EXPERIENCE
engage:ARCHITECTURE, founded in 2009, provides full-service architectural services ranging in scale from custom furniture to custom single family houses, and from small commercial to multi-family housing. Our work focuses on thoughtful, creative and sustainable contemporary design solutions.
Before founding engage:ARCHITECTURE, David Schmitz, Principal, spent seven years working for a Eugene based architecture firm. His work there included project management on over 47 projects, including more than 300 low-income housing units, residential renovations, commercial renovations and tenant in-fill projects.
In addition to helping clients reach their design needs, David has spent time as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Oregon School of Architecture. His work at the University involved instruction in Residential Construction, Green Building, Passive House Design, and Kitchen Design. He helped a sustainability focused student group jump start their Passive House renovation of a 1920's bungalow.
David graduated from the University of Arkansas School of Architecture in 2001. The program provided diverse educational opportunities, including semester-long studies in Rome, Italy and at the Memphis Center for Architecture, as well as courses in furniture design/construction and a design/build single-family house.
engage:ARCHITECTURE delivers a strong work ethic, focused problem solving skills, and the value of thoughtful hands-on design.
PHILOSOPHY
engage:ARCHITECTURE approaches every design problem as an opportunity to thoughtfully consider our understanding and relationship with the environment through a collaborative process that searches for an appropriate and inspiring response. This solution must have a unified vision and satisfy requirements of environmental responsibility, honest materiality, and budget awareness.
Accounting for high percentages of energy use, carbon emissions and waste, today's construction must be cognizant of its environmental impacts. engage:ARCHITECTURE views every project as an opportunity to reduce our impact through thoughtful, efficient design and appropriate material choices. A main goal of this Practice is to show and explore ways of making environmentally responsible projects that are affordable and within reach of anyone who has the desire.