Highlights of 2023, Welcoming 2024
Achieving B Corp Certification
In May 2023, Holst became a certified B Corp, which designates that our firm meets high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency on factors such as diversity and inclusion, employee benefits, community giving, sustainable operations, and design practices.
Recertifying as a JUST Organization
In 2018, Holst obtained JUST Certification from the International Living Future Institute. We have since re-certified twice to JUST 2.0. The certification is a a corporate transparency tool that evaluates organizations through a social justice and equity lens.
Offering Complimentary Inclusive Design Courses
Hannah Silver, Holst’s Inclusive Design Facilitator, is a passionate educator. She has developed complimentary learning opportunities for staff, clients, and community organizations covering a wide range of critical design justice topics. Reach out if you’d like to learn more about the course offerings or schedule a free learning session!
Signing the NOMA Call to Action Pledge
In 2023, Holst signed the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) Call to Action Pledge. The Pledge and the fulfillment of its commitments helps lay the foundation for the reconstruction of a truly unified and anti-racist A/E/C community and serves as a guideline for firms to evaluate practices of supporting, recruiting, retaining, and promoting BIPOC individuals.
Energy Trust of Oregon Research Grant | Carbon Crossroads
In 2023, Holst conducted a research study funded by the Energy Trust of Oregon Net Zero Fellowship on the results of whole life carbon analysis of eight multifamily buildings in the Pacific Northwest. The research provides designers and building development teams with embodied and operational carbon assessments of local projects to identify trends and lessons learned that support net-zero carbon buildings in new multifamily projects.
Conferences & Speaking Engagements
- Housing Oregon Conference: Maggie Harris and Cory Hawbecker presented “Post Occupancy Evaluations in New Affordable Housing”
- NOMA National Conference: Athena Rilatos (PLACE), Danae Sakuma (Hennebery Eddy), and Hannah Silver (Holst) presented “Decolonizing Pacific Northwest Architecture”
- NOMA National Conference: Monse Fonseca and Hannah Silver presented “Eight Ways to Design for Disabled Joy” in a virtual asynchronous course.
- AIA Seattle’s ‘Housing Now!’ Forum: Dave Otte presented “Argyle Gardens and the Triple Bottom Line: Equity, Efficiency, and the Environment”
- Energy Trust of Oregon Research Grant Presentations: Hannah Rusnac, Cory Hawbecker, and Ben Ott presented “Carbon Crossroads” in Bend, OR; Medford, OR; and a Virtual Session.
- AIA Oregon Digital Design Series: Kevin Valk and Mark Schmidt presented the Seaside Civic & Convention Center and Renée Strand and Lee Shradar presented Hearth.
Award Juries
Design Museum Magazine Feature
December 2023 brought the Inclusive Design issue of Design Museum Magazine. It features a Holst article entitled “How can we Design for Disabled Joy?” that shares practices that go beyond basic access, creating spaces that foster joy for our neurodiverse and disabled communities.
Pickathon Art Installation
In August, Holst designed and installed our interactive art concept for the Grove Neighborhood at the Pickathon Music Festival. The design is based on string theory, wherein the basic building blocks of the universe are not point-like particles but tiny, vibrating “strings” that give rise to all particles and forces in the universe. Our goal was to illuminate these vibrating “strings” to enhance and reinforce the natural spaces and forces that exist, while providing a greater dimension to the experience.
City of Seattle Mass Timber Incubator
In December, Holst joined the City of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development (OED) as a consultant to provide facilitation and capacity-building services to create a Mass Timber incubator nonprofit. This project is being led by Erica Spiritos, a Portland-based mass timber expert and sustainable business visionary. Holst’s Inclusive Design Facilitator, Hannah Silver, will coordinate and facilitate five workshops with partners from within the Mass Timber and A/E/C community in general, higher education and community colleges, Tribal government, organized labor, disadvantaged and displaced communities, public agencies, and other key communities and essential businesses. The group will develop organizational policies and strategies, assist in the creation of the mechanism for receiving future funding, and identify key partnerships with the ultimate goal of beginning a functional center of activity for Mass Timber in Seattle.
Awards
Fora Health
2023 AIA National Healthcare Award
Argyle Gardens
2023 AIA National Housing Award
Jigme Singye Wangchuck School of Law Library
2023 AIA Oregon Design Merit Award
The Nick Fish
2023 AIA Oregon Design Merit Award
Street Roots
2023 Historic Landmarks Commission Project of the Year
Brittany Shreiner
2023 DJC Women of Vision Honoree
Holst named #14 on Oregon Business’ 2023 100 Best Companies to Work for in Oregon
Staff Roles in Community & Civic Organizations
Maggie Harris Joins the State of Oregon Housing Stability Council
In October, the Governor’s office nominated Maggie Harris to serve on the Oregon Housing Stability Council, and the Oregon State Senate confirmed and appointed her to the position. The council’s mission is to provide leadership in, and review and set policy for, the development and financing of affordable housing throughout the state of Oregon.
Boards & Committees
Promotions
Office Culture
Grand Openings
Ninebark | Opened Spring 2023
Designed for Killian Pacific, Ninebark is located along the Columbia River in Washougal is officially complete! Ninebark’s eight market-rate residential buildings and a clubhouse are woven into the nine-acre site with a public waterfront park and nature-oriented open spaces, providing abundant space to work, rest, eat, play, and gather.
The Aurora | Opened Summer 2023
Designed for Our Just Future, The Aurora opened summer 2023, providing 93 one-, two-, and three-bedroom units of affordable housing. Located on the corner of 160th and Stark Street in East Portland on a dedicated Civic Corridor, the five-story building features thoughtful amenities including a large, flexible community room, oversized laundry room, and indoor/outdoor playroom focus on the needs of families.
2023 Groundbreakings
2024 is Looking Bright
As 2024 kicks off, we are thrilled to have several important projects already underway, ranging from nonprofit headquarters to a flagship library, as well as recovery centers and affordable and market rate housing developments that are pushing the envelope in sustainability and inclusive design. Some are with valued long-time partners while others have given us the opportunity to form new relationships. We are beyond excited to see these projects shape cities across the PNW.
