Insights

Pairing with p:ear this Park(ing) Day

by | September 9, 2016 0 Ideas

UPDATE: For photos of the event, visit our Facebook page. On Friday, September 16, SERA staff will launch a temporary lounge outside of the nonprofit p:ear for this year’s Park(ing) Day. A standard 8-foot-by-20-foot parking spot on NW Flanders at 6th will be transformed from asphalt into a folding topography of seating, plants and grassy groundcover for […]

Design discussions: Making models

by | July 20, 2016 3 Ideas

Last week, in our latest session of DIG-IT (that’s Design Interest Group – Integrated Thursdays), we had a grand time discussing and trying our hand at model making! Today’s design professionals increasingly learn and work digitally. Computer modeling, rendering, and design are great for certain activities and generating data. But design isn’t always enhanced with a […]

Let’s Be Clear: A Brief Guide to Material Transparency

by | June 30, 2016 0 Ideas, Sustainability

Transparency is hot right now. And for good reason. Exciting new developments like the mindful MATERIALS Collaborative, which provide access to transparency information across a variety of manufacturers and products, are continuing to foster discussions between manufacturers and the design community. During this year’s Hospitality Design Expo, Alison Bane and I presented on Transparency as […]

Finding my Hygge at the Living Future Conference

by | June 23, 2016 10 Ideas

I recently attended a Living Future Conference workshop in Seattle where we explored the Danish concept of Hygge. To the Danish, Hygge (pronounced ‘Hue-gah’) can mean many things, including a calming environment, comfort, warmth, friends, home and nourishment. We were first introduced to this concept by leaving the busy behind – our bags, phones and […]

Product transparency: mindful MATERIALS

Many designers, and their clients, want to know the contents and potential hazards of the products we put into use every day. With today’s nationwide launch of mindful MATERIALS, what we put into our homes, schools and workplaces can be more transparent than ever. mindful MATERIALS is an initiative developed by the design industry to […]

SERA Cyclists Reach the Beach for the American Lung Association

by | May 24, 2016 7 Ideas

Last Saturday, team SERA Velo participated in Oregon’s annual Reach the Beach event and raised $1,698 for the American Lung Association. Our riders’ cumulative miles exceeded 1,600. Early starters in Beaverton were greeted with the traditionally coolish air and moist skies that signify spring in the Portland area. A few more riders joined the team […]

Honoring our founder Bing Sheldon

by | May 5, 2016 0 News + Announcements

By now, all of the city’s major publications have covered our founder’s passing with great deference. Portland City Hall even lowered their flag to the news of George “Bing” Sheldon’s passing on April 30. Mayor Charlie Hales called Bing “a man who foresaw, protected, and shaped the city we love.” His memorial is set for […]

How a design comes to be a building

by | April 28, 2016 3 Architecture

Despite what Howard Roark and Ted Mosby imply, most buildings are not the product of a sole architect’s vision at the drawing board. Rather, a design is created by the architectural team and engineers, who hand over the permitted documents to the contractor to build. This is how it’s planned, but what really goes on? […]

2016 AIA COTE Top Ten Plus winner

Edith Green – Wendell Wyatt receives AIA National’s highest sustainability honor

by | April 22, 2016 0 Architecture

This Earth Day, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) recognizes the Edith Green – Wendell Wyatt Federal Building with this year’s Committee on the Environment (COTE) Top Ten Plus Award for reaching impressive resource efficiency following its 2009-2013 sustainable modernization. Extensive aftercare studies show that the building at 1220 SW 3rd Ave. boasts 55% energy […]

Celebrating Sustainability in 2016

by | April 19, 2016 0 Ideas, Sustainability

Each year, we share the sustainability achievements of our projects and our office operations with the Sustainable Action Celebration. Clients and partners join SERA’s staff to celebrate that progress, and to take a look at our goals for the coming year. This year’s theme was Cross Pollination, where we explored our advancements studio-by-studio, from healthy […]