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Building Communities Through a Commitment to Quality

By Julia Gleason

If there is one thing that President and founder Jefferey Fautt of Fautt Homes can't convey enough, it is that he is inordinately passionate about his profession, team and the homes they build. To Fautt Homes, the combination of experience, relationships and enthusiasm towards their product makes their talented company a distinct custom-home builder. Fautt and his tight-knit team are clear and cohesive in their vision for creating homes of exceptional quality and detail. The resulting product would inspire even the most critical of consumers to find a lifelong home in one of their timeless and classic communities.

Fautt Homes specializes in building exemplary single-story custom homes on large lots that aim to provide outstanding quality and value. The company is clear in its distinctive phrase, "Live the life … What many see as an option, we view as a standard." Currently, Fautt Homes is building in the Bay Area; however, Fautt assures that they aren't limiting themselves to Northern California and they are exploring possibilities of developing in places such as Santa Barbara and Hawaii. Everything must be coordinated and well thought through before they start a project. Above all, the idea most important to Fautt and his team is being able to deliver an exceptional product to the market.

Left to right; Monica Benyo, Director of Project Coordination's; John Benyo, General Superintendent of Construction; Jeff Fautt, President; Shelby Fautt, Director of Design and Marketing; Jon Silva, Assistant Superintendent of Construction; Stephanie MacLean, Vice President of Finance (Photo by Susan Vogel Photography)

Fautt largely attributes the success of the company to the combined expertise, collaboration and fantastic personalities of his small but detailed team, which consists of six other key players: Joseph Gregorich, Vice President of Land Development and Purchasing; Shelby Fautt, Director of Design and Marketing; Stephanie MacLean, Vice President of Finance; Monica K. Benyo, Director of Project Coordination; John Benyo, General Superintendent of Construction; and Jon Silva, Assistant Superintendent of Construction. "We enjoy being around each other," Fautt declares affectionately. Each of his unique and seasoned co-workers brings a vast amount of knowledge to the table that is the driving force behind the success of their meticulous common goals. He notes, "Everyone here is an over achiever." Fautt himself, having graduated with a degree in economics from San Jose State University, carries over 20 years of experience in the home building industry, with more then a decade being spent with a large national home builder - the last three years as its President.

Residence 1 in Alamo, the Tuscan farmhouse includes an elegant powder bathroom with three-tiered cabinet with an onyx slab accented by a mosaic radius backsplash. The wall-mounted faucet and vessel basin make this powder bath a showpiece. (Photo by Susan Vogel Photography)

Fautt also places great importance on the longstanding working relationships that he and his team have established over the years with subcontractors. "The majority of our subcontractors are those who have been working with us for 10 to 15 years … the level of precision that we expect and the familiarity of the relationship cannot be replaced." It is clear that these associations are what make Fautt Homes so effective and rare in what they deliver to their homeowners.

Expansive great rooms with 12-foot ceilings, Old-World gas fireplaces, wood beam ceilings and hand-scraped hardwood flooring is a standard for Fautt Homes. (Photo by Susan Vogel Photography)

Gourmet kitchen with custom glazed two-toned cabinetry; professional Viking appliances and apron front sink; secondary prep kitchen with additional range and dishwasher with access to rear yard. (Photo by Susan Vogel Photography)

The company's latest project, Muir Lane Estates in Alamo, is demonstrative of their commitment to quality and the creativity of the team. Muir Lane Estates was inspired by Old-World European styles with charming attached and detached casitas. One might imagine there is something that stands out above the rest of his work in this particular development considering that Fautt and his family reside in Alamo. However, he easily assures us that he holds the same high level of standards for every custom home they build. There is, however, he mentions, a certain level of enjoyment and accomplishment about "being able to drive down the street and see something that we've created as a team … there is a lot of satisfaction in it." The journey the team embarks upon for each community and every custom home is distinct, thorough and aimed at excellence.

Homes include expansive covered loggias with remote-controlled gas fireplace for relaxing and entertaining. (Photo by Susan Vogel Photography)

Grand entry with 19-foot ceiling with rustic doors and hammered ornamental iron; handcrafted chandelier surrounded by triple crown molding creates an open and inviting floor plan. (Photo by Susan Vogel Photography)

Other estates that Fautt and his team are currently building include Cheyenne Estates in Vacaville and Montecito Estates in Alamo. "A tremendous amount of thought goes into every aspect of the home, such as window placement, cabinet location, every door swing and anything which impacts the flow of the home. These details, coupled with the high quality of materials we use, make everything come together. People, at the end of the day, are very aware that we put a lot of thought and time into our work," Fautt states proudly. Each community offers custom luxury homes specifically positioned on the home site so that every owner can enjoy their surrounding space and environment to its fullest extent.

Impressive 10-foot master bathroom vanity with detailed framed mirrors accented by lighting and mini chandelier. (Photo by Susan Vogel Photography)

Authentic knotty alder cabinets embellished with oversized forged iron hardware and accented with créme marfil marble countertop. (Photo by Susan Vogel Photography)

Fautt Homes' primary focus is on building timeless and impressive homes abounding with amenities, homes that offer families generations of memories. "I'm passionate about what we build and the experience we create with our finished product," he says warmly. He feels fortunate enough to be the leader, but appreciates that the company's natural evolution has been the culmination of hard work, by not only himself, but by his amazingly talented and innovative team.

Custom handcrafted molding and trim wraps each doorway and window. Triple crown molding surrounds the entryway along with trim buildups on doorways pertaining to the style of the home. (Photo by Susan Vogel Photography)

(Photo by Susan Vogel Photography)

(Photo by Susan Vogel Photography)

Fautt Homes is located at 3201 Danville Blvd., Suite 270, in Alamo, CA 94507. They can be reached at (925) 362-8940 or visit fautthomes.com for more information.

By Eve Kushner

Worldwide, the race is on for architects to design flashy structures that have everything to do with fame and ego. How refreshing, then, that architect Kelly Lerner of Spokane, WA, doesn't care about glitz, glamour or being different for the sake of being different, though she has designed hundreds of structures internationally.

She feels that she's completely on the fringes of her profession, not because her buildings look unusual, but, rather, because she has such deep environmental beliefs that she can't relate to most architects. Natural Home magazine named her one of the top 10 eco-architects in the United States.

