By Jake Murray
Dave placed third in the Chief Architect Remodel/Addition Design Contest. His mission to design spaces that foster bonds between families has contributed to his success as a designer.
Dave, his wife Deanna, and their two daughters
“I’ve been designing on-and-off in an official capacity since 2005 (the design office was using v9.5 at the time), but I started using Chief Architect in 2000 or 2001 using version 6. Before Chief Architect, I started with notebooks full of sketches from age 12 and up!
“For me, Chief checks all the boxes: a powerful rendering engine for showing client concepts; CAD tools and conversion capabilities for interfacing with engineers; and document setup/layering for our production staff and subcontractors. We do everything on the design side of our company with one piece of software.
“The projects that come out of our office are our success stories. Design/Build is unique because designers are involved in the entire project. It’s great to be able to open a plan file for production staff and show them in three dimensions how to carry out our client’s wishes.
“My most rewarding design projects have been the ones that foster bonds between families. As my parents’ generation retires, I’ve seen a shift from leaving the nest to families reconnecting. Adaptive re-use (Accessory Dwelling Units, for example) not only helps to solve in-fill challenges, but also creates an environment for the family unit to establish itself. From childcare to elderly care, building communities starts inside our own front door.”
Winning Design
Patrick Martin, General Manager at A-1 Builders, shared that, “building strong families is a core value for Dave. In 2009, he and his extended family designed and built a custom multi-generational home just outside of Bellingham, incorporating Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) best practices to ensure maximum utilization for years to come. He also currently serves on the Board of Directors for his daughters’ homeschool co-op.
“In what spare time he has, you’ll see him spinning multiple plates on the home front, implementing his native landscape plan, rescuing a neighbor’s storage shed destined for the landfill and converting it into a rock-star playhouse for his girls, or getting lost in the back-forty with Izzy, the family dog. In the winter, you’ll find him in the basement shop, upcycling another abandoned furniture piece for the family’s heirloom collection. If there’s time for travel, you’ll see Dave and Deanna on the other side of the mountains, finding respite from the rain or researching the newest cidery.”
