Awards
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September 2025
Architectural Record named Chandra D. Robinson a 2025 Women in Architecture Award honoree, recognizing her leadership in community-focused and equity-driven design as a Principal at LEVER Architecture.
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The Building Diversity Awards honor disadvantaged, minority-owned, women-owned, emerging small businesses and combat-disabled veteran-owned firms, as well as the public agencies, organizations and large private companies that support them. Firms, organizations and people are being honored for their efforts in shaping the built environment through outstanding work, leadership, mentorships, community involvement and the promotion of industry diversity.
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Alum named 2022 Women of Influence honoree
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March 2021
Architectural Record featured the Meyer Memorial Trust Headquarters in Portland, Oregon, highlighting the project’s sustainability, community engagement, and design leadership by Chandra D. Robinson. -
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Profile Feature
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Portland Design Commission gains member.
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Changemaker: Chandra Robinson creates impactful spaces rooted in inclusion and sustainability.
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"We are humbled to work with this visionary institution and create a new museum that truly embodies the mission of Art for All,” Robinson continues. “Maine's natural beauty and welcoming community have been such an inspiration to the team, and we cannot wait to create a new museum that takes a giant step into the future and brings us all to a time and place that celebrates how art and the human spirit are intertwined."
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February 2023
Chandra D. Robinson was featured as a guest on Architectural Record’s DESIGN:ED podcast, discussing research-driven practice, mass timber innovation, and the Portland Museum of Art expansion. -
Episode 70: Chandra Robinson
Chandra Robinson is a principal at LEVER Architecture, a Portland, Oregon-based design practice recognized for material innovation. She came to architecture by way of geology, physics, and kayaking. She is passionate about creating beautiful spaces that are accessible for everyone and enjoys working closely with clients to create designs that express their values.
We talked to her about one such project -- her work on a campus for equity-based foundation Meyer Memorial Trust -- as well as work on affordable housing, libraries, and more.
“Climate justice is the confluence of equity and sustainability,” Chandra says. “When we design for sustainability it’s not just so that the building owner spends less on utilities and has great indoor air quality, but also so that we do not inflict damage on other communities.”
Chandra references many opportunities to implement equity through design, including providing equal access to daylight and views and physical access to people with all levels of mobility. “I think a lot about the duty of the designer,” she says. “We are beginning to see sustainability and equity becoming part of standard practice.” -
Chandra Robinson is a Principal at LEVER and Portland Design Commissioner. A Portland native, she grew up with a great love for outdoor education, inspiring her to spend years as a sea kayaking guide and to study geography and physics. From an early age though, she was always fascinated by buildings and developed a deep love for spaces that felt safe, welcoming, and comfortable. She eventually found her way to Boston Architectural Center where she earned her MArch and found exceptional opportunities to work at firms of all sizes. Returning to Portland, she found her professional home at LEVER. First as an architect and now as a Principal, she’s led groundbreaking projects such as the Meyer Memorial Trust in Lower Albina. She is resourceful, brilliant, and dedicated to making her hometown feel welcoming, beautiful, and accessible to all.
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In this episode, Ana hosts Chandra Robinson of Lever Architecture. They discuss ways to support smaller-scale builders, the importance of proximity in sourcing materials, and balancing innovation with the immediate needs of community and client, among other topics.
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Chandra Robinson, Principal at LEVER, to Present Regenerative Design as a Tool for Restorative Justice in New Affordable Housing Communities at Housing Oregon’s 2025 Conference
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Chandra Robinson, Principal at LEVER, to Join Living Future Conference Panel on Equity and Climate Action in Public Libraries