Ojai Spanish Revival Estate Remodel Becomes Historic Landmark

This 7,200 square foot This 1920’s Spanish Revival estate—designed by famed architect Arthur E. Harvey, who created the Château Élysée in Los Angeles—is an historic home located in tranquil Ojai. The current owners purchased the estate with the goal of honoring the home’s history and have since registered it as a historical landmark.

In addition to restoring the home to its original condition, a major goal of the project is to make the house net zero energy (where the house only consumes as much energy as it produces). Maintaining the original architectural integrity and historic value of the home, while bringing it up to and even beyond today’s energy efficiency standards, presented a unique blend of challenges for Allen Construction.

Many unique and timeless architectural features were uncovered during restoration including features such as original, handmade tile; long forgotten painted ceilings on burlap canvas; classic cast iron light fixtures; and, the original door and window hardware.

The original home, designed in 1926 by noted architect A. E. Harvey and built by Robert W. Winfield for Frank & Kathryn Preston. Winfield built several famous Ojai landmarks including the Ojai post office & tower; Libby Park arches and pergola; “El Roblar,” the original hotel on Main St (now The Oaks Spa); and the Catholic Church on Main St (now the Ojai Museum & Chamber).

It may have been only the 4th house built in the Arboleda section of Ojai.

Many trees were brought in to create a symbiotic permaculture, which balances existing ancient specimens with an array of fruit trees, juvenile oaks, tropicals, and more.

A blacksmith shop was set up on the property when the house was first built. This is where all of the ornamental wrought iron you see throughout the house was custom made. All the work was done by master craftsmen.

A cornucopia of exquisite tile patterns abound throughout the house, including fountains, alcoves, and more, all of which combine to make the home a true work of art.

The original kitchen hardware graces the cabinet doors and drawers.

All four bathrooms are tiled from floor to ceiling in vibrant and intricate color palettes. It is rumored that the original owner, Frank Preston, was an Italian tile importer.

An unbelievable degree of precision was required to ensure that every piece of ornately carved wood that replaced architectural elements damaged by dry rot match the originals exactly.

Color schemes and textures echo the original as much as possible. We relied on a forensic paint consultant to ensure that fresh paint throughout matched the original color palette.

Precision craftsmanship was required to duplicate ornately carved architectural elements that had been damaged by dry rot.

PROJECT PARTNERS

ARCHITECT: Becker Henson Niksto

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: Jim Melnik

PERMACULTURIST: Connor Jones

ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN: Judy Triem

PHOTOGRAPHY: Jim Bartsch

SEE MORE PHOTOS HERE

A MODEL FOR SUSTAINABILITY FOR THE ENTIRE OJAI COMMUNITY

REDUCE

• 100 kW photovoltaic system provides more power than will be used on site.

• three-phase electrical power uses less conductor material to transmit electrical power.

• high efficiency heat pump heats and cools the home with a multi-zoned, forced air system.

• icynene insulation was added to the attic and blown-in cellulos green fiber insulation was added to 2x4, 2x8, and 2x12 walls via two inch holes, then covered with styrofoam plugs and plastered over.

• 1/4” low-e laminate glass replaced the original window glass in order to improve the home’s energy efficiency and resistance to wildfires.

• ultra low-flow plumbing fixtures replaced original fixtures in a style that echoed the original architectural period.

• zero VOC finishes were used throughout to ensure a healthy indoor environment.

REUSE

The following original historic elements were also restored and reused:

• harvested and repurposed existing wall + floor tile

• kitchen cupboards

• window + door hardware and frames

Where original hardware had been lost or could not be reused, salvaged hardware or new hardware, made to match the existing, was used.

RECYCLE

Every drop of water that falls on this property will stay on the property and be used to irrigate the landscape or recharge the groundwater basin. In addition, greywater is used to irrigate plantings near the main house and new pool house. Most of the landscape will provide food or shade or both.

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Building Fire Resilience

In light of the recent fires, we’ve seen a surge in inquiries about fire hardening, which involves preparing homes and properties to withstand wildfires. We've put together consolidated essential information on site planning, building design, and materials that can greatly improve your home’s fire resilience, along with tips regarding safety and insurance to guide homeowners through these critical steps. Huge shout out to California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) for their home hardening strategies and readiness assessment tool and Santa Barbara County Fire Safe Council for more great info.

