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Alec Holser, founding principal of Opsis Architecture, has spent 44 years transforming public cultural and learning environments across the Pacific Northwest through designs that elevate communities while advancing sustainable architecture to new heights.

Holser established Opsis Architecture in 1999 alongside partners Jim Kalvelage and James Meyer, building the firm from a vision cultivated during their time at the University of Oregon School of Architecture and Allied Arts, where Holser earned his Bachelor of Architecture. The founders sought to create a design-centric practice inspired by the creativity and open dialogue of university design studios, establishing a regional and national standard for design excellence grounded in placemaking and sustainable practices realized through inclusive, collaborative processes.

His design of the Hood River Middle School Music and Science Building set a transformative precedent as the nation’s first ILFI-certified net-zero energy public school, establishing new benchmarks for environmental design in K-12 education. The Reed College Performing Arts Building demonstrated his ability to unite performance, craft and sustainability, earning both national AIA and international USITT recognition. The Oregon Zoo Education Center advanced architecture as a teaching tool for ecological stewardship, showcasing buildings that actively demonstrate sustainability principles to visitors.

Currently, Holser leads the Mariner’s Hall project at the Columbia River Maritime Museum, combining innovations in mass timber design with interactive storytelling and exhibits designed to create dynamic visitor experiences.

Throughout his career, Holser has championed a deeply collaborative, human-centered design culture at Opsis. From the firm’s founding, he helped establish an open studio model that breaks down traditional silos, inviting diverse voices into design conversations and ensuring projects emerge from shared authorship across clients and consultants. This inclusive approach has shaped Opsis into a nationally recognized leader in educational and cultural design.

Holser embedded sustainable design as both a guiding principle and creative driver long before sustainability became mainstream in the industry. His leadership pushed Opsis to pursue ambitious goals including net-zero energy performance and biophilic design integration. Internally, he fostered a culture of mentorship, equity and professional growth, cultivating the next generation of firm leaders.

His work has appeared in more than 60 periodicals and four books, and projects he has led have earned more than 60 local, regional and national design awards. The American Institute of Architects recognized his design leadership by designating him an AIA Fellow in 2020.

Holser serves as a board member for Friends of Timberline and has presented at more than 35 regional, national and international conferences to share insights on sustainability, community building and transformative learning environments.