Design Statement
OZ Architects goal is to contribute to our communities through designs that are built well, for the well-being of all who inhabit them.  We recognize that our reputation has been built on our quality of design and our responsiveness to our clients.  Our approach to design is derived through the search for an aesthetic that is timeless, innovative and sensitive to our natural environment.  Exceptional design will stand the test of time, transcending current motifs, aging gracefully for future generations.  It will use innovation to push the limits of the status quo, while using time tested methodology to ensure longevity is not compromised.  Most importantly we are committed to producing designs that have a positive impact on our environment.  Whether it is site selection, systems operation or material selection, we take a holistic approach to ensure our designs respond to environmental conditions in a way that enhances the well-being of occupants.  With these convictions we work side by side with our clients to materialize their dreams into a structure that serves their present needs and future aspirations.  We feel that it is this open working relationship with our clients is our strongest asset.  It is our goal that this process will better all of parties involved and serve as the foundation for friendships that will sustain as well as the structures we have built.

Urban Design Experience
OZ Architects has been involved in a number of projects in the Missoula downtown area. We recognize the importance of scale, movement, transparency, light & shade, vegetation/greenery, materials/texture, and architectural context in building design and we seek to address these issues in our urban projects. The experience of pedestrians and their relationship to both building facades and “the street” are of major importance. Some of our projects that address these goals include:

• The Broadway Building and St. Patrick Hospital projects

• Millennium Building and Parking Structure

• Missoula City Hall projects

• North Higgins commercial projects

• Missoula Art Museum

• Missoula Children’s Theater

• Garlington Lohn Robinson Office Building

• Riverfront Triangle Redevelopment Master Plan

• Old Sawmill District Commercial Building and Parking Structure

• Central Park Parking Structure

Experience with Design-Build
OZ Architects has extensive experience and success with the more traditional Design-Bid-Award building delivery process. However, we have worked on a number of projects in a Design-Build or negotiated bid arrangement. Typically, the general contractor was hired concurrently with the architects and we worked together from the earliest design phases through construction. The contractor usually provided a Guaranteed Maximum Price to the Owner. Projects of this type include:

• St. Patrick Hospital (various projects)

• Boyle Deveny Meyer Office Building

• Lambros Realty Building

• Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Visitor Center and Office Building

• Advanced Imaging

• A New Facility for BMC West

• The Ronald McDonald House

• Karl Tyler Dealership

• Numerous Custom Residences

Public Sector Clients and Processes
OZ Architects has been involved in hundreds of public sector projects with entities such as; City of Missoula, Missoula County Public Schools, Missoula Fire Department, The University of Montana, U.S. Forest Service and Missoula County Airport.   Most of these projects have had challenging processes as the result of multiple vested user groups.  We have also had past opportunities to work on parking structures including; Central Park, Bank Street Parking Structure, St. Patrick’s Hospital Underground Parking Structure and more recently studies for the Missoula Riverside Parking Structure and the Riverfront Triangle Redevelopment Master Plan.  Through these experiences we have proven ourselves to be capable of handling any public project regardless of scale or complexity.  The Missoula Armed Forces Reserve Center and The Phyllis J. Washington Education Center – University of Montana are two projects we currently have under construction and represent our ability to work in the public sector.