The logo for archiform design restore and remodel

In Good Hands: Project Manager JOE HOFFMAN

Quiz time: which ARCIFORM employee was raised in Detroit, Michigan, has held jobs as a fine woodworker, a stay-at-home-Dad and sailing instructor before his current job at ARCIFORM?


The one and only dependable, often-goofy and incredibly patient Joe Hoffman! As one of two Joes and one of two Hoffmans at ARCIFORM, Joe definitely knows how to set himself apart and make a lasting impression on staff and clients alike.

A man wearing a green jacket and a black shirt is standing in front of a wooden wall.

Joe has a keen eye for detail and the ability to quickly identify and solve problems. As a result, his job sites run like well-oiled machines and his clients feel understood and informed from start to finish. His in-depth knowledge of every aspect of construction is encyclopedic, but Joes’ no knowledge-hoarder. He’s always willing to share his expertise with coworkers who are newer to the field. ARCIFORM designer Brad Horne says, “I am grateful for his thoroughness and I do appreciate it when he challenges my ideas! It’s ultimately really helpful, leading to a well-thought-out design. He keeps it real and I’m thankful to work with him!”

Joe gets assistance from a homeowner to note existing conditions, pre-COVID
In a mustache phase at a site measure in the Gorge with Anne, pre-COVID

You can feel Joe’s energy when he walks into a room. He’s adventurous, has an inquiring mind, and loves a good conversation. There’s never a dull moment when he’s around. He knows how to take a stressful situation, bring everyone back to reality and crack a joke or two to get everyone smiling and eager to solve the problem at hand. ARCIFORM is lucky to have him on board!

A man in a yellow jacket is holding a card that says

As a Project Manager, Joe juggles a lot and makes it look easy. From managing and mentoring his construction team to navigating City permit processes, and from estimating projects to writing construction contracts, Joe gets the job done with precision and his gregarious flair. He is a trusty and hard-working teammate and leader; you know you’re in good hands when Joe’s on the job. 

Some fun facts about Joe:

  • He is the proud father of 2 kind, forthright, and thoughtful teenagers. 
  • He races a sailboat on the Columbia River year-round and loves to introduce people to sailing. He looks forward to one day sailing the Great Lakes “Great loop” and continuing to the Caribbean.
  • He owns a 1911 Bungalow in Overlook that he’s remodeled in phases.
  • He likes to watch the kite boarders in the Gorge and hopes to learn the sport one day.
  • He loved going dancing at Lola’s Room Goth Night – if only we had a picture!


Sharing favorite photos at the 2019 company Holiday Party at the Isam White House
A man in an orange shirt is standing on a balcony with his hands on his hips.

It’s not just coworkers who notice Joe’s thoughtfulness and drive to get the job done. Recently we received these emails from returning clients:



“Again, I want to express our appreciation for your help with the issues we had with our main floor tub/shower. I know you are very busy with big projects. We absolutely needed your expertise, investigative help and your contacts to get to the bottom of the shower valve situation…Thank you for taking the time!” -Andrea & Howie


“…We were thinking of your team lots during the snowy weather, since the last big snow Portland had was amidst our basement remodel…right as we were awaiting a new furnace! As we did the space heater dance throughout that deep freeze in 2017, Joe Hoffman called to check on us, and even offered to let us stay at his house with our two little kids if things got unmanageable. We managed, but his offer was the perfect example to me of why we have loved working with Arciform on two projects now—you all always make us feel very well cared for.” -Kris 


A man and woman sitting at a table with a dog

A Dreamer, a Problem Solver and a Shared Vision

By Courtney O'Leary • May 16, 2024
Time is a funny thing when discussing the Bay House, a curved roof waterfront dream house that was inspired by both a medieval fortress and a dilapidated barn.
Portland's Architecture

A Century of Style: Portland’s Architecture from the 1850s to Today

By Anne De Wolf • September 15, 2023
Since the easiest way to know the different styles is to understand the art, fashion, science, and industry of the times when they were built, you’ll also understand how Portland’s diverse architecture has told, and continues to tell, our collective story. History deepens experience. You’ll never see Portland through the same eyes again!
The Walter

