Portland, Bend architecture firms team up

Daily Journal of Commerce (Portland, OR), Aug 14, 2003 by Ray Hughey

Ralston Architects of Beaverton and Hara Schick Architecture of Bend decided not to break up a good team.

The two firms first combined their talents and resources in 1998 to design the new Bend police station. That job and working relationship went so well they decided to keep it going. Instead of going their separate ways as many project partners do once the job is done, they decided to keep their partnership going.

It just added up, said John L. Ralston: One plus one equals three.

The two firms formed a third company to pool their talents and the 18 employees between them on specific projects.

They embarked on a joint venture - HSR architecture, master planning, interior design. The new firm is focusing on government, civic and commercial projects in Central and Southern Oregon, while each business continued to manage its own projects.

John Ralston and Leslie Hara Shick have known each other since the 1980s, when they worked together at another Portland architectural firm.

Hara Shick started her firm in Bend with her brother, George Hara, about 1991, and Ralston formed his own architectural firm in Beaverton in 1992. However, they stayed in touch and maintained their friendship.

After collaborating on the Bend police station, they knew they had a winning combination.

The project was a smashing success, Ralston said. It finished on time, it finished under budget. The police were very happy.

When their work on that project lead to more work, they saw the sense in combining forces. Doing so gave the Ralston firm a home base and local presence in Bend. Hara Schick gained Ralston's expertise in high-tech projects and the resources of its larger staff.

We see this as an extension of our firms, rather than replacing it. Each firm maintains its autonomy, and then they come together, said Ralston. It increases our abilities. Combined, we bring a lot to the table.

There are six of us in our office, said Leslie Hara Shick. It has enabled us to have more projects on our plate and still produce quality design and deliver projects on time. It has also broadened the scope and types of projects we're able to do.

Since the new venture began in June 2002, HSR has completed master planning work for the city of Bend administration facilities, a remodel of the Bend City Hall Annex, a remodel for Jefferson County Corrections and the Wheeler County Integrated Family Services Building.

HSR is collaborating with Crook County and the city of Prineville on several improvement projects for downtown Prineville. HSR has also designed a remodel for the Prineville Senior Center.

Our intention is that the two firms work together for as long as possible, if not forever, Ralston said. Combined, we really bring a lot to the table. You put the two together, and you come up with a real good mix. That's where one plus one equals three.