Our Studio
Established in 2008, Waechter Architecture (WA) is a full-service architecture, planning, and design firm with a growing and critically-acclaimed body of work across a wide range of scales and project types.
Our inclusive design approach levels the playing field and invites everyone to share in a deeper understanding of the art of building. We work closely with all stakeholders to identify essential needs, uncover insights, and forge a vision that will lead to enduring and responsive solutions. More than anything, we learn from each other as we strive to build a culture that celebrates diverse voices, and that sees our clients and communities as equal partners in the design process. We stay open to new ideas and feedback while being decisive, pragmatic, economical, and action-oriented.
Waechter’s work and design ethos is increasingly felt across our region and nationwide: In 2019, the Architecture League of New York recognized the firm with its Emerging Voices Award, and in 2022, Waechter Architecture received the prestigious Firm Award from AIA Northwest & Pacific Region. The award is in recognition of our design leadership, inclusive culture, and engagement in pressing issues, from the need to create more sustainable and resilient architecture, to the call to ensure that the benefits of good design and placemaking are accessible to all.
Waechter Architecture is a COBID-certified Emerging Small Business (ESB) in the State of Oregon. We currently hold professional licenses in the states of Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho, Michigan, and North Carolina, and are willing to be registered in any state or jurisdiction to support our clients and the communities they serve.
Our inclusive design approach levels the playing field and invites everyone to share in a deeper understanding of the art of building. We work closely with all stakeholders to identify essential needs, uncover insights, and forge a vision that will lead to enduring and responsive solutions. More than anything, we learn from each other as we strive to build a culture that celebrates diverse voices, and that sees our clients and communities as equal partners in the design process. We stay open to new ideas and feedback while being decisive, pragmatic, economical, and action-oriented.
Waechter’s work and design ethos is increasingly felt across our region and nationwide: In 2019, the Architecture League of New York recognized the firm with its Emerging Voices Award, and in 2022, Waechter Architecture received the prestigious Firm Award from AIA Northwest & Pacific Region. The award is in recognition of our design leadership, inclusive culture, and engagement in pressing issues, from the need to create more sustainable and resilient architecture, to the call to ensure that the benefits of good design and placemaking are accessible to all.
Waechter Architecture is a COBID-certified Emerging Small Business (ESB) in the State of Oregon. We currently hold professional licenses in the states of Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho, Michigan, and North Carolina, and are willing to be registered in any state or jurisdiction to support our clients and the communities they serve.
Awards
Winner
DJC Oregon - Affordable Housing 1st Place
Project: Rockwood Village
Winner
Wood Works National Design Award
Project: Mississippi Workshop
Winner
Gray Award Magazine, Design For Good Category
Project: Mississippi Workshop
Finalist
Gray Award Magazine, Design For Good Category
Project: Rockwood Village
Firm Award, Small Category
AIA Northwest & Pacific Region
Honorable Mention
AIA Northwest & Pacific Design Awards
Project: Mississippi
Merit Award
AIA Northwest & Pacific Design Awards
Project: Meadow House
Recipient FAIA
Ben Waechter
Winner
Gray Awards, Commercial Architecture Category
Project: Blu Dot
Finalist
Architizer A+ Awards
Project: The Society Hotel Bingen
Design Excellence Award
(in collaboration with Jones Architecture)
Portland Design Commission
Project: Northbound 30
Editors Pick
Gray Awards
Project: The Society Hotel Bingen
Winner
Architects Newspaper Best of Design Awards
Commercial Hospitality Category
Project: The Society Hotel Bingen
Honorable Mention
Architects Newspaper Best of Design Awards
Retail and Mixed-Use Commercial
Project: Blu Dot
Honor Award
AIA Oregon Architecture Awards
Project: The Society Hotel Bingen
Merit Award
AIA Oregon Architecture Awards
Project: Origami
Merit Award
AIA NW & Pacific Region Awards
Project: Blu Dot
Merit Award
AIA NW & Pacific Region Awards
Project: Origami
Commercial - Hospitality Architecture Award
The Architect's Newspaper Best of Design Awards
Project: Furioso Vineyards
Housing - Multi Family Honorable Mention
The Architect's Newspaper Best of Design Awards
Project: Origami
DJC Oregon - Affordable Housing 1st Place
Project: Rockwood Village
Winner
Wood Works National Design Award
Project: Mississippi Workshop
Winner
Gray Award Magazine, Design For Good Category
Project: Mississippi Workshop
Finalist
Gray Award Magazine, Design For Good Category
Project: Rockwood Village
Firm Award, Small Category
AIA Northwest & Pacific Region
Honorable Mention
AIA Northwest & Pacific Design Awards
Project: Mississippi
Merit Award
AIA Northwest & Pacific Design Awards
Project: Meadow House
Recipient FAIA
Ben Waechter
Winner
Gray Awards, Commercial Architecture Category
Project: Blu Dot
Finalist
Architizer A+ Awards
Project: The Society Hotel Bingen
Design Excellence Award
(in collaboration with Jones Architecture)
Portland Design Commission
Project: Northbound 30
Editors Pick
Gray Awards
Project: The Society Hotel Bingen
Winner
Architects Newspaper Best of Design Awards
Commercial Hospitality Category
Project: The Society Hotel Bingen
Honorable Mention
Architects Newspaper Best of Design Awards
Retail and Mixed-Use Commercial
Project: Blu Dot
Honor Award
AIA Oregon Architecture Awards
Project: The Society Hotel Bingen
Merit Award
AIA Oregon Architecture Awards
Project: Origami
Merit Award
AIA NW & Pacific Region Awards
Project: Blu Dot
Merit Award
AIA NW & Pacific Region Awards
Project: Origami
Commercial - Hospitality Architecture Award
The Architect's Newspaper Best of Design Awards
Project: Furioso Vineyards
Housing - Multi Family Honorable Mention
The Architect's Newspaper Best of Design Awards
Project: Origami
Commercial Architecture Award
Gray Magazine Awards
Project: Furioso Vineyards
The American Architecture Award
The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design
Project: Furioso Vineyards
Emerging Voices Award
The Architectural League of New York
Honor Award
AIA NW & Pacific Region Awards
Project: Furioso Vineyards
Honor Award
AIA NW & Pacific Region Awards
Project: Milwaukie Way
Honor Award
AIA Portland Awards
Project: Furioso Vineyards
Merit Award
AIA Portland Awards
Project: Slender House
Citation Award
AIA Portland Awards
Project: The Society Hotel Bingen
Design Vanguard
Architectural Record
Residential Architect Design Award
Architect Magazine
Project: Tower House
Merit Award
AIA Portland Awards
Project: Oakley House
Merit Award
AIA Portland Awards
Project: Pavilion House
Citation Award
AIA Portland Award
Project: Sawtooth
Gray Magazine Awards
Project: Furioso Vineyards
The American Architecture Award
The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design
Project: Furioso Vineyards
Emerging Voices Award
The Architectural League of New York
Honor Award
AIA NW & Pacific Region Awards
Project: Furioso Vineyards
Honor Award
AIA NW & Pacific Region Awards
Project: Milwaukie Way
Honor Award
AIA Portland Awards
Project: Furioso Vineyards
Merit Award
AIA Portland Awards
Project: Slender House
Citation Award
AIA Portland Awards
Project: The Society Hotel Bingen
Design Vanguard
Architectural Record
Residential Architect Design Award
Architect Magazine
Project: Tower House
Merit Award
AIA Portland Awards
Project: Oakley House
Merit Award
AIA Portland Awards
Project: Pavilion House
Citation Award
AIA Portland Award
Project: Sawtooth
Citation Award
AIA Portland Awards
Project: Red House
Citation Award
AIA NW & Pacific Region Awards
Project: Pavilion House
Honor Award
AIA Portland Awards
Project: Garden House
International Special Mention Award
Architizer A+ Awards
Project: Tower House
Citation Award
AIA NW & Pacific Region Awards
Project: Tower House
Merit Award
Custom Home Magazine
Project: Oakley House
Honor Award
AIA Portland Awards
Project: J-Tea
Lectures
Year-End Symposium at Miller Hull Partnership
with Christopher Hawthorne, Walter Hood & David Baker
San Diego, CA
December 2022
University of Miami School of Architecture
Symposium: Mass Timber, So What Now?
"The Case for All-Wood" Lecture
April 2022
Woodbury University
"Clarity" Lecture
March 2022
AIA Idaho Awards Juror and Speaker
"Clarity" Lecture
September 2021
AIA Nebraska Awards Juror and Speaker
"Clarity" Lecture
September 2021
Portland CSI
Regionalism Speaker
March 2021
with Christopher Hawthorne, Walter Hood & David Baker
San Diego, CA
December 2022
University of Miami School of Architecture
Symposium: Mass Timber, So What Now?
"The Case for All-Wood" Lecture
April 2022
Woodbury University
"Clarity" Lecture
March 2022
AIA Idaho Awards Juror and Speaker
"Clarity" Lecture
September 2021
AIA Nebraska Awards Juror and Speaker
"Clarity" Lecture
September 2021
Portland CSI
Regionalism Speaker
March 2021
The Architectural League of New York
Emerging Voices Lecture Series
"Clarity" Lecture, March 2019
University of Washington
Department of Architecture
"Clarity" Lecture
Nov 2018
AIA Florida, Sarasota Design Conference
"Making Architecture"
Exhibition
May 2018
Emerging Voices Lecture Series
"Clarity" Lecture, March 2019
University of Washington
Department of Architecture
"Clarity" Lecture
Nov 2018
AIA Florida, Sarasota Design Conference
"Making Architecture"
Exhibition
May 2018
AIA Florida, Sarasota Design Conference
Featured Speaker
May 2018
AIA Arkansas Design Conference
Featured Speaker
October 2017
Portland State University, School of Architecture
"Clarity" Lecture
January 2017
Featured Speaker
May 2018
AIA Arkansas Design Conference
Featured Speaker
October 2017
Portland State University, School of Architecture
"Clarity" Lecture
January 2017
Events
Past Events:
Portland Winter Light Festival
With: GoodBeast
February 2-10 2024
SELA Series
With: The UPRISE Collective
November 2-16, 2023
Courtyard Concert
With: Stephanie Schneid & Tony Furtado
July 8, 2023
Courtyard Concert
With: “Cyane Sheers”
June 24, 2023
Courtyard Concert
Third Angle Music presents: Bora Yoon
June 15, 2023
Portland Winter Light Festival
With: GoodBeast
February 2-10 2024
SELA Series
With: The UPRISE Collective
November 2-16, 2023
Courtyard Concert
With: Stephanie Schneid & Tony Furtado
July 8, 2023
Courtyard Concert
With: “Cyane Sheers”
June 24, 2023
Courtyard Concert
Third Angle Music presents: Bora Yoon
June 15, 2023
Timber Talk: Designing the Forest
With Lindsey Wikstrom
March 2023
Timber Talk
With Laila Seewang, Jon Heppner, Mark Fretz, Ben Janes, Samuel Wylie
February 2023
Courtyard Concert
With: “Portland Sacred Harp”
October 2022
Courtyard Concert: Beacon Sound
With: “Strategy”, “Location Services”, “Brianna Sas”
October 2022
Waechter Summer Party
Public opening of the Mississippi Building
July 2022