Hannah Rusnac Receives DJC Oregon Phenoms & Icons Award
We are thrilled to announce that Hannah Rusnac has been named a 2024 Phenom Awardee from DJC Oregon! This award is part of DJC Oregon’s annual Phenoms & Icons Award, which honors rising stars of the industry (phenoms) as well as established leaders who have made an impact on our region (icons). We are so proud to celebrate this award—a result of Hannah’s talent and dedication to her craft.
East County Library
Hannah joined Holst in 2021 and has become an integral part of our team. A multidisciplinary designer passionate about creating sustainable and supportive spaces, she has worked on Multnomah County Library’s East County Library since spring 2022. The 95,000 square foot building, located in Gresham, Oregon, will create a new community landmark for learning, creation, play, and connection. The mass timber structure prioritizes connection to nature through materiality, ample natural light, and native landscaping.
Hannah's Role as Job Captain
As Job Captain, Hannah has been instrumental to the project, playing a key role in the design and coordination of special spaces including the maker space, flex rooms, the A/V studio, and the auditorium. Her passion for sustainability is ingrained in her work on the library, collaborating with consultants to pursue photovoltaics, radiant flooring, healthy materials, and LEED certification.
Hannah has an effortless ability to integrate feedback from the library user group and greater community into usable, compelling design solutions.— Holst Colleague
Street Roots
Hannah worked on Holst’s pro-bono efforts to design and renovate the new offices for Street Roots, a local social justice newspaper sold by people experiencing homelessness and poverty to earn an income. Located in Portland’s historic Old Town neighborhood, the new headquarters for Street Roots gives them the flexibility needed to continue to grow and increase support for their vendors.
Energy Trust of Oregon Research Grant
In 2022, Holst received a grant from the Energy Trust of Oregon to study operational and embodied carbon in multifamily housing. Given Hannah’s knowledge of sustainability as a Certified Passive House Consultant and her background in graduate-level research, Hannah’s deep knowledge of building science and energy modeling made her the perfect person to lead this research. She and the Holst team studied eight multifamily buildings across the Pacific Northwest. She has since presented the research and findings at several events, giving designers and building development teams lessons learned to support net-zero carbon buildings in new multifamily projects.
Hannah's Promotion
In April 2024, Hannah was promoted to Associate for her leadership in the office and the positive environment she creates on project teams. One of her colleagues stated, “Hannah’s work ethic, design acumen, and positive demeanor are a consistent source of inspiration to me. Clients trust her, contractors enjoy collaborating with her, and consultants appreciate her organization, vision, and clear communication. Hannah is an all-star talent, and I am so glad I get to work with her every day.”
Congrats on this award, Hannah! We are excited to see your continued leadership and growth in the industry.