The Walter: A Labor of Love

By Marty Hegg • September 1, 2023
The next time you’re in the Mt Tabor neighborhood, hiking in the park , picking up plants at Portland Nursery , or ordering take out from Ya Hala , make a detour and drive up SE Belmont Street between 55 th Avenue and 58 th . Better yet, park the car and take a stroll. In the middle of the long block proudly sits the Jacob H. and Etna M. Cook House , built in 1892-93 and looking as handsome as ever. This historic home has journeyed through thick and thin, and current owner Lyrin Murphy is the reason it’s so beautiful today. Originally built as a Victorian in 1892 for Alexander and Maria Warner, it was one of several Victorians with small farms and orchards at the base of Mt. Tabor. They sold the home in 1904 to Jacob H. Cook, a local businessman and lumberman, and his wife, Etna. In 1909, the Cooks completed a major renovation of the home, transforming it into the Neoclassical style we see today. This was a trend amongst socially elite Portlanders, drawn to less-fussy, more open Colonial Revival, Neoclassical, and Craftsman designs, perhaps inspired by travels and exhibits at the 1905 World’s Fair in Portland . They often entertained in their home, hosting dance parties, luncheons, club events, and out-of-town guests. Their large-scale remodel helped push the area into upper-class status in Portland. Some prominent exterior changes were adding the main façade’s massive portico with Tuscan columns, a full-width porch and 2 nd floor balcony, and a smaller balcony at the 3 rd floor.
Show More
A man and woman sitting at a table with a dog

A Dreamer, a Problem Solver and a Shared Vision

By Courtney O'Leary • May 16, 2024
Time is a funny thing when discussing the Bay House, a curved roof waterfront dream house that was inspired by both a medieval fortress and a dilapidated barn.
Portland's Architecture

A Century of Style: Portland’s Architecture from the 1850s to Today

By Anne De Wolf • September 15, 2023
Since the easiest way to know the different styles is to understand the art, fashion, science, and industry of the times when they were built, you’ll also understand how Portland’s diverse architecture has told, and continues to tell, our collective story. History deepens experience. You’ll never see Portland through the same eyes again!
The Walter

The Walter: A Labor of Love

By Marty Hegg • September 1, 2023
The next time you’re in the Mt Tabor neighborhood, hiking in the park , picking up plants at Portland Nursery , or ordering take out from Ya Hala , make a detour and drive up SE Belmont Street between 55 th Avenue and 58 th . Better yet, park the car and take a stroll. In the middle of the long block proudly sits the Jacob H. and Etna M. Cook House , built in 1892-93 and looking as handsome as ever. This historic home has journeyed through thick and thin, and current owner Lyrin Murphy is the reason it’s so beautiful today. Originally built as a Victorian in 1892 for Alexander and Maria Warner, it was one of several Victorians with small farms and orchards at the base of Mt. Tabor. They sold the home in 1904 to Jacob H. Cook, a local businessman and lumberman, and his wife, Etna. In 1909, the Cooks completed a major renovation of the home, transforming it into the Neoclassical style we see today. This was a trend amongst socially elite Portlanders, drawn to less-fussy, more open Colonial Revival, Neoclassical, and Craftsman designs, perhaps inspired by travels and exhibits at the 1905 World’s Fair in Portland . They often entertained in their home, hosting dance parties, luncheons, club events, and out-of-town guests. Their large-scale remodel helped push the area into upper-class status in Portland. Some prominent exterior changes were adding the main façade’s massive portico with Tuscan columns, a full-width porch and 2 nd floor balcony, and a smaller balcony at the 3 rd floor.
The Harlow Hotel

The Harlow Hotel: From High Hopes to Hard Times to a New Heyday

By Marty Hegg and Peter Herring • May 5, 2023
The Italianate brick building – NW Portland’s second oldest remaining commercial structure – has had its share of ups and downs. Captain John Harlow, a Maine sea captain and co-founder of the City of Troutdale, built it as the Grand Hotel in 1882, hoping to cash in on the coming transcontinental railroad station, just blocks away. High hopes were soon lowered, as Grand Central Station (now Union Station) was delayed for fourteen years.

