Insights

Portland Business Journal: Portland’s SERA Takes Design Honors with Net Zero ‘Flourish’ (Photos)

A Portland architecture firm has earned a nod from a competition to design projects that produce no new waste. SERA Architects won special recognition in the fourth annual Architecture at Zero competition. For its 2014 edition, Architecture at Zero challenged participants to design an affordable housing project for an existing lot in Oakland, California.

a photo of the CLSB atrium with a LEED Platinum logo

Rethinking LEED with the Collaborative Life Sciences Building

by | December 4, 2014 0 Architecture, Sustainability

When California-based CO Architects paired with SERA on the OUS/OHSU Collaborative Life Sciences Building and OHSU Skourtes Tower, they sought the sustainable design expertise and project management behind a growing portfolio of built LEED projects. Fast forward to last October and the U.S. Green Building Council certifies CLSB as LEED-NC 2009 Platinum. As one of only […]

Competition Drives SERA to Net Positive

by | November 21, 2014 2 Architecture, Ideas

Last month, a team at SERA finished the design of an apartment building that produces more energy than it requires. By using existing technology in an innovative way, they’ve created a model for future development they call Flourish. With all the hallmarks of a big firm project, Flourish is actually a submission for Architecture at Zero, an […]

Edith Green: Combining Sustainability with Award-Winning Design

by | November 12, 2014 0 Architecture, Sustainability

Last year, doors reopened at the Edith Green-Wendell Wyatt Federal building (EGWW) following an extensive redesign to bring efficiency, light and life back into the 40-year-old office tower. On Friday, at AIA Portland’s award celebration, the chapter recognized the building with both a Merit award for design and the 2030 Challenge Design Award for sustainability in the […]

A Waterfront Designed by Portlanders

A Recap of Our “Wishing for a Wonderful Waterfront” Discussion Earlier this month, we set out to reimagine our relationship with the Willamette River. During our Design Week Portland event, 75 people from around Portland weighed in on one question, “What makes for a wonderful Willamette?” Our expert panel helped by offering their perspective, ideas and even […]

Project Spotlight: Burnside 26

by | October 14, 2014 0 Architecture, Interior Design

Burnside 26 is located in the heart of Portland’s thriving eastside dining and imbibing hotspots. Within four blocks of this SERA project, patrons at Ken’s Artisan Pizza or Screen Door can be found lining up outside for a table. And it’s not for lack of competition – the other 62 restaurants in the small radius […]

Wading in the Willamette this Design Week

by | October 8, 2014 0 Ideas

Thanks to our panelists and everyone who came and shared their vision at our Design Week Portland discussion, Wishing for a Wonderful Waterfront. It was a hit! We’ll be presenting an analysis of the night’s forum here shortly, so stay tuned! Until then, check out photos from our event on Facebook.

A Story of Regeneration

by | May 29, 2014 0 Ideas

SERA’s own Kyle Emery recently presented at the AIA Oregon Design Conference. In a refreshing departure from architectural rhetoric, Kyle shared a personal experience about finding value where you least expect it. Worthy of noting is that his story was presented “The Moth” style, i.e. without any devices or reading. Check out Kyle’s complete story […]

Celebrating Our Sustainable Action by Enhancing Livability

As the thermometer jumps around between the 50 and 90 degree range, the sky fluctuates between skin frying warmth and dress drenching deluges, our minds begin to transcend our daily experiences and think forward to the summer, planning out all of the expeditions we’ll undertake.  It’s at this time of year that SERA puts together […]