Marking a monumental shift in Ankrom Moisan’s leadership, Vice President of Architecture Murray Jenkins is appointed to become AM’s President, effective July 1st, 2025. As Murray steps into the role currently held by Dave Heater, Dave will transition into a new firmware business development role based out of our San Francisco office.
Murray Jenkins and Dave Heater stand outside of Ankrom Moisan’s Portland office.
Dave’s move, after a decade as President, fulfills a succession plan set in motion by founders Tom Moisan and Stewart Ankrom, who envisioned a firm built to evolve, empower future leaders, and thrive beyond their tenure.
“It is an incredible honor to be entrusted with leading this company,” says Murray. “As President, my goal is to create an environment where our staff feel inspired and empowered, so they can, in turn, inspire our clients through exceptional design and service.”
Bringing 25 years of experience with Ankrom Moisan, having served in every position from Architectural Intern to Vice President of Architecture and Secretary of the Board, Murray’s leadership is distinguished by deep institutional knowledge, a steady hand during transitions, and an unwavering commitment to the firm’s values. His appointment also underscores our employee-owned model – our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) ensures that every employee has a meaningful stake in the company’s success.
“Murray’s leadership is rooted in our history, and his vision is focused on the future, positioning Ankrom Moisan to continue its track record of design excellence while embracing new opportunities,” said Dave Heater. “Murray’s appointment is the next natural step in our long-term strategy, and I’m confident in his ability to lead the firm into its next chapter.”
Murray along the Portland waterfront, in front of the Ankrom Moisan office
As President, Murray will lead the firm in deepening our expertise across all studios and continuing to expand our leadership in sustainability and mass timber, while exploring strategic opportunities in emerging markets. He also plans to champion innovation across the firm, including the integration of AI and other technologies that will enhance our creativity, efficiency, and impact.
The transition in leadership is centered in Ankrom Moisan’s mission to design places where people and communities thrive. Murray will carry forward Dave’s legacy, maintaining the team structures, operational continuity, and collaborative culture that have shaped the firm’s identity.
With fresh energy and focus, Murray aims to position Ankrom Moisan as a top design firm and model of what excellence, culture, and purpose-driven leadership can look like in the design industry.
“This transition is about community and momentum,” Murray said. “My goal is to grow a resilient firm – one that delivers meaningful design, invests inits people, and rises to meet the challenges of tomorrow. I’m incredibly grateful to Dave for his leadership and the strong foundation he’s built. As we navigate a complex and shifting market, that legacy gives us the clarity and confidence to move forward with purpose.”
Insights from the 2025 Mass Timber Conference
Our in-house sustainability expert, Amanda Lunger, participated in the 2025 International Mass Timber Conference this month.
Amanda attended several sessions to better understand the benefits of Mass Timber—beyond sustainability—for developers and building owners.
Here are four key insights.
Mass timber creates opportunities for rental premiums.
One developer shared that in their spec-built office building, there was a 20% upfront cost premium for mass timber over light gauge steel, but their building commanded a 40% rental premium when compared to other conventional structures in the area!
Mass timber results in cost-savings.
Although the base material cost of wood is currently high, savings from shorter project timelines, reduced onsite labor, lower import duties, and other operational efficiencies can offset the initial premium. Plus, mass timber performs better thermally, further enhancing its long-term cost-effectiveness.
Mass timber is a long-term investment.
Mass timber structures are valuable long-term investments thanks to their adaptability. CLT panels are easily cut into and filled in, making mass timber structures flexible to the changing needs of a building program and ideal for tenant improvement projects. Mass timber structures are also often inherently designed for disassembly, meaning they can likely be deconstructed and reconstructed in another place in the community when densification happens.
Mass timber requires design team expertise.
The first question an insurance company will ask is whether the design and construction team has any experience with this typology. It’s critical to have an architect who understands the specific moisture, fire, and building code concerns that come with wood buildings.