Green Hammer Design Build

What Green Hammer does

• Designs and builds high-performance homes, communities and commercial spaces
• Focuses on zero energy and deep energy efficiency
• Uses durable, low-toxicity and sustainably sourced materials
• Integrates architecture, construction and project management in one team

Mission and vision

Green Hammer works toward a future where buildings:

• Produce their own energy
• Conserve natural resources
• Help clean water and air
• Use safe and healthy materials
• Strengthen connection to community and nature
• Help combat climate change

Service area

• Build services: The construction team serves clients throughout the Portland, Oregon metro area.
• Design services: Design services are available to clients across the United States.

Business values

• Operates as a certified B Corp, using business as a force for good
• Balances profit with purpose, focusing on environmental stewardship and social equity
• Emphasizes long-lasting buildings that conserve energy and materials

• New homes and ADUs

Custom new homes and accessory dwelling units designed as healthy, energy-efficient, low-impact buildings.

• Renovations and additions

Major remodels, additions and whole-building upgrades with an emphasis on deep energy performance improvements.

• Deep energy upgrades

Envelope and systems upgrades for existing buildings to significantly reduce energy use and improve comfort.

• Consulting services

High-performance building consulting, including:

• Zero energy and deep energy retrofit strategies
• Passive House and airtightness consulting
• High-performance detailing and material guidance

• Commercial design-build projects

Sustainable commercial spaces such as offices, restaurants, educational spaces and mixed-use projects.

• Multifamily and community projects

Cohousing communities, multifamily housing, and senior living communities designed to high energy and sustainability standards.

Building types

Green Hammer works on:

• Single-family homes
• Multifamily housing
• Cohousing and community-focused projects
• Commercial spaces (offices, retail, hospitality, education)

All project types are approached with the same integrated design-build process and focus on high performance and sustainability.

• One team, one vision: Architects, builders and project managers work together from concept through completion.
• Collaborative process: Clients work with a consistent team throughout design, pricing, construction and post-occupancy.
• Craft and precision: The firm emphasizes high-quality craftsmanship, safety and attention to detail at every stage.

Sustainability and performance goals

Green Hammer designs buildings to:

• Achieve zero energy or deep energy reduction when feasible
• Use durable, resource-efficient materials, including responsibly sourced wood
• Support excellent indoor air quality through material selection and ventilation
• Conserve water and reduce overall environmental impact

Guiding principles include creating buildings that:

• Produce their own energy
• Conserve natural resources
• Help clean water and air
• Use safe and healthy materials
• Connect people to community and nature
• Help address climate change

Resilience, comfort and health

• Resilience: High-performance envelopes and systems help maintain comfort during heat waves, cold snaps, wildfire smoke and storms.
• Low operating costs: Efficient systems and integrated design reduce energy use and maintenance over the life of the building.
• Healthier indoor environments: Natural materials and careful detailing support cleaner, healthier indoor air.

This approach is applied across homes, communities and commercial projects.

Green Hammer's team brings together design, construction and project management under one roof.

Team makeup

• Architects and designers
• Project managers and superintendents
• Carpenters and craftspeople
• Shop and fabrication staff
• Operations and communications staff

The team combines expertise, creativity, safety and precision to guide every phase of a project.

How Green Hammer works with clients

• Collaborative culture: Collaboration is central to the firm's design-build model. Team members work closely with each other and with clients from concept through completion.
• Client-focused process: Clients are supported by a consistent team, with clear communication and regular check-ins.
• Shared problem-solving: The firm values curiosity and collaborative problem-solving to address design, performance and constructability questions.

Client feedback highlighted on the website emphasizes:

• Respectful, kind and professional interactions
• Strong alignment between design vision and finished buildings
• Access to key team members during decision-making

• Founded in 2002, initially emphasizing material reuse and natural, FSC-certified wood in Portland homes.
• Helped co-found the Build Local Alliance in 2006 to connect responsibly managed regional forests with local builders and architects.

High-performance and certified projects

Examples of notable work include:

• Early LEED Platinum-certified homes in Portland
• One of the first FSC-certified residential projects in the United States
• Portland's first certified Passive House home
• Early Passive House and zero energy commercial and multifamily projects
• Zero energy cohousing and multifamily communities in Portland
• Net zero energy educational and preschool facilities

Awards and recognition

Green Hammer and its projects have received recognition such as:

• LEED for Homes Builder of the Year (Earth Advantage)
• Green Builder magazine Green Home of the Year
• Multiple Earth Advantage awards, including Hall of Fame Green Builder
• FSC leadership awards for use of responsibly sourced wood
• AIA recognition for innovative high-performance design
• Business and sustainability awards from organizations such as the Portland Business Journal, Urban Land Institute and Real Leaders

Certified B Corp

Green Hammer is a certified B Corporation, recognized for meeting high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency.

Phone

• Office phone: (503) 804-1746

How to get in touch

• Website contact form: Prospective clients can use the contact form at https://greenhammer.com/contact-us/ to share project details.
• The form asks for basic contact information, project location and the type of help needed (for example, new homes and ADUs, renovations and additions, deep energy upgrades, consulting, commercial or multifamily projects).

Starting a project

• Green Hammer invites inquiries about new homes, ADUs, renovations, additions, deep energy upgrades, consulting, commercial projects and multifamily projects.
• After receiving an inquiry, a team member follows up to learn more about the project and discuss whether it is a good fit.

Newsletter option

• The contact form includes an option to receive Green Hammer's quarterly newsletter and announcements about special events.
• The firm states that it does not sell personal information and that subscribers can opt out at any time.

Ask anyway — the agent will say plainly that it is not published rather than guess.