Click on the image to view the Fire Resilience Guide

All-Electric ADU / Guest House

Small in size, but mighty when it comes to performance! This 850 square foot ADU / guest house was designed with so many features that make this home comfortable, healthy, efficient, and resilient.  

 Read more about all the features in this home and how they work below.

 Health & Comfort

1.    Kitchen - Induction stove - no combustion of gas inside this all-electric home. no open flames, safe to touch, easy to clean, and incredibly fast cooking.

 2.    Laundry room - Heat Pump Ventless Dryer - Better drying for fabrics. A Heat Pump pulls the water out of clothes like a dehumidifier rather than baking clothes in an oven like gas or standard electric dryers.

 3.    Air sealing throughout house – Reduced the air leaks in the house by 3x!

·         First, we taped, caulked, and foamed the gaps, cracks, pipe penetrations and voids through the exterior wall prior to insulating. Then used open cell spray foam to fill the walls to Quality Insulation Installation (QII) standards. This is usually satisfactory, but we wanted to reduce leakage to make the house air as healthy as possible and be more energy efficient.

·         Second, we worked with an Aero Barrier installer who specializes in air sealing even the tinies of leaks. They seal a giant blower door fan on the front door, pressurizing the house like a ballon and then a machine sprays nontoxic vaporized caulking inside. The pressurized air flows to the pin hole leaks and fills them up. We started with 5 ACH and went to 1.7 ACH.  An Air Change per Hour (ACH) means the number of times per hour the volume of air in the whole house is exchanged with outside air. Outside air can either come from places we know or places we don’t know like gaps around windows and doors, around outlet covers, around can lights through the attic or up through the crawl space. Not knowing where the air is coming from is scary and not healthy, so it’s best to seal the house to manage how and where the air comes in which we did with the fresh air ventilation system.

 4.    Ventilation throughout house – To manage fresh air coming in and out of the house, a Panasonic ERV (Energy Recovery Ventilator) was installed. An ERV brings in filtered fresh air as well as extracts old air in a controlled manner. The ERV is essentially a giant bath exhaust fan that brings in the same amount of air that it takes out. While bringing in the fresh air, ERV helps match the outside air to the interior temperatures, so the HVAC system has less strain.

 5.    Natural or Low VOC finished materials.

•  Interior White natural plaster

• Polished concrete floor – easy to clean, and less carbon footprint than any additional floor covering such as carpet.

• Nakamoto Shou Sugi Ban siding – Heat treated Cypress, meets Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification COC

• Kebony decking – modified at cellular level, FSC certified Pine, (alternative to Ipe). The deck is on the roof above the carport to utilize the most space.

6.    Interior wall sound attenuation – Since the 850 square foot structure is a small space, sound control was important to allow for each space to feel separate. Rockwool Safe and Sound insulation was installed in all interior walls. In conjunction with the dense plaster walls, each room feels private.

 7.    Infrared Patio heaters – 2 heaters were installed above the outdoor seating area. The infrared heaters directly warm the body not the ambient air. They are much more efficient and safer than gas.

 Performance & Efficiency

1.    Heat pump Water heater – The SANCO heat pump is nearly 300% efficient, a gas furnace is max 96%. Tank lives inside and compressor is outside. The tank is plastic so will never rust like a typical tanked water heater. Also, the refrigerant has a lower Global warming potential. It is CO2 (GWP of 1) rather than a chemical which could have a GWP of over 2000.

 2.    Samsung Mini split heat pump for HVAC – A ducted mini split air handler was tucked up in the small attic to provide heating and cooling to two bedrooms, two baths and kitchen/living room.

 3.    Weather shield Energy Star Aluminum clad Windows – Energy Star rates more than just appliances. These windows are low maintenance, resilient, and energy efficient.

 4. Raypak Heat pump water heater for Spa – To heat the spa we used a Heat Pump in conjunction with the traditional resistance heater. The heat pump can maintain the water temp and the resistance heater is called when a boost is needed immediately. 

Resiliency

1.    SPAN panel – the smart electrical panel allows you to monitor and manage electrical needs from your phone. You can see usage, solar production, and battery performance. If there is an outage, you can adjust which are the most critical loads to back up on the fly from your phone rather than being limited to 2-5 circuits in a dedicated sub panel. This reduced the need for an extra subpanel and wiring as well as added ease!

2.    Solar & Battery storage

·         Flat roof filled with solar 9.6kw Solar and 7kw LG Battery

·         We performed a load calculation based on the owner’s habits to determine the solar required.

