US Forest Service

SUM designed the new headquarters for the US Forest Service's Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, bringing staff offices, a public service desk, and retail space together in downtown Hood River.

The move from the building’s lower level to the street level gives the public a more welcoming, visible lobby directly off the street, with more room for maps, passes, permits, and interactions with a ranger.

Open office and shared spaces were placed for natural light, a priority for the Forest Service team, while the design met rigorous GSA requirements and multiple layers of agency review.

A historic ranger mural, an oversized image of crosscut timber, a striking flooring treatment that takes inspiration from the nearby Columbia River, and full-height wood veneer panels reflect a space closely connected to the region it serves.