May is a great month to learn about affordable housing.

Workbench Scotts Valley 1000% Affordable Project Awarded Over $40M In Tax Credits

Workbench wins two AIA Monterey Bay Citation Awards for completed design build projects.

Proposed Clocktower Center will create over 260 housing units and enhance pedestrian experience in downtown Santa Cruz.

Churches are looking to use their real estate assets to address the growing housing affordability crisis and their own need for financial sustainability. Congregations are talking, and millions of homes are possible. New Way Homes, a non-profit that runs an impact investment fund for affordable housing development, and Workbench, a develop-design-build firm, have partnered to create a new development model.

Workbench is pleased to collaborate with Plumas County on their state grant funded SB2 pre-designed ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) program.

We want everyone to live in a healthy home. A healthy home provides good indoor air quality (IAQ) through the types of interior materials chosen and how the interior spaces are ventilated. Here are some suggestions for materials for your ADU that are low-emitting materials that do not release significant pollutants and support a healthy indoor environment.

Workbench wins two AIA Monterey Bay Citation Awards for completed design build projects.

Workbench is pleased to collaborate with the County of Monterey on their pre-designed ADU program. Workbench designed 3 unit sizes; a one-bedroom 750 sq.ft unit, a two-bedroom x sf and a three-bedroom, two bath 1200 sq.ft. unit. Home owners also have the choice to select two different styles, 'Ventana Ranch' and 'Mediterranean Modern'.

New Way Homes Interviewed by The Oaklandside About Church Partnership

Lookout Santa Cruz mentions Workbench ADU predesign project in process with the City of Capitola and its impact on housing in Santa Cruz County.

Santa Cruz Local Interviews Food Bin and Herb Room co-owner Doug Wallace

Lookout Santa Cruz reports on 1130 Mission community meeting.

Lookout Santa Cruz interviews Doug Wallace, owner of our 1130 Mission Project about the upcoming community meeting.

A redevelopment project that’s “right sized for Santa Cruz”.

East Salinas makes way for 70 new affordable housing units.

“It’s too expensive to build in California.” “It takes too long to build anything here.”

As designers and builders, we hear these problems. Today we’re taking a significant step toward step to counter the narrative.

We are proud to announce that Workbench and Envision Housing are joining forces to be a combined develop-design-build team.

Archinet Article Discusses Changes To Meet California’s Housing Shortage and Features Workbench Jobs

418 Pennsylvania Ave Project in Lookout Santa Cruz

An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU), also known as “in-law unit” or “granny unit” is a small habitable unit built on your property that serves as a second house. They allow for increased density without needing to divide up parcels. These can be used to house family members and guests, or used to rent out for some extra income.

Many homeowners find that they have space for their immediate family, but then circumstances change, and they need a little something more. From kids wanting a space of their own while attending college, to elderly parents wanting a nice place to stay close to home, an ADU is a wonderful way to keep family close, while still allowing them the autonomy of their own place.

A bright bit of news for the Workbench team- our founding partners Jamileh Cannon and Tim Gordin have been named Entrepreneurs of the Year at the 2020 NEXties!

Workbench's Jamileh Cannon recently joined local podcast Zoom Around Town, which focuses on sharing the stories of local Santa Cruz businesses during this unprecedented period of history. When asked how the local community can offer support, Jamileh offers a simple call to action- support housing.

Friends and neighbors, we’ve been looking forward to sharing our first video from our Coastal Haven Families project with you. Filmed in February 2020 here in Santa Cruz, this day was a happy milestone for our team- we stood our first wall at our first multi-family housing project in our hometown. Our office and architecture teams joined our contractors on site, and even chipped in to get those first walls up.

In light of the outbreak of COVID-19 and subsequent government actions, we are reaching out to educate you on our business operations and reassure you of our commitment to your project and our ongoing work. As a local business employing local employees, your support of Workbench and of the many other wonderful independent businesses in our community is appreciated every day, both before this situation and afterwards.

New laws enacted in 2020 seek to help solve the California’s housing crisis by lifting many limitations and making building ADUs a more streamlined, accessible—and common—process.

Santa Cruz design-build firm Workbench is pleased to announce the firm’s selection as the Architect for the City of Seaside’s new Prototype Accessory Dwelling Unit Program. This visionary initiative will offer residents a side-by-side comparison of two new Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) built on city-owned residential properties.

Santa Cruz, CA - Local design-build firm Workbench is pleased to announce the firm’s selection as the Architect for the City of Seaside’s new Prototype Accessory Dwelling Unit Program.

Buildings are complex entities, and to bring them to life requires the coordinated teamwork of a skilled and collaborative project team. Beyond the lead architect or designer, a typical project will also involve a range of consultants and sub-designers. Technical consultants and sub-designers are professional experts in their fields and specific subject matter, brought onto a project team to support the architect’s design.

Equipment is on site and dirt is moving at our newest build site for Coastal Haven Families, with the official groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for Saturday, November 16.

Tucked into under 325 square feet, this central Santa Cruz garage conversion strategically houses all the living amenities of a much larger space.

Architects are trained to utilize a design system which provides structure for an inherently complex process.

Our newest tenant improvement project in downtown Santa Cruz is nearing completion.

A team tour with Siena and Ali, the Workbench duo behind our newest design-build.

Many thanks to Santa Cruz Works for featuring Workbench, our team, and our mission on their website.

A foggy coastal morning provided cover for 45 attendees of the Santa Cruz Works Company Spotlight Breakfast.

Building Homes In Santa Cruz

Tim and Jamileh talk to Santa Cruz Works