·         Last year, the project produced 89% of its own power, a major accomplishment towards NET ZERO. The rainy days really reduced solar production.

The History of Earth Day

The History of Earth Day 

On January 28, 1969, a well drilled by Union Oil Platform A off the coast of Santa Barbara, California, blew out. At the time of the Santa Barbara Channel Oil Spill, it was the largest oil spill in U.S. waters, spewing more than four million gallons of oil and killing thousands of seabirds, dolphins, seals, and sea lions. Today it ranks third in size after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon and 1989 Exxon Valdez spills.

As a reaction to this disaster, activists were mobilized to create organizations and regulations that are the foundation of our environmental protections today. On March 21, 1969, President Nixon came to Santa Barbara to see the spill and cleanup efforts, telling the crowd, "...the Santa Barbara incident has frankly touched the conscience of the American people." During that same period, Senator Gaylord Nelson from Wisconsin saw the 800 square-mile oil slick from an airplane, which gave him the impetus to ratify a national day for environmental education, which he called Earth Day. On April 22, 1970, over 20 million Americans attended Earth Day teach ins and gatherings across the U.S., including a one-block long gathering organized by Community Environmental Council in Santa Barbara, that continues today as the annual Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival.  

National Outcomes 

Soon after these formative events, Nixon established the Environmental Protection Agency (1970) and a bi-partisan Congress adopted the Clean Water Act (1972), Coastal Zone Management Act (1972), and Endangered Species Act (1973). In 1970 and again in 1999, they also greatly strengthened the Clean Air Act, originally passed in 1963. In some cases, this legislation passed with nearly unanimous support. 

Local Outcomes 

In the days, weeks, and months following the spill, local volunteers and activists worked heroically to respond to the devastation—cleaning oil-slicked wildlife, spreading straw on beaches to sop up oil, documenting contamination, and creating political and activist organizations. Reporters also played a large role, capturing images of oil-plagued beaches and oil-blackened wildlife that were broadcast around the globe.

As a direct result of the local outrage following the spill, four Santa Barbara-based organizations formed that are still active today:

• The Community Environmental Council (CEC)

• The Environmental Defense Center (EDC); originally launched under the auspices of Santa Barbara Citizens for Environmental Defense

• The Environmental Studies Program at UCSB

• Get Oil Out! (GOO!)

Source: sbearthday.org

2024 Trends

Cozy Warm Neutrals

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Blue

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Expressive Spaces - Bring your personality in!

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Get Organized - A place for everything

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Elevated Laundry Rooms

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Spa Bathrooms

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Plaster Range Hoods

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Seamless Indoor Outdoor

Team Allen Company Celebration

Check out some photos from our 2023 End of the Year Company Celebration! Lots of games, good food, and fun!

Guest House Remodel

Check out some before and after photos of this guest house remodel project we recently completed with Interior Design partner, Julie Smallwood.

NEUTRAL TERRITORY 

“This guest house remodel was both fun and challenging. They wanted a space where guests could totally relax and also a separate space for kids and teens to hang out.

The nostalgic stone fireplace allowed me to create and extend the indoor living space outdoors.  Using the same color pallet inspired by my client's sentimental and beautiful artwork, I was able to transform a room that was previously two queens,

Into a living space that consists of a lounge area,  bedroom,  bath, and kitchenette with coffee station. 

The challenging part of this transformation was the foundation and structure.  Project Manager,  Todd Johnson of Allen, believed the front portion of the building may have originally been a water tower. Although it caused surface challenges in flooring, tile, and decor, it adds so much to the beautiful historic charm of this property that is uniquely Montecito. 

Keeping the natural tones and surface elements in line with the main house, I utilized space more efficiently and created a multi-use oasis for everyone in the home. It was a pleasure. "

Julie Smallwood 

Julie@juliesmallwooddesigns.com 

805-503-9755 

BEFORE (left) & AFTER (right)

Beach Clean Up

Earlier this month we received a call from the Ventura chapter of the Surfrider Foundation asking for help removing a large spool of rubber irrigation hose that had washed down to the beach at Oil Piers. They had unsuccessfully been trying to get officials to help as the rubber hose started to break off and wash into the ocean. Allen to the rescue! Five of our crew met at the beach at 7 am to figure out a way to remove the super heavy spool from the beach. See the pics below.

