WORKS Architecture

Portland-based freelance journalist, critic, and photographer Brian Libby recently sat down with Carrie Strickland, Founding Principal of WORKS Architecture, to reflect on the firm’s achievements over the past 20 years.?Their conversation explored the evolution of WORKS, surfing, and the visionary projects that continue to shape its legacy. You can read the full article in his Portland Architecture column in Business Tribune.

Today, we are putting the spotlight on WORKS Architecture and founder Carrie Strickland, FAIA as they celebrate an extraordinary milestone—20 years of innovation, dedication, and success! WORKS Architecture is an awarding winning firm that pushes the boundaries of conventional architecture with collaborative innovation.?Based in Portland, Oregon, they expanded their reach by launching a second office in Los Angeles.?We have been fortunate enough to share in their journey from the beginning and couldn’t be prouder of what they have accomplished over the years. Recently we were there to help them celebrate during an unforgettable night of drinks, music, and stories honoring two decades of bold design and fearless innovation. It’s been a privilege to support them over the years, and we deeply appreciate their trust in us. We can’t wait to see what the next 20 years bring!?

WORKS Architecture was built on vision, creativity, and the willingness to take risks. Twenty years of bold design, pushing boundaries and creating - together.

The Pearl is in for permit! This existing three-story Georgian structure was built in 1936 as the Montgomery Ward Department Store and is situated along Elm Street in the Downtown Greensboro Historic District. After sitting vacant for nearly 40 years, Triad Stage purchased the building and renovated it into The Pyrle Theater, a regional performance space that was open from 2002 - 2023. The re-development team wanted to keep the spirit of performance alive in downtown Greensboro by opening a live music venue. The design concept modifies the existing theater into a flexible event space that hosts live music performances in the main performance hall, while the lobby is retrofitted with a new bar that can be utilized in conjunction with or in lieu of a live act. An additional bar will be added to the basement so guests at any level can grab a drink without missing the show. Updates to the main performance hall include adding two VIP boxes at the mezzanine level plus increasing the amount of standing room along the seating mix and GA floor. Unique feature lighting will be installed above the catwalk adding to the modern ambiance. Updated interior designs throughout feature dark velvet and wood elements, elevating the historic building for a polished nightlife experience.

2024 was a year that tested us in ways we couldn’t have imagined. It brought its share of challenges, but it also gave us silver linings that kept us moving forward. As the year wraps up, we're thrilled to announce that two of our largest and most anticipated multifamily projects in Southern California, Quince and Sepulveda, are officially breaking ground! Quince, located in San Diego’s Bankers Hill neighborhood and on the edge of Maple Canyon, is an award-winning 17-story tower that extends the canyon’s lush landscaping upwards to active outdoor areas throughout the building. The live feed construction camera is linked below. Sepulveda is a mid-century inspired 405-unit apartment complex coming to the Van Nuys neighborhood in Northwest Los Angeles. These milestones mark not just the start of construction but the continuation of our journey to shape meaningful places. We’re incredibly proud of our team and the collaborators who have made this moment possible. Stay tuned as we share progress updates, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and stories from the journey ahead. Happy New Year! https://lnkd.in/g7EUvapZ

Another Shortstack in the works!

Excited to see this first ALUM kick into gear. This concept is brilliant and we are happy to along for the ride and bringing unique and elevated rooms and clubs spaces to football fans around the country. @alumclubs @worksarchitecture.

Another Shortstack broke ground this week! Milwaukie's newest cottage cluster will feature 15 new 2-story, for-sale units, situated around a common yard. This Missing Middle typology offers a sense of community for future residents with covered porches that face the shared greenspace. The project was designed for women-led development team, Shortstack Housing . ? You can read more about the project in DJC Oregon?here.

Construction at Shortstack Mississippi is full speed ahead! Utilizing a hybrid system of panelized, wood-framed walls paired with Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) has contributed to its rapid pace. In just 13 short months, 36 new multifamily units will be brought to North Portland’s historic Mississippi District. Founded by Jessy Ledesma and Anna Mackay, Shortstack Housing provides scalable solutions to middle housing development through prefabricated, mass-timber construction that is customizable to the needs of each infill site. Depending on the lot size, zoning, and community context, Shortstack can shrink and grow to deliver responsive housing as quickly as possible, with a focus on “missing middle”-scale infill development.

The Los Angeles Arts District's first high rise, Alloy, is nearly complete. The new 35-story tower will bring 475 live/work apartments, 127,000 square feet of office space, and approximately 18,000 square feet of street-level shops and restaurants. You can read more about its feature in Urbanize LA?here.