From concept to completion for an Applegate home
Brian Mockridge grew up in Bonanza, a small southeastern Oregon community, before eventually coming to Southern Oregon in 2005 to be closer to his wife’s family in Grants Pass. It became a year of several turning points for Mockridge and his family, when that same year he began to work in the field of home design and structural engineering.
It turned out to be a career choice that led to some logical next steps for his career and for his involvement in the local construction industry, even at a time when that industry was struggling during an economic downturn. “In 2008, we started our own business,” he remembers, “which expanded into building custom homes in 2010.” Mockridge Engineering & Construction quickly began to take its place in Southern Oregon’s construction scene. It was a progression as a professional which gave him the opportunity to see the homes he was planning on paper go from design to development, and his experience has become a combined skill set that serves homeowners in Southern Oregon exceptionally well.
For each build, the process begins with a detailed design process and 3D modeling that they provide to their clients before they ever break ground. “Since we are uniquely involved from the beginning design phase all the way through construction, we are better able to implement our client’s desires with greater quality and efficiency,” he points out. “We strive to take each client’s vision from concept to completion.”
The dual skill set of engineer and contractor that Mockridge brings to each build, combined with the team of quality subcontractors they have partnered with over the past ten years, gives him a particular advantage when approached with unique or visionary home concepts.
“We recently completed a large custom residence out in the Applegate designed and developed not only as a home for the owners, but as a venue to host various occasions. The homeowners were looking for a way to combine entertainment and bring their family together on one property. After working through the design process with their clients, the final plan Mockridge and his team developed had to find a way to include a 2,700-square-foot primary residence, a 4,600-square-foot lodge complete with four bedrooms and five baths, a wine cellar and tasting room, plus an additional 5,000-square-foot party barn styled with open timber trusses that included a second-level bridal suite.
“This build was unique and challenging,” he says, and we were able to eventually find a perfect solution by incorporating the two residences into one structure separated but balanced by a centralized wine cellar and tasting room. “The tasting room includes a barrel-vaulted porch out the side. This allows the clients to have the privacy and separation of their own home while still being close to any family they host in the connected lodge.
The plan had to incorporate other specific design elements the owners had envisioned for their home—like a hidden butler’s pantry in the lodge’s expansive kitchen—and Mockridge and his team were there to make sure each element was planned and implemented well. “The clients were involved in the project from start to finish. They participated in making many decisions regarding finishes, layout, and any other changes along the way.”
The result is a spacious blend of the homeowners’ vision and goals for their property, along with the structural strength and integrity to support its high open spaces, clean lines, and minimalist layouts that are perfectly able to adapt to family gatherings or private events. With so many separate structures, it easily could have felt disjointed, but the combined efforts of Mockridge’s teams built it into a flow-through, beautifully connected and cohesive space with the flexibility to serve multiple purposes.
For specific parts of this project, like the massive timbers in the party barn, Mockridge’s talents as both engineer and contractor made him ideally set to oversee the installations. “We used very large beams in the party barn which required the use of heavy-duty equipment like lifts and cranes throughout the building process.” The time spent on the design, planning, and engineering paid off as the building came together just as envisioned. “As both a licensed professional engineer and a licensed contractor, we are unique in implementing both the engineering and construction portions of every project.”
Their understanding of both the structural requirements and the construction process also meant the build—a much more complex project than a standard residence—took a mere sixteen months from the time they broke ground until completion, an accomplishment Mockridge credits to the team he regularly works with. “Our company is very particular in using the same subcontractors who have worked together for the last decade.”
Mockridge’s skill set has proven to be an additional asset, as construction requirements are periodically updated and implemented. They have had to implement various energy efficient designs as required by the most recent Oregon residential codes. Even with continued increases in materials and labor costs, he is still confident in their ability to professionally and beautifully implement their clients’ vision, all without losing sight of each project’s budget.
“We pride ourselves in completing projects in a timely manner, providing a quality finished product, and for having worked with our community for almost twenty years,” says Mockridge. “We work with our clients throughout the entire process from engineering through construction. Many of our clients become our friends, and we love being able to provide a product that is not just a house, but a home.”
To learn more visit: http://mockridgecustomhomes.com
Story by Valerie Coulman
Photography by David Gibb