But Lerner, 43, stands out in her field for reasons beyond her ecological commitment. For starters, she has held her own in the male-dominated world of building, where people tend to dismiss women, she says.

What's more, she's responsible for constructing more straw bale buildings than probably anyone in the world. She has done so largely in Mongolia and China.

Mongolia and China! That's quite a departure for an Indiana native. Happily aware that this work makes her an oddity, Lerner laughs and says, "I enjoy being the person who has run all over Mongolia doing weird stuff. That has really made my career."

After allowing herself that split second of reveling, she quickly shifts back to grounded, practical details about the advantages of straw bale, particularly in Mongolia.

Wintertime temperatures there often plunge to -40°, says Lerner. Would that be Fahrenheit or Centigrade? She laughs: "Actually, that's where they meet!"

Nevertheless, Mongolian buildings had no insulation because Soviet builders didn't insulate, she says. The Soviets controlled the region until Mongolians staged a peaceful revolution in 1990.

Before the insurrection, most energy in Mongolia had come from the Soviets. Afterward, schools and social service agencies began spending three-quarters of their budgets just on heating. Social services went undelivered, and Mongolia fell into complete disarray.

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), a nongovernmental organization, headed to Mongolia to provide relief assistance. ADRA Country Director Scott Christiansen soon realized that straw bale construction could be a great solution. He contacted Lerner, then working with Daniel Smith and Associates Architects in Berkeley, and she got right on board with Christiansen's vision.

As Lerner explains, straw bale meets many needs in a place like Mongolia. This natural waste product is fire resistant and highly insulative, but relatively cheap. By providing insulation, one can improve people's quality of life. Moreover, insulation reduces the amount of heating needed. In Mongolia, heating comes from burning coal, which releases vast amounts of carbon dioxide, hastening climate change.

From 1997 through 2000, Lerner worked in Mongolia for months at a time, teaching local engineers, architects and builders about straw bale construction, and providing rural and urban buildings.

She then shifted operations to China. Earthquakes in 1999 and 2000 had affected millions in that country, creating an urgent need for construction. Lerner and others rebuilt a school: China's first straw bale building. She then guided people to build more than 700 passive-solar-heated straw bale houses in that country.

Overall, Lerner says, her efforts succeeded far more in China than in Mongolia. That's because China has a long tradition of building, whereas Mongolians were nomadic until about a century ago.

The work continues in China without Lerner, who trained people to take her place. She disliked that her travel to and from Asia left a large carbon footprint. Plus, any solution from the outside (especially from an American) can come across as imperialistic and ethnocentric, she says: "It's important that whatever you introduce becomes Chinese. If there's not a Chinese version of it, it's not going to stick."

Co-author with architect Carol Venolia of Natural Remodeling for the Not So Green House, Lerner now focuses on problems in her own country. She says, "I think the way the rest of the world develops is incredibly important. But, man, we have so much work to do here in the United States to clean up our own house. Jesus said something about taking the log out of your own eye before you worry about the splinter in somebody else's. And that's the way I feel about what we need to do in the United States. We need to figure out how to stop using so much energy. We need to shrink our ecological footprint, and we need to do it fast."

For pictures and previous columns, go to evekushner.com and choose "on building."

By Jason M. Brandman

Even during "down" building times, it is still important to keep abreast of the various changes to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Here are some recent appeals, court rulings and other actions that may be of interest to you, especially if you plan on developing property in the near future.

First, the Legislature has rejected SB 1165, which, among other things, would have placed a five-year shelf life on Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs). This would have meant an EIR prepared for a property that sat partially developed for five years would require an entirely new document - particularly difficult for those with a programmatic EIR in place, as these are intended to last for the lifetime of a project, providing tiered analysis for various phases of development.

AB 32, the "Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006," has brought greenhouse gas emissions and global climate change center stage in the debate on land use and environmental policy in California. While you may still debate the phenomenon, environmental documents will now have to examine these issues to withstand legal scrutiny. The extent of the analysis, however, varies. Most agencies are finding a general approach sufficient if it thoroughly examines the issue as it relates to the proposed development.

Two water bills, SB 221 and SB 610, require a 20-year guaranteed water supply for projects with 500 or more units (or for nonresidential projects equivalent to that amount). Such projects will require the preparation of a complete water supply assessment (WSA). The courts have determined that a WSA cannot be challenged independently; however, their conclusions can still be challenged when they are included as part of an EIR or mitigated negative declaration. This determination is especially important because so many urban water management plans depend upon water from the California Delta, and curtailment of that supply by a federal judge has called into question a heretofore guaranteed long-term source of statewide water.

A recent Southern California court case that dealt with cultural resources issues should also be noted. The development, located in the city of Hollywood, did not obtain adequate documentation support. The court, in its decision, emphasized that a lead agency must have adequate support for its decisions, even when those decisions seem minor, especially when the project involves an historical building (Committee to Save Hollywoodland Specific Plan v. City of Los Angeles).

Finally, there is some good CEQA news for beleaguered developers. The court recently determined that project entitlements and approvals that lapse when a project is put on hold will not automatically require full CEQA review when the project is renewed at a later date, as long as there is no significant new information or new impacts that were not evaluated at the time of approval. For those developers waiting for a perk in the market to begin building again, this will be a real time and money saver.

By John Gumas

When it comes to the successful marketing of an organization, sometimes it's the little details that can make a huge difference. For example, the next time you walk into a new home showroom, retail store or any other place of business for that matter, take a look around at what the employees are wearing. Think about the feeling you get from those businesses where no one seems to care about what they're wearing. Now, compare that to the feeling you get when you walk into a business where each employee is wearing a company uniform or identifiable clothing.

A recent study provided some very interesting insight into what consumers expect and their level of comfort when it comes to consistent dress and uniforms. This study found that customers spent an average of 27% more when they purchased from uniformed employees versus companies whose representatives were not wearing uniforms. In addition, the branding and perception value toward the uniformed businesses was also significantly larger than that of the nonuniformed businesses.

This particular study involved both mid- and large-sized organizations that had various retail-type operations, and it included some home builders. Fifty percent of the companies agreed to use uniformed sales staff, while the other 50% did not.

