History and Heart

As a child, Bruce Butler was abnormally attracted to hammers.  This affinity intensified through his formative years and manifested as summertime house framing during college.  After college, what had been diagnosed as "hammer addiction" produced a short career in finish carpentry.  As a clinically predictable consequence, he became a licensed builder in 1978. 

This addictive lifestyle produced his first set of plans for a major remodel project in 1979 and the construction of his first custom home the same year.  As the co-founder and president of JB Hammer Co. Inc he produced enough designs and drawings for custom homes, remodels and historic restorations to convict him of being a Design-Builder.

In 2000 he broke away from contracting to pursue Building Design fulltime as JB Hammer Designs.  His co-dependant loved ones hoped that this could break his hammer obsession, but in reality, it had the opposite effect. He was now building full-time in the computer with design software that created all of the structural elements of each project in 3D. 

When Bruce traveled to other nations on what was supposed to be vacations, he was secretly absorbing the architecture there and feeding his addiction.  He then combined his 20 plus years of design-build experience with a passion for the historic architectural precedent from the West to the East.

He cleverly made the observation that certain styles endure and some are not repeated.  He slyly began to incorporate what was fresh and new into what is proven and enduring.  It has been said that his hearts desire is to bring these elements together to create sustainable designs that will produce beauty and enjoyment. 

Today, Bruce is performing community service on the Historic Review Boards for Clackamas County and the City of West Linn.  He has also served time on the Design Review Board for the City of Happy Valley.  He remains passionately addicted to Building Design and is eager to help you with your project.

By February of 2009 JB Hammer Designs will have Sustainable Homes Professional certification.