Announcing Our 2025 Oregon's Next Awardees

September 16, 2025

Peter Harrison, Assoc. IIDA, LEED AP ID+C, Fitwel Amb., LFA

Peter Harrison is a strategist and queer next generation leader connecting people, place, and purpose through his framework of Radical Belonging. Through design, consulting, and coaching, he helps organizations elevate workplace culture—centering wellbeing, belonging, and leadership behaviors that enable teams to thrive with courageous empathy and authenticity. Named to GreenBiz’s “30 Under 30” and recognized by the American Society of Interior Designers as “One to Watch,” Peter has contributed to projects of impact—including the Portland International Airport—while championing climate action and advancing interior design legislation as Past President of the IIDA Oregon Chapter. Featured in The Wall Street Journal for his perspective on workplace wellness, he brings forward the voice of a new generation, shaping how organizations understand and design the employee experience—creating spaces, both physical and cultural, where people thrive together.

Nikita Kumar, Assoc. AIA, NOMA

Nikita Kumar is an Associate Architectural Designer 3 at Mackenzie. With eight years of experience in the A/E industry, Nikita primarily focuses on semiconductor technology development and industrial design. For the past four years, she has served as a mentor with ACE guiding high school students, has actively volunteered with AFO Architects in Schools teaching elementary students about architecture, and has volunteered with NOMA PDX’s Project Pipeline camp for middle school students. She is also a recent co-chair member of NOMA's education committee. Nikita is passionate about raising awareness of architecture among K-12 students and helping to illuminate the journey from school to the profession. As a representative of female minorities in architecture, she is deeply committed to community involvement and inspiring the next generation.

Katherine Marple, NOMA

Katherine Marple is an Architectural Designer at Colloqate Design. She weaves her passion for culture, history, and storytelling into a design practice that seeks to uplift community voices and advocate for imagining and building community-centric futures. This comes with a love for graphic design and spatial design that tells a story. Her narrative-based approach supports processes that are rooted in place and building relationships with the folks the design is for. Katherine is originally from a small town in central Texas and has been in Oregon since 2017, where she has supported community-based projects such as the BEAM Learning Hub and NOMA PDX’s Project Pipeline. Beyond her design practice, Katherine is an avid salsa dancer and traveler. She believes that every place and culture has vibrancy and unique ways of being to learn from and celebrate. 

Savannah Sinowitz, AIA, NCARB

Savannah Sinowitz is an architectural and interior designer at ZGF Architects with experience across a wide range of project types. She serves as Chair of the AIA Oregon Emerging Professionals Committee, where she launched Project “Almost” Architect, a nationally recognized program creating equity in the pursuit of architectural licensure. Beyond her professional work, Savannah is active in multiple community organizations including Women in Commercial Real Estate (CREW), One Tail at a Time, and leads the Texas A&M Former Students Club of Oregon and Southwest Washington.

Limited Honored Citizen Reception Tickets Available!

Our biggest industry dinner and celebration of the year! Join AFO this fall as we celebrate the impact of our 2025 Honored Citizen, Ernesto Fonseca, and our Oregon's Next awardees.

While tickets to the seated dinner are sold out, you can still purchase a ticket to join us at the reception from 5:00-6:30pm. Register as soon as possible, as we have a very limited amount of tickets left!

Thursday, October 16

5pm Reception | 6:30pm Dinner

The Nines Hotel Ballroom, Downtown Portland

Honored Citizen Sponsors