We create design and real estate strategy that generates new value for buildings, districts, and cities under conditions of uncertainty.

Field States grew out of a simple question:

How do cities learn?

Cities are living systems—markets, communities, bioregional ecologies. They are sensitive to change, but too often they are not built to adapt well. As the pace of change increases, traditional development, investment, and planning processes are unable to keep up. The result is clear: stranded assets, from strip malls to offices to luxury mixed use towers without a purpose.

At Field States, we create the conditions for cities to learn, and as they learn, they thrive.

Our team merges urban and architectural design, technology systems, and development management into a unique capacity for adaptive urbanism. We are critical and creative, developing strong business cases with integrity, and substantiating them with a bias for action. 

Field States is a Portland-based benefit company founded in 2021. We work with forward-facing building owners, public agencies, and institutions, moving projects from analysis through implementation.

Our Team

Matthew Claudel

With a vision for building something meaningful, our founder brings a blend of big-picture thinking and hands-on experience. They set the tone for everything we do.

FOUNDER

Simon Giles

Focused, approachable, and driven by results, our sales manager is all about building strong relationships. They help connect people to the right solutions—with clarity and care.

CO-FOUNDER
URBAN DESIGN

Mora Orensanz

Creative and strategic in equal measure, our marketing director brings fresh ideas to every campaign. They turn insights into action and help our message resonate with the right audience.

Kim Smith Claudel

VISUAL DESIGN

With a vision for building something meaningful, our founder brings a blend of big-picture thinking and hands-on experience. They set the tone for everything we do.

With a vision for building something meaningful, our founder brings a blend of big-picture thinking and hands-on experience. They set the tone for everything we do.

PROJECT MANAGER

Catalina Sanchez

Collaborators

Bryan Boyer

Bryan is an architect, strategic designer, and technologist. He is the Faculty Director of the Urban Technology program at University of Michigan. He writes regularly on the topic of design, including the book Design for Social Innovation: Case Studies from Around the World published by Routledge in 2021. He is the cofounder of architecture and strategic design studio Dash Marshall. Bryan serves on the board of directors for Public Policy Lab in New York City and lives in Detroit, MI. He has a MArch from Harvard Graduate School of Architecture.

ARCHITECT

Emi Day

Focused, approachable, and driven by results, our sales manager is all about building strong relationships. They help connect people to the right solutions—with clarity and care.

URBAN DESIGNER

Reach Out

Let’s have a conversation.

schedule a 30-minute meeting—we would love to learn about your context and share how Field States works.

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