Building Relationships Inspiring Communities

What Building Relationships Inspiring Communities does

BRIC Architecture, Inc. (legal entity of Building Relationships Inspiring Communities) is a privately held, Portland, Oregon-based architecture firm specializing exclusively in educational facility design, planning, and facilitation services for K-12 school districts and select higher education clients across the Pacific Northwest (Oregon and Washington). The firm operates three core service lines — Design, Planning, and Facilitation — delivered through what it terms a community-based, equity-centered engagement model. Its flagship differentiator is the proprietary Equity Commissioning (Ecx) framework, a five-stage methodology developed in partnership with academic researcher Dr. Amara Pérez that integrates equity considerations into every phase of the building lifecycle, alongside a Student-Centered Engagement Process that places learners directly into the design dialogue.

The firm generates revenue through project-based professional services contracts with public school districts, typically awarded via competitive RFP/RFQ processes and funded through voter-approved school bond measures. Fee structures are custom and engagement-scoped, with multi-year contract durations aligned to capital program timelines; pricing is not publicly disclosed. GTM is sales-led and relationship-driven: BRIC pursues direct engagement with district leadership and facilities teams, supports pre-bond planning and community polling in partnership with public affairs firms such as Wright Public Affairs, and competes on demonstrated expertise in equity-centered design, sustainable and resilient building practices (including mass timber, seismic, and stormwater integration), and successful bond passage outcomes — evidenced by marquee projects tied to bond measures ranging from $82M (Central Point) to $99.7M (Seaside).

BRIC maintains a staff of approximately 60-70 across its Portland headquarters at 1233 NW Northrup St., supported by six principals, associate principals, and dedicated functional leadership in sustainability, business development, BIM management, and participatory design. It is recognized as one of Oregon's largest majority-woman owned architecture firms. The company is independently owned with no identified institutional investment, parent company, or acquisition history. Its project portfolio spans more than 60 completed and ongoing engagements — including the New Sherwood High School (362,000 SF), Beaverton High School Replacement (297,000 SF), New Renton High School (410,000 SF), and the 150,000 SF CTEC public/private partnership with Mountain West Investment Corporation and Salem-Keizer Public Schools — establishing it as a regionally significant specialist in equity-driven educational facility architecture.

Name

Building Relationships Inspiring Communities

Legal name

BRIC Architecture, Inc.

Website

https://bric-arch.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Architecture Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Architectural Services (541310), Interior Design Services (54141)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Engagement & Participatory Planning (BPAHAKAO), Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB), Building Information Modeling (BIM) & Digital Design Services (BPAHAKAK)

Keywords

• Educational architecture design
• K-12 facility planning
• School bond project services
• Equity-centered design
• Community engagement facilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Architecture and Design Services: Project-based professional fees for architectural design, planning, and facilitation services for K-12 school districts and educational institutions. Revenue is generated through contract awards for new construction, renovations, and facility planning engagements typically funded through school bond measures.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

BRIC Architecture provides professional architectural services for educational facilities through three core service lines: Design (full architectural and interior design for new construction and renovations), Planning (facility assessments, capacity assessments, long-range facility plans, pre-bond planning, master planning, and educational specifications), and Facilitation (community engagement, design thinking workshops, student-centered engagement, and visioning sessions). Services are delivered to public K-12 school districts and select higher education institutions, with projects typically funded through district bond measures.

Product overview

BRIC Architecture is a community-focused architecture firm offering three core service lines: Design, Planning, and Facilitation. These services are delivered through collaborative, community-driven processes focused exclusively on educational facilities. The firm specializes in creating learning environments that reflect community values, with an emphasis on equity, sustainability, and student-centered design approaches.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Design Services Architecture and interior design services for educational facilities, emphasizing collaborative design processes that help communities explore their values, goals, and dreams for creating environments that support student aspirations. Provided to K-12 school districts and higher education institutions across Oregon and Washington.
• Planning Services Comprehensive planning services including facility assessments, capacity assessments, long-range facility plans, pre-bond planning, master planning, and educational specifications to help districts align their goals with capital improvement projects. Offered to K-12 school districts and higher education clients.
• Facilitation Services Community engagement and facilitation services including educational visioning, design thinking workshops, student-centered engagement, and non-building related problem solving to help districts navigate complex decisions and build stakeholder consensus. Includes the proprietary Equity Commissioning (Ecx) five-stage framework.

