Portland, Oregon (January 22, 2019) — The award-winning firm of Laurence Ferar and Associates has joined Soderstrom Architects to add a new winery and distillery design studio.
Under the leadership of Soderstrom’s Managing Principal, Dan Van Calcar, AIA; Laurence Ferar, AIA, LEED AP; and Reed Lewis, AIA, LEED AP; the Ferar Wine & Spirits Studio will specialize in the design of wineries and distilleries, as well as tasting rooms and viticulture and enology educational facilities.
Effective January 1, 2019, the Ferar Wine & Spirits Studio is working out of Soderstrom Architects’ Portland, Oregon office. All team members of the two companies remain, and the combined firm has a staff of 44.
“We have shared firm values,” says Dan Van Calcar. “We recognized early that both firms shared values dedicated to long-lasting client relationships, and both place a strong focus on developing thoughtful contextual design solutions. Being founded in the Pacific Northwest, both firms are also deeply rooted in sustainable design, which makes us a good fit for one another.”
Through the merger, Soderstrom and Ferar will be able to complement each other’s competitive advantages by growing the Ferar Studio’s business through additional resources and support, as well as expanding the studio’s capabilities in the hospitality component of the wine and spirits sector.
Michael Shea, Principal at Soderstrom, notes, “for Soderstrom, the merger adds a new and already strong reputation and capacity in the wine and spirits market sector, adding to our expertise in education and healthcare design, without having to build it up from scratch.”
Laurence Ferar and Associates have completed more than 35 winery and distillery projects and involved in the planning of more than 40 others worldwide. Reed Lewis, Technical Director of the Wine & Spirits Studio, adds: “My hope is that the studio will continue to be a leader in the design of wine and spirit facilities. In particular, we’re excited to grow our involvement in the hospitality portion of the work.”
Soderstrom Architects and Laurence Ferar and Associates share a history that goes back over 30 years to when Laurence Ferar worked with Soderstrom founding principals at Martin/Soderstrom/Matteson. The firms have stayed in touch over the years, and collaborated on the French American International School project together in the late 90’s. “It feels like coming full circle, re-joining [Soderstrom] 36 years later,” says Laurence Ferar, Director of Wine & Spirits Studio.
At Soderstrom, the Ferar Studio team includes many of the accomplished architectural professionals who helped Laurence Ferar successfully deliver projects such as the Lemelson Winery, Woollaston Estate Winery, and House Spirits Distillery. The studio will continue its work on current projects, including the new Abbott Claim Winery in Carlton, Oregon, as well as the new Veering Creek Winery in Louisville, Kentucky.
Together, we are all looking forward to the years ahead as we embark on this new chapter, broadening our experience into complementary markets and continuing to advance our clients’ success.
About Soderstrom Architects
Founded in 1984, Soderstrom Architects is a Portland, Oregon based architecture, planning and interior design firm. The firm offers creative practical design solutions to clients in the fields of education, healthcare, civic, and commercial business. Soderstrom’s focus is to work within clients’ needs, to create spaces that function elegantly and efficiently. The firm believes the best design is an integration of function, technology, natural environment, and human interaction. These are the primary influences for thoughtful, well-crafted design solutions.
About Laurence Ferar and Associates
Founded in 1983, Laurence Ferar and Associates are best known for their work in the wine industry, and have been involved in the planning and design of over 70 wineries worldwide. The firm’s clients range from boutique producers to large public corporations, and include some of the most prestigious labels in the business. Laurence Ferar and Associates have designed production facilities for a broad range of varietals, for still and sparkling wines, as well as distilleries. Laurence Ferar and Associates pride themselves on the holistic view they take of buildings and their site. Similar to the winemaker’s concept of terroir – the idea that a glass of wine reflects not only the vintage but also the unique combination of soil, exposure, and the climate where it was grown – the firm wants each building to capture and convey the special sense of place inherent in the site. Their commitment to sustainability provides an opportunity to enhance their clients’ reputations as good stewards of the land.
