We’ve been watching in growing amazement as Jacky Grey and Alexis Thomas make short work of the complexities of our most significant projects. Each has a remarkable ability to stay pointed into the wind, focused on our clients, while project design challenges are transformed into beautiful, highly functional architecture. We have come to rely on their design and organizational skills and are looking forward to adding their energy and know how in our leadership group as our newest Associates.

Jacky has been instrumental in some of PIVOT’s recent complex projects including construction administration for the four concurrent projects with the Corvallis School District, the Douglas ESD renovation, the Yachats Fire Station, and a number of other fire districts. She has also been co-leading PIVOT’s internal Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts.

Her ability to guide clients through the initial vision of a project and then developing ideas into a cohesive, highly-functional design is something she takes pride in. Through her hands-on experience from more than 10 years as a contractor, Jacky has developed an astute sense of how to construct projects. Her insights into construction and strong communication skills allow her to build trust and rapport with contractors, consultants, and clients alike.

“I’m excited about this new role at PIVOT,” Jacky said. “What I love about PIVOT are the people and the places we help make. I am energized by the culture of learning and striving to make the world a better place around us: in our community, in our projects, and in our practice. Maya Angelou said it best: ‘Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better do better.’ ”

Jacky joined PIVOT in 2016 after graduating from the University of Oregon with a Master of Architecture. She also has a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from Pacific University as well as Bachelor of Arts degrees in math and art from Eastern Oregon University. When not at work, Jacky spends time with her daughter and her dog paddling Oregon’s waterways and biking through our vast paths and mountain trails.

Alexis has been involved in a number of K-12 projects including the new Camas Ridge Elementary School, the Corvallis School District projects, and work with other districts. She also has a vast higher ed experience with projects at the University of Oregon and The Ohio State University.

She is a thoughtful designer who applies keen project management skills to ensure projects are successful. She is apt at facilitating meetings with a number of user groups making sure they each are heard and understood.

“I’m honored to be named as one of PIVOT’s newest associates,” Alexis said. “I have deep interest in architecture’s ability to serve our community and it’s been a joy to work alongside such thoughtful people on highly impactful projects in my time here at PIVOT. I’m looking forward to all the hard work and joy that is surely yet to come!”

By way of Columbus, OH, Alexis joined PIVOT in 2018. She has nearly 20 years of experience, a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Bowling Green State University, and a Master of Architecture from The Ohio State University. Along with her two sons, she loves exploring water channels on her paddleboard.

Jacky and Alexis join fellow PIVOT Associate Scott Clarke.

Here comes double trouble! This summer, PIVOT has selected two students for the PIVOT Architecture Fellowship which is designed to let University of Oregon students explore a research project of their choosing and work within our project teams.

Josh Garhofer’s project focuses on the study of mobile home parks and manufactured housing looking at how their stigma influences neighborhoods. This stigma can lead to reduced property values, increased traffic, additional public infrastructure, increased risk of fire danger, and other issues. With affordable housing a pressing issue, his proposal aims to address this concern by understanding the viability of manufactured housing for creating sustainable, affordable housing developments that provide residents with safe and comfortable living conditions while changing the stigma of these types of housing.

Josh is from Seaside, OR and owns a home in Springfield, OR near a proposed manufactured housing community. He has a bachelor of arts in media communications with a minor in liberal studies from Oregon State University and is pursuing a master of architecture at the UO.

Willy Benjamin’s project looks at the feasibility of incorporating biogenic materials into conventional construction to sequester carbon and reduce the embodied energy of the built environment. With buildings contributing to nearly 40 percent of global energy-related CO₂ emissions, regenerative buildings have the potential to significantly reduce the negative impact on the environment. His project aims to explore the barriers to and opportunities for the implementation of proven, yet alternative building materials.

Willy is originally from Hotchkiss, CO and served in the Peace Corps in Senegal. He has a bachelor of arts in international studies with minors in French, writing, and rhetoric from Trinity College and is pursuing a master of architecture at the UO.

About the PIVOT Fellowship

The PIVOT Fellowship is a means of fostering original thought about issues outside the daily routine or obvious future trajectory of our firm’s thought process. PIVOT selects fellows based on the nature of their project proposal and other factors. It is a paid position and the term runs from June until September. The fellowship is open to students for the summer preceding their final year of study at the University of Oregon. The fellows’ projects constitute half of the candidates’ responsibilities. Fellows will also be incorporated into PIVOT project teams for the duration of their term.