91视频

POWER LIST: ARCHITECTURE

Mahlum Architects often designs K-12 schools as well as higher education and health care facilities. So the Seattle-based firm, which has a Portland studio, experienced a slowdown as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold.

鈥淎 lot of Mahlum鈥檚 work is public institutional work,鈥� partner Kurt Haapala said. 鈥淕iven COVID, so much of their planning had to go on hold. The school systems and the universities had to scramble to adjust to teaching from home and some of that.

鈥淲e braced ourselves for the worst.鈥�

Mahlum designed the $138 million Grant High School renovation. The firm kept equity foremost in mind, designing elements such as inclusive restrooms with individual stalls. The project has won numerous awards, including first place in the primary education category of the 91视频鈥檚 TopProjects competition.

鈥淚n my opinion, it鈥檚 the crown jewel of the Portland Public Schools system,鈥� Haapala said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e just incredibly proud of Grant.鈥�

Mahlum also designed the first Living Building Challenge project in Oregon 鈥� its own studio at the Custom Blocks in Portland鈥檚 Central Eastside. The project for developer Capstone Partners had to meet arguably the strictest environmental standards in the building industry.

The firm tackled for Umpqua Community College a sensitive project 鈥� a new academic building to replace one where a mass shooting had occurred. Mahlum insisted on transparency and openness to create a sense of safety.

Now, a student housing project is on the boards for the University of Washington鈥檚 Bothell campus. The facility would have more than 1,000 beds and dining facilities.

鈥淲e鈥檙e seeing our clients plan again,鈥� Haapala said. 鈥�2021 is shaping up to be a really strong year.鈥