2016 Legacy Award Winner Spotlight: Scott Brown


Scott Brown exemplifies what it means to be a well-rounded interior designer in the Oregon design community. He is a leader not only to the designers and architects who he works with on a daily basis, but to the industry as a whole. Over his 20+ year career, Scott has elevated himself into the role of Principal, previously at Yost Grube Hall and now currently at
GBD Architects. He is an advocate for integrated interior design in a predominantly architectural driven industry. While at YGH, he was responsible for operations of the practice as well as being the Director of Interiors and a design Principal. He is one of the few men in our industry who has chosen to be licensed as an Interior Designer, and not as an Architect, leaving a legacy of “good” design, best business practices, and serving as a role model for designers and leaders following in his footsteps. Scott is an active member of IIDA and encourages the designers he works with to pursue NCIDQ certification to further the profession in the state of Oregon.  

Scott is an influential career mentor to the younger designers he works with. He often encourages design exploration, and allows for the importance and value of both success and failure throughout the design process. He instills confidence, trust, and courage with his team.  

For most of his career Scott has set the bar high. He has been a design leader, pushing the boundaries of design and the way people work, through creative and innovative workspaces. He has taken challenging programs and created spaces that are logical, high performing, sustainable, and beautiful. All of Scott’s work has an element of timeless design, even in his most innovative spaces. Scott cares deeply about high quality design as well as the user experience. He is sensitive to the ever changing needs of his clients and designs spaces which are flexible and adaptable over time. Two of his projects which exemplify his exceptional work, and have been awarded IIDA Oregon Chapter Design Excellence Awards in the past include; Dow East End in Midland Michigan and 400 SW Sixth in Portland.

Congratulations Scott, on being the recipient of the 2016 IIDA Oregon Chapter Legacy Award, you are a genuine asset to the profession of Interior Design in the State of Oregon.