Architecture

Carrasco’s portfolio includes several innovative projects which have shaped the City of Palo Alto. The designers regard a building not as a singular unrelated sculptural figure, but as a framework for a neighborhood’s needs and aspirations. The firm’s repertoire also includes challenging conversion projects such as the design for a converted Oldsmobile car dealership into Whole Foods market and the historic preservation of the Varsity downtown theater into Border’s Bookstore. Both sites are active nodes located in downtown Palo Alto.

The reservation and adaptive re-use of the Varsity Theater provides an excellent example of the firm’s success in creating architecture as a catalyst for social interaction. This unique historic theater had fallen into disrepair. The building was restored in its historic detailing, colors, and gold-leaf patterns. In response to both a social and an economic need, a bookstore and café were built. The restored historic open-air courtyard is a marker and a sunny gathering place or reading, socializing, and listening to live music.

Urban Design

Incorporating Ideal Concepts into Real World Projects

Carrasco & Associates has been involved in several local urban design efforts. Members of the firm have planning backgrounds and experience working on master plans and design guidelines for various urban, campus, and waterfront developments. Individuals have also served on local city planning committees, design review boards and planning commissions.

Tony Carrasco has participated in numerous City task force committees to initiate better urban design for the City of Palo Alto. He collaborated with other architects and planners on a new urban design plan for the City of Palo Alto as well as with a multi-disciplinary ‘Dream’ Team to create interconnections between Stanford University and downtown Palo Alto. And for the past decade, he has been involved in a community effort to improve El Camino Real.

Presently he is working with another local architecture firm and city officials on a proposal to underground the railroad line through Palo Alto. The goals of this project are to improve the connection between the east and west sides of the city, mitigate noise, pen up Alma Street as a more gracious urban boulevard, and create new transit-oriented development with offices, community spaces, and housing over the railroad right-of-way.

Construction Management

Tony Carrasco and Philip Feinn had collaborated on various projects for the past 25 years, before they founded Carrasco & Feinn Builders in 2007. Tony first met Philip in 1980 while both were working for D.L. Walker Construction, a design-build firm in Burlingame, California. While Philip was working on the construction side, and Tony, on the architectural side, both understood the opportunities and constraints of producing excellent and cost-effective work within a minimal time frame.

The General Contracting and Construction Management firm, Carrasco & Feinn Builders works closely with Carrasco & Associates Architects. The vision is for the two entities to act as one team, creating high quality design-build projects. Carrasco & Feinn Builders has completed one general construction project for Sheraton Hotels in Palo Alto, CA. The firm is currently Construction Manager for the renovation of a 100-year old historic building renovation in downtown Berkeley, CA. In the fall of 2008 they will break ground on a high-end conference and retreat center for a not-for-profit firm that caters to Silicon Valley tech companies. In addition, the firm will be Construction Manager on a new model structure for a proposed business hotel in downtown Palo Alto.

Sustainable Design

The firm is dedicated o producing high quality architectural design that contributes to the creation of sustainable environments. Careful attention to optimal site orientation, the design of efficient building systems, and the selection of local resources and materials, guide the process of design and construction at Carrasco &Associates. Several members of the Carrasco team are Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System accredited professionals. Currently the office is working on a number of inspiring LEED projects. In addition team members have served on the City of Palo Alto’s Green Task Force and collaborated on the drafting of the City’s Green Building Ordinance. This new ordinance that was accepted by the City Council set the LEED certification building guidelines for all new buildings in the city.