Another similar uniform study was recently conducted by a large national bank. Everyone in the organization, from tellers to the bank management, started wearing company logo shirts. Through this simple change in dress policy, they found that customers' positive attitudes toward the bank, and bank sales, increased during the test period. They also found that customer loyalty and brand recognition increased.

Large retailers like Target, Kmart and Sears have also taken notice of these studies and have mandated logo'd golf shirts as a uniform for all their employees.

SO HOW DO YOU DEFINE UNIFORM?

Many people have a preconceived image of what a uniform means. Company uniforms do not have to look like employees are ready to pump gas. They can simply be shirts of the same color, embroidered with your corporate logo. However you define "uniform," a corporate uniform is simply a way to make your company look professional, brand consistent and identifiable to the customer.

Obviously, uniforms are not practical for every company. But take a moment to look deeper into what these findings are saying. Customers see this as a real effort to make them feel appreciated. Also, this is a great way to reinforce your brand at point of sale.

The obvious items that come to mind should include logo'd shirts, hats, jackets and other similar apparel. But what about logo'd coffee mugs on everyone's desk in the sales office and in the conference room for clients to use? Or a logo'd carpet when clients arrive in your sales office or lobby? How about logo'd note pads for your clients to use and take with them?

Try to brainstorm on how your company could reinforce your brand image by having your employees and/or sales teams wear or use something that further builds your brand.

Be creative. Uniforms don't always have to be worn, but they can be a part of your clients' daily exposure to your organization and its brand. Branding is a process that includes multiple touch points with your prospects and clients. And, sometimes, it's the attention to the smaller branding details that is just as important as your mainstream advertising and branding efforts.

By Paris A. Tabor, P.E.

Over the past years, we have encountered several religious denominations engaged in rehabilitation of their structures. Many denominations, under the direction of influential leaders, outgrow their sanctuaries and need to either enlarge or raze the existing buildings, or relocate to accommodate their growth and their expanding community outreach services. When it becomes evident that one of these changes must take place, a select architectural group (those who are able to maneuver about the church building committees) presents the church building committees' dreams to the congregation. The congregation approaches the proposal with zest and a true belief that the dream will manifest itself as they imagine.

My thoughts were immediately directed towards building rehabilitation, which we have encountered with several religious structures over the past years.

Enter stage left the engineering consultant, who immediately bursts the bubbles of the entire well-meaning choir group, not to mention the Sunday school teachers, deacons and assistant pastor, by pronouncing the project economically infeasible. What do you expect? Engineers have been trained (most likely from childhood) to be pessimistic about everything. They are paid to identify any pitfalls that can make the project unsuccessful (and you wondered why all the girls in college flocked to the business and architectural majors rather than the engineers; being a pessimist really didn't help the social life!).

However, engineers are also problem solvers. That is the other side of the coin; we have a solution for everything, even if you don't want it.

So, before the architect can start packing his bag, expecting to be fired at any minute, the engineer with a serious brow says, "However, we could do this and this … but, it is your decision! Let's take a look at this and this … I will get back to you in a couple days." Eventually, the client makes the decision to go for rehabilitation or even razing the building to manifest the church building committees' dreams, and everyone's hope is restored.

So, did you ever wonder why the engineers always get the prom queen eventually? It's how you present the options; it's all about the presentation … it's all about the presentation.

By Bob Massaro

Over 20 years ago, I was attending a party in Los Angeles - one of those parties where everyone tries to impress everyone else, or at least hold their own. At that time, I had been building for about five years, and, in the naiveté of my early years, was most impressed with how well our projects had turned out. I commented to all those nearby that one of the things I was most proud of was the fact that my projects "would last for at least 50 years, if not more." A grayhaired fellow within earshot, perhaps 25 years my senior, commented that he also was most proud of how long the things he had built would last. Thinking he, too, was a builder, I asked him what his last project was. His response forever taught me two lessons when he answered: "The Lunar Landing Modules. I work for NASA."

Lesson No. 1: As good as you think you design, engineer or build, you can always do better. One way to become better is to be open to ideas coming from unexpected places.

Throughout the years, all of our buildings have improved as we continue to absorb important ideas from other disciplines. We changed to panelized, cold-formed steel fram- ing with a high recycled content after viewing fabrication facilities in Idaho. We brought Pex plumbing into our projects after investigating its success in heavy industry. Now, we are incorporating indoor air quality monitoring and control systems to regulate energy use and further improve energy efficiency. Every building industry professional can and must constantly strive to make each building better than their last.

Lesson No. 2: When you design, engineer or build, think about it as a 100-year opportunity. The expectation used to be that buildings would last for at least 100 years. As construction professionals, we are confronted with the fact that a building's current average lifespan is now approximately half that be- fore it is demolished or undergoes a major renovation. The consequences of this ever-shortening building lifespan are significant - for the owner's or investor's bottom line, for the occupant's well being and for the environment.

If your practice is focused on sustainability, you have the opportunity to push this statistical average higher. The 100-year building would be constructed of materials that age with time and interact with the environment instead of confronting it. It would be designed such that it is considered beautiful when completed, and will be perceived as beautiful by future generations. Add to that buildings that are carbon neutral, consume zero net energy, are built using sustainable materials and methods of construction and are happy, healthy places to live, work or learn. The result: a better designed, engineered and built 100-year building.

Be it 100 years or more, when the time has come for the building's life to end, it is best that you have designed, engineered or built it so that it is not destroyed, but rather deconstructed, and all of its body parts redirected to find new life in a new building.

By then, all of our successors - the architects, designers, engineers, contractors and builders two generations hence - will have elevated the bar. Perhaps the 200-year building will then be the norm. Yet, still, the new paradigm may be the five-year building when structures become so fluid that they can morph as needed, and in doing so, never die.

No matter, as long as the end products are environmentally, economically and socially sustainable buildings, we shall all win, and our planet will thrive.

So, the next time you look up at the moon, think about all of the lunar landers still there; then, consider the 100-year opportunity that you will be given with your next project. Embrace it. Maximize it. Enjoy it.

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Redefining Urban Spaces

By Russ J. Stacey

Toby Levy, president and founder of Levy Design Partners, Inc., a full-service architectural firm based in San Francisco, sums up her design philosophy simply: "The urban environment is not just about buildings; it's about people and neighborhood." Initially concentrating on single-family homes, the firm now favors working in cities and doing multi unit buildings - "but, to take what we know about putting together a mid- and high-rise building and twisting it a bit, reinterpreting it."

