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Every recession entails what economists call creative destruction 鈥� the disruption of old ways of doing things and the creation of new ones.

That process can often be painful for workers, as new jobs may not arise immediately to replace old ones.

For Bob Smith and Chris Olenyik, economic disruption meant starting their own architecture firm. The two friends incorporated SO25 Architecture on Halloween last year after Smith lost his job in a layoff, and both architects reconsidered their futures.

鈥淐OVID was a real leveling of firms alike, large and small,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淭o some degree, Chris and I have been able to leverage that to our advantage. While other firms were initially trying to shift gears and try to stay viable, we had the opposite side of the coin and were able to grow ourselves. We recognized this as the downtime it was.鈥�

Smith and Olenyik met at Scott | Edwards Architecture. Olenyik worked there for almost 10 years, and Smith for about eight years. They quickly became friends and bonded over going to rock shows and hanging out with each other’s families while residing in Southeast Portland.

Olenyik left Scott | Edwards for a job at Triplett Wellman Contractors, and Smith moved on to Jones Architecture. But when Smith was laid off only a few months after joining that firm, the friends started to intensify long-simmering conversations about starting their own.

鈥淚t was a big shock,鈥� Smith said of the layoff. 鈥淥ne day I had a job, and the next day, oh my God. I’m sure a lot of folks were dealing with the same thing, too.鈥�

Olenyik decided he was willing to leave his job at Triplett Wellman.

鈥淲e would talk about what’s going on at work 鈥� what our struggles are, what we’re enjoying,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e kind of had itchy feet to spread our wings for a bit.鈥�

The talk grew serious in June 2020, when the two architects began working with lawyers and accountants to formally establish the firm. SO25 Inc. was registered with the Oregon Secretary of State’s office in October. 鈥淪O鈥� stands for Smith and Olenyik, and the 25 is a nod to Scott | Edwards’ address on East Burnside Street.

Smith and Olenyik were part of a boom of entrepreneurs forming businesses in the past year. Business formations have been at 鈥渉istorically high levels,鈥� ECONorthwest economist Robert Whalen stated in an email. For the 52-week period that ended March 25, high-propensity formations 鈥� those businesses most likely to hire workers 鈥� tallied 16,810 in Oregon. In total, 44,520 new businesses were formed in Oregon. Both were at or near all-time highs, he added.

A spike in business formations is typical during recessions, according to Whalen.

鈥淚n any recession where people lose their jobs, we look for other ways to make some money 鈥� consulting, dog walking, tutoring, doing work on the side for past customers 鈥� whatever it takes to bring in some money,鈥� he stated.

Smith and Olenyik have backgrounds in retail, commercial, institutional and multifamily architecture. SO25 has started with small projects, including residential and light commercial design.

鈥淲e both share a desire to do architecture that’s well-crafted and well-developed,鈥� Olenyik said. 鈥淵ou know, we see a lot of projects where they’re not thinking through all of the details. We’re just hoping to get into the details and do well-crafted projects.鈥�

Smith, 48, has been practicing architecture for more than 20 years. A native of Philadelphia, he studied architecture at Drexel University and worked on projects at Philadelphia’s airport, zoo and art museum.

Olenyik, 37, earned a master’s of architecture degree at the University of Idaho. He moved to Portland after his wife landed a job here, and then he went to a marketing firm before joining Scott | Edwards.

The friends play different and complementary roles at SO25. Smith is more experienced and has deeper connections in the local industry. He’s the details guy.

鈥淏ob is very detail-oriented,鈥� Olenyik said. 鈥淏ob’s definitely great at quality control, and he’s very thoughtful and very thorough. Bob really helps to ground me. We balance each other out.鈥�

Olenyik, meanwhile, is a natural networker, Smith said.

鈥淭he thing about Chris that’s really great is he’s a people person,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淗e’s agreeable and easy to get along with. I tend to think of myself as more of a technical person.鈥�

SO25 is off to a good start, Olenyik said.

鈥淲e both feel like there’s momentum and we’re gaining traction,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o that’s exciting.鈥�

The co-principals have not yet hired any additional employees. Smith said they want to be careful to build something that lasts, rather than hire and fire employees as work ebbs and flows.

鈥淲e have full intentions of building this up and getting more employees as we gain more work,鈥� Smith said.

For now, they’re getting used to being their own bosses, and managing their relationship as friends and co-workers 鈥� this time, outside of the music venues.

鈥淚t’s a relationship we’re developing 鈥� a new method of working together,鈥� Olenyik said. 鈥淏ut it’s been good. We’re still friends, and that’s the most important thing.鈥