Women Build Strong Foundations in Design Field, published in Cascade Business News

Woman are building a higher profile in a once male-dominated field, as exemplified by LRS Architects, which has a Bend presence and has grown to become the largest women-owned architecture and interior design firm in the Pacific Northwest.

The milestone came after the addition of Michelle Startt and Janice Sanada to the majority ownership group, joining forces with previous majority owners Trish Nixon, Dan Purgiel and Paul Boundy.

Startt is an experienced licensed architect, and National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) Certified — a credential for architects who have met rigorous national standards established by the U.S. licensing boards.

A self-confessed “Star Wars fan and board game enthusiast,” Startt says she promotes storytelling throughout the design process and encourages her staff to “take risks and explore innovative solutions,” as part of keeping her team motivated and energized.

With an extensive background as an architect and project manager, Startt is the principal of the Interiors Department and the Office + Workplace Studio, leading a team of talented architects and interior designers in a variety of pursuits. “When I started at LRS Architects over 20 years ago, the industry was very male dominated. I was one of only four women on the architectural staff,” she said. “Since then, the landscape has changed dramatically, and I’m proud to say that LRS Architects is now almost fifty percent female.”

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