Happenings - Page 2 of 23 - PIVOT Architecture

News 07/02

MEET PIVOT ARCHITECTURE’S 2024 FELLOW

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

Abby Brown will investigate intentional communities as housing models in urban settings that offer holistic solutions while addressing the needs of individuals, local communities, and urban centers. Intentional communities are groups of people who choose to live collaboratively and strive to create a lifestyle that reflects their shared values. Housing models like cooperatives, co-housing, housing collectives, and eco-villages fall under the intentional community umbrella.

Abby believes that intentional communities foster social belonging, instill a sense of ownership in residents, reduce individual economic burdens, support urban density, and prioritize collective well-being. She became interested in exploring the potential that intentional community housing models have in creating more socially sustainable associations after a recent studio project at the UO.

Abby just completed her fourth year in the five-year Bachelor or Architecture program at the University of Oregon College of Design. She moved to Eugene from Magnolia, Texas, and spent time studying in Stuttgart, Germany. When she’s not working or studying, she likes cooking, photography, sewing, paddleboarding, camping, and anything that gets her outdoors

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 are also incorporated into PIVOT project teams for the duration of their term gaining real-world experience working side-by-side with our design teams.

Project 03/20

The New Eugene Family YMCA

Thousands of people rely on the Eugene Family YMCA each day. Whether it’s for fitness, healthy living, child care, youth development, or a social meeting place, the Y really is a center of the community. Inside and out, the contemporary, 75,000-SF multi-purpose facility enables the nonprofit to grow and diversify how it serves the community in creating a brighter future.

OGX BRT Makes Its Debut

The 22 platforms at 14 stations are inspired by the community’s strong historic architecture, Weber State’s cohesive campus, and the area’s unique geology. PIVOT engaged with stakeholder groups to develop three shelter concepts in a series of workshops. The “Strata” concept was selected and includes precast concrete columns that reflect the area’s stratified geology and its upheaval resulting from collision of the Great Basin and the dramatic mountains to the east.

Katie Hall Says Goodbye to PIVOT

Over the past 15 years, Principal Katie Hall has supplied us with endless inspiration, laughter, collaboration, and incomparable architectural design. But as circumstances in life keep moving and evolving, her time at PIVOT is sadly coming to an end.

As empty-nesters, Katie and her partner are beginning a new chapter in life outside of the Eugene-Springfield area. Her last day at PIVOT will be March 29th.

“Katie makes everything around here better,” said Principal John Stapleton. “She’s been part of the PIVOT family for quite a while. We’re going to miss her but know she’ll continue to do great things. She’s pretty groovy.”

Katie has been active in the community serving in various roles including president of the southwestern Oregon chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the organization’s Northwest & Pacific Region section. She has been a member of several City of Eugene committees and panels and has been involved with the Eugene and Springfield area chambers of commerce including serving on the Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC).

“PIVOT will be a part of me wherever I go,” Katie said. “The humble approach to design, emphasis on excellent client service, and people-centric firm helped shape me as an architect. I’m grateful for everything I gained and learned from PIVOT. Most importantly, I’m so grateful for the relationships I was able to foster by being an active part of the community.”

Katie’s humor, positive energy, and endless supply of quality chocolate are some of the things we’ll miss most. That and her inspired Halloween costumes! Thank you, Katie. PIVOT is a better place because of you and we can’t wait to see what your next chapter of life brings.

While Kari Turner’s retirement is happening around the same time as Katie’s departure, it is purely a coincidence.