Toby S. Levy, FAIA, president of Levy Design Partners, Inc. (Photo by Bruce Schnieder)

Growing the business to where it can now offer comprehensive services provided many challenges for Levy - from conceptual design, programming and renovation to schematic and design development, permitting and bidding. After earning her graduate degree from UC Berkeley, Levy quickly learned the harsh corporate realities of the early 1970s. "The biggest difference between then and now was the amount of outright sexism that existed in the profession. In many offices that I worked in I was the first woman in their drafting room, and they didn't know what to do with me. They just weren't really willing to train women. And that shaped how I became an architect. Basically I learned a lot on my own," Levy explains. Part of her self-education included doing work for one of her professors and building a spec house with a friend.

"We built our housing practice basically from remodeling kitchens and bathrooms on up." As they became more successful, doing houses became less satisfying. The decision was made to focus their skills on making livable spaces in multiunit residential housing. "Our largest project to date is a 245-unit affordable housing project in San Jose named Cinnabar Commons." The three- and four-story buildings are wood-frame construction over a concrete podium containing parking. The complex's lower units have direct street access, a favorite feature of Levy's urban-design vision that they have incorporated into other works.

Levy Design Partners preserved the historical integrity of a former tobacco warehouse and sewing sweatshop in San Francisco while converting it to 35 residential units. (Photo courtesy of Levy Design Partners, Inc.)

"Our Los Altos project, 5100 El Camino Real, has many first-floor units with garden entries directly off the street. And having a more intimate relationship with the street is almost unheard of in suburban multi unit buildings. People don't mind someone walking right up to their front door in a single-family house, but their psyche is different in a building like this. As a result, the first-floor units were actually the hardest to sell."

Preserving the historical integrity of a former tobacco warehouse and sewing sweatshop in San Francisco, while converting it to 35 residential units tested the firm's mettle. One solution achieved with One South Park - which also includes commercial space - was enclosing an existing railroad spur with modern fenestration. Removing two sections of floor to create two courtyards provides light and air to the units. The nearby 86-96 South Park is a mixed-use site built in the SOMA area of the city. The structure is framed entirely in lightweight steel, and all construction materials are nontoxic, renewable or recycled materials (e.g., recycled rubber floors and insulation made from recycled jeans).

Levy Design Partners' largest project to date is Cinnabar Commons, a 245-unit affordable housing project in San Jose, CA. (Photo courtesy of Levy Design Partners, Inc.)

Cinnabar Commons is made up of fi ve three- and four-story buildings designed with a small budget and short construction time, which integrates into an older neighborhood, with smaller craftsman cottages and very large warehouse buildings. (Photo courtesy of Levy Design Partners, Inc.)

While traveling from Northern California to as far south as Santa Cruz, the firm prefers working in the Greater Bay Area. "We do everything from market rate - 12 to 120- plus units - to affordable housing. We work in wood, concrete and steel, and with a variety of developers," Levy says. Partners include vice president Pamela Collier, who has served in technical and production capacities, and senior associate Serina Calhoun, who is viewed as the company's next generation.

Another area of expertise is working with communities and addressing people's concerns. "We realized that when we come into a neighborhood with a project, everybody has anxieties about it, founded or not," Levy says. "It's a process where you have to listen and filter their fears from their real concerns. Then we can make appropriate design decisions separate from those NIMBY (not in my backyard) issues that will never make anyone happy. I like the public outreach. Everybody sees their neighborhoods as being different, and that's what we always strive to respect."

5100 El Camino (Photo courtesy of Levy Design Partners, Inc.)

86-96 South Park is a mixed-use site built in the SOMA area of the city, containing four residential units atop two commercial spaces. (Photo courtesy of Levy Design Partners, Inc.)

As a board member of the San Francisco Chapter of American Institute of Architects, Levy has always had a deep interest in building with sustainable, renewable resources. Levy Design Partners currently has two LEED-ac- credited professionals on staff. "What's interesting about our firm is our foresight. We did 86-96 South Park 10 years ago; yet, it was built with sustainable, nontoxic materials - before there even was a LEED.

"We're not interested in being stylistically inventive; in other words, being 'look at me' architects or having our work stick out. We do want to turn your head with what we do, to notice the design's inventive subtleties."

Levy Design Partners Inc. is located at 90 South Park in San Francisco. They can be reached at (415) 777-0561 or visit levydesignpartners.com for more information.

By Eve Kushner

If you pour your heart into advocating a vision that the world hasn't accepted, how do you stick with it for 40 years? How do you keep believing that your efforts will come to something? The story of architect Malcolm Wells yields insights into these issues.

Born in 1926, he ceased to be an architect-for-hire in the 1980s, instead taking a higher-level approach to his profession. Rather than doing detailed designs and construction documents for clients, he focused on creating conceptual drawings. Thanks to his 1964 epiphany (discussed in Part 3), these almost exclusively featured underground buildings. As we saw (Part 5), he built several examples of underground architecture in the 1970s and 1980s, demonstrating that such buildings can be light, airy and a joy to inhabit. He has also written prolifically, producing 15 message-driven books (many chock-full of underground designs), plus dozens of articles.

These efforts have gone to advance one idea - that underground architecture enables us to build in a way that doesn't kill land, something on which our planetary survival depends.

Despite all his achievements, one can't help noticing that underground architecture hasn't taken off in this country, or any other. An unavoidable question arises: How effective has Wells been?

He has long enjoyed a solid reputation in his niche. He has lectured at most major American architecture schools, and people as far away as Ecuador, Japan, Scotland, the Czech Republic and Australia have solicited his underground designs. He notes, "Almost everyone in the English-speaking world who has built or planned to build an underground house has heard of me."

San Francisco architect Henrik Bull sees a wider effect: "All responsible architects have heard of Wells' work," he says, attributing the spread of green roofs and porous paving to Wells's efforts.

And Wells wouldn't have gotten this far if he weren't a master of rhetoric and persuasion. Eschewing the vinegar that often laces environmentalists' entreaties to sacrifice and conserve, he uses honey. Cartoons and jokey asides fill his books, though he doesn't shy away from a grave tone when alerting us to the plight we'll face if we don't mend our ways.

