What We Believe
We believe that all design work has social, racial, and cultural impacts that extend beyond individual buildings.
Urban designs and public policies that shape the built environment are often designed to the detriment of the communities that are marginalized in planning processes, and we are fundamentally committed to community-based design grounded in effective public engagement. We believe that design is only good design if it inherently improves racial, social, and cultural conditions. We believe that housing is a human right. We believe that Black Lives Matter.
Mission & Vision
Salazar Architect collaborates with community partners to create space for climate justice and the advancement of racial, gender, and economic equity in the built environment.
We envision equitable, resilient, and just communities that are:
Restorative and liberatory for those marginalized and harmed by racialized policies and practices
Shaped by community voice and lived experience
Economically and culturally supportive of Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, and other marginalized communities
What We Do
Salazar Architect creates high-impact public interest architecture, interiors, and urban designs that are rich in character and affordable to build. We use community design methods and sustainable design practices while understanding how our design work affects the wellbeing of communities.
Our work originated in the 1990s as a pro bono anti-displacement practice serving low-income Black and Brown communities in the San Francisco Bay Area. The firm was founded in 2007, and incorporated in 2008, with a focus on the design of affordable housing and Community Design. Since relocating to Portland in 2015 we have continued to design affordable housing and community developments while growing and expanding into other project types that are connected to our social mission.
Who We Are
Our work is often in service of low-income families and individuals, as well as migrant and immigrant communities, and we are committed to building teams — both internally and with development partners — that reflect the communities where we work. Our team is multi-cultural and represents several countries of origin and first languages. We aim to provide culturally appropriate engagement without language barriers whenever possible.
We nurture personal and professional growth in a challenging atmosphere that encourages questioning and innovation. We are working to advance our organization toward equity, inclusivity, and antiracism — toward our vision of a design firm whose social mission is reflected equally in its internal culture and its external work.
Salazar Architect is certified as an Oregon Minority Business Enterprise and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise; California Minority Business Enterprise and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise; Washington Minority Business Enterprise; and Federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise.