Portland, Ore.-based LRS Architects has promoted four team members to senior associate and two team members to associate as of January 1, 2025.
Promoted to senior associate were Matthew Dreska, Amy Hjelte, Alex Karel and Kelsey Loverro. Paul Kurth and Zachary Freund were promoted to associate.
“These six professionals’ collective experience and knowledge of architectural design best practices will aid LRS Architects in continuing to expand and remain an industry leader,” said Trish Nixon, president of LRS Architects. “We congratulate each of them on their respective promotions and look forward to many more successful years of collaboration in delivering the top-quality projects our clients have come to expect.”
Dreska has been with LRS Architects since 2011 and has been involved in various projects for clients in the automotive, civic, commercial, multifamily housing and retail sectors. His recent projects include upcoming affordable housing projects, including Wickiup Station in La Pine, Trinity Place in Sisters, and 9 Peaks in Bend. A LEED Green Associate, Dreska has a bachelor of architecture from the University of Oregon.
Hjelte has spent nearly three decades at LRS Architects as a specifications specialist and was named an Associate in 2011. She joined the firm in 1997 and has supported a wide variety of projects for LRS’ civic, senior living, retail, multifamily housing and commercial clients across the West Coast. Her projects include Parkview at Terwilliger Plaza in Portland, multiple anchor projects on the Vancouver Waterfront and the Bunk House Hotel in Madras. She holds certifications as a construction documents technologist (CDT) and as a certified construction specifier (CCS). Hjelte has a bachelor of architecture from the University of Oregon.
Karel joined LRS Architects in 2011. His experience includes a unique balance of civic, commercial and auto dealership design projects across the West Coast and Alaska. Recent projects include Washington County’s Wingspan Event and Conference Center in Hillsboro, Ore.; the ilani Event Center Expansion in Ridgefield, Wash. and the Swickard Anchorage Mercedes-Benz Van Center in Alaska. Karel has a bachelor of architecture from the University of Oregon.
Loverro has her entire career at LRS, joining the company in 2014 upon graduating with a bachelor of interior architecture from the University of Oregon. Her most notable recent projects include Jaguar Land Rover’s Technology Center in Portland, Alta University Place, and the Travel Portland Visitor Center.
Kurth joined LRS in 2012 and has served in multiple roles, including as job captain and architect, and design Lead, with projects in the automotive, office, retail, religious, and senior living sectors for clients in Oregon and Washington. His recent projects include Holman Lexus of Vancouver, Porsche Studio Portland, and a warehouse facility for Leatherman. He has a bachelor of architecture from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
Freund joined LRS in 2015 and has contributed to a wide range of projects, including office and workplace, multifamily housing, industrial and retail. Freund has worked on numerous historic structures during his career, and he has cultivated a specialty in renovation and adaptive reuse design, with recent projects including The Clifford affordable apartments, St. Mary’s Rectory, and St. Joseph’s Hall in Portland. He has a master’s and bachelor of architecture from the University of Idaho.
