Architecture Foundation of Oregon

Architecture Foundation of Oregon The Architecture Foundation of Oregon educates and inspires Oregonians of all ages and backgrounds to engage in the design of our built environment.

Design can be nearly invisible yet it has considerable impact on our everyday lives. AFO helps people connect to design and the ways in which it shapes their lives and their communities.

Join in on the excitement with architecture writer Brian Libby as he unveils his new book, In Search of Portland: Explor...
09/03/2026

Join in on the excitement with architecture writer Brian Libby as he unveils his new book, In Search of Portland: Exploring a Transforming City.

He’ll take you on a little walking tour of a section of downtown, culminating on the rooftop deck of ZGF. Enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres as Brian “reveals the stories behind the built landscape, the people, and the history that have created modern Portland.” Attendees will have the opportunity to purchase a signed copy of the book.

Hosted by ZGF Architects.

Wednesday, September 16
5:00-7:00pm
ZGF Architects, Portland

Register: https://conta.cc/4i5BoEV

Our summer Dine & Design event series is a fundraiser benefitting AFO programming, including Architects in Schools and AFO Scholarships.

Jerry Waters (1969-2021) believed that to truly understand something, you need to experience it. And so, with the VEB Fe...
09/02/2026

Jerry Waters (1969-2021) believed that to truly understand something, you need to experience it. And so, with the VEB Fellowship, he traveled internationally to study three educational pedagogies: the Montessori, the Reggio Emelia and the Finnish approach. His research focused on how these educational philosophies demand architecture with greater spatial complexity.

"My education instilled in me the principle: if you want to study a concept or learn about architecture of substance, go to the source. Architecture, by nature, is a cultural, spatial and temporal medium best understood through personal experience."

With his journalism expertise and the help of the VEB Fellowship, Randy launched a year-long series on architecture for ...
08/31/2026

With his journalism expertise and the help of the VEB Fellowship, Randy launched a year-long series on architecture for State of Wonder on OPB Radio. Each month he introduced conversations about design in our rapidly changing city, bringing architecture and urban design into Oregon’s mainstream media.

“The fellowship allowed me to try my hand — er, voice — at radio. I learned a lot about audio, writing to be heard, and, above all, brevity and language.”

You can listen to all of Randy’s episodes on OPB:
https://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/architecture-design-randy-gragg-columnist/

As we get ready to kick off another season of Architects in Schools, we are reminiscing on our annual Creative Spark eve...
08/27/2026

As we get ready to kick off another season of Architects in Schools, we are reminiscing on our annual Creative Spark event – a time when we celebrate AiS alongside some friendly competition! Swipe to see our design competition entries and awards designated by a panel of AiS elementary student judges!

Inspired by the idea of being “In Motion”, this year’s design challenge was to create a model of a space or feature that plays on the idea of movement, sited at Mount Tabor Park in SE Portland. Our incredible design teams stepped up to the challenge to create truly unique, kid-friendly designs.

Architects in Schools is all about introducing youth to the power and possibilities of design while connecting AEC professionals to the communities they are designing and building for. Creative Spark is a chance to celebrate this, and we hope you will join us for another season of spreading free design education across the state!

Huge thank you to our host and event sponsor, DLR Group, and our program sponsor, PCL Construction, for helping us bring this event to life.

We’re celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Van Evera Bailey Fellowship this year and are pleased to showcase this str...
08/26/2026

We’re celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Van Evera Bailey Fellowship this year and are pleased to showcase this striking home designed by the fellowship’s namesake in 1962.

Built for the Pfahl family, the home was created with maximized viewing of the distant mountains in mind, utilizing careful siting and window placement. On the outside, it is surrounded by the terraced work of Barbara Fealy, a renowned mid-century landscape architect who worked closely with many architects of Northwest Regional Modernism. Tour this Northwest gem and enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres with owners Mike and Mac.

Hosted by Michael Hanauska, Mac Teer, and Scott Edwards Architecture.

Monday, September 14
5:00-7:00pm
Pfahl House, West Linn

Register: https://conta.cc/4g7flMC

Our summer Dine & Design event series is a fundraiser benefitting AFO programming, including Architects in Schools and AFO Scholarships.

Jeff used his VEB Fellowship to travel to renowned light festivals across Europe, explore how cities around the world ac...
08/24/2026

Jeff used his VEB Fellowship to travel to renowned light festivals across Europe, explore how cities around the world activate public spaces after dark, and bring those lessons back to Portland. The result: the founding of the Portland Winter Light Festival, which has grown into a beloved annual event that transforms dark, winter nights into celebrations of art, community, and creativity.

“The Fellowship gave me an opportunity to not only experience light festivals in poor weather locations, but afforded me the opportunity to interview those festival's organizers. I was able to be a better collaborator with our light festival team because I could better understand and communicate the infrastructure, organization, and financial realities that were required for what would become the Portland Winter Light Festival.”

PDXWLF Photos by Eddy Nunez

Help Diversity in Design, AFO, and COMMA build a more diverse and inclusive design field!When you sponsor or donate to F...
08/20/2026

Help Diversity in Design, AFO, and COMMA build a more diverse and inclusive design field!

When you sponsor or donate to Formation, you’re investing in our local design community as well as thoughtful mentorship, student stipends, community events, and the behind-the-scenes magic that makes our program thrive.

Sponsor benefits include:
✅ Access to recruitment of top diverse talent
✅ Boost your DEI impact and increase your corporate social responsibility metrics
✅ Brand visibility + event perks
✅ Support the next generation of designers shaping our communities

Let’s build a stronger, more diverse and inclusive design industry, together.

Sponsor/Donate: https://conta.cc/4y0cpZ4

A special thank you to our 2025-26 program sponsors: FFA Architecture + Interiors, Instrument, Mahlum Architects, MWA Architects, Rowell Brokaw Architects, BPN Inc., and PSU Schnitzer School of Art + Art History + Design.

Join AFO and AIA for a work session to inspire firms and professionals to take concrete action toward supporting pathway...
08/19/2026

Join AFO and AIA for a work session to inspire firms and professionals to take concrete action toward supporting pathways into architecture, engineering, and construction fields!

What to expect:
➡️ Chris Brida, Director of Career + Technical Education at Portland Public Schools, will lead a fast-moving interactive experience to discover why industry participation in CTE is essential to developing a more skilled, curious, and diverse talent pathway.
➡️ Emerging professional Evon Calabrese, Healthcare Designer at NBBJ, will share the key moments that influenced her pathway to the AEC industry.
➡️ Peer firm leaders will lead breakout sessions on three different topics: Policy, Culture, Action!

This session is for AEC firm leaders, changemakers, current and prospective volunteers, and anyone passionate about increasing student access to design and building fields.

The goal of this event is for AEC professionals to walk away with tools and resources to define or strengthen your approach, from policy to culture to structured programs. We believe that every firm can develop a civic-minded professional culture to strengthen our communities and meet the demand for volunteering, funding, and mentoring.

Wednesday, September 9
5:00-7:30pm
Mahlum Architects, Portland
Free to attend

Register now: https://conta.cc/45uKIuj

Joseph used his fellowship to explore urban vibrancy and street vitality. His research reinforces the idea that a succes...
08/17/2026

Joseph used his fellowship to explore urban vibrancy and street vitality. His research reinforces the idea that a successful public realm cannot rely on buildings alone. The spaces between—the streets—are what bring our cities to life.

He used his fellowship to “make me a better design professional and a more effective teacher.”

Address

111 SW 5th Avenue , Suite 2600
Portland, OR
97204

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+15035423825

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