The Portico Group

As an interdisciplinary firm, Portico capitalizes on the inspiration found in collaboration. Our work expresses our place-based approach to design, which is linked to the physical, environmental and cultural characteristics of the project location. Each place, and each person who cares about that place, has a story. We are committed to telling those stories, and designing the perfect venue for each story to be experienced.

Providing master planning, programming, design and construction observation to mission-driven clients around the world, The Portico Group was founded in Seattle, Washington and is currently celebrating 25 years of design.

Sustainability

Sustainability means meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. At Portico, we understand that every time we design a new facility or develop a particular site we are creating a legacy that will pass on to future generations. By promoting site preservation, energy and water conservation, and the protection of environmental quality, we use the principles of sustainable design to set new precedents for development coupled with environmental stewardship.

Portico is always looking for opportunities to design and work in more sustainable ways -both in our projects and in our office. Learn more about our experience with sustainable design and LEED® projects here.

Michael Hamm

ASLA

President and CEO of The Portico Group, Mike is a landscape architect and Portico founder whose work centers on the design of large public visitation and recreational facilities. His successful oversight of these projects is an outgrowth of his warm and engaging personality. Mike’s professional demeanor and subtle guidance encourage an open exchange of opinions and ensure that everyone will be heard.

An enthusiastic traveler, Mike also enjoys sketching and sculpting, and is an avid kayaker.

Charles Mayes

AIA

Chuck is a Portico founder, bringing over 30 years of experience in the architecture of zoos, aquariums, museums and other places where people come together to learn about and experience nature and human cultures. He pursues design excellence, borrowing from theater and storytelling to develop an intelligent orchestration of site, buildings and activities.

Chuck has been active in Heavier Than Air Family Theatre Company, a community children's theater group, serving as the first president of the board and appearing on stage in multiple productions over the past 18 years.

Keith McClintock

ASLA

Keith is a landscape architect with a keen understanding of constructed environments and a deep feeling for animal enrichment and the visitor’s experience. For over a decade, Portico has utilized his ability to infuse zoo and aquarium projects with vision, whimsy and uncanny veracity. Inspired by his vision, contractors produce award-winning, immersive environments, believable in every respect, that appeal to visitor’s imaginations while providing opportunity for the animals to display a full range of natural behaviors.

Keith lives in the country, and he enjoys horticulture, conversational debate, and anything dealing with design.

Dennis Meyer

ASLA, LEED®

Dennis is an energetic, passionate landscape architect with a reputation for exceptional vision and design. Dennis has developed methods for identifying, interpreting and realizing the potential of each unique place regardless of size. His enthusiasm translates into effective client communication, and projects that are visionary and memorable.

Dennis has completed the Boston Marathon three times. When not running, Dennis also enjoys pondering the endless possible additions and remodels of his home and garden.

Alissa Rupp

AIA LEED®

Alissa is a LEED® accredited registered architect and principal of The Portico Group with over 18 years of professional experience. Bringing a range of skills to the practice, Alissa focuses on places for informal education and public learning opportunities. Her work on visitor centers, children’s museums and zoological facilities includes both architecture and exhibit design – her projects have had strong roots in sustainable building practices and interpretation. Whether working at the level of the exhibit interactive, the building plan, the site or the neighborhood, Alissa especially enjoys those projects that integrate architecture and interpretation.

When not working on her cabin in Twisp or practicing yoga, Alissa sings with Opus 7, an a cappella choir, and volunteers with the Seattle Composers’ Salon.

Timothy Nicoulin

As the firm’s Chief Financial Officer, Tim oversees the financial management, accounting, internal control and related administrative functions for Portico. Working to ensure Portico’s profitability, productivity and compliance with applicable regulations, Tim’s experience and guidance greatly contribute to Portico’s continued success.

Tim and his wife Betty enjoy travel adventures throughout the United States, visiting their adult children and hiking anywhere there is an opportunity to experience nature or view wildlife.

