Insight

2024 PIVOT Fellowship Presentation on 10.10


PIVOT Architecture invites you to this year’s fellowship presentation when most recent Fellow Abby Brown presents her final project.

Abby studied intentional community models as they relate to current housing and loneliness crises, especially for individuals working to transition 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. She studied the social and built environment at Everyone Village, a local transitional housing program where residents not only have access to housing and essential facilities but also benefit from a strong network of social support. The project seeks to understand how intentional community approaches to transitional housing design have been effectively socially supportive for formerly unhoused individuals within the village.

The PIVOT Fellowship is a means of fostering original thought about issues outside the daily routine of our firm’s thought process. Each summer, students entering their final year at the UO are selected to work on an independent project of their choosing and are incorporated into PIVOT project teams.

Join us at the PIVOT office, Thursday, October 10 from at 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Learn more about the PIVOT Fellowship.

Careers

2025 PIVOT Fellowship Opens

PIVOT Architecture is pleased to announce the seventh PIVOT Architecture Fellowship. The Fellowship is open to University of Oregon BARCH, BIARCH, MARCH, and MIARCH students for the summer preceding their final year of study. One student will be selected following an application process that includes review of the applicants’ proposals for projects of their choice to be executed over the summer of the Fellowship. This project will constitute one half of the fellow’s responsibility. In addition to the project, the fellow will be incorporated into one or more PIVOT project teams for the duration of the program. The fellowship includes monetary compensation comparable to typical entry level professional architectural positions. Additionally, a $1,000 stipend will be provided to the fellow upon successful completion of the project and work term.

Applications for the Fellowship are due April 7, 2025. The term of the fellowship is from mid-June to mid-September, 2024. It is expected that the fellow will work approximately 40 hours/week, with most of that time spent within the office.

Click here for more information or to apply for the position. 

News

PIVOT Welcomes Three New Designers

PIVOT is pleased to introduce our three newest designers to our team.

Designer Emil Good 

Emil believes design is everywhere, in everything. Emil earned their Bachelors of Interior Architecture from the University of Oregon. Prior to joining PIVOT, they worked as a cabinet maker. Emil is working on the design of a new gym for the Oakland School District, the agricultural center for LBCC, the Childcare Learning Center for Klamath Community College, and other projects. An artist at heart, Emil enjoys drawing, painting, sewing, woodworking, and zipping around town on their moped when not at work.

Designer Fa’afouina (Ina) Fruean

Ina joins the PIVOT team with four years of experience. He graduated from University of Hawaii at Manoa with a Bachelors in Environmental Design. Prior to moving to Eugene, he worked for an architectural firm in Honolulu designing high-end residential and affordable housing projects. Ina is working on the agricultural center for LBCC and other projects. In his leisure time, Ina enjoys playing world/city building simulation games and spending time outdoors, having his first experience in fall and winter climates.

Designer Jordan Levis

Jordan earned Master of Architecture and a Bachelors of Science in Fine Arts with a minor in Environmental Studies from the University of Oregon. He has four years of experience and designs with a focus on environmental consciousness and community responsiveness. A native of Southern California, Jordan is an Eagle Scout and former California State beach lifeguard. Jordan is working on the agricultural center for LBCC, the Childcare Learning Center for Klamath Community College, and other projects. He enjoys camping, hiking, snowboarding, surfing, and watching sunsets with his wife at the coast while their rescue dog runs.

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.