Thanks to the Allen Crew: Sergio Trujillo, Daniel Mault, Darren Daniels, Ryan Shirah, and Eric Johnson. And Joy Riley of the Ventura County Surfrider Foundation for being diligent in searching for the right people for the job!!

Modern Villa Retreat - Before & After

This 1,628 square foot house was transformed from a classic California-ranch-style beach bungalow into a modern villa retreat.

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DESIGN TRENDS FOR 2023

The new year is just around the corner and we wanted to catch up on some of the design trends that will make their way into 2023. Here are a few of our favorites from our recent builds.

LUXURY MONOCHROMATIC

Choose your color and stick with it!

MODERNIST CURVES

Crescent sofas, egg chairs, mushroom lighting, oval mirrors, circular rugs - look for curves to be everywhere.

ALCOVES AND ARCHES

Classic or modern, these architectural features are regaining traction in both small and large scale.

SAGE GREEN

A softer version of the “It” green color of 2022, sage green is a beautiful choice for cabinets, tile, countertops, paint, and more!

OUTDOOR INDPIRED

Look for interiors to feature natural colors and flow seamlessly from and to their outer surroundings and create outdoor-indoor blends.

PRIVATE SPACES

A relaxing, quiet, isolated corner for calmness, to gather your thoughts, or seek concentration.

ELEVATED LAUNDRY ROOMS

Make laundry fun!

Happy ALLENversary, Daniel Mault

Daniel Mault - Vice President, Production

Congratulations to our Vice President of Production, DANIEL MAULT, who is celebrating his 10-year anniversary with Allen this month! We caught up with Daniel to ask him some questions about his time with us.

What was your first job with Allen?

My first job with Allen was a beautiful project on the Mesa where I was the Superintendent. It was a whole house remodel on the edge of the bluffs. The existing home was gutted to expose just the framing and we built from there. Eric Johnson was my PM, Teo Espinoza and crew constructed the driveway after Ian Cronshaw helped with the layout, and Alain Iniguez was the lead carpenter who installed all the windows. All of those team members are still with Allen!

El Toro Project

 Do you have a favorite project that you have worked on? That’s a tough one. If I had to pick just one, I would say the El Toro Project in Ojai. We developed and brought back to life eight acres on an incredible piece of property overlooking the Topa Topa Mountains using permaculture philosophies. We also remodeled a 100-year-old home under the guidelines of the historic landmark society. There were many aspects of the build that made it unique and special, but if I had to pick one it was the symmetry that came together so nicely between the client, architect, and builder. We strive for that on every project and on El Toro, we really hit the mark. 

Daniel and his family biking.

What’s the best thing about working at Allen?

The very talented people. There’s an amazing culture of collaboration and respect. We challenge one another and enjoy working together.

 Any funny stories from your time with Allen?

I brought my dog Saba, a large golden retriever, to the office for the first time. She was so excited to be there she pooped on the floor. I was so embarrassed, but Vicki Godlewski assured me it happened all the time. I’m not sure I believed her, but it made me feel better. Luckily it was late in the day and not too many people were there. That was the last time Saba came to visit the office. 

What are you looking forward to in the next 10 years?

Remaining good stewards of a company that we all love, growing together, and continuing to innovate where and when we can.

 Ten years from now our three boys will all be in college or just beyond! Enjoying spending as much time as I can with family in the coming years is going to be top priority - surfing, coaching, and traveling. The coming years will be very special.

 How has the company changed since you have been here?

As the saying goes, “the more things change, the more they stay the same.”  I think the core culture at Allen today is the same as it has always bee. People who genuinely care and take a lot of pride in what they do, their craft, their clients, and the projects they deliver. If anything has changed recently it’s a renewed sense of mission and purpose that honors that culture, and I believe it is felt company wide. 

Daniel coached his son’s team all the way to becoming District Champions!

The Dos and Don'ts of Choosing a Light Fixture for Your Room

The Dos and Don'ts of Choosing a Light Fixture for Your Room

There are a lot of things to consider when choosing the right light fixture for your room. Size, style, and function are all important factors, but it can be tricky to decide which one is best for you. Here are some tips to help make the process a little bit easier!

Choose the right size light for your room

When it comes to finding the right size light for your room, one of the best places to start is by measuring the space. Try hanging a balloon with a string from your ceiling. This will allow you to step back and assess the height from multiple angles along with the visual impact. This will also give you a good idea of how much room you have to work with and what size light will fit best. Once you have your measurements, it's time to consider the style of your light!

