Calm, thoughtful, and quietly powerful, that’s the impression Sharron van der Meulen leaves as she steps into her role as Managing Partner of ZGF, a firm she’s helped shape over decades. Her story isn’t just about architecture; it’s about ideas, people, and what thoughtful design can do for the world.
A Journey Rooted in Curiosity
Born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Sharron’s family relocated to Portland early in her life. Portland became not just a home, but also the seedbed for her creative spirit. She studied at the University of Oregon, where she majored in Interior Architecture and minored in Art History. This blend of design with art and culture gave her a wide field to explore, and she seized it with both hands.
Her first real taste of architecture came during summers spent interning at SOM’s Portland office. Whether in the model shop or in design competitions, she soaked up everything she could. When SOM packed up its Portland studio after graduation, fate intervened: she got a call from ZGF’s Norm Zimmer. And just like that, a long and meaningful journey began.
Homebody with Big Beginnings
Joining ZGF in 1987 as one of just around 65 employees in the Portland office, Sharron was a wide-eyed interior architect hungry for every opportunity, and ZGF delivered. She jumped between project types, workplaces, hospitals, schools, cultural spaces, absorbing lessons from the three-legged stool philosophy: design, business, and technical rigour must support each other equally.
She found valuable mentors early on. Bob Frasca taught her to blend interiors and architecture seamlessly, and to listen, really listen, to clients. Brooks Gunsul leaned into every spark of creativity with “Let’s figure it out,” inspiring Sharron to push limits.
Rising through the Ranks
Over the years, Sharron’s quiet determination and thoughtful leadership earned her increasingly significant roles. In 2020, she became Managing Partner of ZGF’s Portland office. Then, in 2024, she stepped into her current role as Managing Partner for the entire firm, overseeing some 700–750 staff across seven offices in the U.S. and Canada.
Despite the administrative expansion, she says her priorities haven’t changed: “Doing great design work, serving clients effectively, centering sustainability, and creating inspiring places for people.”
Design Built for People
At the heart of Sharron’s approach is empathy, putting users and communities first. No project is just about lines on a page; it’s about understanding what clients hope to do, feel, or become. Her touch spans typologies: from Colorado Children’s Hospital to the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul.
One of her marquee undertakings is the Portland International Airport terminal expansion. She led the interior design effort to double the terminal’s capacity while preserving its signature Pacific Northwest feel. Guests are greeted by a sweeping wooden roof, lush greenery, and conversational spaces that feel more like cosy rooms than travel hubs.
Building Culture and Community
Sharron doesn’t just talk sustainability and social justice; she embeds them in the firm’s DNA. With values of community, equity, and planet-forward design at the forefront, she pushes ZGF to make a lasting, responsible impact.
She values collaboration across offices and disciplines. Even through a global pandemic, she prioritized keeping teams connected and working together. Her leadership philosophy is simple and powerful: lift others, stay curious, and treat every mistake as a chance to learn.
The Person Behind the Title
Sharron’s humility is striking. When asked early in her career about moments she fumbled, she recalled rushing through a presentation until a museum director calmly asked her to slow down. That moment shaped her: sometimes pausing makes the story real.
Time isn’t just spent steering projects; it’s spent lifting others. She mentors women leaders, champions design excellence, and still finds joy in imagining how places can connect, comfort, and inspire.
Why You Should Know Her
Sharron van der Meulen may not shout for attention, but she doesn’t need to. Her work speaks, creating airports that feel local, hospitals that embrace healing, and offices that reflect shared humanity. She reminds us that good design honours people first. And that, in the end, the spaces we build say volumes about who we are and who we might become.
