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Have a Safe Holiday Season!

 

 

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KELLEY HOWELL, CERTIFIED SCHOOLS ASSESSOR

Congratulations to Principal Kelley Howell, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, PIVOT Architecture’s newly-certified Oregon Department of Education schools assessor.

ODE’s assessor training helps architects—with a certain level of experience working with schools—understand the unique requirements for reporting to the department’s Technical Assistance and OSCIM programs.

Kelley has worked with a number of school districts including Eugene 4J, Marcola, Wallowa, and the Corvallis School District where she is leading the renovations of Cheldelin Middle School, the Harding Center, Corvallis High School, and Crescent Valley High School. In earning this certification, Kelley joins fellow PIVOT Principal John Stapleton, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, who is also ODE certified.

“Working with school districts if very gratifying,” Kelley said “The improvements we make are helping the community in some cases for decades to come.”

She is now eligible to conduct Facilities Assessments and Long-Range Facility Plans for school districts looking to then apply for funding from the state’s OSCIM program.

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Some New, Some Familiar Faces at PIVOT

PIVOT is pleased to welcome new and returning team members!

 

Craig Runyon has rejoined our team and leads the company’s business development and marketing strategy. His career spans the A/E/C industry, journalism, government, and graphic design highlighted by stints at the Washington Post, the Register-Guard, and Lane Transit District. He previously worked at PIVOT from 2014—2018 as the marketing coordinator. Craig has a B.A. in speech communication from George Mason University and a certificate in marketing strategy from Cornell University. He is an active member of SMPS and a 2018 graduate of Leadership Eugene-Springfield.

 

Molly Winter joins the PIVOT team after graduating from the University of Oregon this past summer. She was previously the board chair and executive director of Recode, a Portland-based sustainable water systems nonprofit. Molly gave a 2016 TedX presentation titled, “The Taboo Secret to Better Health,” which has nearly 2 million views. She has a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Oberlin College and a Master of Architecture from the University of Oregon. She has seven years of experience.

 

Luigi Ghersi joins the PIVOT team after graduating from the University of Oregon this past summer. He previously served as the PIVOT Fellow in the summer of 2019 focusing on how architecture can improve K-12 education. Luigi has a B.S. Architectural Studies from the University of Utah and a Master of Architecture University of Oregon.

 

 

Alisha Hinkle has rejoined the PIOVT team to bolster the interior design department. She has a Bachelor degree in Interior Architecture from the University of Oregon. Alisha previously worked at PIVOT from 2017—2019 before joining an interior architecture firm in California. She has four years of experience.

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Nita Tjahjana, Certified Passive House Consultant

Congratulations to Designer Nita Tjahjana, PIVOT Architecture’s newly-certified passive house consultant!

In receiving the certification from the Passive House Institute US (PHIUS), a non-profit promoting high-performance passive buildings, Nita has honed her ability to design more sustainable facilities.

In the process of earning this certification, Nita learned the principles of passive building and trained using passive modeling techniques. Nita and PIVOT Designer Clay Neal, who is also passive house certified, use this knowledge to design more sustainable projects.

“I am just always curious about building technology and to learn more about the different metrics of how to make buildings more efficient,” Nita said. “It is one way of approaching sustainability and I have always liked when things are quantifiable.”

PHIUS+ provides design and construction standards ensuring sustainable quality assurance. Buildings meeting PHIUS+ standards use 40-60 percent less energy and provide high indoor air quality along with a quiet, comfortable environment.

Alison Kwok, an architecture professor at the UO, urged Nita to pursue certification with her systematic in approach to design.