Black Butte Ranch Lodge / Hacker

Architects: Hacker
Area: 27,000 ft²
Year: 2021
Photography: Jeremy Bittermann
Lead Architect: Corey Martin
Contractor: Kirby Nagelhout
Landscape: Walker Macy Landscape Architecture
Civil Engineer: Harper Houf Peterson Righellis Inc. (HHPR)
Structural Engineer: Madden & Baughman Engineering
Electrical Engineer: PAE Consulting Engineers
Lighting: Luma Lighting Design
Acoustical Engineer: Listen Acoustics
Project Manager: Nick Hodges
Project Architects: Scott Mannhard, Brendan Hart
Design Team: John Dalit, Jake Freauff, Matthew Sugarbaker, Charles Dorn
Interior Design: Jennie Fowler, Mayumi Nakazato
Kitchen Designer: Bargreen Ellingson Restaurant Supply and Design
Mechanical & Plumbing Engineer: PAE Consulting Engineers
Client: Black Butte Ranch
City: Sisters, Oregon
Country: United States

Black Butte Ranch Lodge, designed by Hacker Architects in Sisters, Oregon, replaces a 50-year-old structure with a 27,000-square-foot facility that enhances hospitality, dining, and event spaces while preserving the site’s architectural character. The design integrates regional materials, including salvaged wood and Shou Sugi Ban cladding, and features a double-height stone fireplace as a focal point. Expansive glazing frames views of the surrounding landscape, while sustainable strategies such as drought-tolerant planting and locally sourced materials reduce environmental impact. The Lodge includes a restaurant, multiple lounges, private event areas, and a state-of-the-art kitchen, reinforcing its role as a gathering space for residents and visitors.

Black Butte Ranch, established in the early 1970s, spans 1,800 acres at the base of the Three Sisters mountains in Oregon’s Central Cascades. Originally planned as a residential and vacation destination, the Ranch has undergone multiple redevelopment phases since 2013. After completing the Lakeside recreation and dining complex in 2016 and a new General Store in 2021, the focus shifted to replacing the original Lodge. While the existing structure was architecturally significant, accessibility limitations, outdated mechanical systems, and an inefficient layout made renovation unfeasible.

Hacker Architects conducted a year-long outreach process to ensure the new design reflected the community’s vision. The resulting Lodge respects the Ranch’s original architectural character while offering a contemporary experience. Expansive glazing frames views of the surrounding landscape and using native wood species throughout the interior creates a balance of warmth and openness. A double-height stone fireplace serves as a central gathering point, echoing the nostalgia of the previous lodge. The restaurant booths were designed to evoke the way the nearby Metolius River has carved pools into the underlying lava flows, reinforcing a connection to the region’s natural formations.

Sustainability and material reuse were integral to the project. Wood salvaged from the original Lodge was repurposed for railings, screens, furniture, and wall finishes. A mature pine tree on-site that could not be preserved was transformed into custom tabletops for the restaurant and bar. The exterior cladding utilizes Shou Sugi Ban, a traditional Japanese wood-charring technique that enhances durability while maintaining the weathered aesthetic of the original building. The landscape design incorporates drought-tolerant native plantings, supporting local biodiversity and reducing water consumption. Additionally, regionally sourced materials helped minimize transportation impacts and support the local economy.

The new Lodge, at 27,000 square feet, doubles the size of its predecessor and is divided into three primary sections. Public spaces include a restaurant, bar, fireside lounge, upper-floor lounge and bar, private dining room, and outdoor seating areas. A dedicated event space features a large, flexible event hall, a dressing room, and a meeting room. A state-of-the-art kitchen serves both the restaurant and expanded catering operations. By integrating thoughtful design with sustainable strategies, the new Black Butte Ranch Lodge preserves the legacy of the original while enhancing its role as a hospitality and community hub.