Quantifiable outcome

• CTEC participants graduation rate in upper 90-percent range, exceeding district average by nearly 25%
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BBT ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint design partnership for Caldera High School (Bend High School) project following Bend-La Pine's successful 2016 bond. BRIC and BBT Architects collaborated to design the 240,000 SF facility accommodating 1,600 students as a school for the future.
• Wright Public AffairsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngaged by multiple school districts (Newberg School District, Central Point School District) to collect community feedback on proposed bond projects through public polling and provide bond communications support for successful bond passage campaigns.
• Mountain West Investment CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSalem-based private developer that purchased the 150,000 SF former Neilsen Manufacturing facility and partnered with Salem-Keizer Public Schools to renovate the building into CTEC through a complex multi-phased process. This public/private partnership enabled the Career Technical Education Center serving 1,000+ students.
• Dr. Amara PérezminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Dr. Pérez for Equity Commissioning methodology development, influenced by her pioneering work connecting Critical Race lens to spatial design. Her frameworks inform BRIC's equity-centered engagement approach.
• ACE Mentor ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBRIC participates in ACE Mentor program to connect with potential future employees and engage with high school students exploring architecture careers. Team members serve as mentors and connect students with internship opportunities.
• GirlsBuildminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with GirlsBuild organization hosting workshops and providing mentorship opportunities for young women exploring construction and design careers. BRIC team members participate as workshop leaders and mentors.
• Architects in SchoolsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer teaching program where BRIC team members help students explore design curiosities. Part of firm's commitment to engaging students earlier in educational journeys and supporting architecture profession diversity.
• NOMA Portland (National Organization of Minority Architects)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBRIC supports NOMA Portland and its mission of exposing architecture to diverse designers and communities. Partnership supports firm's commitment to diversity and inclusion in the design profession.
• EdSpaces ConferenceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBRIC team members present at EdSpaces conference, sharing insights on student-centered design processes and reimagined design approaches for student safety and belonging in schools.
• A4LE (Association for Learning Environments)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBRIC participates in A4LE's Schools NEXT Competition and other initiatives, supporting educational facility planning profession development and thought leadership.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hennebery Eddy Architects: Portland-based architecture firm with deep K-12 and educational facility work across Oregon and Washington. Competes for the same school district bond-funded projects and shares the Pacific Northwest regional focus that defines BRIC's market.
• Mahlum: Pacific Northwest architecture firm with strong education sector practice serving K-12 and higher education clients in Oregon and Washington. Directly comparable in regional focus, project type, and client base to BRIC's school district work.
• LPA Design Studios: California-based integrated design firm with a large dedicated K-12 education practice. Comparable in scale, exclusive education focus, and bond-funded public sector engagement model, representing a regional peer with similar specialization.
• NAC Architecture: Spokane-based architecture firm with a national K-12 education practice serving public school districts across the western U.S. Closely comparable in exclusive K-12 focus, design philosophy, and Pacific Northwest/West Coast regional presence.
• Opsis Architecture: Portland-based architecture firm with established K-12 education practice. Competes in the same Oregon school district market and shares the equity and community-centered design ethos that BRIC promotes through its Equity Commissioning framework.
• BBT Architects: Pacific Northwest architecture firm that partnered with BRIC on the Caldera High School (Bend-La Pine) project. Operates in the same regional K-12 market with comparable scale and client base, and is documented as a direct co-design partner on Oregon bond-funded projects.
• LSW Architects: Pacific Northwest architecture firm specializing in K-12 educational facilities, with offices in Oregon and Washington. Directly comparable in client type, project type, and geographic market to BRIC's K-12 focus.
• DLR Group: National architecture and engineering firm with a significant K-12 education practice, headquartered in Omaha with major Pacific Northwest operations. Directly competes with BRIC on Oregon and Washington school district projects; a former BRIC designer (Scott Thorson) previously worked at DLR Group, indicating direct talent overlap and project-level competition.

Broad incumbents

• CannonDesign: National architecture, engineering, and consulting firm with a substantial K-12 and higher education practice. Competes for the same large school district commissions but operates across healthcare, commercial, and civic sectors, making it a broader incumbent rather than a niche peer.
• Perkins&Will: Global architecture firm with a prominent education practice serving K-12 and higher education clients. Competes in the same public K-12 market but as part of a much broader portfolio across healthcare, commercial, and civic sectors.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bric_arch
• Facebookfacebook.com/bric.arch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bric-arch

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Building Relationships Inspiring Communities