Ortland Beissel is a Los Angeles-based architecture and design practice dedicated to making public and private spaces memorable.
We embrace a diverse, dialogical design culture that is focused on identifying and materializing what matters to each place, community, and cultural context we engage with.
Architecture is where life takes place; design decisions are life choices.
Amanda Ortland - Co-Founder, Principal
Master of Architecture, Columbia University
Amanda Ortland is a partner of Ortland Beissel, based in Los Angeles. She has worked on projects around the world with a variety of scales and programs, both private and public. She brings her background in art and photography into the design of unique spaces at the frontier of art and architecture. Her images of the native eucalyptus forest in the Blue Mountains formed the concept for the West Lobby design for One Central Park, she was part of the competition team for 53W53, and she worked extensively on the interiors of the Guthrie Theater by creating a visual history of the theater’s past productions as the driving concept for the main public spaces. She has further specialized in unique, bespoke residences for artists, collectors, and visionary clients.
Amanda received a Master of Architecture degree from Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. She is currently an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the architecture school at the University of Southern California and in 2024 she won a prestigious national teaching award from the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture.
Bertram Beissel von Gymnich - Co-Founder, Principal
Master of Science in Architecture / MSc, ETH, Zurich
Licensed Architect:
State of California, #C-38620
State of New York, #42121
France, #079074
Australia, #8768
Switzerland, REG A 33978
Bertram Beissel is an architect and designer with 30 years of experience in the conception and realization of complex international projects across three continents. After graduating from the renowned architectural school ETH Zürich, his professional path includes work with OMA / Rem Koolhaas in Rotterdam and Bernard Tschumi in Paris, followed by 20 years as a partner and director with the Pritzker Prize-winning firm, Ateliers Jean Nouvel.
Realizing a series of major buildings with Jean Nouvel in Europe, Australia, and the US allowed Bertram to develop a deep insight into the makings of complex, high-quality architecture. Each project required the creation of a unique response to specific context and stakeholders.
In 2007, Bertram led the winning competition entry for the MoMA Tower (53W53) in New York. The New York Times critic Nicolai Ouroussoff hailed this project as “the most exhilarating addition to the skyline in a generation.” Bertram also headed the design and construction of the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which was featured in the 2008 Pritzker Prize jury citation. Under Bertram’s direction, One Central Park in Sydney, Australia, won the CTBUH Award for the Best Tall Building Worldwide in 2014.
Bertram holds architectural registrations in the State of California, the State of New York, Australia, France, and Switzerland.