Design + Development = Sum Design Studio

A few months ago, while touring Keven Cavenaugh’s new Rocket building on Burnside, I also met two of its tenants: Matt Loosemore and Eric Hoffman of Sum Design Studio. Both came from larger local firms and have partnered to design and develop small infill projects.

Sum’s first building is a three-unit condo at Southeast 45th and Stark, near the Portland Nursery. Each unit is 1600 square feet with three bedrooms, a single-car garage in back, and a roof deck on top. They’re also incorporating a large bioswale that will hold the rainwater from the roof.

Hoffman and Loosemore also have a few more projects up their sleeve. There is a recently completed Flint Studios (left), headquarters for Cycle Oregon in North Portland, just a few blocks north of Memorial Coliseum. It has four apartment units above, all of which enjoy views of downtown and the Fremont Bridge. And next year Sum hopes to break ground on a mixed-use residential project on Northeast 15th and Alberta (below). This is an early rendering of the space. In all cases, there seems to be a nice economy of form and a preference for wood as an exterior material.

Wood is a very popular exterior choice today, some might even say overdone. Holst Architecture’s Belmont Lofts was the first to do it so noticeably and well, and the firm’s Thurman Street Lofts is a smaller and simpler but still impressive example. But I think using these kinds of materials transcends architectural fads and hearkens back to earlier Northwest modernism of Belluschi, Yeon and Storrs.

Of course Matt Loosemore and Eric Hoffman haven’t had the chance to show that level of mastery, but they are the latest of many small young firms in town who seem to be taking the reigns of their career and developing a host of nice small projects. Hopefully Sum’s portfolio of built work will continue to add up.

My only criticism so far? I think they should remove 'Design' from their name and just call themselves 'Sum Studio' -- they could even make their logo remiscent of an old 45-RPM record, on which many an Elvis and Carl Perkins song was pressed. Or maybe they could keep their name but use the old Phil Collins song "Sussudio" for some kind of radio jingle: "Just say the word: Aaaaaooooo! Sum! Design! Studio!"

Comments

[aya]

I admire the Flint Studios project every morning on my way to work. The block it sits on is lovely and quiet (especially considering the freeway next door). And the neighborhood is changing - New Seasons' office just moved in.

[drew]

Looks like solid work.

With the condo market dead, for the time being at least, I wonder if projects like this one at 15th and Alberta will ever get off the ground. Wasn't there supposed to be a mixed-use condo going up this year at 20th and Alberta? And Brian, do you have the story about the apparent cancellation of the Backbridge Station project, which you had previously profiled?

[JJ]

I can see "Sum Studio" logo crafted in a spider web a la Charlotte!