Blog
There’s a lot happening at Mackenzie. Here, we’ll share some of our thoughts and actions. Some are off-the-cuff and spontaneous; others are longer term projects, and the product of research, collaboration, and an abiding love for the communities we serve. Put together, these pieces provide a reflection of who we are, and what we’re up to.
Invisible Cities
Recently, Mackenzie participated in our second installation for the Portland Winter Light Festival.
The light-based art and technology event fosters community in Portland through immersive light installations, projections, and interactive displays during the city’s darkest time of the year.
Read Our Chat with Mackenzie Architectural Designer Ashley Fenner.
New Space for ODHS
The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) had a number of facilities they wanted to co-locate. A developer found a building where ODHS could do it.
The purchase required close coordination between ODHS (the future tenant), the current owner, and the investor team trying to make it all pencil. Mackenzie’s interiors team and our planning department pulled it off.
Read Our Chat with Mackenzie Principal Morgan Toth.
Structural Engineering Internships are Open
Every summer, Mackenzie brings in paid interns, letting them experience true hands-on engineering.
We made a video about what you'll be doing and what you can expect to learn!
Watch and Learn More Here.
Puppy Alert!
Anyone who’s worked at Mackenzie’s Portland office within the last eight years knows what to do when an office-wide puppy alert goes into effect.
When Mackenzie Principal Mark Hettum stands in the center of the office and shouts out the alert, it means, if possible, you find a few minutes in your busy day to meet and spend some time with one of the puppies he and his wife Anita are training for Canine Companions, the largest service dog organization in the United States.
A Mackenzie puppy alert brightens everyone’s day of course, but it also serves a bigger purpose. We sat down with Anita, Mark, and Marcus, the puppy they’re currently training to learn more.
Meet Marcus and Learn About His Training
Mackenzie Holds Fifteenth Annual Holiday Run
Recently, Mackenzie held our fifteenth annual Holiday Run and Walk.
Folks set off at 5:30 am sharp from our Portland office for a 2.5 mile loop along the Willamette River waterfront then meet back at the office for cold and hot drinks. The ambitious then set off for another loop!
View images from this and prior years!
Fire Station Design
An Interview with Jeff Humphreys
Mackenzie Principal Jeff Humphreys has worked on more than 125 public safety facilities, including 75 fire stations. In honor of his deep experience in fire station design, Jeff was recently invited to judge entries to Firehouse Magazine's Station Design Awards.
We interviewed Jeff on why he's passionate about this work, how the awards process works, and how the judges assessed the entries.
Read Part One of Our Conversation Here.
SEMICON West Takeaways
Mackenzie’s president Dietrich Wieland attended the leading global conference for the semiconductor industry as a representative of Greater Portland Inc., where he serves as board chair. He highlighted some of his key takeaways from the four days in Arizona with GPI and we're sharing them with you here too.
Mackenzie has been a design partner to many within the industry for more than three decades. We’ve assisted these confidential clients in site feasibility studies, development decisions, facility planning, and the design of complex facilities and campuses.
Read Dietrich's Four Takeaways Here.
Summer Internships
Join Daniel as he interviews architecture interns, Molly, Petra, and Mari. He checks in about their experiences and what they're working on.
Mackenzie internships provide students a strong foundation for future careers through work on real projects and career-building mentorship from experienced professionals.
Watch Their Interviews Here.
The Mackenzie Softball Team is on a Winning Streak
We're doing surprisingly well this season. With a six and four record so far, according to team captain Ty Kirchhofer, we're on a winning streak.
Every year for over a decade, Mackenzie’s Portland and Vancouver offices field a slow pitch softball team. We play in a league against Portland-area engineering, architecture, and construction firms.
Learn More and Watch a Video Here.
Intern Day
Mackenzie and Perlo Construction recently co-hosted our annual “Intern Day.” Students completing summer internships at our firms spent nearly six hours together learning how our companies do what we do.
Students completing internships at our respective companies spent nearly six hours together touring an office building under construction and learning what the day-to-day looks like for experienced design and construction professionals.
See photos from our tour!
Construction of Rassekh Park
Large boulders for the climbing wall were installed at Rassekh Park in Lake Oswego recently.
The design and construction team worked together to place them in just the right spots, according to the design. It's an exciting step toward completion of the playground and the park's eventual completion.
Learn More and Watch a Video Here.
If You Pedal, We Pay!
Bike Lunch is a longstanding tradition at Mackenzie. Once a month rain or shine, a group of our colleagues ride together to have lunch on the company's dime.
See What Bike Lunch Is All About.
Mackenzie Pickleball Tournament
Our Fun Committee held our first pickleball tournament here in Portland.
Eight teams competed for the GOAT trophies and the burden of defending their title next year!
