Studio 3 Architecture Announces the Retirement of Leonard Lodder, AIA LEED AP

Leonard Lodder was born and raised in Canada. He received his Bachelor of Environmental Studies (Pre-professional Architecture) from the University of Waterloo followed by a B.Arch from the University of Waterloo in 1980.

Leonard started his 43 year architectural career while still in Canada, eventually opening his own firm with a partner. When he and his wife, Ina, decided to move their family to the Northwest, he worked for a Salem architecture firm for a number of years. There he met Gene Bolante and together they decided to open Studio 3 Architecture, Inc., where he has continued to work for the last 23 years.

Leonard was a project architect with a broad range of experience in both large and small projects, with a specialty in construction technology and building material science.  He served as a project architect/manager in Salem, Oregon on projects ranging in size from minor remodels to full urban block redevelopment projects.

Some of Leonard’s most noteworthy projects include two Chemeketa Community College buildings, Emergency Services Classroom Building in Brooks, and Building 40 in Salem; as well as Oregon Realtors Building in Salem. Other community projects include Helping Hands Resources and Salem Evangelical Church Children’s Addition.

Leonard cared deeply about the American Institute of Architects (AIA). He volunteered as a Salem Chapter President for 3 years, before moving on to be the treasurer for AIA Oregon. After that he served as AIA Oregon’s president-elect and then as President. He helped to improve and grow AIA.                         

While Leonard spent a great deal of his early career working on designing buildings for public agencies and institutions, he also devoloped a number of special interests.  One of Leonard’s specialties is experience with solving building “envelope” (outside) problems in the extremes of the northeast Great Lakes climate, where he is from.  This knowledge serves also clients well in the wet, Northwest climate.

Leonard has distinguished himself by leading his profession on a statewide level and being engaged in many community and charitable activities.

The Studio 3 office will miss what they call his “Leonard-isms” - the quick-witted puns that he is always able to come up with. In retirement, Leonard plans to travel, spend time with his family and enjoy a good beer.

Studio 3 will be having a retirement party for Leonard on December 7th from 4-7pm at Studio 3 Architecture. All are welcome!

2023 Professional Achievement Award Winners Announced

The Professional Achievement Awards celebrate and recognize achievement at all levels of the profession within our community. The objective is to promote engagement within the chapter and recognize valuable contributions of members who are serving the community and proactively improving the architecture profession.

The AIA Oregon Executive Committee selected 2 Professional Achievement Awards from those nominated.

Young Architect Award - NICOLE BECKER, AIA

With her enthusiastic and unwavering foresight, Nicole has provided countless volunteer hours at this early stage of her career to encourage, educate and elevate the next generation of architects in Oregon and beyond. Representing AIA Oregon as the state representative to the Young Architects’ Forum, and leading the AIA Oregon Emerging Professionals Committee, she has fostered a culture of inclusion, collaboration, mentorship, and vision. The Pacific Northwest has a better built environment through her architectural practice and dedicated service.

Our 2023 Young Architect Honoree is an Associate and Project Architect at ZGF Architects in Portland, OR. The dichotomy between the natural and built environments has always inspired her to seek out challenges in both arenas as she strives to make a more holistic impact on people and planet. In just six years in the profession, she has served in numerous capacities for the AIA, NAAB, and NCARB; including currently as Oregon’s State Representative to the Young Architects Forum. In 2022, she was named an Associate at ZGF after just a year with the firm. She is equally passionate about advocating for the next generation of designers as she is about mentoring the next generation of mountaineers. Outside of architecture, she is an avid dog lover and accomplished mountaineer who volunteers her time rescuing senior dogs and training, educating, and leading alpinists with a focus on gender equality in the mountains.

Congratulations to NICOLE BECKER recipient of the 2023 Young Architect Award!

President’s Award - JAY RASKIN, FAIA

For his outstanding service to the chapter as a volunteer and vital member of the AIA Oregon Legislative Committee, where he has brought his understanding of sustainability, resiliency, disaster response, and historic preservation to affect Oregon State Law and Administration. His dedication to the safety and security of Oregonians in the event of earthquake and tsumani have left us all better protected. We are truly grateful for his thoughtful preparedness.

Our 2023 President’s Award winner is a citizen architect, who has woven the threads of disaster response and architectural practice, planning for disaster recovery, historic preservation, and sustainability with a vision for community resilience. He has expanded his understanding and influence in resiliency planning as an elected official in Cannon Beach and further impacted Oregon through his involvement in the development of the Oregon Resiliency Plan. He can be relied on as an advocate for the profession and participates with the AIAO legislative committee. He helped to establish national standards as the chair of the National Institute of Standards & Technology’s (NIST) Community Resilience Panel which was tasked with the mission to reduce barriers to achieving community resilience.

Through his leadership and tireless efforts, AIA Oregon led the effort to create the position of State Resilience Officer for Oregon. In this process he has been the face of our profession to the legislature and state agencies, prodding and educating them into awareness, writing the planning documents, and enabling legislation that has created action and results – while also enhancing the public perception of architects.

Congratulations to JAY RASKIN, recipient of the 2023 AIA Oregon President’s Award!