With a fl air for writing inspirationally, he infuses people with the desire not only to do the right thing but also to do so for the right reasons. "Be sure of your motives when you build," he wrote in Designing Your Natural House. He told me, "Almost all who design underground buildings do it primarily for energy-saving reasons (meaning, money-saving reasons). A few do it to show off (novelty)."

Despite his higher purposes, he remains keenly attuned to aesthetics. He said to me, "If the proper motive is not there, then I think the architecture will not be as good. It will look forced or out of place."

It seems that society still isn't ready for the vision of a man who's clearly ahead of his time. This doesn't discourage Wells in the least. In Gentle Architecture (1981), he wrote, "Gentle architecture is so close to becoming an accepted part of the mainstream it won't be 'exceptional' much longer." Some 25 years later, I asked how he currently views that statement. To my surprise, he called himself "very optimistic," explaining, "We're not going as fast as I'd hoped. But people like to brag about having added solar panels - little environmental things that make them feel they are environmentalists. And that's good, I believe."

He says he likes to plant seeds and sow dreams, letting the future take care of itself. His optimistic vision of that future gives him persistence.

When something doesn't pan out in his quest, he simply "moves onto the next." He believes he's always had a "rubber-ball" capacity to bounce back. Wells bolsters himself with daily book orders from colleges and individuals, plus an ongoing fl ow of mail. His voice swelling with enthusiasm, he told me, "Boy, I get great letters! Some people really catch fire! About once a week, there's a hot letter that comes in. Phew! It's all worthwhile then."

Like a prophet, he waits patiently. "All I have to do now is watch the world wake up and discover the gentle idea," he told me. "There's no way to tell how long it takes things to germinate."

After reading the green issue featuring builders and architects who are making a difference in our communities, I was inspired to share green-business tips to help us all save money and be more successful, too.

Ever wonder if one person can make a difference? The answer is a resounding "Yes!" if you (1) reuse paper printed on one side for drafts and graphics, (2) use shredded paper for packing, (3) turn in printer ink cartridges to Staples for $3.00 coupons usable for purchases and (4) use chips from removing trees and brush for mulching instead of expensive redwood bark bits.

VALUE OF GREENING YOUR BUSINESS

Even before the worldwide success of Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth, an international study about green or "cause-related marketing" (CRM) reported:
- 81% of consumers agree that they are more likely to buy a product or service that is associated with a cause they care about.
- 77% of consumers said cause-related marketing positively changed both their behavior to and perception of a company (this could be you).
- 67% of consumers think that more companies should be involved in CRM.

GREEN BUSINESS RESOURCE

Oakland-based Give Something Back sells business products for less and donates the profits back to the community. Fifteen years and more than $3 million in donations later, over 13,000 customers have chosen Give Something Back, leading to their nationwide expansion. Inc. magazine has named them as one of the fastest-growing, privately held companies in America.

Their corporate headquarters is outfitted with a solar roof and stocked with biodegradable cleaning products. Green also means solar panels, high-efficiency lighting and low-fl ow toilets - plus recycling paper, batteries, toner cartridges, aluminum cans and cardboard. Already one of the largest environmentally responsible companies in the Bay Area, Give Something Back is certified by the Alameda County Green Business Program.

Getting certified may be a good move for your company, too. Check it out at greenbiz.ca.gov/AboutUsAC.html.

GREEN OFFICE PRODUCTS

Give Something Back features recycled products, including folders, calendars, pens and recycled papers that match or beat the quality of virgin-fiber papers. They encourage their customers to continue the green cycle by participating in their toner cartridge recycling program and by choosing products that are recyclable or biodegradable.

GREEN IS THE COLOR OF MONEY

In fact, CEOs in businesses both large and small are realizing that greening their business affects the bottom line in a big way. Oracle Corporation invested $10,000 in restroom lighting and sensor upgrades, and as a result, is saving $100,000 each year at one site.

TURN ELECTRONIC WASTE INTO GREEN

BuyMyTronics.com started with an idea to keep broken and used iPods out of landfills. When founder Brett Mosley's iPod broke, it dawned on him that there weren't many ecofriendly or economically rewarding ways to deal with it.

The company currently accepts iPods, cell phones/PDAs, iPhones, Zunes and game consoles with a quick, easy online system that delivers your payment by check to you or by PayPal. Soon, they will pay you for laptops, digital cameras, GPS devices and camcorders with the same focus of keeping used and broken electronics out of our communities' landfill waste.

BOTTOM LINE GREEN BENEFITS

- Gain market share by outreach to specific markets through nonprofits: Avon sponsors breast cancer fundraisers.
- Enhance distinctive brand image and increasing credibility: Newman's Own donates over $100 million in profits to charity.
- Customers contribute to their community with purchases, while increasing your sales: Give Something Back succeeds with green philanthropy.
- Retain and motivate employees: Environmental concerns are a priority at work and home for upcoming generations. Although Kermit the Frog and Ray

Charles once sang, "It ain't easy being green," there are more environmentally friendly large and small options available than ever before. Do it for you, your family, community and your business.

By Jason M. Brandman

Last month, we talked about greenhouse gas emissions and how focusing on sustainability is both an effective and efficient approach to local development. This month, I'd like to return to the sustainability concept and focus on water and its use in development.

California's water supply is finite, but its population is growing. Forecasters believe that the state, which has 38 million residents today, will have 48 million by 2030. Combine this with increased demand for water from growing states such as Nevada and Arizona, and the situation appears grim at best.

To help alleviate some of the pressure, last August Gov. Schwarzenegger called for a statewide 20% "across-the-board" water-conservation effort. Further, under terms of a federal court decision, the Department of Water Resources is cutting its initial allocation for water deliveries in 2008. The initial allocation was already expected to be lower because of dry conditions in the Sacramento and San Joaquin regions where the rivers feed water from the Sierra Mountain Range to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay-Delta and to state water project pumps. The question is, will there be enough?

