The Company has assembled a “World Class” Team of Professionals with long tried and proven track records of success. Each strategic relationship brings incredible talent to the company.
A. Ionescu Architects & Planners (DIAP) – Dan Ionescu / Entitlement Manager
DIAP is an experienced and versatile planning and architectural design firm based in the San Francisco Bay Area, California. Founded in 1982, DIAP’s portfolio includes work across the United States and on four continents, from Strategic Regional Planning (SRP) and urban planning to high rises and mixed-use developments. Dan Ionescu brings his site-specific approach and extensive international experience to each project.
Our team excels at designing site-specific projects with complex programs. Working hand-in-hand with local agencies, DIAP has the proven ability to manage and coordinate projects around the world. DIAP’s commitment to close communication with clients ensures an effective and flexible design process.
DIAP has the expertise to address the environmental, geographical, demographic, cultural, political, and economic aspects of an area and bring them together to form a comprehensive strategic plan. DIAP develops successful strategic plans and urban designs to match the character and objectives of each project, using advanced technologies including Geographic Information Systems (GIS) services provided by highly experienced professionals.
DIAP draws from forward-looking planning principles and global experience with outstanding results.
Selected Client List
Domestic
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International
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Strategic Regional Planning, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China, 2005
Significant sprawl, population growth, and development in the Yangtze River Delta are negatively impacting both traditional ways of life and the natural environment. This strategic regional plan updates an earlier plan for the Suzhou region, and achieves the same level of economic growth in more sustainable ways. By careful study of the water, agriculture, ecology, transportation, and development systems of the area, and by viewing the interrelated whole, our team was able to produce a development area with only half of the previous planned footprint.
Silicon Valley International Center, San Jose, California, 2005
Part of the revitalization of North San Jose, this high-end mixed-use district is worthy of Silicon Valley’s international reputation. Minutes from the San Jose Airport, the Silicon Valley International Center has immediate connections to the world, and offers a conference center, hotels, offices, condominiums, retail space, and recreational facilities. This complex design reinvigorates the entire surrounding area.
Jaco Vista Eco-Resort, Jaco, Costa Rica, 2007
Jaco Vista is an international eco resort surrounded by lush forests and views of the ocean. The master plan preserves the ecological characteristics of the site: building footprints are exclusively on land with minimal ecological value. Jaco Vista offers hotels, townhomes and condominiums, single family homes, retail space, and entertainment, sports, and fitness facilities.
Mataderos/Lugano Urban Design, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2002
This shantytown area in southern Buenos Aires is transformed by contemporary sustainable design into a residential and mixed-use district with ample parks and open spaces.
Cow Palace Master Plan, South San Francisco, California, 2008
Our team converted this large, obsolete exhibition hall surrounded by parking lots into a sustainable mixed-use development with residential, commercial, offices, and a hotel, taking advantage of panoramic bay views on the border of San Francisco.
Historic Revitalization, Oscos Valley, Asturias, Spain, 2009
In a hidden valley in northern Spain, abandoned 18th and 19th century villages have been brought back to life as high-end international communities. Easily accessible from anywhere in the world, these communities offer luxurious dwellings set in secluded natural beauty. The designs are true to the materials and architectural style of the area, and offer ample modern conveniences.
Thu Thiem Master Plan, Saigon, Vietnam, 2001
A new mixed-use neighborhood oriented towards views of the surrounding river, featuring a grand central park and integrating existing and planned transportation systems.
Prahova Valley Year-Round Resort, Azuga, Romania, 2007
This year-round resort includes a hotel, condominiums, a conference center, spa, water park, brewery, fitness center, retail stores, and services. A brownfield redevelopment, Prahova Valley Resort will revive a sleepy town, and boasts accessibility, skiing in the winter, and a wide range of natural and cultural attractions year-round.
Royal Palm Plaza, Boca Raton, Florida, 2000
Continuing the pattern of the adjacent established downtown, our team created an intense mixed-use atmosphere that reflects the style and character of Boca Raton.
Downtown Strategic Planning, Burlingame, California, 2009
Designed with a series of plazas and pedestrian connections, this plan revitalizes an aging, disjointed downtown area. Infill development in the local vernacular will bring new opportunities to Burlingame.
