Summer Retreat Group Photo. All images courtesy of Skylab Architecture.

Formed two decades ago in Portland, Skylab Architecture has grown from a one-man office into an established design powerhouse with a reach well beyond the Oregon borders. With principals Jeff Kovel and Brent Grubb at the helm, the practice has expanded to a team of 36 and yet retains its nimble, intimate approach towards projects of all scales — from mountain dwellings in the Oregon woods all the way to signature corporate buildings like the soon-to-open Serena Williams Building at the Nike World Headquarters.

In this installment of Studio Snapshot, Kovel and Grubb discuss the importance of sustainable design practices and the desire to heal mistreated and undervalued places.

Can you tell us how Skylab was founded?

Jeff Kovel: Upon completing an architect-led design-build home for Lenny Kravitz in Miami as the architect and contractor, I returned to Portland and set out to start my own firm. One of the first things I did was to purchase a residential lot, called 1680, and develop a speculative residence to demonstrate my design approach. The project was architect-led design-build and sold to a lovely couple that had started McGuire furniture. Their word-of-mouth helped us build a client base, and we evolved to add commercial projects to our initial residential work.

How many people are currently employed at Skylab?

JK: We have steadily climbed from one person initially to 36 today. Our firm consists of architects, artists, photographers, interior designers, visualization specialists, and administrative components. As a progressive practice, we have construction, development, and modular housing components as well.

How is your office structured?

JK: We are currently two principals. I am the founding Principal and function as the Design Director. Brent is also a Principal and Development Director. We are organized around the Director of Architecture, Director of Interiors, and design innovation roles, rounded out by our robust Business Manager and her support team. As Design Director, I work across all projects.

Would you like to scale up and grow your team? What do you consider the ideal size for your practice?

JK: We are positioned for growth, however, we are more focused on quality than volume. At our current scale, we can support a wide array of project types and scales. We are nimble and can move staff from project to project to deliver our largest project (a 1 million-square-foot building) and still have the intimacy required to deliver small projects.

We are nimble and can move staff from project to project to deliver our largest project [...] and still have the intimacy required to deliver small projects.

Describe your office culture. How do you nourish it?

JK: Our studio culture is robust; we consistently host events of a variety of types, including a summer retreat, weekly happy hours, exercise classes, design critiques, and architectural tours. We have an in-house reception bar and a rock band that plays at regional design events. We often open our doors and welcome the community in.

What have been the biggest challenges starting and running your own practice?

JK: We are generalists, meaning we don’t specialize in any project type or scale. We thrive off the mix and tackling new challenges. This approach is very rewarding but is likely the most difficult running a firm where we don’t often repeat details and are sometimes competing in project types against firms with deeper portfolios in the specific project type.

Describe your work. How do you define your own unique style and approach?

JK: I am very hands-on in the design process. I sketch and draft throughout a project’s life in addition to collaborating with the project team. Each project starts with a research phase that’s part analytical and part instinctual. We see it as a combination of art and science. Through this process, we create a project narrative that becomes the north star of the design process. I am most interested in weaving these stories with innovation around sustainable practices. Healing places that have been mistreated and undervalued.

Brent Grubb: We are architects, designers, creators, makers, and translators. In our studio in Portland, Oregon we build a design narrative for each project to tell their unique story through the design of place, materials, and constructed landscapes. We thrive on collaboration and open communication with our team and clients to make together what we couldn’t do alone.

What do you want your firm to be known for?

JK: Transforming vacant and blighted places into vibrant experiences that are built to last.

BG: Skylab to be known as storytellers of place and authors of human connection. Creating architecture at the intersection of nature and culture, always driven by optimism and exploration.

Where do you see Skylab Architecture in 5 years?

JK: Recently we have grown our master-planning practice such as the Des Moines, WA marina development. I have really enjoyed the ability to help craft both the urban design and the buildings and landscape. I would like to continue to take this integrated approach and build great places.

BG: Exploring familiar and new project types and territories unlocking the potential of each one in adventurous and innovative ways.

Do you have a favorite project? Completed or in progress.

JK: We are currently completing the Serena Williams Building at Nike Headquarters. This LEED Platinum plus project will host over 2,500 occupants, and most of them will be designers. Our concept is a branch form that abstracts the wing of the Nike Goddess. The branch form represents the various staff members coming together as a team. The building features significant water reclamation, solar array, and green roof components. Its studios, restaurants, retail spaces, and shared tower amenities and resources essentially create a small city. I am looking forward to the building supporting future generations of designers and hope that they will be inspired by our work.

BG: The Columbia Building and site would be my favorite public Skylab project designed for the City of Portland, not only housing the engineering department of the wastewater treatment facility but also functioning as an immersive educational experience around sustainable infrastructure and green building policy. The city’s Bureau of Environmental Services required that the project meet a minimum LEED Gold certification, incorporate sustainable design practices, and provide a working demonstration example of storm water infiltration.

We create a project narrative that becomes the north star of the design process. I am most interested in weaving these stories with innovation around sustainable practices. Healing places that have been mistreated and undervalued.

Our solution was a new 11,490-square-foot Engineering Building and campus site that includes office space, a visitor reception space, and public meeting spaces, all integrated within a sustainable landscape. The new single-story building featured seven folded cast-in-place concrete roof forms that channel storm water through each eco-roof, draining through the berms into a visible infiltration system that leads back to the Columbia River. This project accomplished three unique timeless objectives in one single campus site: we created a vibrant and efficient workspace, clean on-site storm water filtration, and a dynamic conversation around the health of the surrounding watershed all working for clean rivers.

If you could describe your work/practice in three words, what would they be?

JK: Best Idea Wins.

BG: Creating Future History.