Opsis Architecture

The former attic of Fairbanks Hall sat unused for decades. Today, it serves as the Center for Material Cultures Research in Archaeology, Art and Indigenous Studies.

Following the renovation of Fairbanks Hall's first three floors, our team transformed the former attic into a space that supports faculty research, hands-on learning and opportunities for students to work directly with collections and emerging technologies.

The project preserves the character of the historic building while creating modern teaching and learning environments, collection displays and places to showcase student work. Together, the four floors of Fairbanks Hall form a home for arts education, research and discovery at Oregon State University.

Client: Oregon State University
Contractor: DD&C
Photos: Josh Partee

The new Health Sciences & Children's Learning Center expands COCC's Madras campus, creating space for both future health care professionals and young learners to thrive.

The expansion connects health care training, early childhood education and child care services across two floors. The facility supports a range of teaching and learning environments, from nursing labs and hybrid classrooms to spaces where future early childhood educators gain hands-on experience alongside The Children's Learning Center, a nonprofit organization serving Madras families.

By bringing health sciences education and early childhood learning together under one roof, the project addresses the region's demand for hands-on health careers education, workforce training and child care services.

Client: Central Oregon Community College
Contractor: Kirby Nagelhout Construction
Photos by: Josh Partee

Opsis designer Sarah Burk joins INTERIOR DESIGN Magazine’s 30/30 program, recognizing the top 30 designers around the age of 30 who excel in the design industry.

Sarah’s a designer and Washington licensed architect with 10+ years of experience spanning public libraries, civic spaces, mixed-use developments and higher education. A member of Opsis’s Interior Design Focus Group, Sarah brings curiosity to all facets of her work and a commitment to creating inviting community-focused environments. As part of the 30/30 program, Sarah will join 29 other designers in advancing their professional knowledge and honing their craft.

Congratulations, Sarah!

Our team is growing! Give a warm welcome to Ernesto Contreras, Emma Norman and Paul Tierman to Opsis!

A Project Manager / Project Designer, Ernesto brings 20 years of experience managing and delivering projects from design concepts to detailed documentation and construction. With experience in civic, labs and workspace projects, Ernesto excels at successfully executing and delivering large complex projects. Balancing creative and technical ex*****on, he has worked on projects of varying scales, domestic and international, as technical lead. Ernesto is a registered architect in Washington.

Emma supports the day-to-day administrative team in her role as Receptionist/Office Assistant. She ensures the studio runs smoothly, managing front desk operations and serving as a central contact point for staff and visitors. With a background in operations, she brings a strong organizational and communications foundation needed to support highly functional studio environment.

Paul is a licensed New York architect with 15 years’ experience in the design and delivery of cultural, commercial, educational and multi-family residential projects. An Opsis Associate and Senior Designer, Paul’s work reflects a deep commitment to site context, craft, material quality and user experience as fundamental drivers of his design approach. He is highly skilled at facilitating cross-disciplinary collaboration to ensure design intent is seamlessly carried through concept to construction.

We’re thrilled to have Ernesto, Emma and Paul join Opsis!

Photos by So-Ming Kang

Please join us in congratulating Chase Ashley, Justine Banda, Sarah Burk, Pete Heibel and Megan Norton on their promotion to Associate!

Chase is an architect with nine years of experience in higher education, workplace and community design. He brings a strong mix of creativity and functionality to projects, guiding work from concept through completion. Known for a collaborative approach, Chase has helped clients translate vision into built form while pushing the boundaries of what design can achieve.

As an Opsis project manager and architect, Justine designs and manages projects that foster learning, connection and community. With 15 years of experience, she brings a highly detailed approach to her work with K–12, higher education and community clients. Her sustainability-focused perspective is shaped by her time on the East Coast, where she worked on complex renovations, historic preservation and adaptive reuse projects.

Sarah is a designer with over 10 years of experience spanning public libraries, civic spaces, mixed-use developments and higher education. Her outgoing and approachable style fosters collaboration, while her strong design vision and commitment to community-focused work leads to thoughtful, innovative outcomes. Sarah is a registered architect in Washington and volunteers her time with AIA Seattle.

With 15 years of experience in both architectural and BIM workflows, Pete leads the digital strategy at Opsis inspired by a passion for software, automation, and process improvement. He values minimalism and simplicity, striving to support sustainable architecture through clear and efficient workflows.

Megan brings nine years of marketing and proposal management expertise to the AEC marketing landscape. Within the Opsis marketing team, she emphasizes creative storytelling and adeptly manages and coordinates proposal pursuits from start to finish. Her knack for bolstering team dynamics and optimizing workflows distinguishes her in her field.

Congratulations Chase, Justine, Sarah, Pete and Megan!

