Amanda joined BDA in 2010. After relocating to Eugene from Chicago, she was happy to find that her years of previous experience in affordable housing were an ideal fit for BDA. In her years dedicated to the creation of well designed affordable housing options throughout Oregon and Illinois, she has been involved in projects varying in size from a single tiny home to a 106 unit mid-rise for independent seniors. Her projects have been in both rural and dense urban areas. Regardless of the project size or location, she is committed to investigating the most appropriate sustainable strategies to increase energy efficiency and create tighter building envelopes while staying within the project budget. Amanda is also the go-to for accessibility questions within the office and enjoys discussing ways to go beyond ‘code’ depending on the population served in her housing projects.

Amanda graduated from the University of Illinois in Chicago with her Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies in 2004 and received her Master of Architecture from the same institution in 2006. She is a licensed architect in both Oregon and Illinois.

During her time in architecture school, she spent a summer studying politics and policy in London, England where she was introduced to England’s approach to social housing reform. This turned her attention in architecture to affordable housing and led her to seek out a position as a research assistant at the City Design Center when she returned to UIC.

Amanda’s interest in applied research has continued in practice. Her most recent project focus in the firm has been leading their Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) projects. BDA’s PSH projects have allowed her the experience to conduct, integrate, and present on research that informs this work, including studies on common space allocation, analyzing use zones and adjacencies within studio dwelling units, and creating Trauma-Informed Design guidelines to enhance feelings of safety and security for residents who have experienced chronic homelessness and the staff that support them. She values the opportunity to learn from service providers, property managers and representative tenant voices throughout the design process to develop projects that meet the needs of future staff and residents. In addition to her Permanent Supportive Housing research she’s published and presented on BDA’s Passive House Informed approach to tighter buildings.

When not at work or play, Amanda loves a good adventure with her husband and their son and a cuddle back home with their furry family members. She’s a born animal lover and has enjoyed volunteering for Pro-Bone-O, a non-profit organization that provides free veterinary assistance and supplies to the pets of people who are homeless in the Lane County area. She’s also been involved in multiple committees responsible for organizing public events for the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects and using her skills as an Architect to help at her son’s school.

Phone: 541.683.8661×4
Email: Amanda Donofrio