• Alaska SeaLife Center
• Arboretum at Flagstaff Master Plan
• Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum Master Plan
• Auckland Zoo
• B.E.A.R. Project, Inc.
• Bellevue Botanical Garden
• Birmingham Zoo
• Brookfield Zoo
• Brooklyn Botanic Garden
• Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Garden
• Bureau of Land Management
• Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service
• Busch Entertainment
• Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
• Calgary Agricultural Discovery Centre
• Calgary Stampede Association
• Calgary Zoo
• California Center for Wildlife
• Canoe Island Ecological Preserve and Learning Center
• Central Florida Zoo
• Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
• Chicago Botanic Garden
• Children’s Museum of Richmond
• Chilkat Indian Village
• Chula Vista Nature Center
• City of Bellevue Parks and Community Services
• City of Edgewood
• City of Kent
• City of Kirkland Department of Parks and Recreation
• City of Los Angeles
• City of Mercer Island
• City of Napier
• City Of Olympia Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services
• City of Olympia, State of Washington, Washington State Law Enforcement Foundation
• City of San Francisco, Friends of Golden Gate Park
• City of San Jose
• City of Seattle
• City of Seattle Public Utilities and Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs
• City of Seattle: Public Utilities
• Cleveland Aquarium
• Cleveland Metroparks
• College of Eastern Utah
• Dallas Zoo
• Descanso Gardens
• E.B. Dunn Foundation Garden Trust
• Flying J Inc.
• Fresno’s Chaffee Zoo Corporation
• Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center
• Hands On Children’s Museum
• Hogle Zoo
• Holden Arboretum Master Plan
• Honolulu Zoo
• Kamehameha Schools
• Kidspace Children’s Museum
• KidsQuest Children’s Museum
• King County Facilities Management
• King County Library System
• Korea Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
• La Sierra University
• Las Vegas Springs Preserve
• Las Vegas Valley Water District
• Lincoln Park Zoo
• Lindsay Wildlife Museum
• Los Angeles Zoo
• Louisiana State University
• Lowry Park Zoo
• Melbourne Zoo
• Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden
• Miami Dade County
• Minnesota Zoological Gardens
• Museum of Discovery and Science
• Mystic Aquarium
• National Audubon Society
• National Park Service
• National Park Service, US Forest Service
• National Park Service, US Navy
• National Trust for Historic Preservation
• National Zoological Park
• New Zealand National Aquarium
• Ocean and Land Corporation
• Ocean Park
• Oklahoma State University, OSU Botanical Garden
• Oltremare Park
• Oregon State University
• Oregon Zoo
• Parc Aquarium de Quebec
• Philadelphia Zoological Garden
• Pocatello Zoo
• Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium
• Portland Japanese Garden Site Master Plan
• Preston Parks LLC
• San Francisco Botanical Garden
• San Francisco Zoo
• Seattle Department of Park and Recreation, University of Washington, Arboretum Foundation
• Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation
• Seattle Police Officers’ Guild
• Skamania County
• Sno-Isle Regional Library System
• Snohomish County Park & Recreation: Ecology Center Concept Design
• Snohomish County Parks and Recreation
• South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve
• State of Utah
• Teton Valley Ranch Camp
• The Arboretum Foundation
• The Assiniboine Park Conservancy
• The Holden Arboretum
• The Japanese Garden Society of Oregon
• The Maritime Museum at Norwalk
• Toledo Zoo
• Tracy Aviary
• Trees Atlanta
• Trust for Public Lands
• Turtle Bay Exploration Park
• University of Washington
• US Fish and Wildlife Service
• US Forest Service
• US Navy
• Washington Park Arboretum
• Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, Friends of Issaquah Hatchery
• Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
• Washington State University
• Werribee Open Range Zoo
• Wildlife Conservation Society
• Woodland Park Zoo
• Yellowstone Historic Center Board
• Zoo Orlando