Furthering discovery, activity, and reflection

Portland Community Architecture Firm

Scott Edwards Architecture’s community projects are contextualized to represent the people and places that they serve. Our firm provides architecture, interior design, and planning services for communities throughout the Pacific Northwest, and our projects in this market sector include spaces for recreation like aquatic centers, community centers and parks, senior centers, food banks, cultural centers that support art and creation, and placemaking work that helps form vibrant communities. Our work aims to further discovery, activity, and reflection by creating engaging and functional places that belong to the community.

We have a passion for empowering others through architecture. By designing public spaces, we have the opportunity to uplift and inspire everyone, no matter their socioeconomic circumstances or personal identity. We enjoy working with people to develop places that become neighborhood landmarks, touchpoints of pride that support connection and opportunity for growth, and we have witnessed firsthand the value that accessible, multi-purpose, sustainable places add to community life. We design spaces made to serve families, children, senior citizens, culturally specific groups, students, and all ability types, ensuring inclusivity and a welcoming environment for everyone.

When working with our firm, clients can expect thoughtful design solutions that consider innovative approaches—whether that means the latest in sustainability, the timeless and maintenance-friendly materials that we use, or the choice to build new construction, renovate existing, or even adaptively reuse historic buildings. We understand how important it is for community spaces to be durable, easy to maintain, and representative of the people and place that they serve. Designs also need to be forward-thinking, incorporating adaptability so they can evolve as needs change and populations shift.

We partner with clients to anticipate future expectations and use design to respond. This can look like incorporating multi-functional spaces capable of a range of purposes, including hosting events, being used for cooking or fitness classes, or even as emergency response shelters. It can also mean phased construction, adding programmed elements like dance and art studios, theaters, aquatic centers with competition-sized pools, athletic facilities, and more, as funding becomes available.

As community architects, we go beyond simply providing our architectural services and strive to become a part of the community organization’s network of supporters. We lead neighborhood meetings, set up on-site studios, speak with City Councils, host fundraisers, contribute to capital campaigns, and more. We believe in the mission-driven nature of spaces meant to enrich lives and take great pride in playing a role in designing them. SEA continues to support our community clients well past the lifetime of a project and we like nothing more than seeing their spaces used and enjoyed as intended.

A Dialogue Street Seat
Astoria Senior Center
Broadway Rose Theatre
Centro Cultural Community Center
Coos Bay Food Bank
Diamond View Park Bike Trails
Falls City Community Center & Food Bank
Forest Grove Senior Center