Bend firm BBT Architects, has always done things a little differently. While he did start out as an architect back in 1977 in Coos Bay, he decided less than a decade into his career that he wanted to branch out. He went to work as a construction estimator in Bend in the early 1980s and moved on to start a multidisciplinary real estate development, construction and architecture firm in 1985. By that point, he had already developed a knack for teaching and mentoring.

鈥淒uring that time I was always trying to help younger people learn,鈥� Levage said. 鈥淎nd when I sold the company in 1990, I even worked at the local community college (Central Oregon Community College) teaching architecture and construction. I realized that if I had not been into architecture I probably would have gone into teaching. I love trying to share the knowledge, I love to learn and convey that to other people.鈥�

His current business partner, fellow Managing Principal Renee Alexander, said this is the essence of what makes Levage tick.

鈥淚 think the biggest thing that stands out to me as his partner is he has the ability to coach and mentor folks in such a positive and non-threatening way,鈥� Alexander said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 had a interesting background; he鈥檚 been a contractor, a developer and an architect, and because of that he has a wealth of knowledge that most architects do not.鈥�

Levage actually has two separate stints at BBT under his belt. After selling his own firm in 1990 he joined BBT for the first time in 1991 and spent the next 14 years designing projects and mentoring younger designers. But the urge to keep learning and moving struck once again, and in 2005 he accepted an offer from Touchmark Development as a project manager.

鈥淭hat was a great position and I loved the job,鈥� Levage said. 鈥淏ut I was traveling a lot.鈥�

He spent five years with Touchmark and returned to BBT in 2010 and quickly became a partner.

鈥淭hey knew me, and they knew my strength in construction,鈥� he said.

As the state of Oregon entered a school construction boom in 2014-15, that played into both Levage鈥檚 strengths, as well as those of his firm, which has long been a force in the education sector across the state. As the workload increased, his leadership helped the firm maintain consistency even as it added new staff.

鈥淚t鈥檚 allowed us to keep risk down for our firm,鈥� Alexander said. 鈥淚 think the other thing that sets him apart, for me as a partner he is very calm and very level-headed. That鈥檚 been tremendous. I鈥檝e been able to always count on him if we have to talk about something heavy. It keeps me clear and focused and helps me stay on task and helps us move forward.鈥�

That鈥檚 overlaps with what he does in the community, said Paul Kim, marketing manager for BBT.

鈥淗e works with a lot of organizations and concentrates on those working with youth,鈥� Kim said. 鈥淢entoring is a big part of that and he鈥檚 just done everything in the industry, from design to construction and construction administration. He knows both sides of the fence in terms of contracting, and it just comes naturally to him to be a mentor.鈥