BIOGRAPHY
Vicky Opperman, born in 1958 in Honolulu, comes from a family of architects, contractors and activists. Her educational interests took her back east (Amherst, Massachusetts and Buffalo, New York) as well as abroad to France, Spain, England and Africa. Vicky presently resides in Seattle Washington with her family, where she has found a community of other eco-friendly professionals. Her firm, Opperman Design (formerly Opperman Construction and Design), promotes environmentally friendly residential design, building practices and products.
Vicky is a community activist giving of her time and her business to many great organizations over the years which include Rosehedge, Street Outreach Services, Real Change Newspaper, Ballard Peace Activists and the Greater Seattle Business Association. She is co-founder of a non-profit group, KINGFISHERS Sailing Club, within it developing a special program to empower youth with leadership skills through sailing. Photo taken is of Vicky on a Pacific Ocean passage, summer of 2001, from Honolulu to Los Angeles.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Opperman Design has specialized for over 20 years in residential design, remodels and additions. We are interested in client-oriented design solutions which integrate thoughtful use of less toxic building materials and practices with a team approach (designer-client-contractor): from initial design through construction. Services include residential and light commercial design, consulting, code research, permitting and price-planning with contractor.

GUILD APPROACH
Opperman Design has a unique guild approach: clients are encouraged to spend time at the office of Opperman Design, where they are actively involved in designing their project through schematic design, model building and research in our design library.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
AIA Seattle (Associate AIA member – Master of Architecture degree), BuiltGreen™ (MBA), Northwest EcoBuilding Guild (NWEBG), Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA),and Ballard Chamber of Commerce.

NOTE FROM VICKY
I am considered a “Designer”. I earned a Masters of Architecture Degree as well as the Chair’s Award for Excellence from S.U.N.Y. at Buffalo, New York, School of Architecture and Planning. I have worked for several architectural firms including Tullio Inglese & Associates Architects, Bassetti Architects and Ted Granger, Architect. I am currently pursuing my registration as an architect. I was a licensed contractor in the state of Washington for over seven years and I have been in the construction and design field since 1983.