ARCHITECTURE BUILDING CULTURE is a holistic architecture practice that sees its
fundamental role as one of reflecting, supporting, uplifting and, in many
cases, transforming the culture contained within its designs. To that end, we
are committed to a collaborative and integrative process that considers the
story of a building, its occupants and their activities as one and integral to
the community it represents.
PROFILE:
ARCHITECTURE BUILDING CULTURE (ABC) is a design focused firm practicing contemporary
architecture and urbanism offering a full range of professional services. ABC
has offices in Portland, Oregon and West Vancouver, British Columbia. ABC’s
expertise encompasses a wide array of building types including cultural, civic,
commercial, educational, multi and single-family housing, and hospitality.
We
believe that collaboration is an essential driver of [good] design. Different
points of view and expertise enrich a project’s depth, performance, and
cultural relevance. Collaboration broadens the intellectual knowledge base
available to a project team and ensures a streamlined development and
distribution of that knowledge throughout the entire process. To facilitate
this commitment, ABC has forged alliances with industry thought-leaders
throughout North America and abroad in order to bring coordinated expertise to
our planning and design work.
We
view design, not as a noun, but as a verb… a process. Design is a way of
thinking; it is multi-disciplinary; it solves problems by building-up ideas; it
engages the public imagination; it is catalytic by nature. Good design can
change the world.
Current
work includes various projects in Canada, the United States, and Fiji including
a new meeting and reception facility for the Lubavitch Foundation of British
Columbia, a facility needs assessment for the San Francisco Film Museum, which
will be part of San Francisco’s Mid-Market Redevelopment Project, a new event
center for a winery in southern Oregon, and a new spa for a resort in Fiji.
In
addition, ABC serves as a Design Advocate for THE 1%, a program of the San
Francisco based nonprofit, Public Architecture that connects nonprofits with
architecture and design firms willing to give of their time pro bono. Design
Advocate firms are selected in recognition of their exemplary public service,
leadership in the pro bono movement, and track record of design excellence.
ABC
and its principles, Brian Cavanaugh and Mark Ritchie, have won numerous design
awards – including local and state design awards from the American Institute of
Architects - and been published throughout the world. Most recently, ABC was awarded a 2011 AIA
Portland Design Award for the Lubavitch Center of British Columbia, and Brian
Cavanaugh received a 2012 Young Architects Award from the American Institute of
Architects.