Paul has always created things: if he could sketch it, he could make it. His father, a rocket engineer, instilled in him the ability to work out problems on paper first – a lesson that has served him well throughout his architecture career. He has enjoyed drawing, building, and playing music from an early age, pursuits he continues today. That lifelong curiosity and hands-on approach have shaped his work and informed a philosophy centered on exploring the essence of each project. By responding to context, environment, and practical considerations such as constructability, energy performance, budget, and schedule, Paul creates architecture that is purposeful, enduring, suited to its place, and provides economy for clients.

During the Vietnam era, Paul enlisted in the United States Navy, where he served as a jet mechanic before becoming a flight crew instructor aboard P-3 Orion aircraft, traveling extensively throughout Atlantic operations. Following his service, he roamed Southern California and the Southwest looking for a place to call home before settling in Eugene, Oregon. There, he first explored technical theatre in set and lighting design at LCC before making his way to the UO School of Architecture in 1978, which at the time had a reputable program for forward-thinking, out-of-the-box design.

A few years into his studies, while remaining active in Eugene’s local theatre scene, Paul became a stagehand at the newly built Hult Center for the Performing Arts, helping rig and install its theatrical systems and equipment. This led to his role as Technical Director and later Operations Director where he helped stage more than 1,300 events over the course of five years. After his tenure at the Hult Center, he became a theatre consultant for the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert, California. While there, he was personally invited to assist the Balboa Theatre Foundation in its successful effort to restore the iconic Balboa Theater in San Diego’s historic center. Throughout this period, Paul continued his theatre work but longed to return to the Pacific Northwest and to architecture.

After returning to Eugene and graduating with a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Oregon, Paul began his architectural career with Bergsund DeLaney Architecture (née LePelch Bergsund) in Eugene, a firm specializing in affordable housing projects throughout Oregon. During his eight years at BDA, he gained experience in the design and project management of numerous affordable housing projects. Drawing on a lifetime of building, designing, and studying art, craft, and architecture, Paul brought a unique balance of creativity, technical knowledge, and hands-on experience to every project he worked on.

In 2006, Paul founded Dustrud Architecture with a commitment to positive client relationships, thoughtful design, and sustainable architectural practice. Over the past two decades, the firm has completed a diverse portfolio of multifamily housing, mixed-use developments, commercial projects, and community spaces throughout Oregon and Washington. While his work spans many project types, housing has remained a central focus of Paul’s career. He believes that well-designed homes and buildings contribute to stronger communities by providing durable, safe, and welcoming places for people from all walks of life. This commitment to meaningful, people-centered design continues to guide both his work and the firm’s mission today.