In a recent letter to the governor, the Southern California Leadership Council (which includes former Governors Deukmejian, Wilson and Davis) identified "the combinations of the extended drought in the Colorado River Basin, the failure to implement timely and effective improvements in California's water-supply infrastructure and the recent court interference in the Bay-Delta operations" as the primary reasons for the current water crisis. However, the letter indicated, "Environmentally benign infrastructure improvements" can help improve the storage, capture and conveyance of water and further emphasized that "California business leaders are united in their shared perspective that this may be a once-in-a-generation opportunity to resolve differences among stakeholders in the best solution to the Bay-Delta."

This is certainly something to think about for those of us involved in Northern California development. No one really knows how much water exists to support development. While the state's Department of Water Resources reliability report - which gives cities an idea of how much water they can expect to receive through the State Water Project in wet, dry and "average" years - is helpful, there are no uniform standards in place for estimating water supplies.

Thirty-nine percent of residential water use in California occurs outdoors, mainly when homeowners water their lawns. Recognizing that, many developers secure "additional" water for growth by cutting yard sizes, landscaping with drought-tolerant plants and installing parallel pipe systems to deliver recycled water for outdoor use. It is increasingly clear that conservation and reuse initiatives should be strongly emphasized in development.

July 8, 2015

Dear Home,

It's been a while since I've written, but I've been really busy at work and it seemed like everything has been going fine with you. However, I got an e-mail message from the home-integration provider yesterday that the front lawn wasn't looking so good. After reviewing the video footage and maintenance communication history, I now realize that the smart irrigation controller automatically modified its settings after receiving the mass e-mail message a couple weeks ago from the water district regarding water rationing. Unfortunately, however, the controller was unable to establish contact with the landscape service to change out the lawn to native plants per the new default setting, which follows the newer landscaping requirements just approved by the Homeowners' Association based on the (now mandatory) Green Building and Landscaping Guidelines. I have forwarded the trouble message directly to the landscape service myself; so, things should be back on track soon. In the meantime, I am bypassing the irrigation settings and going back to the standard settings. I put a reminder on the system to monitor the problem on a weekly basis.

As I was checking the maintenance log, I also noticed a few other problems that I thought I should address. I think that because of this year's earlier-than-normal change to daylight savings time and the failure of the photocell, the lights and shades lost synchronization. Thinking that if there really were a problem I would have received an e-mail, I checked my spam folder, and sure enough, I found several messages from the neighbors asking us to be more respectful of their privacy. I have ordered the maintenance company to replace the photocell immediately and have initiated an auto-reset to take place as soon as the photocell is working. Also in my spam folder were alerts from interior moisture sensors after the heavy rains last winter. After reviewing the skylight operation log, I found again that there had been a malfunction. This explains why the pest control service was sending me text messages about squirrels in the house - I thought it was a joke. I'll have the skylights repaired when they come to replace the photocell.

I also noticed that the kids ran out of milk last week. I assume that milk was automatically removed from the grocery list due to the recall. I thought I had checked off soy milk as an auto replacement in the event of a milk recall. I'll confirm my profile on GroceryNow's website and get that squared away. In any case, the kids look fine and their report cards came last week. It looks like the homework assist plug-in was really worth the investment.

Given the recent issues, I think that it is time to upgrade the system again as last year's upgrades are already obsolete. In fact, I've changed my plans and have decided to go manual. I'll be home for dinner tonight. Let the kids know I'll stop by the farmers' market and pick up fresh milk on the way home.

Sincerely,
Your Owner

By Paris A. Tabor, P.E.

As a result of the accumulated technical knowledge and experience that an architectural or engineering or company attains over the years, a Library of Details is no doubt a key technical resource that has to be created. Obvious questions that may cross your mind would include: What exactly is a Library of Details? How do I, as the client, benefit if the technical resources (i.e., architects and engineers) I hire have a Library of Details?

A Library of Details is a technical resource that the architect/engineer can use to extract the most common and typical details applicable in repetitive and common conditions. These details are a useful resource when establishing a package of typical details mostly known as standard details. The standard details package becomes essential in the preliminary phase of the project planning process. It acts as a starting point in the design process.

Having a Library of Details considerably improves efficiency by cutting the time spent to recreate the same repetitive details, and it promotes high quality control through constant review and refinement of details, both of which help to yield the best design solution.

In order for the Library of Details to be an efficient and reliable resource, it is vital for the library to be organized in a way that is easy to use according to specific needs and technical requirements of the project. The Library of Details catalogued by product type, assembly location or materials used ensures quick search results and an efficient way to save the details based on the specific types and conditions that are being used in the design process.

Time saved to produce details al- ready created for another project, which may have similar conditions means there is less possibility for errors to occur as the details are constantly updated. Thus, less management time is needed as the detail sheets are assembled according to the type of construction and any other technical criteria.

It is very important to understand that creating a Library of Details is a consistent process of developing, revising and updating these details to depict current code information, most efficient building-assembly solutions and the most current building products available. The revising and updating process enriches the entire Library of Details system, providing an opportunity to incorporate new systems and procedures applicable to specific design criteria. When the detail is revised, it allows for better construction solutions, which can save the client potential construction labor and material costs.

Within an organization, the Library of Details can also work as a potential resource for training of new design staff. A Library of Details allows the design professional the ability to utilize concepts and design solutions already implemented on previous successful projects that have already proven to be the most effective. The engineer would be able to save much design time by extracting from the core of the detail the basic concept/idea and using that as a starting point to assemble the required and desired detail applicable for a specific project.

As part of the project planning process, the standard Library of Details is a rich and useful resource, which can instantly guide the first steps of the preliminary design. It is also a reliable tool in providing virtual feedback to assure that the proposed system in place is feasible and economically viable.

In terms of sustainability and a green solution, all efforts in planning ahead, standardizing to avoid conflicts in the execution of the design process and using the appropriate materials in an appropriate manner are a crucial contribution that the use of standard procedures such as standard details can bring to a project.

Creating a Library of Details is just the beginning. The key distinction for having a successful Library of Details is for it to be regularly updated. Frankly, we view our library as on ongoing work in progress. As long as our industry has code changes, products are developed, efficiencies are created and so on, the library needs to evolve with those changes.

Creating and maintaining a useful Library of Details requires an investment of time. However, the benefits of having such an important tool are far reaching for the design professionals, the construction team, the client and the environment.

All marketing materials utilize some form of graphic design. Graphic design is a critical aspect of the overall perception and image of your company, and it plays a key role in the success of the specific promotional materials.

