Residential Architecture
It Starts With a Dream
For some, it’s a home where all the neighborhood kids flock. For others, it’s a sophisticated space to celebrate with friends and family. Or perhaps it’s a restorative retreat for quiet reflection.
Whatever your dream, we have the creativity, experience and confidence to turn it into a reality. We’re Urban Building Workshop, a San Francisco architecture firm that designs beautiful, functional homes.
Some clients come to us knowing exactly what they want. Others just know how they want it to feel. We understand every client is unique. That’s why we take the time to learn who you are and how you live. Do you host every major holiday? Do you need space for some weird hobby? Do you have a pampered pooch in want of creature comforts?
There are a few things we’re known for: kick-ass floor plans, lots of light, tons of volume. Plus, we’re fond of giving plenty of access to outdoor space.
Most of all, we build you into the design. Because we want your house to make a statement about you and your life. Lean on our expertise and let us guide you through this exciting process.
UBW is no ordinary architecture firm. Over the last four years, we’ve designed and built 24 Bay Area houses. What did that teach us? How to solve problems.
Our extensive construction knowledge gives us real-time feedback on costs, giving clients more information to make important decisions.
Kevin Skiles, president of UBW, is both a licensed architect and contractor. A proud graduate of University of Michigan’s architecture program, he earned his master’s degree in real estate finance at MIT. He is currently serving his second term as a local planning commissioner.
Kevin brings a unique level of construction knowledge to the architecture process. Even fellow architects come to him for help in gauging construction costs. This becomes vital for clients, who may need to make important budget decisions.
Commercial Architecture
Building Value Through Design
Urban Building Workshop’s architects work with property owners and real estate professionals to maximize the value of their existing buildings or new development opportunities.
Our Specialties Include:
Adaptive reuse
In-fill, single-family subdivision
Feasibility studies
Multi-family/residential development
Urban San Francisco renovations
Land-use and entitlements
We often start by performing a fit study or feasibility analysis to help the client determine the right program for their project. From there, our architects use their experience and creativity to design a project that meets the market, can be efficiently executed and meets the budget. On projects that require entitlements, our architects will lead the entire team of designers and consultants to successfully obtain the required approvals.
Our 25 years of construction and development experience gives us a considerable advantage in the commercial market. It provides us with real-time cost feedback, allowing us to value-engineer during the design process — when it matters the most. Plus, our vast experience in interpreting zoning codes across Northern California allows us to guide clients through a number of important design decisions.