Dahlin Group Architecture Planning Expands Southern California Presence, Predicts Active Year

SOLANA BEACH, CA, February 04, 2011 (Press-News.org) Dahlin Group Architecture Planning anticipates an active year in Southern California, crediting improved market conditions; its ongoing achievements for the region's prominent builders and developers and its well-established and growing presence in Chinese residential developments. Principal Nancy Keenan, AIA, reports a significant jump in Dahlin Group's professional services, including new projects with Affirmed Housing Group, The Warmington Group and EAH Housing. Keenan, who oversees Dahlin Group's Southern California operations, also said that both the Solana Beach and Irvine offices have increased their staffs.

"Our work in China has given us the opportunity to hire some of the best designers in Southern California," said Keenan. "In turn, this is spurring the design innovations that will help the Southern California market over the next decade."

Keenan cited Dahlin Group's 2010 award winners as examples of design trends that will continue to influence real estate development in the coming years. "Greener, more sustainable development is a given, from entitlements through marketing, whether the final product is residential, commercial or recreational," she said. "And as buyer demographics continue to transform our markets, we see much more emphasis on design that is custom-crafted to niche markets."

Keenan cited RockRose at The Foothills for Brookfield Homes as one example of the move toward greener homes. Taking two high honors for architectural design in the Best In American Living Awards, celebrated January 13 at the International Building Show in Orlando, RockRose also earned three 2010 Gold Nugget Awards. These included a Merit Award for Green Sustainable Community.

RockRose was also finalist in the 2010 SoCal awards. "With RockRose, Dahlin Group's goal was to achieve a commendable and practical level of green, while still delivering the upscale style this target market expects," said Keenan. "We are proud to be part of these honors for Brookfield Homes."

Attainable versions of upscale design will also help define the new home market in 2011, Keenan said, referencing Gold Nugget winner SolTerra at La Costa Greens for ColRich Communities. In this Carlsbad master-planned community, SolTerra presents the luxury of golf course living in a more cost-effective format.

"SolTerra reduces plan sizes and increases density yield, without skimping on the style and flexible function of modern, upscale housing," said Keenan. "This project is an excellent example of the housing we are helping our clients craft for today's homebuyers."

Blossom Grove for William Lyon Homes rounds out Dahlin's most recent design winners. "These homes deliver the spaces and extras family buyers look for," said Keenan. "Like SolTerra and RockRose, they also deliver the value these buyers need." Situated in The Foothills master-planned community in Carlsbad, Blossom Grove designs was a finalist with both judges and homebuyers in the SoCal Awards.

About Dahlin Group:
Dahlin Group Architecture Planning is a full-service architecture and planning firm with proven expertise in residential architecture, community and recreational facilities, commercial buildings, urban design and custom homes. Noted for its command of site-specific housing types, the firm is widely recognized for sustainable approaches to planning and design and for diverse urban and suburban development achievements. Its commitment to green and sustainable land uses and building designs is underscored by TOD, re-development and affordable projects, and by expanding LEED certification for principals and senior architects/planners.

The company's Digital Imaging Studio maintains the latest computer animation technology to facilitate clear understanding of design and planning projects. Dahlin Group headquarters are in Pleasanton; the firm also maintains offices in Irvine, and Solana Beach, California; and in Beijing, Hangzhou, Chengdu and Shanghai, China. Visit www.dahlingroup.com.