The distinctive beauty of the Pacific Northwest informs Ankrom Moisan’s design of the new Schwabe law offices in downtown Portland, Oregon. Natural forms, wood, stone, and textural fabrics imbue the organic beauty of the region, instilling a warm sense of authenticity. “We wanted people to feel welcomed, grounded, and at ease the moment they entered the space,” says Ankrom Moisan studio leader Bethanne Mikkelsen. “The overall concept was to create a workplace that supports productivity and collaboration while still feeling restorative and deeply connected to its regional context.”
Layered and tactile, the earthy palette is offset with vibrant accents across floorplans hosting a mix of collaborative and quiet zones conceived with flexibility in mind. An internal staircase links the three-level office via a vertical core as it also embodies transparency and collaboration. Reception and social areas echo hospitality environments, particularly on the middle level where a lounge boasts a cozy fireplace and city views. Rich textures and restrained lighting punctuate a discrete onsite speakeasy-style bar as well.
Designated attorney work zones bring related practice groups more closely into collaboration, while acoustic privacy is ensured between offices to support focus and confidentiality. Abundant daylighting is democratically infused across all workspaces along with tambour wood veneer whose curved profile instills softness as it recurs. Reflecting an emphasis on sustainability and wellness, 80 linear feet of existing casework is salvaged and repurposed from previous Schwabe offices to line interiors outfitted with low-VOC finishes, recycled content, and biophilia.