Get the Play-by-Play Here.
Mackenzie's Portland Team Hosts NOMA Monthly Meeting
Last week Mackenzie hosted the Portland chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects' (NOMA) May 2025 Member Meeting.
The Evening was filled with networking, community announcements, committee updates, and a presentation on NOMA’s Mission and commitment to supporting minority architects nationally.
See Photos from the Event!
Mackenzie Celebrates 20 Years in Vancouver
Mackenzie's Vancouver, WA office celebrated its twentieth anniversary on September 26th, 2024, with a party!
There was food and vibrant conversations as we toasted to two decades of partnerships with clients and our community.
See Photos from the Event!
Summer Picnics 2024
Last month, Mackenzie offices celebrated the end of the summer season with our annual Summer Picnic celebrations.
There was food, music, raffles, and mini golf, as well as the announcement of this year’s eight recipients of the Eric T. Saito Scholarship.
See Photos and Video from the Events!
Progress at Gradin Park
Improvements at Gradin Community Sports Park are well underway. We stopped by recently to see what's going on beneath the surface.
Mackenzie’s Landscape Architecture team is leading the design team and contractor Paul Brothers Inc. is leading the construction work.
Watch a Short Video from an Afternoon on Site!
The More You Know about Building Code
An Interview with Brett Conway
We interviewed Mackenzie Principal Brett Conway about two State of Washington technical advisory groups he's recently been appointed to.
He gave us an overview of building code, told us why it matters, and explained how the State of Washington makes changes to it.
Read the Rest of Our Conversation Here
Shared Prosperity and Economic Growth with Project Agate
Project Agate is a Mackenzie designed 530,000 square-foot distribution center.
The project is led by the Port of Portland and will eventually provide more than 150 quality jobs for the region.
Watch the Video We Made and Learn More Here.
Introducing Mackenzie's Embodied Carbon Action Plan
We’ve made the #SE2050 Commitment!
Learn more, read Mackenzie's ECAP, and explore the 150 other firms who’ve made the commitment to reduce embodied carbon in their projects too here:
Watch the Video Here.
The More You Know About Mass Timber
We asked Mackenzie Structural Engineer Rich Racz, PE to give us a brief overview of mass timber.
It's a form of building construction that has rapidly gained popularity. Read some of what he had to say and watch the short overview video we made below.
Watch the Video Here.
Our Season of Giving Culminated with a Party
For two years running, Mackenzie has celebrated the holidays with the Season of Giving. In a spirit of healthy competition, we challenge each other to donate to organizations we believe in.
That challenge culminated at our Holiday Extravaganza on December 6th, organized by the Mackenzie Fun Committee.
See Photos from the Event!
Your Internship at Mackenzie
The mission of Mackenzie's internship program is simple: we want to show you what we do and how we do it.
Mackenzie brings in interns each summer and during the school year as class schedules allow, letting them experience true, hands-on design work in a multi-discipline setting.
We made a video about three summer interns to illustrate just how valuable the experience is.
Start Your Career with Us Here!
Building Bridges Through Equitable Development
On October 11th, Mackenzie hosted and event called "Building Bridges Through Equitable Development."
Panelists discussed AEC and CRE trends propelling more diverse and equitable development projects, and associated impacts to their professions.
See More Photos from the Event.
Summertime Picnics
Mackenzie's summer picnics brought our Portland and Vancouver offices together at Oaks Park in Portland, and our Seattle office at Alki Beach!
See the Photos.
The More You know About Portland Limestone Cement
Cement production is responsible for around 8% of global CO2 emissions annually.
Structural and Civil Engineers design the building blocks of the built environment. This means they have an opportunity to make a big impact in sustainability.
Learn more about the benefits of low carbon concrete from Mackenzie Structural Engineer Jo Ann Offill, EIT in this video.
Watch it Here!
Dayona's Work Study Experience at Mackenzie
Dayona was an intern at Mackenzie for three years as part of the De La Salle North Catholic High School work study program.
“My experience at Mackenzie has taught me how to adapt to different situations and apply myself completely to each task,” Dayona says.
We all wish her the very best as she moves on to university!
Watch a Video about Her Experience.
May is National Bike Month
We wanted to check in with our colleagues who bike (and walk!) to work regularly.
Some cycle every single day they’re in the office, others are more fair-weather riders. Everyone had something interesting to say and they had advice for people who want to try commuting without a car.
Curious About What Else They Had to Say?
Happy Sweet 16 to the RiverEast Center
Mackenzie's Portland headquarters turns 16 this year!
The Holman Building, as it was known before the renovation, was once condemned to make way for the doomed Mt. Hood Freeway.
Now in its teenage years, the RiverEast Center is chock full of fascinating features.
Explore the RiverEast Center