Consider the style of the light

There are so many different styles and types of light fixtures that work and it all boils down to personal preference. Hung high or low, what looks and feels good to you will mostly likely work in the space.

Let’s consider your dining room. Depending on the size of your dining table, you might want to consider a single chandelier or pendant, or if you've got room to play, we love the impact of multiple pendants above a table. INSERT PHOTO

Think about the function of the light

Next, start thinking about the function of your light.  Is it purely for decoration, or do you need it to provide actual illumination? If you need it to light up a dark corner, then make sure to choose a size and style that will provide enough light. If you're just looking for something to add a bit of ambiance to your room, then you can be more flexible with your choice. Take into consideration the type of light bulb you use. Yellow light can provide a more ambient feel like for a living room where white light performs functional light like in your kitchen.

Decide on a budget

Lights can come in all shapes and sizes, and so can the price tags attached to them.  Before you start shopping, it's a good idea to have a budget in mind. This will help you narrow down your choices and make sure you don't overspend.  Lights that are more decorative are typically less expensive but if you're looking to add a little functionality, the price can go up quickly. Have fun with it!  Bigger, and more powerful lights,  can really make a statement in your room. If you want to go bold, don't be afraid to choose a light that's a little out of the ordinary!

Shop around and compare prices

Once you've got some ideas on the lights you want for your room, it's a good idea to try and find them at different places to see where you can get the best deal.    Keep in mind however that the more exotic the light, the harder it will be to find prices to compare.  You can always check with local lighting stores and home improvement stores, but don't forget to check online as well!

Get creative!

Remember that there are no rules when it comes to choosing a light for your room. If you see something you love, go for it!  And if you're not sure what you want, try browsing through magazines or looking online for inspiration. With so many options available, you're sure to find something that's perfect for your space.

These are just a few tips to help you choose the right light for your room. With a little bit of planning and research, you should be able to find the perfect light to fit your space and style. So have fun with it and enjoy your new light!

Margarita Bravo is a luxury interior designer, decorator, furniture curator, and creator of experiences. Her namesake design studio partakes in home design projects nationwide from its Montecito, Miami, and Denver locations.

Margarita has recently opened locations in Montecito and Miami, to accompany her long-standing Denver and Aspen locations. With a white glove approach and a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering and Interior Design studies in New York and Barcelona, Margarita brings a technical, creative yet down-to-earth approach to her interaction with her clients.

Reinventing The Hundred Year Old Electric Panel

Reinventing The Hundred Year Old Electric Panel

The Allen team recently worked with Advanced Electric to install a new kind of electric panel in a new construction all-electric home. The goal was to create a connected, resilient, all-electric home.

This new technology, the SPAN Smart Panel is revolutionizing the old, antiquated electric panel that hasn’t been changed in a hundred years. Earlier this year, the technology won two awards in the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) annual Best of IBS™ Awards - Best Energy Efficient Product and Best Home Technology Product.

This SPAN Smart Panel replaces the existing electric panel in a home and lets the homeowner control every circuit, turning them on and off, right from their phone, from home or away. The phone app gives the homeowner information on how the home is sourcing, storing, and using energy in real-time as well as how that energy is being used, down to the circuit.

 The SPAN panel also revolutionizes the home battery backup functionality. Previously when considering Solar and Battery backup, you couldn’t run your whole house on a battery. Homeowners were limited to just a few important circuits to run to a separate Critical Loads sub panel. Now with the SPAN panel, there is no need for a separate sub panel. When on battery back-up, homeowners can easily control which circuits are on and off and monitor the impact of changes on-the-fly. The SPAN panel is also compatible with gas back-up generators, eliminating the critical loads sub panel obstacle.

 This technology is very new and additional features and improvements are being released often. Most recently a feature was added allowing homeowners to shut off breakers and appliances using Alexa, and we’re sure there’s a lot more to come.

Happy ALLENversary, Eric Johnson!

Congratulations to our Vice President ERIC JOHNSON, who is celebrating his 10-year anniversary with Allen this month! We caught up with Eric to ask him some questions about his time with us.

What was your first job with Allen?

I was hired as a Project Manager. My first project was a whole house remodel on the Mesa in Santa Barbara. It was a 2,364 square foot Cape Cod style home with large windows and French doors to take advantage of ocean views and bring in lots of natural light. Daniel Mault was hired a few months after me and was put on the project as a Superintendent. I think today we both are thankful for starting our time at Allen together on this beautiful project.

