Becca Cavell, after spending almost a year guiding her own consulting firm, is taking on a new challenge. The former Hacker managing principal will be a senior associate project manager at Bora Architects.

“Because I was a consultancy, it wasn’t a full-service architectural firm,” she said of MakeShift Architecture. “I either needed to become a full firm so I could give clients what they needed, or return to a more traditional role in a firm.”

With Bora Architects, Cavell will focus on public projects, including higher education facilities and civic buildings. The opportunity to work on those projects is why she got into the industry in the first place, she said.

“This is what feeds my soul,” she said. “Bora is the right size and has the right firm culture. They do terrific work and I am thrilled to be part of it. This is the work I did back in the day.”

The opportunity to work more closely with clients was one of the driving forces that led Cavell to strike out on her own after serving Hacker for 18 years, including 10 as a principal partner. Her duties as a managing principal took her away from what she enjoyed most about architecture, she said.

“I am very happy to not have those duties,” she said. “Hacker is a great firm, but being a managing partner is very complex and I am not the best person for it.”

Starting a business presents its own obstacles, Cavell said. The lack of an established portfolio limited what she was able to work on. She knew she could join an established firm, but didn’t believe a return to Hacker would be her best option.

“MakeShift as a company would never have the portfolio in my lifetime that I can contribute to here,” she said of Bora. “I have great respect for (Hacker). It was time for me to try something different.”

Cavell is working half days through June while she gradually closes MakeShift Architecture. She also will wrap up work with the University of Oregon School of Architecture and Allied Arts, where she teaches a design studio. It’s the first time she has taught solo.

“Just me teaching is very different than with someone else,” she said.

Though Cavell currently is acclimating herself to a new firm, she hopes that she can eventually return to teaching in some capacity.

“I wouldn’t have the time to do that at Bora,” she said. “We are still trying to figure out the best use of my skills. Right now, I need to focus on learning about Bora.”

Cavell has no regrets about striking out on her own. The experience gave her a different perspective and helped recharge her enthusiasm for the work, she said.

“I am so glad that I have done this,” she said. “I feel really energized. I am happy to be returning to my roots.”

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