It was a beautiful blue-sky California day today to host our first collaborative informational session.  We had more than 35 people attend, including architects and designers, home owners, contractors and students.  We were honored that Lana Malloy, a council member of the City of Monte Sereno and Barbara Allen, a long-standing commissioner and current Chair of Monte Sereno’s Site and Architecture Commission, were able to attend our event.

Preparing for the Collaborative Informational Session

Bryan’s father, John, was visiting from Edmonton, Canada, and helped us prepare the site for the event.  We had to ensure the temporary wooden railings were in place and appropriate caution signs highlighted dangerous areas.  Of course, Jo-Anne drafted a simple Site Tour Release Form for all attendees to read and sign prior to entering our active construction site.

Todd Bennett, from Teamwrkx Construction, arrived early and worked with Bill Brown, from Bill Brown Construction, to arrange a display table for the plans on the main floor.  The approved job copy of our plans were on the plan table in the lower level (basement).  Greg Wilkinson, a LEED AP from Graniterock, arrived with some information on their concrete products and quickly set up his materials.

The site was safe and we were ready for our guests.

Hosting the Collaborative Informational Session

Our first guests arrived at 12:30 sharp.  Todd was registering the guests and having them sign the waivers.  Within minutes, we had 15 people on site reviewing the features.  Bill Brown was answering questions from our guest and describing the concrete and other features.  Greg was busy explaining the key aspects of the concrete used on our site.

Shortly after Bryan was showing a small group how the ground source water loop was going through our concrete piers, a group had gathered in the kitchen area.  This was a natural time for Bryan to introduce Bill Brown, Greg Wilkinson and Dave Edwards (from Earth Bound Homes), who had just arrived.  Our guests asked a questions on various materials and the construction process.  They liked the hollow core concrete panels and were very interested in how the house was insulated.

We then moved down the interior stairs and reviewed the lower level (basement).  Given the roof in not on, we described how the trademark Eichler atrium would extend into the lower level with the finished ceiling 24 feet above the finished floor.

Our last guests left at 4:30 pm and we were cleaned up and locked up by 5:30 pm.

It was a beautiful blue-sky California day for our first of six Collaborative Informational Sessions.

Bill Brown greeting guests and answering questions.

Bryan showing photos of the construction to date.

The display table, with samples of the building materials and the house plans, was a popular spot.

Todd Bennett, from Teamwrkx, pointing out features in the hollow core concrete panels.

Greg Wilkinson, from Graniterock, answering questions on the concrete mix we used.

Reviewing the house plans. Note the SIP (structural insulated panel) at the left side of the table.

Bryan highlighting aspects of the design and materials used.

It was a great day to host our first of six Collaborative Informational Sessions.