Eric and his wife, Trisha, with their twin daughters, Kenya and Anika, who just celebrated their Sweet 16!

What’s the best thing about working at Allen?

The people. We have great people working here! I get to interact with a lot of my fellow employees on a daily basis and I am constantly amazed by how smart they are. They are also dedicated to doing quality work and to making our company better every day.

What advice would you give yourself 10 years ago when you started?

Pay attention to technology. I wish I had been more ahead of this. When I started at Allen we rubber stamped invoices and coded them with pencils. A lot has changed since then and we continue to get better and better at utilizing technology to help us build more efficiently and communicate internally, and with our clients and partners.

How has the company changed since you have been here?

We are much better at recognizing employee efforts. We recently added some additional ways to recognize employees with awards that are focused around our four core values and our sustainability efforts, which are both embedded into our company culture. These new awards compliment the Employee of Year award that we have been giving out for over twenty years.

“One of the things that really makes Allen special is the number of people who have built our culture over the years. We have 15 employees who have been here over a decade! Eric is undoubtedly one of the biggest culture carriers we’ve ever had at the company. He’s a natural leader who loves being around people, and we’re incredibly grateful for the ways he makes Allen better on a daily basis.” ~ Aaron Pick, CEO

BREAKTHROUGH ENVELOPE SEALING

Leaky homes are harder to heat and cool and can account for higher energy bills and reduced air quality. Recently, air sealing has become an essential element in zero net energy homes. 

Western AeroBarrier and HERSratingLA teams

Air leakage in a typical home, as measured with a blower door test, might have an air leakage rate of 4.0 to 5.0 air changes per hour at 50 Pascals (ACH50). Most zero energy homes now push the leakage rate to 1.0 or 2.0, while Passive House requires a maximum leakage of 0.6 ACH50.

Recently, the Allen team worked with our client and Western AeroBarrier to seal a home and achieve an ACH50 of .47.

Automated sprayers disseminate sealant inside the building

AeroBarrier technology, using a GreenGuard Gold Certified, non-toxic, water-based sealant, finds and fills gaps in the building envelope as small as a human hair and up to .5 inches in just a few hours. The process uses a modified blower door to pressurize the building and automated sprayers to disseminate a fog of sealant inside. As the air is forced out through the cracks and gaps in the building envelope, the sealant travels along with it, accumulating on the edges of the openings, and eventually fills in all the gaps. This process can be monitored in real time and can achieve a specified level of air tightness to meet energy performance goals. In this case, the homeowner wanted to achieve an ACH50 of less than .5.

Results can be monitored in real time

After prepping the 4,000 square foot home by taping off the doors and windows, the process took about 3.5 hours to go from an ACH50 of greater than 5 to surpass the goal ending at .47, an impressive 91.2% reduction in envelope leakage.

 Benefits of Envelope Sealing:

·      Improved Indoor Air Quality

·      Improve System Performance

·      Improve Home Comfort

·      Lower Energy Bills

Equipment Check

Blower Door Installation

MEET THE TEAM: MARI WARNER

What do you do at Allen Construction? I recently moved into the role of Client Relations & Sustainability Manager.  I’m looking forward to working more closely with our clients from initial intake to final project walkthrough, to help ensure our services are exceeding our clients’ expectations.  

Allen Construction is recognized regionally and nationally as a leader in green building practices, and one of our core values is to build homes that are healthy, comfortable, durable, and energy and water efficient.  I hope to collaborate with industry partners to continue improving our collective carbon footprint and work towards building a more sustainable future.   

Mari in the 10,000 sf grand penthouse on the 36th floor of one of the ultra-luxury, mixed-use towers in Honolulu.

How did you get started in the construction field? I recently earned my Master’s degree in Construction Management and Technology with an emphasis in sustainability from Arizona State University. Prior to starting at Allen Construction, I worked on the development of a 60-acre LEED-platinum certified, master-planned community in the heart of Honolulu.

Where do you live? I live in Carpinteria with my husband, two children (Olivia 5, & Asher, 2), and puppy, Luna.

What do you like to do outside of work? I like to explore new places. Prior to the pandemic there was a lot of international travel, but now we’ve made a lot of discoveries in our “backyard”.  Next on my list is Yellowstone National Park with my 2 and 5 year old children.

What is your proudest achievement? Breaking ground on six luxury residential towers in the master-planned community and years later seeing new homeowners and businesses moving into the buildings.

