News

It’s Been a Great 28 – Kari G. Turner Retiring from PIVOT Architecture

Kari G. Turner, who has infused PIVOT Architecture with true collaboration, creative design, caring mentorship, and deep thoughtfulness for 28 years, will “sparkle” in retirement.

Nicknamed “Sparkles” for her enthusiasm, sense of humor, and ability to connect with others, Kari has inspired her PIVOT colleagues and clients for nearly 30 years. Now she’s ready to find a new spark.

“Over the last three decades of working with Kari I have learned that she loves working with people almost as much as she loves 80’s pop music,” said Principal Toby Barwood. “Her ability to connect with people has allowed her to build strong teams that function well. Her work has earned the trust of one agency after another, leading to an expansion of PIVOT’s involvement in communities across the West.

“She taught me the value of focusing on the people in every project… and to sing along with Madonna,” Toby said.

Kari has spent her entire 28-year career at PIVOT Architecture. She began as an administrative assistant in 1995 while attending architecture school at the University of Oregon and was hired as a full-time designer in 1997. She received her license to practice architecture in Oregon in 2002 and became an associate at PIVOT in 2007. In 2015, Kari became a principal, leading many of PIVOT’s projects with transit agencies.

A succession plan has been developed over the last six months and Kari’s tasks have been transitioned to the other principals and PIVOT’s robust staff, ensuring that all our clients’ needs are being met. Her last day at PIVOT is April 12.

“Just like no piece of glitter is the same, Kari is a one-of-a-kind,” said Principal John Stapleton. “From her architectural chops to her sense of humor, she has mentored so many people in our firm and taught us all well – we’ll be able to ‘carry’ on,” he said.

“OK, maybe I could use a few more lessons on humor,” he said laughing. “But she’s done a great job of bringing up our staff to fill her role.”

Kari’s projects have been endowed with a sense of purpose and fun and reflect her thoughtfulness, compassion, and competence. Some of the most notable projects that she’s been involved with are Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and transit center projects throughout the west including multiple projects in Utah and Washington, TriMet’s FX—the first BRT in Portland, Keizer Transit Center, Springfield Station, and the iconic EmX—one of the nation’s first BRT systems. Additional community projects include The Eugene Family YMCA, Roseburg Public Safety Center, and multiple facilities for the City of Eugene.

“When I started my career, I had no idea how big of a role transit would play in my life and career,” Kari said. “I love the connections that transit provides for communities. I love the collaboration with other talented designers, and I love the passion of the people who work every day to make our communities welcoming places for everyone.”

Transportation has always been something close to Kari’s heart. She is a frequent bus ride, a former board member for Better Eugene-Springfield Transportation, and a regular attendee and occasional presenter at MPact Transit + Community Conference (formerly Rail~Volution).

Kari believes establishing connections with people is critical in making projects a success. She’s been an advocate for universal design, the practice of creating facilities that are accessible to all users no matter their ability.

“Kari has been a strident advocate for public transportation and accessible design and she used that passion to make gorgeous architecture that worked for everyone,” Toby said. “She’s been a joyful mentor of young designers, always willing to pass on the lessons her career has taught her.”

Kari’s not quite sure what her next steps will be, but it’s a safe bet that they’ll lead to a fair amount of backpacking trips in the wilds of Oregon with her husband Garrett. Happy hiking, Kari!

 

Insight

The 2024 Fellowship

With multifaceted affordable housing solutions an ever-growing need in the region, PIVOT’s 2024 Fellow studied the roles intentional community models can play in finding solutions for the housing and loneliness crises.

Abby Brown studied intentional community models, especially for individuals transitioning out of houselessness. Intentional communities are groups of people who choose to live collaboratively and strive to create a lifestyle that reflects their shared values.

The housing shortage has created intense pressure on the housing market, particularly in cities like Eugene. Extremely low vacancy rates have resulted in an ultra-competitive housing environment, exacerbating the challenges faced by individuals trying to secure affordable housing. For many, this has led to homelessness.

Read more about Abby’s Fellowship project.

Wow

“Camas Ridge is Awesome!”

As we designed the Camas Ridge Community School, we brainstormed how we could give students a hands-on experience of building the school.

When we landed on the idea of creating a LEGO model of Camas, we weren’t sure how to go about actually doing that so we turned to some of our innovative partners.

PIVOT commissioned a small team of local students and project managers at Connected Lane County—a non-profit that prepares youth for the future by providing hands-on experiences, career-connected learning, and support services—to design the initial model.

Using software that allows you to design sets with virtually any LEGO piece ever made, the students figured out how to use the software and design the initial model. Then we passed it on to local LEGO experts at Bricks and Minifigs to streamline the design and order the 3,500 pieces it takes to build the model.

Over the summer, we fine-tuned the instructions and did a test build of the model to make sure it actually works. The finished model is more than 4 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 1 foot tall.

We take a lot of pride in Camas Ridge Community School and hope the experience of building the LEGO set will give students an idea of some of the things that go into designing a facility like this school—and maybe inspire some future architects!

The Lego model will be on display at the Camas Ridge Open House on Thursday, October 24 starting at 6 p.m.

Learn more about the school and LEGO build through coverage on KVAL, the Register-Guard, and KEZI.

News

Camas Ridge Open House: 10.24

PIVOT is helping Eugene School District 4J and Camas Ridge Community School plan the open house on Thursday, October 24 from 6-7:30 p.m.

PIVOT is working with the school to provide student-led tours a large-scale Lego model of Camas Ridge, and more. Check back for more info in the coming days.

More info on 4J’s website.