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POWER LIST: ARCHITECTURE

Opsis focuses on schools and universities, cultural facilities and performing arts centers 鈥� all places where people gather. So it was dealt a blow when the pandemic slowed work in those sectors. The firm, like many others, laid off some employees. But now Opsis has recovered to its previous employment level and is looking to hire more architects.

鈥淲e鈥檙e growing,鈥� founding partner Alec Holser said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e in a recruitment phase.鈥�

Higher education has long been one of the firm鈥檚 primary focuses, with projects such as the Allan Price Science Commons & Research Library at the University of Oregon. But K-12 work is playing a growing role in Opsis鈥� portfolio.

The Opsis-designed McDaniel High School (formerly Madison) in Northeast Portland required an almost complete renovation down to the skeletal structure. The school is on track to reopen in the fall.

Engagements for 300,000-square-foot high schools 鈥渉ave changed the dynamics鈥� for Opsis, Holser said. 鈥淭hat has become a major staple of our work.鈥�

Beaverton also tapped Opsis for its Patricia Reser Center for the Arts 鈥� a major new public cultural institution for fast-growing Washington County.

Opsis has placed an emphasis on sustainability since its founding.

鈥淲hen we started in 1999, we had to explain the word 鈥榮ustainable鈥� to most of our clients,鈥� Holser said.

Opsis has demonstrated its commitment to sustainability in projects such as a mass-timber basketball arena for the University of Idaho (scheduled for completion this year) and net-zero carbon buildings including the Oregon Zoo Education Center.