1 AIA LU|HSW Available
For this Digital Design Series, we will hear from the recipients of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in the 2021 AIA Bend Section People’s Choice Awards.
3rd Place North Star Elementary School, BLRB Architects
BLRB Architects wanted to make sure this is a school that the community could be proud of. The guiding principles for the school’s planning and design include adaptability to change, material durability and sustainability, operational cost efficiencies, and an emphasis on student health and safety. Each of the four teaching wings feature classrooms organized around a central learning commons that includes breakout spaces and views to the interior courtyard. Access to daylight and use of natural materials work together to provide a healthy environment that inspires learning. The result is a critical addition to the community that not only accommodates our growing student population but also creates a safe, inspiring learning environment
2nd Place Kenwood Elementary School Gymnasium, BBT Architects
In 2017, BBT was selected by Bend-La Pine Schools to design a new replacement facility for the historical Kenwood Elementary School’s gymnasium. More than simply replacing a building, it was important for the design to honor the deep connections to the community, match the historic character of the main school, provide a safe, enriching place for students, and meet modern standards for security, energy efficiency, structural resiliency, and accessibility. The project was completed under an accelerated schedule to ensure that students were able to access the facility as soon as possible.
1st Place Timber Ridge, Ink:Built Architecture
Community, a life of connection that’s so much more than just getting by is the aim of Timber Ridge; the soul-deep breath of coming home.
With trauma-informed design, the team considered the whole of a person’s life experience of struggles and hopes. A variety of spaces respond and allow for a spectrum of engagement. The design strives to promote variety, choice, and agency for people to take refuge in calming spaces engaging with the natural world or with neighbors through gaming, gardening, cooking, movement, art, and education.
Heidi Slaybaugh, AIA
Senior Associate, BLRB Architects
Heidi is a senior associate in BLRB’s Bend office, with over 17 years of experience in the field of architecture. She is skilled in the planning, design, construction, and project management of many different building types, including K-12 facilities, historic preservation, mixed-use and office, medical facilities, and multi-family housing. Heidi provides oversight for BLRB Architect’s K-12 projects in Central and Eastern Oregon and has served Oregon school district clients throughout the state on a variety of projects. As an exceptionally detailed expert in her field, Heidi ensures all stages of work is completed on time, efficiently, and at only the highest quality.
Matt Appleby, AIA
BBT Architects
Matt Appleby has 28 years of experience and is skilled in a wide range of project types with expertise in managing educational, historic, commercial and hospitality projects from the early programming and design phases through final construction. This broad range of experience, coupled with his adaptable and open project management style, gives Matt the ability to add value to any project. Matt is known for building strong relationships with partners and clients that fosters teamwork and communication.
Nate Ember, AIA
Ink:Built Architecture
Nate is a seasoned design and technical architect with broad experience across many project types and in-depth expertise in all things housing. His passion to make the world better constantly drives him to learn and delve deeper into topics of equity, health, ecology, systems, community dynamics, and the expression of meaning in design. Knowing that design has great power to improve life for people and the planet, while simultaneously seeing that those benefits have been available to only a small slice of society spurs an extra kick of motivation to make the architecture profession and larger development industry do and be better.