The design of your promotional materials has two primary objectives. First, it must generate attention in what is typically a very cluttered environment. Second, it must help the target audience quickly and easily absorb the information presented and why it will benefit them directly.

But what makes graphic design effective? Here are six very important features that all effective promotional material should incorporate to maximize response and overall penetration.

1. Have One Dominant Feature

An effectively designed promotional piece has one dominant feature. This feature is typically an image or a headline. It is designed to catch the eye and draw the reader into the body copy or other sales messaging. Typically, you only have about two to four seconds to grab the attention of your targeted reader. A good rule to remember is to keep it simple - when you try to emphasize too much, you end up emphasizing nothing.

2. Minimize Typeface Variety

Use one, maybe two, typefaces - total. Using too many typefaces upsets the flow and makes your piece harder to read. Remember, not only is the typeface contributing to a compelling story, it must effortlessly guide your reader to where you want them directed.

3. Text Must Be Easy to Read

The text of any promotional piece is where most of the selling occurs. Type style is a very critical element that could dramatically increase the readability of your piece. Before you embark on writing your copy, have a good understanding of whom you are addressing, what style they would be most comfortable with and what would most likely get them to respond. Type should not be too small or condensed. Narrow columns always read better than wider columns. Paragraphs should be short and to the point. Long-winded sentences and paragraphs typically scare readers away, especially those who have little time to devote to your sales message. Try using bullet points and subheads to break up text and help guide the reader through your message. The more inviting you make your copy, the greater the chance it will be read.

4. White Space Is Good

Don't be afraid of white space. You don't have to fill every inch of your promotional piece with copy and pictures. White space makes everything within it jump out and get noticed. Sometimes, saying less makes a bigger impact.

5. Use Relevant Images

It's true what they say about a picture being worth a thousand words. Images in promotional pieces must help support your message, not confuse the target audience. One main image typically works better than multiple supporting images. Try to use an image that grabs the attention of the reader and draws them into your sales copy. But be careful not to use an attention-grabbing image that could portray the wrong image of your company.

6. Tell Them What to Do

You've managed to get your target audience's attention. You've aroused their interest and desire. You've guided them through your clear and concise text. Don't leave them now. Most companies forget to include this very critical final step: Tell them to do something.

Make sure that all of your promotional pieces have a strong call-to-action built into the design. If a prospect reads to this point, you have someone who is very interested in what you have to say or sell. Tell them to buy. Tell them to call. Send them to your website to enter a contest. Just tell them to do something and watch them do it!

Creating effective promotional materials is not an easy process. It is both an art and a science. Many companies do not take these materials as seriously as they should, and as a result, they never get the response rates or return-on-investment they are capable of achieving. So, whether you create your own materials or you have a professional firm create them for you, make sure you apply these simple, proven rules.

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Embracing the Opportunities of Green Building

By Kay Wilthew

Industry pioneer Healthy Buildings USA was developed through personal circumstances that confronted the company founder and CEO Bob Massaro. Twelve years ago when his child was stricken with asthma, Massaro combined his public health and biology education with his building and design expertise to create a healthy indoor environment for his family. Massaro's response helped his child and put him on the path to creating healthy environments for his entire community.

In the 1980s before "going green" was a mainstream concept, Massaro and his brother, architect Jon Massaro, operated their design/build firm to create "healthy" buildings that were good for occupants, easier on the environment and made sound economic sense. In the late '90s, following the incident with his son, Massaro redirected his efforts to focus exclusively on green and healthy buildings and launched Healthy Buildings USA, a company whose leadership and educational efforts have helped to guide the building industry to an environmental perspective.

Clockwise from left: Bob Massaro (sitting), CEO; Elizabeth Olcott, managing principal; Christopher Gustin, manager, government relations; Jon Massaro, principal architect; Summer Seret, marketing coordinator; Sara Rosenthal, development principal (Photo courtesy of Seymour & McIntosh)

Company principal Sara Rosenthal believes the health benefits of green building are often overlooked. "Most people learning about green are totally focused on the environment, and the health aspect is a fairly new dimension." Like Massaro, Rosenthal has her undergraduate degree in biology. She later added her MBA from Stanford.

Long a proponent of green building, Massaro recognized its significant health benefits. "Because I was initially educated in biology, I understand the impact the environment can have on the human body. I decided if I'm going to build the environment in which people live, work and learn, let me make it such that it doesn't do them any harm."

Napa Townhomes - kitchen and living area. Designed with a special focus on energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. Stained concrete and laminate flooring, tankless hot water heaters, wheat-board cabinets, dual-flush toilets, zero-VOC finishes (Photo courtesy of Healthy Buildings USA)

Evidence proves green building's substantial economic, environmental and health value. Says Massaro, "The data now overwhelmingly demonstrates that healthy buildings result in less absenteeism and higher productivity. The connection between healthy and green buildings and economic benefits has been firmly established. The rating systems such as LEED and GreenPoint Rated recognize this. People who live in healthy buildings are benefiting themselves, and benefiting the planet."

The principals of Healthy Buildings believe that architects and builders have a moral obligation and social responsibility to create sustainable environments. Says Massaro, "This business is much more than just building build- ings and making money, it is also about opportunity. Architects have the opportunity to design beautiful buildings that function properly and last a long time. Smart builders have the opportunity to build good buildings that have a positive effect on their bottom line, and on the life of our planet."

Sonoma custom home - built green and healthy; solar net zero energy (Photo courtesy of Healthy Buildings USA)

Regional church HQ - commercial application of green and healthy (Photo courtesy of Healthy Buildings USA)

Healthy Buildings has combined their "hands on" green design and building expertise with an outreach agenda. The company's LEED certification consulting and educational services are available throughout California. Explains Massaro, "We decided if we're going to be truly sustainable we must bring sustainability to others; to educate, to inspire and to motivate. We're qualified to advise our clients on attaining LEED certification and to achieve Build It Greens' GreenPoint rating."

The scope of the company's involvement in a project varies, explains Elizabeth Olcott, managing principal. "On some of our projects we're the project manager or consultant, on others the general contractor. So not only are we providing consulting and project management services, we can also build out the projects."