Wayzata Bay Center Redevelopment, Wayzata, Minnesota, 2009
On a 13.5 acre site, this vibrant mixed-use district is divided into five distinct blocks and a central plaza, linked by interior streets and wide sidewalks and porticoes for pedestrians. Inspired by historical lake towns, the new Wayzata Bay Center combines retail space, senior and conventional housing, office space, and a hotel. The sustainable design includes near-zero runoff, geothermal energy, heated streets, and green roofs. All parking is enclosed or streetside.
Loren Leir Master Plan, Oslo, Norway, 2001
A former World War II German garrison in Oslo is redeveloped into a mixed-use urban pedestrian district for all ages, integrating existing historic buildings with new architecture in the Nordic vernacular.
B. Penfield & Smith Engineers Surveyors Planners – Peter Nostrand / Project Civil Engineer
Penfield & Smith was founded by Wallace C. Penfield and Delbert D. Smith in 1946. The firm’s roots go back to the Santa Barbara practice started by George A. Miller in 1924. In 1960, the practice was incorporated as an employee-owned company. With over 50 years of experience, the firm has established itself as one of the most progressive and well-respected firms based in the Tri-Counties area. With a staff of over 140, corporate headquarters in Santa Barbara, and branch offices in Camarillo, Lancaster, and Santa Maria, Penfield & Smith is the largest company providing complete surveying, mapping, planning, engineering, and construction administration services to the Central and South Coast areas of California. We serve both the private and public sectors and specialize in providing professional services to our clients from project inception through construction.
Our 40 registered civil engineers have extensive experience in the design of roadways, bridges, water and wastewater systems, storm drainage, grading, and erosion containment systems. Our engineers also provide expertise in the areas of flood control, solid waste management, municipal financing, traffic engineering and transportation planning, transportation demand management, permit processing, and construction engineering.
The firm’s survey department is staffed with 5 licensed professionals, 9 fully equipped field crews and sufficient office personnel necessary to respond to many projects, including boundary surveys, right-of-way easements, ALTA surveys, field control for aerial mapping and GIS, subdivision mapping, and construction staking.
Professional Associates
Penfield & Smith is actively involved in numerous professional boards and associations. Our staff currently holds the following positions:
- American Public Works Association (APWA), Central Coast Chapter Vice President
- American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Santa Barbara/Ventura Branch Secretary and Director
- California Land Surveyors Association (CLSA), Channel Islands Chapter Vice-President and Treasurer
- Consulting Engineers and Land Surveyors of California (CELSOC), San Luis Obispo Chapter Vice President and Membership Chairman
- Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), Central Coast Chapter Secretary
C. COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE BROKER – John Schneider
Mr. Schneider has been a national leader in the Commercial Real Estate business for over 30 years. His responsibilities include Acquisitions, and entitlement oversight.
D. BARRY SWENSON BUILDER – Bill Ryan Vice President / Construction Manager
A Unique Perspective...
A strong sense of tradition, heritage and history give Barry Swenson a unique insight into San Jose, including the unique needs of an ever-growing Silicon Valley. A third-generation builder, Barry draws on a history of construction expertise that enables him to offer the best solutions for San Jose's construction industry. Barry grew up in San Jose, and his experiences and love for the city have flavored his firm's passion for quality construction. This passion is infectious, and has helped contribute to the growth of his firm, Barry Swenson Builder.
Starting in 1958 (with the building of the San Jose City Hall on Hedding Street) and continuing into the seventies, Barry helped contribute to the huge building boom that made San Jose one of the nation's fastest growing cities. Barry Swenson Builder was created in 1977, and has since expanded to become one of the Silcon Valley's most recognized names in construction. The company provides the highest quality service (with a cost-effective approach) for a wide variety of project types, including multi-family residential, office, hospitality, medical, senior living, industrial, research and development, retail, mixed-use and historical renovation.
