WAECHTER ARCHITECTURE



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We have a passion for clarity—transforming complex conditions into spaces of elemental beauty and enduring value.

We work with our clients and partners to solve problems, reveal insights, and create inviting architecture for every place and purpose.

WAECHTER ARCHITECTURE


Our Studio







Established in 2008, Waechter Architecture (WA) is a full-service architecture, planning, and design firm with a growing and critically-acclaimed body of work across a wide range of scales and project types.

Our inclusive design approach levels the playing field and invites everyone to share in a deeper understanding of the art of building. We work closely with all stakeholders to identify essential needs, uncover insights, and forge a vision that will lead to enduring and responsive solutions. More than anything, we learn from each other as we strive to build a culture that celebrates diverse voices, and that sees our clients and communities as equal partners in the design process. We stay open to new ideas and feedback while being decisive, pragmatic, economical, and action-oriented.

Waechter’s work and design ethos is increasingly felt across our region and nationwide: In 2019, the Architecture League of New York recognized the firm with its Emerging Voices Award, and in 2022, Waechter Architecture received the prestigious Firm Award from AIA Northwest & Pacific Region. The award is in recognition of our design leadership, inclusive culture, and engagement in pressing issues, from the need to create more sustainable and resilient architecture, to the call to ensure that the benefits of good design and placemaking are accessible to all.


Waechter Architecture is a COBID-certified Emerging Small Business (ESB) in the State of Oregon. We currently hold professional licenses in the states of Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho, Michigan, and North Carolina, and are willing to be registered in any state or jurisdiction to support our clients and the communities they serve.

Awards


Winner
Residential Design Award - First Prize

Project: Meadow House


Winner
Architizer-La Cantina Awards - Grand Prize

Project: Society Hotel


Finalist
Gray Award Magazine, Wild Card Categor
y
Project: Hopscotch


Honor Award
Fast Company - Innovation By Design
Project: Mississippi Workshop


Honor Award
Chicago Athenaeum American Architecture Award
Project: Mississippi Workshop


Winner
Portland Business Journal, Landmark Award

Project: Rockwood Village

Finalist
Affordable Housing Finance

Project: Rockwood Village

Winner
DJC Oregon - Affordable Housing 1st Place

Project: Rockwood Village

Winner
Wood Works National Design Award
Project: Mississippi Workshop
 

Winner
Gray Award Magazine, Design For Good Category
Project: Mississippi Workshop

Finalist
Gray Award Magazine, Design For Good Category
Project: Rockwood Village

Firm Award, Small Category
AIA Northwest & Pacific Region

Honorable Mention
AIA Northwest & Pacific Design Awards
Project: Mississippi

Merit Award
AIA Northwest & Pacific Design Awards
Project: Meadow House

Recipient FAIA
Ben Waechter

Winner
Gray Awards, Commercial Architecture Category
Project: Blu Dot 

Finalist
Architizer A+ Awards
Project: The Society Hotel Bingen

Design Excellence Award
(in collaboration with Jones Architecture)
Portland Design Commission
Project: Northbound 30

Editors Pick
Gray Awards
Project: The Society Hotel Bingen

Winner
Architects Newspaper Best of Design Awards
Commercial Hospitality Category
Project: The Society Hotel Bingen

Honorable Mention
Architects Newspaper Best of Design Awards
Retail and Mixed-Use Commercial
Project: Blu Dot

Honor Award
AIA Oregon Architecture Awards
Project: The Society Hotel Bingen

Merit Award
AIA Oregon Architecture Awards
Project: Origami

Merit Award
AIA NW & Pacific Region Awards
Project: Blu Dot


Merit Award
AIA NW & Pacific Region Awards
Project: Origami


Commercial - Hospitality Architecture Award
The Architect's Newspaper Best of Design Awards
Project: Furioso Vineyards


Housing - Multi Family Honorable Mention
The Architect's Newspaper Best of Design Awards
Project: Origami


Commercial Architecture Award
Gray Magazine Awards
Project: Furioso Vineyards

The American Architecture Award
The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design
Project: Furioso Vineyards

Emerging Voices Award
The Architectural League of New York

Honor Award
AIA NW & Pacific Region Awards
Project: Furioso Vineyards

Honor Award
AIA NW & Pacific Region Awards
Project: Milwaukie Way

Honor Award
AIA Portland Awards
Project: Furioso Vineyards

Merit Award
AIA Portland Awards
Project: Slender House


Citation Award
AIA Portland Awards
Project: The Society Hotel Bingen


Design Vanguard
Architectural Record

Residential Architect Design Award
Architect Magazine
Project: Tower House


Merit Award
AIA Portland Awards
Project: Oakley House


Merit Award
AIA Portland Awards
Project: Pavilion House


Citation Award
AIA Portland Award
Project: Sawtooth


Citation Award

AIA Portland Awards
Project: Red House

Citation Award
AIA NW & Pacific Region Awards
Project: Pavilion House

Honor Award
AIA Portland Awards
Project: Garden House

International Special Mention Award
Architizer A+ Awards
Project: Tower House

Citation Award
AIA NW & Pacific Region Awards
Project: Tower House

Merit Award
Custom Home Magazine
Project: Oakley House

Honor Award
AIA Portland Awards
Project: J-Tea



Lectures



Upcoming / Available for Download:

Designing and Constructing the All-Wood Building
Think Wood / SLB / USDA Webinar (link)


Alaska Design Forum - Ben Waechter
November 4-6, 2024



Past:

AIA Iowa Keynote Speaker - Ben Waechter
September 24, 2024

Year-End Symposium at Miller Hull Partnership
with Christopher Hawthorne, Walter Hood & David Baker
San Diego, CA
December 2022


University of Miami School of Architecture
Symposium: Mass Timber, So What Now?
"The Case for All-Wood" Lecture
April 2022

Woodbury University
"Clarity" Lecture
March 2022

AIA Idaho Awards Juror and Speaker
"Clarity" Lecture
September 2021

AIA Nebraska Awards Juror and Speaker
"Clarity" Lecture
September 2021

Portland CSI
Regionalism Speaker
March 2021





University of Nebraska
SCH + Dri-Design Student Competition Juror
April 2019

The Architectural League of New York
Emerging Voices Lecture Series
"Clarity" Lecture, March 2019

University of Washington
Department of Architecture
"Clarity" Lecture
Nov 2018

AIA Florida, Sarasota Design Conference
"Making Architecture"
Exhibition
May 2018
AIA Florida, Sarasota Design Conference
Featured Speaker
May 2018

AIA Arkansas Design Conference
Featured Speaker
October 2017

Portland State University, School of Architecture
"Clarity" Lecture
January 2017




Events


Past Events:

Portland Winter Light Festival
With: GoodBeast
February 2-10 2024


SELA Series

With: The UPRISE Collective
November 2-16, 2023


Courtyard Concert

With: Stephanie Schneid & Tony Furtado
July 8, 2023


Courtyard Concert

With: “Cyane Sheers”
June 24, 2023


Courtyard Concert

Third Angle Music presents: Bora Yoon
June 15, 2023


Timber Talk: Designing the Forest
With Lindsey Wikstrom
March 2023

Timber Talk
With Laila Seewang, Jon Heppner, Mark Fretz, Ben Janes, Samuel Wylie
February 2023


Courtyard Concert
With: “Portland Sacred Harp”
October 2022

Courtyard Concert: Beacon Sound
With: “Strategy”, “Location Services”, “Brianna Sas”
October 2022

Waechter Summer Party
Public opening of the Mississippi Building
July 2022