Nir Pearlson Turning Point

-->

Alison Jelden

2/17/13

Turning Point

Higher Education Leads to Promising Career

Holding a razor sharp pencil between his fingers, touching a weightless tissue paper to outline a design, and shading in detail to create balance is all too familiar for Nir Pearlson.  Pearlson grew up in Kibbutz, Israel, a collective community that is based on agriculture, where his mother is an art teacher and taught him how to be crafty. At a young age, the passion of creating art influenced Pearlson to learn carpentry, plumbing, and construction. Learning basic construction skills was the foundation to be an architect, but attending University of Oregon was his life changing decision to be an architect of sustainable buildings. 

Pearlson graduated from the University of Oregon in ’95 with a bachelor’s degree in architecture. “Going to the University of Oregon was influential because there is a very strong focus at the architectural school on sustainability…it’s just built into the education and program…the lecture series challenge us in the way we build, how we occupy buildings, and how buildings have an environmental impact. It’s important to pay attention, to be sensitive, and to improve things,” said Pearlson. Even after college, its still Pearlson’s goal to change his design technique to create a more efficient building. 

Pearlson started his own company 10 years ago, Nir Pearlson Architect, Inc. The focus for his company is to practice sustainable features, but within the clients desire. The company does not exclusively design green buildings. Pearlson said, “I really want to work with a whole range of people, companies, and individuals. So I don’t want to limit it. I want to be open to helping everybody, but I would really love to be in a place where we are making a difference.” 

Throughout the years of design, the most energy efficient building he has designed is the Hummingbird Wholesale store. He converted an old warehouse into a mix use building. It has offices, food production, and restaurant, which are all highly sustainable. “I’m very, very proud of this one,” he explained. This building constructs the future for Nir Pearlson Architect, Inc. “The ultimate goal is to be in a place where we can define every project as a green building,” said Pearlson. He hopes to give back to the community by building energy efficient buildings, especially for the University of Oregon, since that’s where it all started.