Attention to craft and beauty is elemental to the ZGF culture. A deep respect for the built environment evolved from reverence for the surrounding natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest landscape and a commitment to stewardship of the natural environment. Rather than reflecting a signature style, our work is derived from the particulars of the climate, context, and the human experience. The instinct to build community, making places where people come together for a common purpose, is central to our work.
Evolving from a single office in Oregon to a firm with seven offices across North America and 750+ staff, ZGF's national reputation was honored with the American Institute of Architects' Architecture Firm Award, recognizing the firm’s “high standards, humanistic concerns, and unique ability to capture the spirit of a place and the aspirations of its inhabitants.”
Today ZGF is an industry leader in sustainable and regenerative design. We embraced sustainable design as a core value long before “green” or “LEED” became common phrases. Our applied research and learnings allow us to invent new approaches that address urgent climate challenges in complex building types including laboratories, hospitals, learning spaces at colleges and universities, and corporate headquarters.