What was the last book you read? “Humans of New York” by Brandon Stanton.  It’s a coffee table book that I’ve had for the past year that I often flip through. It is a beautiful reminder of our shared and enduring humanity.

We wouldn’t know it to look at you, but…I love taking photographs – usually candids of people and interior design/architecture.  I also love being around animals – dogs and horses are my favorite.

What advice would you give someone starting out in the construction industry? Be curious, be receptive to feedback, and create opportunities for learning exposure.

A Greener Way to Demo

Earlier this year, one of our remodel clients made the decision to salvage items in their home instead of demolishing. We worked closely with The Reuse People to make it happen.  

The Reuse People started in 1993 in San Diego with a one-off project to collect building materials for donation to victims of the El Nino flooding. It was so successful that it turned into a 501c3 non-profit company whose mission is to help the environment.

Now the company is headquartered in Oakland where they have a 40,000 square foot sales floor that is open to the public, basically a thrift store for used building materials. The primary customer that they serve is the modest homeowner doing minor repairs, DIY’ers, and landlords with rental units. In California, they serve a large portion of the state primarily from the Bay Area South and West of I-5.

The ReUse People Mission Statement

The ReUse People reduces the solid waste stream and changes the way the built environment is renewed by salvaging building materials and distributing them for reuse.

By consistently focusing on its mission, TRP has diverted over 415,000 tons of used building materials from landfills, trained 71 contractors and provided full-time employment to hundreds of people.

Allen & Eagle Demolition loading large appliances.

TRP’s ReUse Solution embodies two programs. The first is environmental — keeping reusable building materials out of landfills through building deconstruction, building-materials salvage, transportation, storage and distribution. The second program is economic, and is designed to improve the standard of living in local communities. As a deconstruction practitioner, international distributor of used building materials, trainer and consultant, TRP is proud to be a driving force in the Green Building Industry.

 Why Consider Salvaging?

In many cases, 75 to 80 percent of a building can be kept out of the landfill. In additional to the environmental benefits, the tax deductible donation, plus any disposal costs that are offset, can sometimes match or outweigh the additional costs of the deconstruction.

Lumber is salvaged from a trellis.

Timing and cost considerations:

•  Deconstruction is typically double the cost vs. demo.

• Deconstruction typically takes up to 10 times longer than demo. (If it takes 1 day to demo, it would typically take 10 days to deconstruct.)

 How it works:

•  An initial survey of the inventory is done at no cost to the homeowner.

• An inventory list is taken and sent to appraisers to determine a range of value that could be achieved through salvaging (which is the estimated donation value.)

• If the homeowner decides to proceed, TRP then uses Certified Deconstruction Companies, usually getting 2-3 bids, to assure the condition of the products is preserved for resale.

Windows, doors, and bricks are some of the materials that can be salvaged for resale.

What type of projects are good candidates for salvaging?

TRP works with projects starting as small as 1,200 square feet. The typical project is a whole home remodel or a complete teardown. The items they can use include framing lumber (highest demand), doors, windows, cabinets, appliances, flooring, plumbing, and more.

By consistently focusing on its mission, TRP has diverted over 415,000 tons of used building materials from landfills and is proud to be a driving force in the Green Building Industry.  

For more information, visit www.thereusepeople.org

A Model for the Future of Sustainable Residential Construction

Beautiful ocean and sunset views aren’t the only special features of this hillside home under construction on the Ventura hillside. Thanks to the passion of the homeowners, designers, and the Allen Team, this 4,240 square foot home consists of some unique sustainable features that embody Allen’s commitment to high performance building. When completed, the project will provide a model for the future of sustainable residential construction.

This fire rebuild project has beautifully combined fire and disaster resiliency, an ultra-efficient building envelope, and the ability to completely eliminate an electric bill. This home is designed to be All-Electric/Net Positive, eliminating the need for natural gas service and producing more energy from Solar PV than the home itself will use, creating additional power for battery storage and electric vehicle charging. A separate Southern California Edison permit will allow this all-electric home to operate off-the-grid by storing the solar energy it produces in a Tesla Power Wall system that will automatically direct energy resources back into the grid if needed.

A unique element of the build includes application of a synthetic acrylic building envelope sealant that, when aerosolized, allows for filling gaps as small as a human hair, thus providing an ultra-tight building shell and yielding greater energy efficiency.