Site Measures – Part 2: Documenting Home Systems: Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing

By Sarah Crouse • May 3, 2023
Measuring a home is more than sizing and locating walls, windows, and doors. There are many more complex parts of a home that need to be captured in order to set our design team up for success during the design process. With remodeling comes moving openings, walls and fixtures, which inevitably means moving systems. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems are typically hidden within walls and between floors, requiring a bit of know-how and experience to properly document, which is crucial for helping our design team to determine the feasibility and cost implications of our choices. Mechanical Systems:

Site Measures - part 1

By Sarah Crouse • October 4, 2022
Remodeling is an art that requires many talents – of course craftsmanship and technical knowledge – but also creativity AND organizational skills. No other step in the process taps into all of those trades quite like as-built documentation. When we pull out a tape measure, we do not only document distances, but how pieces are put together. Knowing why a post is in a particular location, or noting that a duct bisects a space helps the team document the as-built properly and makes communication during all phases of construction clearer and more concise. While measuring a house might sound simple and straightforward, it takes a seasoned crew to be efficient! Our team has a well-vetted checklist of things to measure and note, in addition to an order of operations that helps ensure nothing is missed and our client’s time is well-spent. Here is a peek into how we go about collecting this data: HOT TIP: Make sure to take breaks and have plenty of snacks and drinks on hand. Making mistakes during site measures can waste a lot of time, so making sure everyone is energized is key!

Return to Romance

By Snow Blackwood • July 9, 2022
As I walk to the door of Gretchen Newmark and Jim Gerber’s 1910 Craftsman Bungalow, painted in a pale yellow with cream and periwinkle trim, I notice I’m feeling a little nervous, but I’m not sure why. Jim is a nutritionist who spent 40 years as a professor, teaching nutrition and supervising interns. Gretchen was a dietitian in private practice, collaborating with other health professionals to help people recover from eating disorders. Now she focuses on her passion—spiritual direction. They’ve spent many years helping people find healthy paths in life. I decide my nervousness is just an artifact of this long pandemic as I notice their garden, full of vivid blooms that settle my nerves. My photographer Christine and I mask up as I knock on their door. When Gretchen opens the door, she immediately puts us at ease. “No masks, unless you prefer; we’re fully vaccinated,” she says. We are, too, so we gratefully remove the cloths. I remark on the lovely garden, and how nicely it complements their home.
A man wearing a green jacket and a black shirt is standing in front of a wooden wall.

In Good Hands: Project Manager JOE HOFFMAN

By Marty Hegg & Sarah Crouse • July 9, 2022
Quiz time: which ARCIFORM employee was raised in Detroit, Michigan, has held jobs as a fine woodworker, a stay-at-home-Dad and sailing instructor before his current job at ARCIFORM?  The one and only dependable, often-goofy and incredibly patient Joe Hoffman! As one of two Joes and one of two Hoffmans at ARCIFORM, Joe definitely knows how to set himself apart and make a lasting impression on staff and clients alike.
A woman and child are standing in a kitchen with the word smile above them

Building Trusting Relationships by Design

By ARCIFORM • July 9, 2022
Building Trusting Relationships by Design Arciform has been a premier design-build renovation and remodeling company for older buildings and homes in the greater Portland Metro area since 1997. From the very beginning, we set out to be the designers and craftspeople you could trust to achieve your vision. We aim to create a smooth, transparent process that involves you from start to end, and to deliver zero surprises – except the delighted surprise you feel when you see your finished project. For decades we’ve partnered with hundreds of people in the Pacific Northwest to bring their dreams to life. We believe that it is the relationships we build in the process of designing for you that are the real foundation of our success. Over time we’ve found that our relationships with our clients are similar to successful relationships we have with partners, good friends and family. They rest on trust engendered by the integrity of open communication, doing what you say, following up, and quickly making good if anything goes awry. So we thought we’d write a little about the ingredients that we think go into creating great relationships that, like our designs and work, endure. 
More Posts
Share by: