Experienced. Trusted. Committed.

Roger Shiels co-founded SOJ in 1984 and led the firm for 30 years until his retirement in 2014.

As an architect and principal of SOJ, Roger Shiels played a key role in the rejuvenation of Portland’s Central City. Over his career he led many of the City’s most important civic projects including the Portland Transit Mall, Pioneer Courthouse Square, Portland Civic Stadium Renovation, Banfield Light Rail, and Portland Streetcar. Roger was an advisor to a group of property owners on the development of the northern portion of Portland’s River District which led to the City’s purchase and restoration of Union Station, extension of the Transit Mall, the Portland Streetcar and transformation of the former rail yards to the now nationally acclaimed Pearl District. Until 2005, he served as Executive Director of Portland Streetcar, Inc. overseeing the design, construction and operation of Portland Streetcar and has continued to advise on the expansion to the Eastside. Earlier in his career, Roger was a partner in the award winning architectural firm of Church & Shiels. Roger earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Oregon and is a registered Architect and Fellow in the American Institute of Architects (AIA).