Murase Associates

Specialty: Landscape architecture, urban design, planning, public art
Management: Mark Tilbe, Seattle manager; Scott Murase, lead designer; Jonathan Beaver, Portland manager
Founded: 1982
Headquarters: Portland
Projects: Alley 24, Seattle; Group Health Medical Center, Bellevue; Natural Sciences Building at South Puget Sound Community College, Olympia; The Bravern, Bellevue; Skyline at First Hill, Seattle

Murase Associates weathered a major loss in 2005 when founder Robert Murase died of a heart attack in July at age 66. The internationally renowned landscape architect, called “a poet of stone and water,” by John Nesholm of LMN Architects, founded the firm in 1982.

Murase principal Mark Tilbe said the firm went through an initial period of shock and mourning but has rebounded.

“It has brought the two offices (in Seattle and Portland) closer together,” he said. “We’re more integrated.”

Photo by Scott Murase
Murase Associates designed Wilsonville Town Center Park in Wilsonville, Ore.

Landscape as art

After Murase’s death, Tilbe said, many contemporaries sent their condolences, bringing up the artistry of his work and how great a loss it was. The loss spurred the organization to look inward and decide how to define itself and its work.

“We do landscape architecture as an art form,” he said. “There’s sustainable design and then there’s doing it with artistry.”

As an example, he said the firm’s designers will hand-select each stone from a quarry and be there in person for its placement, rather than letting a contractor place it from a drawing.

“With Robert’s passing, we’d also like to thank all our clients for their continued support,” Tilbe said. “When something like that happens, you have to reconnect with your clients and let them know you’re able to continue your work at the high level you’ve been able to do.”

A new office

Tilbe said the firm doesn’t do “parking-lot shrub-planting sort of things.”

“The fact that we’ve been getting new commissions and new projects at a very high design level is confidence building for our very strong team.”

The Oregon College of Art in Portland wanted a leading-edge designer for its campus master plan and awarded the job to Murase Associates this spring.

The firm is busy and looking to hire new architects and landscape architects.

Murase Associates bought a building for its Portland office, is currently designing the space and hopes to move in later this year.



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