Holst 25
2017 marks the 25th anniversary of Holst Architecture. In 1992, John Holmes and Jeff Stuhr joined forces (and names) to create Holst. What started in an attic with a couple of drafting boards and a Macintosh computer has grown into a dynamic studio of 37 talented professionals in Portland’s Central Eastside. During this time, Holst has received over 50 national, regional, and local awards for projects that have helped define the modern landscape of Oregon.
The last 25 years have been filled with hundreds of successful projects that have challenged us and honed our practice. With this milestone comes new opportunities as we chart the next generation. Beginning January 2017, Holst Architecture will be owned by Kim Wilson, Kevin Valk, Dave Otte, and Renée Strand. With over 54 years of combined experience at Holst, these four partners have been integral to our culture and our success.
A consistent ingredient to this success has been our great clients that are eager to explore architectural possibility with us. Combining modernism based on the experience of space with pragmatic approaches to budgets, construction details, and sustainable technologies, Holst has designed some of Portland’s most transformative projects including:
1998 > Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA) marked the first major commission for Holst, proving that great design can be delivered with modest budgets and tight timelines.
2000 > The Jean Vollum Natural Capital Center for Ecotrust culminated Holst’s early portfolio of creative adaptive-reuse projects by being the first LEED Gold historic renovation in the nation.
2005 > The Belmont Lofts set the bar for beautiful multi-family development, ushering in a new generation of density and urban living on Portland’s east side.
2008 > Hotel Modera transformed a tired motor lodge into a boutique destination in the heart of Downtown Portland by creating a courtyard out of a parking lot and bringing the modern building’s bones back to life.
2009 > Ziba Headquarters showed what can happen when Holst designs for designers. The result is a simple and elegant home for one of Oregon’s great creative agencies.
2011 > Bud Clark Commons tested new ideas to combat homelessness with a landmark building including comprehensive social services, shelter, and deeply affordable housing in a highly sustainable way.
2013 > Karuna House pushed the limits of residential construction to maximize energy efficiency in a beautifully passive home that creates more electricity than it uses.
2015 > One North opened on Vancouver/Williams as a mixed-use hub for creativity and community, proving that striking modern design and low-carbon strategies can be delivered with a market-rate project.
2016 > Open School East marked a change in the air in the Rockwood neighborhood of Gresham, where struggling kids can reengage with academics and the community in a flexible and inspiring environment adjacent to the future Boys and Girls club coming in 2017, also designed by Holst.
Looking forward, Holst is excited for upcoming projects including a wide variety of mixed-use buildings in Oregon and Idaho, educational projects, commercial and hospitality spaces throughout the Pacific Northwest, and affordable housing and nonprofit projects in Portland. As the new partners of Holst, Kim, Kevin, Dave, and Renée are excited to keep working with our talented team devoted to creating architecture that our clients love.
