Dowbuilt

Today we celebrate 10 incredible years with Dowbuilt Laborer Supervisor Jorge Barrera—one of the most respected and well-loved members of our Bay Area team. A decade in, Jorge continues to represent the best of Dowbuilt—dedicated, reliable, and quietly extraordinary. Known for his ability to keep projects running smoothly—he’s invaluable to every team. Senior Superintendent Rudy Karkowski says it best; everybody wants Jorge on their site—someone’s always trying to steal him for their project. Jorge has earned his reputation as the Mayor of the job site, whether running equipment, organizing the site, or mentoring new team members, Jorge knows every face and every detail. He’s got his ear to the ground—he knows what needs to happen and does it, says Superintendent Justin Syren. Colleagues say he’s the first to arrive on site, the last to leave, and the one quietly making everything run smoother—from setting up the perfect storage system to organizing the team barbecue. Everything’s better when Jorge’s around, Rudy says. “He's got superpowers, I tell you.” With seemingly endless energy, Jorge commutes on the train then bikes to job sites—often before sunrise. He spends weekends hiking and biking, catching up with family, and visiting his son in college. We’re proud to celebrate this milestone with you Jorge, and grateful for the countless ways you’ve shaped our Bay Area team. Here’s to you, our one and only Mayor of the job site. Thank you for ten amazing years!

Celebrating 10 years with Kela Martinez, our Regional Principal in Southern California and Utah! When Kela joined Dowbuilt as a project engineer 10 years ago, she came in with the same drive and seriousness she carried through architecture school at UW—and she’s grown from there. Over the past decade, Kela has shaped our Southern California presence into a region with a strong identity and standout projects. She’s built a thriving and diverse team that excels under her leadership, thanks to her accountability, energy, and ability to lead by example. Everyone knows Kela moves a million miles a minute, juggling projects, clients, and crises with ease. Whether navigating COVID challenges with her team or hauling plexiglass strapped to her Prius down the PCH, she tackles problems head-on. Through fires, pandemics, and complex builds, she’s shown relentless commitment to her people and projects. She is a true “Wonder Woman multitasker,” says colleague Chris Pineo (Construction Manager/ Mountains.) She’s known for her ability to turn tough conversations in a positive direction, to listen deeply, and to bring people together. Colleagues and clients respect her professionalism and her candor. She’s taught her teams to be cheerleaders for one another, to find humor and joy even in tough moments, and to maintain focus on the bigger picture. At the same time, she’s deeply family-oriented and community-driven—always present onsite, always checking in, always caring about the people behind the work. Bright, bold, and deeply dedicated, Kela’s incredible impact on Dowbuilt is far reaching. We’re proud to celebrate this milestone with her, and excited to see what she’ll achieve in the decade ahead.

Today we celebrate 20 years with all-star Superintendent Terry Van Wyk, whose skill and heart make him an indispensable member of the Dowbuilt team. As a superintendent, Terry is respected for both his leadership on site and for his craft. His fellow superintendents regard him as one of the best finish carpenters on the roster—capable of pulling off any task on any site. He’s known to step up for the most complicated challenges that take hours to solve. Terry is a natural mentor and teacher, dedicated to passing on his craft to the next generation through on-site guidance and his volunteer involvement with Sawhorse Revolution, a Seattle non-profit that provides free design-build education to inner-city teens. For Terry, the most rewarding part of Sawhorse is introducing kids to tools and showing them how to build and create in ways they never imagined. Known for his patience and encouragement, Terry brings people together on every job site—he’s a dependable team player, a thoughtful problem-solver, and a constant source of support, always willing to lend a hand. Off the clock, Terry can be found cheering on his beloved Seattle Kraken with his wife April, sharing dad jokes, and walking his three dachshunds. Terry, here’s to your craftmanship, leadership, and 20 years of mentoring the next generation of carpenters. Thank you for everything you do—we’re lucky to have you and excited for all the milestones still to come!

At this year’s Seattle Design Festival, members of our build team partnered with Olson Kundig to bring their installation Affirmative Care to life. The multi-sensory installation explored the festival's theme of Feedback. Using our Woodshop's CNC, the team cut a plywood geodesic frame that supported inflatable, touch-sensitive bubbles. Each bubble lit up and randomly played affirmations recorded by Olson Kundig employees, surrounding visitors with unexpected moments of encouragement. Scroll for a behind-the-scenes look at the build process—and to see how the finished installation came alive at the festival. Concept and design: Olson Kundig Photos: Michael Stearns Built by us Dowbuilt #seattledesignfestival #SDF2025 #seattledesignfestival2025 #GeodesicDome #BuckyFuller #PlywoodDesign #ParametricDesign #buildInnovation

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We’re celebrating 10 years with Chris Lefebvre! As a service superintendent in Montana, Chris supports a select group of Dowbuilt clients with ongoing care, maintenance, and small project management. With a background in fine arts and 20+ years of construction experience, he’s a creative problem solver who guides clients through decisions and revisions with a calm, reassuring approach—and then executes them flawlessly. Chris’s background in fine cabinetry, custom fabrication, and finish work—paired with his early training in fine art and theater—gives him a rare design sensibility and deep appreciation for the highly custom homes he helps maintain. One colleague recalled collaborating with Chris on the intricate installation of a one-of-a-kind vintage chandelier. The task required patience, teamwork, and absolute focus under pressure—and Chris delivered with his characteristic steadiness and precision. Cheers to a decade of craftsmanship, calm under pressure, and client care, Chris. We’re lucky to have you! Photo: Michael Stearns

We're #hiring a new Service Superintendent in Seattle, Washington. Apply today or share this post with your network.

For our Brooklyn brownstone restoration, our digital construction team and woodshop partnered to reproduce four corbels—ornate, 100-year-old architectural features essential to the building’s historic façade. We used 3D laser scanning to capture the original pieces, then digitally modeled them to guide the fabrication process. From there, we translated the design into machinable parts, milled each one from solid teak using CNC technology, and hand-finished the components before sending them to New York for installation by our build team. By combining advanced digital tools with traditional craftsmanship, we preserved the integrity of the original design at less than half the cost of hand-carving.