Andre DeBar AIA, principal of DeBar Architecture, has over twenty years of architectural experience and specializes in sustainable design and construction. His work has attracted local and national attention for its use of green-building strategies including energy-efficient and passive-solar designs, resource-efficient material selections and a quality-over-quantity philosophy. The Bacon-Brenes Residence, named National Association of Home Builders 2003 National Green Custom Home of the Year award, has been featured in local and national publications for integrating many sustainable-design concepts. In 2007 the Carstens Residence was named Honorable Mention in the NAHB Energy Value Housing Awards and awarded Earth Advantage Platinum Certification.

DeBar’s range of project experience spans from green demonstration homes to large office towers and includes community centers, higher education buildings, and mixed-use developments. He managed the design of over $150 million worth of commercial, institutional and residential projects as a Senior Associate at both Opsis Architecture LLP and Thompson Vaivoda and Associates Architects Inc. In the early-1990s, as lead employee for Gregory Acker Architect, DeBar was on the forefront of Portland’s green building movement, designing residential projects utilizing sustainable building technologies and managing the general contracting for several design-build green homes. This real-world construction experience and a lot of hands-on work on his own homes ensures that his designs are readily buildable as well as beautiful.

DeBar recently became one of the first certified Sustainable Homes Professionals (SHP) in Portland and in 2001 was one of the early LEED-Accredited Professionals. He is active in the local green-building community and strongly endorses the Passive House concept, the Living Building Challenge, and the Architecture 2030 Challenge. He grew up in Minnesota and has enjoyed calling Oregon his home since 1992.

Education:
Yale University, Master or Architecture, 1990
University of Virginia, Bachelor of Science in Architecture, 1987

Memberships and supported organizations:
American Institute of Architects, Portland Chapter
Cascadia Region Green Building Council
Northwest EcoBuilding Guild
Solar Oregon
Columbia Land Trust
Northwest Earth Institute
Center for Earth Leadership