People

We appreciate the fact that while our clients engage BLRB for their projects, it is our individual team members with whom they will work side by side. We employ some of the most experienced architects and construction professionals in the Northwest – and all are genuinely committed to their work, community and the communities we serve. Throughout every department of our firm, we are proud of the character, responsiveness, and integrity all of our staff brings to their work and we respect and value the contributions of each of our team members.

Diversity is a core value for our firm, one that enriches and strengthens our work environment and informs our project designs. For every project, as with our firm, we seek to create environments that support and respect differences of culture, ethnicity, gender and age. BLRB is an inclusive, non-discriminatory employer and actively employs efforts that enhance the diversity of our firm and project partners.

Careers

What makes BLRB Architects unique? Our employees do!
Across the board, our team members are committed to innovative, inspirational, high-performance design and responsive, client-centered service. We love what we do and are passionate about design that enhances the daily experience of the people who use the buildings and spaces we create. We value team interaction and the expression of individual points of view, and provide a variety of opportunities for personal and professional growth. We’re always looking for the best and the brightest – energetic, enthusiastic professionals with critical thinking skills and a strong design sense, who enjoy working in a collaborative environment. If this describes you, we encourage you to apply!
Current Openings:

Summer Internship

There’s no time like summertime to boldly explore new worlds, put your education to work, (make some money) and discover the daily realities of life in architecture.  For 2013, we have summer internship opportunities available in our Tacoma, Washington and Bend, Oregon offices.   We’re looking for interns with creative talent, broad architectural interests and a sincere desire to gain hands-on experience in a real world environment.

Please send a cover letter and resume to resumes@blrb.com and include the words ‘Summer Internship Application’ in the subject line.  Please let us know if you have a preference for working in Tacoma or Bend, or either.   All applications will be considered and interviews will be conducted with a shortlist of candidates.

History

Founded in 1953 by architect Donald Burr, FAIA, BLRB Architects has evolved to become one of the Northwest’s leading architecture firms. We are a firm of 60 professionals in Washington and Oregon, providing facility planning, programming, conceptual design, and complete architectural services for multiple project types, with an emphasis on projects for public use. In the United States, our clients are located throughout the Pacific Northwest; internationally, we have provided services to clients in China and Brazil. Adept at a wide variety of project types, our firm’s focused specialties include educational architecture, historic building assessment, documentation, preservation and restoration, and high-performance sustainable design.



Mission-Driven Design

Architectural design has a significant influence on educational practice and student success. As specialists in educational architecture, we are dedicated to design that enhances instructional excellence and bolsters student achievement. Over the years, we have become the region’s leader in contemporary K-12 design by researching, analyzing and anticipating educational trends, maintaining on-going dialogue with education professionals about how architecture can enhance learning, and pioneering advancements in design that best support instructional goals and student achievement. Our breadth of experience, coupled with active participation in professional educational organizations, has given us an understanding of current and future trends in educational practice that is unique to the region.
Preserving History

Historic buildings are embedded in the identity of their communities and embody the growth and development of the surrounding region. For nearly 40 years, we have practiced a balanced approach to the preservation and restoration of historic architecture, celebrating the iconic character of buildings while renovating them to support contemporary use and needs. Our service capacity for this important project type was expanded in 2010 with the implementation of our Historic Preservation Studio.
Sustainable Leadership

Donald Burr, FAIA, BLRB’s founding principal, was a committed leader in energy-conscious design from the earliest national conversations about environmental conservation in the 1970s. An overarching emphasis on sustainable architecture is infused through all we do and our designs have been recognized for excellence in this regard. We designed the first U.S. Green Building Council LEED® certifiable public school in Washington State (Greenwood Elementary), the first LEED® certified project in Bend, Oregon and the first LEED® Platinum project in Pierce County, Washington. We have been integrating into our designs most of the sustainable elements currently seen as leading edge for nearly 20 years.
Through all that we do, we work collaboratively with our clients and their stakeholders to achieve contemporary yet timeless buildings that are durable, functional, inspirational and cost-efficient, never losing sight of the fact that every element of our design will affect the daily experience of those who use them now and far into the future.

Leadership

Tom Bates, FAIA, CSI, LEED® AP BD+C

Senior Principal

Tom joined BLRB in 1981, becoming principal for design in 1987 and managing principal of the firm in 2002. He is actively involved in several organizations including Council for Educational Facility Planners International, the U.S. National Trust for Historic Preservation, U.S. Green Building Council and the American Institute of Architects’ National Committee on Architecture for Education. Tom consistently serves as an advisor, panel member and resource for national and regional concerns including the U.S. Department of Energy, American Institute of Architects, and the Washington State Office of the Superintendent for Public Instruction. In 2008, Tom was inducted into the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects in recognition of his nationally significant contributions to the practice of educational architecture.
Lee Fenton, AIA, LEED® AP BD+C

Managing Principal

Lee joined BLRB Architects in 1984, becoming senior principal in 2004. A seasoned project manager and designer with a strong background in educational architecture, Lee’s work has been broadly recognized for excellence by peer and industry associations including the Council for Educational Facility Planners International, American Association of School Administrators, National School Board Association and the American Institute of Architects. His collaborative, intuitive and creative approach to design yields imaginative, yet practical design solutions that consistently exceed client expectations. Lee is an active member of the American Institute of Architects and has served the Southwest Washington Chapter as President, Vice President and Secretary.
John Wegener, AIA, LEED® AP BD+C

Senior Principal

John is a Senior Principal who has been with BLRB Architects since 1997. He brings a unique perspective to project planning, having formerly served as a practicing architect and capital projects manager for a large public agency. John’s background as a client representative, coupled with more than three decades of design experience lends a holistic approach to planning and development for public projects. John is an active member of several professional and civic associations including the Washington State Council and Southwest Washington Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, Council of Educational Facility Planners International and the Tacoma Narrows Chapter of Rotary International.
Dennis Kabba, AIA, CSI, LEED® AP BD+C

Principal

As the firm’s principal in charge of technical services since 2002, Dennis manages and oversees BLRB’s construction administration and quality assurance departments. Dennis brings 32 years of experience to this team (the last 24 of which have been with BLRB) as well as strong, specialized organizational skills, which involve developing document production systems, overseeing the preparation of specifications and drawings and developing building code compliance strategies for the firm. He is an active member and has served on the boards of multiple organizations including the Southwest Washington Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and the Construction Specifications Institute, Mt. Rainier Chapter.
Ron Harpel, AIA

Principal

A team member with BLRB since 2004, Ron has a comprehensive background in educational and civic architecture. His work focuses on enhancing the public domain, and he creatively leverages internal program requirements to unify outdoor spaces. Recreational, educational and community-building opportunities adjacent to civic projects are the foundation of his vision and planning solutions. His respectful, consensus-building style and innovative design solutions have consistently earned the praise of the clients with whom he works. Ron is actively involved in civic concerns and has lent his talents to Tacoma Public School’s Citizen Leadership Committee, Council of Educational Facility Planners International, Habitat for Humanity, the Tacoma Arts Commission and others.