Photos by So-Ming Kang

We are excited to announce that Amy Fashimpar, Caroline Hather and Carson Shields are Senior Associates at Opsis!

A project architect with 20 years’ experience, Amy collaborates with teams to create spaces that celebrate and engage diverse communities and establish clear spatial identity. Amy strives to implement thoughtful design, a positive environmental impact, and enhanced occupant experience in each project. Her work focuses on arts, cultural, education and recreation projects, including the new Schnitzer Center under construction at Catlin Gabel School.

An architect with a combined 18 years’ experience in Europe and the US, Caroline is driven by an innate curiosity and desire to understand how things work. She seeks to integrate social and environmental responsibility into her context-specific design work. A skilled project lead, Caroline is currently working on the design of the new Natural Resource Center for Excellence at Clackamas Community College.

Carson is an architect and construction administration specialist, bringing 20 years of architectural, project management and construction experience across the country. Carson leads construction administration efforts and is always happy to talk about building enclosure design and detailing. His experience with a variety of structural systems and veneers allows him to articulate what is important to ensure a high-performance building.

Congratulations Amy, Caroline and Carson!

Photos by So-Ming Kang

Opsis is proud to announce the elevation of Lauren Loosveldt to Principal!

Over her tenure at Opsis, Lauren has made a lasting impact through the strong relationships she builds and her commitment to fostering a people-centered studio culture. Her contributions have helped grow Opsis’s practice while guiding complex projects with clarity, responsiveness and collaboration.

Drawing on a background in both architecture and interior design, Lauren brings a holistic perspective to leadership and a practical, solutions-oriented approach to her work. Her collaborative approach and commitment to client service have helped deliver notable projects, including the Oregon Harbor of Hope Navigation Center, Oregon State University-Cascades Student Success Center and Clackamas Community College’s Wacheno Welcome Center.

Lauren's influence reaches throughout our firm and the communities we serve. Committed to fostering a culture of shared learning and growth, she has played a key role in advancing Opsis's mentorship program and professional development initiatives. Beyond the studio, Lauren’s contributions extend through her service to the profession, including leadership roles with AIA Oregon, volunteer work with AIA Committee on the Environment and presentations at national conferences on topics ranging from student success centers to housing solutions.

We look forward to her continued leadership as she helps guide the future of Opsis, our practice and the communities we serve. Congratulations, Lauren!

Check out the announcement on our news page: https://linktr.ee/opsisarchitecture
Photo by: So-Min Kang

Downtown Auburn is setting the stage for something new.

The new Auburn Avenue Theater will replace the original 1926 theater, carrying its legacy forward while creating a renewed home for performance in the heart of the city. Located alongside a new downtown park and rebuilt B Street Plaza, the theater will help anchor Auburn’s growing arts district.

The reimagined venue will feature a flexible 300-seat proscenium theater to support community theater, music, comedy and camps. A new contemporary marquee and open, transparent entries will draw the public in. Pursuing LEED Silver, the theater will create a vibrant civic destination designed for the next generation of artists and audiences.

Client: City of Auburn - Government
Architect of Record: Otak
Design Architect: Opsis Architecture

The Student Success Center at OSU-Cascades brings academic advising, student support and gathering spaces together in one warm, inviting environment. Supporting connection, wellbeing and belonging, the center gives students a welcoming place to meet, study and recharge throughout the day.

The theme of hygge—comfort, coziness and contentment—emerged early in the design process and shaped a student-centered environment. Using mass timber and biophilic design principles, the space features cozy furnishings and natural materials that echo the high desert landscape, creating areas that feel comfortable, human-scaled and uniquely connected to Central Oregon.

OSU-Cascades student design advocates, facilities and faculty guided the design, ensuring the 17,500 sf center reflects the values and culture of the campus.

Client: OSU-Cascades
Progressive Design-Build: Andersen Construction
Photos: Alan Brandt Photography

The new North Academic Complex (NAC) and GeoEco Plant at Central Washington University is coming to life! Set to open for the fall 2026 term, the 104,262 sf campus centerpiece will offer students and campus staff an interdisciplinary environment for collaborative teaching and learning. The mass timber atrium at the heart of the four-story arts and humanities building deepens connections with the region by featuring wood sourced from the Yakama National Forest Products.

The GeoEco Plant will play an important role for the NAC (pursuing LEED Gold) and CWU’s campus. The solar and geothermal plant will achieve CWU’s goal for reducing their greenhouse gas emissions by 40% and supply zero-emission heating and cooling to the NAC. Once complete, the open and transparent GeoEco Plant will offer education opportunities for visitors, showcasing the inner workings of the geothermal process.

Client: Central Washington University
Architect of Record: NAC
Design Architect: Opsis Architecture
Contractor: Garco Construction