design that matters

Everyone deserves access to beautiful, thoughtful, creative, and inspirational space - space that increases a person’s well-being by just being there. As designers we are considerate of the fact that every person who visits a place brings with them a different perspective, a different set of abilities, and a different past. We lead with compassion and are driven by a civic purpose – to be of service to ALL of our community.

Since its inception in 1992 by three women architects, Merryman Barnes has valued supporting all members of our community. The ethos of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is, and always has been, the lens through which we operate. That said, we are always learning, listening, and striving to do better.

We know that in order to serve our community best, we need to keep our staff happy and healthy. Merryman Barnes offers a comprehensive benefits package, including family leave and retirement plan in addition to health and dental coverage. We offer flexibility for families, and we encourage balance and prioritize mental health and well-being for our team. We offer a robust continuing education and community service policy.

At Merryman Barnes we believe that in order to do their best, our team should feel at home at work. Our staff should feel supported, safe, and free to express themselves. We ask for input, and we listen.

We check our egos at the door and come to work with a sense of purpose and compassion, and enjoy ourselves doing it.

Giving back matters. We proudly support:

Taking Ownership PDX

ACLU

Planned Parenthood

De La Salle North High School

Bridges Middle School

Union Gospel Mission

Solar Oregon

Additionally, we set aside time for all staff to volunteer regularly at the organization(s) of their choice throughout the year.

Designing sustainably is no longer optional – it’s a must. As designers of the built environment, we have a great responsibility to reduce carbon emissions by creating more sustainable buildings and educating our clients about the systems that make buildings more environmentally friendly. We are taking actionable steps to be the best stewards of the environment that we can.

• We have joined the AIA Commitment to Sustainability project to help us track real data on how well we are meeting our goals.

• We specify local materials with post-consumer recycled content whenever possible.

• We apply LEED and USGBC practices to our projects as much as possible, even if the building isn’t seeking official certification.

• In the office, we minimize the usage of paper and when we do use it, we make sure both sides get used before it goes into the recycle bin.

• We have partnered with a neighboring coffee shop to compost all of our food waste.

• We encourage the use of public transportation or bicycle commuting by staff.

• We use responsible haulers who donate items to local non-profit organizations, rather than putting them in a landfill, when we have moved or needed to purge items.

NCARB: registered Architects in Oregon, Washington and Idaho
State of Oregon: Oregon Women Business Enterprise (WBE)
Disadvantaged Business (DBE)
COBID # 1216
City of Portland: Equal Opportunity employer
AIA Oregon: American Institute of Architects members (Portland Chapter)

EDUCATION
Portland State University
University of Oregon
Portland Community College
Joyful Noise
NON-PROFIT HOUSING
Central City Concern
Vancouver Housing Authority
Portland Community Reinvestment Initiatives
Home Forward
PUBLIC AGENCIES
City of Salem
METRO
Multnomah County
City of Portland
Portland Housing Bureau
Prosper Portland
City of Vancouver
TriMet
SPIRITUAL
Cedar Mill Bible Church
St Juan Diego
Sisters of the Holy Name