In addition to those features mentioned above, this home will also include many design and building elements that make it super sustainable as well as comfortable for the homeowners including:

Electrification

• All Electric home (no gas) with Net Positive Solar PV design (home will produce more energy that it is using to power electric vehicles

• Self generation permit to run off grid

• High efficiency electric heat pump heating and cooling system with room-by-room climate control (separate mini-splits in each room)

• High efficiency, electric heat pump water heater and dryer.

• Electric induction cooktop

Energy & Water Efficiency

• Passive solar design: High efficiency windows located on the South side of the home, minimal windows on the East and West sides, and no windows on the north side. In addition, extended overhangs will provide shading in summer months and warming sun exposure in Winter months

• 2x6, 24” on center advanced framing (vs. 16” on center), this eliminates the amount of thermal bridging on the exterior shell and creates additional efficiency

• Beyond code insulation R-values at exterior walls (R-28) and roof (R-38)

• Two layers of drywall for additional thermal mass, temperature control

Resiliency

• Fire resistant building materials, all-stucco shell with no exposed exterior wood

• No open venting to attic or crawl areas

• 36” wide doorways for wheelchair clearance and ADA compliant elevator allows for aging in place

Indoor Environmental Quality

• Mechanical ventilation. Filtered fresh air is pulled in from outside

• Electric non-combustion appliances eliminate carbon monoxide off gassing in home

• Ductless heating and cooling eliminates additional dust and alergens

CELEBRATING TEN YEARS AT ALLEN

Congratulations to MATT CALIGIURE, Production Manager for our remodel division, for his 10 year anniversary with Allen! We caught up with Matt to ask him some questions about his time with Allen and what he sees in the future.

What was your first job with Allen?

A wonderful project out in Hollister Ranch for the Turpin family.  It was a complete gut remodel of an existing ranch house and a new barn structure with living space.  It was a fantastic property, with an interesting design, working with a lovely owner family.  I was way out there and out of cell service, and totally over my head!  The project came out great and it was a fantastic first project for me.  It’s really special that we’ve been able to perform two additional projects with this family since then. 

Matt’s first project with Allen.

 Do you have a favorite project that you have worked on?

Hard to choose this, but probably the trio of Rodney Walker homes out in Ojai about 4-5 years back.  It certainly wasn’t an easy assignment, but memorable because of the unique challenges with the original, historical structures and design intent.  There were hoops to jump through around every turn, which really hardened me up and helped me evolve as a project leader.  Was able to form strong and trusting relationships with owners as well, which was a treat. 

 What’s the best thing about working at Allen?

It’s a solid group of people that are talented and really care.    

Pics of Matt with his wife, Beth, and son, Pete.

  What are you looking forward to in the next 10 years?

Doing my best to help my young sons grow up into good men

Matt with new baby, Nico.

Matt’s dog, Poppy, is also celebrating 10 years with Allen! The photo above was taken on Poppy’s first day on the job.

What advice would you give yourself 10 years ago when you started?

Get a really good pillow.

Get good at differentiating between what I can and can’t control….and let that help me shape my responses to situations and people each day. 

How has the company changed since you have been here?

I was hired coming out of an economic recession, I think something like the 50th employee.  We were still operating as Allen Associates then and things were a bit more free wheelin’ than they are now.  Over time we’ve developed a clearer identity, with an organized structure that lends itself to longer-term stability and success.  The quality of the core team members has remained intact though, which has helped us navigate organizational change in an admirable way. 

DESIGN TRENDS FOR 2022

The near year is just around the corner and we wanted to catch up on some of the design trends that will make their way into 2022. Here are a few of our favorites from our recent builds.

RECREATIVE AND MULTI-FUNCTIONAL SPACES

Your dining room doubles as a library or the den becomes an office. Take full advantage of every space in our home.

GREEN

Green is the new “IT” color for kitchen cabinets and more!

GRANDMILLENNIAL STYLE

What’s old will surely be new again—hence grandmillennial style. It’s a slightly updated version of the classically feminine style of our mothers and grandmothers. Think vintage finds, feminine florals, and classic prints and patterns.

ROUNDED SHAPES

Rounded shapes in furniture and even your walls!

COLORFUL PAINTED DOORS

Don’t be afraid to add a bold pop of color. Paint an exterior door to greet your guests and add curbside appeal. And it works just as well on interior doors!

WALLPAPER

Make a statement, add a little fun, or complete your tranquil space. Wallpaper is easier than ever and comes in so many patterns, textures, and prints.