As a native of San Jose, Barry has a unique relationship with community leaders, financial institutions, and real estate developers. These relationships enable him to create successful projects by structuring innovative partnerships and joint ventures, with all parties working together for the best possible solution. With his love of history and heritage. His revitalization masterpieces include the Security Building, Bella Mia, Letitia, the Clayton Building and the DeAnza Hotel.
Barry's vision also includes high-rise residential buildings for San Jose. "High-density housing close to public transit is the only way to avoid hour-plus commutes and highways lacing through more and more of what should remain farmland" says Barry. Barry Swenson Builder is leading the charge into the high-rise future of San Jose, with seven projects in some stage of development. Vendome Place is an example; the 10-story development promises to revolutionize the city's downtown with its intelligent integration of accommodation, transportation and community.
Long-Term Management Relationships…
Barry Swenson Builder believes the long-term success of a project depends on the Project Management of that property, long after construction is completed. Our extended dedication to the building, the tenants, the grounds, and the owners is the key to maintaining a project’s value and financial stability. Our management success with over 100 properties in several states relies on our long term service, tenant satisfaction, and financial soundness.
Financial Stability…
Green Valley Corporation, d.b.a. Barry Swenson Builder, has been a successful part of Silicon Valley since its beginning in 1961. Long-term relationships with numerous lenders including Wells Fargo Bank, Union Bank, and Tokai Bank of California, give Barry Swenson Builder the capability to finance projects of nearly any size. From construction loans, lines of credit, and substantial bonding capacity, we have numerous resources to meet a project’s financial requirement.
E. James Fallon – General Operations Manager
With over 25 years experience in real estate finance, development, and sales. Mr. Fallon was a key member of a development team that built and sold a master planned golf community in Maui, Hawaii. This community included 170 single-family home lots and 320 condominiums. Mr. Fallon was responsible for land acquisitions, entitlements, and sales of planned unit high-density housing developments in Pismo Beach California, which totaled in excess of 100 individual units. In addition he is a subject matter expert in tax deferred 1031 exchanges.
Most recently he was Co founder of a real estate development fund that in the last 3 years has acquired over $15,000,000 in mixed use properties primarily land for development. Mr. Fallon interfaces with all members of the advisory board on all aspects of the companies business.
F. Kim Walters – General Financial Manager
With 30 years interdisciplinary experience in land use planning, business financing, real estate financing and raising of private equity capital for real estate acquisitions. Mr. Walters graduated from the University of California, Davis in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science in Urban Regional Planning. His land use experience includes developing General and Master Plans for cities and also revisions, site planning and review for various California cities. He was active in Save Mt. Diablo, Danville, CA and Las Positas New Town, Livermore, CA both were progressive organizations for “Positive planned - pro growth”.
His experience extends to providing funds and financing for capital equipment for businesses to grow in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, especially Silicon Valley. In the 1980’s his company Far West Ventures provided funding for computer printed board assembly equipment, plastic injection molding equipment, highly advanced CNC metal working machine tools and fiber optic equipment. Most mainstream banks and financing companies were unwilling to do “asset based financing” for young companies. For the ‘high-tech’ industry to grow this new generation of highly advanced production equipment was essential. His financing gave the “little guy” a chance to grow with Silicon Valley’s dominance in the emerging world market of “High Tech”.
G. Gilmore and Associates – Tax Accounting/ Business Consulting
Kevin R. Gilmore, CPA
Throughout his 20+ years in the business, Kevin has gained valuable experience in corporate and individual taxation, auditing, business valuation, computer accounting system implementation, and business consulting. Though he is the financial advisor for a variety of industries, Kevin's emphasis within the firm is construction companies, nonprofit organizations, and professional services firms.
After college, Kevin began his accounting career with Good & Fowler where he spent 10 years learning how to service client needs in a wide variety of areas. After leaving Good & Fowler, Kevin opened his own full-service CPA firm and is the sole owner.
Kevin earned a B.S. degree in business administration from San Francisco State University in 1980. In addition to being a member of multiple accounting organizations such as California Society of CPA's, American Institute of CPA's, and Institute of Business Appraisers, Kevin holds a securities and insurance license and assists clients in financial and retirement planning.
Kevin lives in Millbrae, California, with his wife and three children. He enjoys coaching volleyball and playing golf.