Light-gauge steel framing of townhome project, Napa (Photo courtesy of Healthy Buildings USA)

View of Valley Oak Villas townhome community, Napa. Recognized as one of the Top 15 Green Communities in the Bay Area by Solano magazine (Photo courtesy of Healthy Buildings USA)

Christopher Gustin, manager, government relations, with 30+ years working in public agencies is uniquely qualified to assist municipalities in drafting their green-building ordinances. "My role is to help the local governmental agencies put the rules in place to encourage a higher level of construction standards - to go beyond the minimum standards and make them healthy, high-performing buildings."

Massaro believes their message must emphasize high-performance building. "There are those that equate environmentally sustainable buildings with the 'tree huggers' of the '70s and '80s. To me this is all about performance. High- performance buildings consume less energy, emit less greenhouse gasses, cost less money to operate, require less maintenance and are healthier, happier places. And yes, they also save trees."

1986 hillside home; among Los Angeles' first healthy homes (Photo courtesy of Healthy Buildings USA)

Adjacent to the Hollywood sign, late 1980s, early green and healthy features (Photo courtesy of Healthy Buildings USA)

Healthy Buildings USA also develops select high-visibility projects promoting innovative green technologies. Says Massaro, "We now look at the projects we develop as R&D opportunities. The technologies of today considered 'cutting edge' or 'pushing the envelope' will be commonplace in three to five years. We consider part of our job to implement these technologies now, so that we can help them become commonplace sooner.

"Ultimately, the more we humans damage our environ- ment the more we're going to harm ourselves. We in the building profession have the knowledge and skills - let's use them. Information is there for the taking."

Massaro conveys a sense of urgency. "This is the turning point in the building industry. The way we design and build buildings is going to change radically. They will be built so they don't consume energy or they'll generate their own energy. Different materials will be in place, designs will change and the way buildings integrate with the environment will change. Technology will push us to living differently. With sustainable building practices, we can actually have a better quality of life - healthier environments, lower costs and put less stress on the planet. We just have to embrace the opportunities, which includes change, and the rest will follow."

Healthy Buildings USA is located at 100A Coombs Street, Napa, CA 94559. Call (707) 265-0265 or visit healthybuildingsusa.com for more information.

More Than Noteworthy

March 26, 2008, the State Assistance Fund for Enterprise, Business and Industrial Development (SAFE-BIDCO) presented the 6th annual Green Entrepreneur Award recognizing excellence in sustainable business practices throughout Northern California to Robert D. Massaro and Healthy Buildings USA.

Areas of Expertise

- Project management and technical consultation from schematic design through entitlements, and through the entire construction process.
- Guidance of staff and local stakeholder groups to facilitate the development of green-building ordinances.
- LEED and Build It Green Project Ratings. Coordination of the project team's effort to achieve USGBC's LEED or Built It Green's GreenPoint-rated verifications.
- Cost/benefit analysis for design elements under consideration, and constructability review from a green- building technology perspective.

Expanding the Team

In early 2007, Massaro realized his ability to foster sustainability was limited by the number of projects his company could complete in any one year. He really wanted Healthy Buildings work product to be sustainability, and not just designing or building structures like homes, offices and schools. Once he realized he wanted to sow the seeds of sustainability, Healthy Buildings' new business model became clear, and so did its need for experienced and knowledgeable talent. Thus the addition, in mid-2007, of Elizabeth Olcott as managing principal, and in early 2008 of Sara Rosenthal and Chris Gustin as principals. Each brought with them considerable knowledge, experience, academic credentials and green-building certifications (including LEED AP, AICP, Green Point Rater and Certified Green Building Professional designations). More importantly, they brought the same vision as Massaro's, namely that of designing and building in the most sustainable manner possible.

2008 Projects

- New commercial office building, 6,500 square feet, in a high-visibility location and a 31-unit residential building for the Gasser Foundation in Napa. Both targeted to be LEED Gold, they will have a significant impact on both residential and commercial development in the entire city of Napa.
- A new dormitory for 61 students of the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in St. Helena, a nationally respected institution. Targeted to be LEED Gold, this project elevates educational housing to a higher level of sustainability.
- 16 one- and two-story new custom homes in Yountville, Napa Valley. Zero energy, sustainable homes; targeted to be LEED Gold and GreenPoint rated, these homes will include several features new to sustainable design.

I'm thinking again about how projects come together, about how an idea becomes a reality from the perspective of all involved. We are so engrossed in the process on a day-to-day basis that we may lose sight of the awesome orchestra of talent that we lead as designers and builders.

From the client or end user to the craftspeople involved, there are so many ideas, materials and people moving around that it is a wonder anything gets done at all. There will certainly be mistakes and misunder- standings along the way.

With a moving target of real estate values, financing issues, new materials and methods, and rising fuel costs, we are challenged even more than before with turning out successful projects.

Just to get it out on the table, here are all the players in the band that I can think of right now: property owner (along with family and friends), neighbors, realtor, appraiser, lender, architect and associates, engineer and associates, planning and building department (along with outside plan-checking service and field inspectors), interior designer, builder and associates, subcontractors and material suppliers.

For a recent small bathroom remodel, I counted up to 53 individuals involved in creating the project! Just think of how many folks are concerned with a larger project. At a recent SF Giants baseball game, as I was talking to my cousin who runs the "Guzzler" slide, I heard one of his adult clients proudly say he had helped build the thing. We must acknowledge and share the pride in creating a project with all those involved, because, for most people, a project is more than a paycheck.

In my Spanish class, El professor brought in students from the ESL class so we could practice English and Spanish together. A majority of the ESL students were in the construction trades and had left their families back in their country. One of them said that El Jefe (the boss) required that he enroll in the class. This man, with great feeling, said his boss was a "buena persona," telling us how his boss had come to the job and asked him to stop working so they could go to lunch together. The humanity in this was so clear that it made me look for ways to express my appreciation for my own crew better and more often. Being so busy with getting the project done can blind us to the importance of making sure to share our gratitude for those who give so much for us every day.

Whether you take a worker out to lunch, buy him or her a tool, offer to loan out the company truck for the weekend, teach your employees about a new building system or simply acknowledge the nice work they just completed, you will be a better person and have a better staff to show for it. The same goes for the many others involved in the project. It is even OK to let your client know that the idea he or she had for the handrail detail was a winner!