employer cover photo
employer logo
employer logo

Bora Architects

Is this your company?

Bora Architects Reviews

3.6

76% would recommend to a friend

(6 total reviews)

Stefee Knudsen

Not enough data to show CEO approval

76% positive business outlook

Reviews by job title

6 reviews
2.0
7 June 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

A lot of really dedicated and talented employees

Cons

I’ve mostly liked working here but the cultural touting doesn’t necessarily match the reality of demographics here. Probably not the right fit if you’re queer or a POC and looking for actual solidarity. We have a few Asian employees and 1 black employee. No posts on socials for Black History month and probably nothing employee-centric for Pride month but there was a post for AAPI because there are enough (4) Asian employees to not make it weird about showcasing the 1 black employee (2 if you count an intern) in February. We were told that some staff would be laid off due to projects being put on hold (RIGHT after celebrating our biggest project moving forward a month prior) but it took leadership around a month to actually announce who/how many would be let go after telling us that project was essentially on hold and majorly pivoting and cutting staff. Those weeks were brutal for those awaiting their fate and it felt we were all like sitting ducks waiting to hear who would be cut and scrambling to prove our worth. In the meantime (and in the same meeting staff layoffs were announced) we announced a new associate joining the company. Not great timing especially after the MAJOR and marked increase in hiring within 6 months prior. We’re losing some strong leadership but don’t have a good picture of who will replace them. Remaining leadership could benefit from some executive training to garner more confidence from staff going forward. In the meantime, a lot of staff has felt uncomfortable and wanting to jump ship but the market makes it difficult. We’re watching toxic folks being kept around to the discomfort of others while those in alignment with the company’s values are worried about their stability. A lot of growing pains but it’s difficult to watch toxic employee(s) sit comfortably while the rest of us struggle to demonstrate our worth. Hoping there will be a shift in culture and work balance in the near future but not feeling valued enough to willingly invest the time to watch it unfold and show us.

5.0
12 Aug 2017
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Despite being founded almost 60 years ago, Bora is constantly striving to create a healthy and progressive work environment. Bora has the best work environment (BY FAR) that I've ever experienced. The partners are accessible and involved (not to mention, they are awesome people) and business practices are very transparent, as opposed to other offices with one CEO lording over everyone. Various committees are active in making sure that employees are being taken care of and utilized to their fullest potential, and that the office is taking advantage of new technology, software, and business practices. The office is very friendly and casual, and always open to new ideas and contributions from employees at every level. Bora understands that to get (and keep) talented employees, they need to offer competitive pay and benefits. Employees are very diverse (by Portland standards at least...) and Bora has good family policies, offers paternity leave, and generally supports a healthy personal life. They are committed to keeping the office space clean, productive, and set up for optimal employee productivity and comfort (offer standing desks, etc) They support career progression, licensure, and reimburse your exam fees once you pass. Include lower level staff in meetings so that you are involved in projects, not just doing tasks that are delegated to you. Overall very balanced focus on personal and professional development. Clients seem very happy and many come back for multiple projects. Very solid future ahead!

Cons

Despite the awesome benefits they don't match monthly 401k contributions - hopefully this is in the works for the future. Bora is looking into alternative office setups, and I wish they had more small "nooks" for us introverted employees to work at a computer - I like the transparency of an open floor plan but it can be very tiring and distracting at times.

5.0
26 Aug 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The people were an incredible resource to learn from, the work is large and instrumental in the PNW.

Cons

Can be demanding work schedule.

Viewing 1 - 3 of 6 Reviews

Glassdoor has 8 Bora Architects reviews submitted anonymously by Bora Architects employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Bora Architects is right for you.