Alward Construction collaborated with Olson Kundig Architects on the remodel of a Berkeley Hills residence originally designed in 1951 by modernist architect John Ekin Dinwiddie. Commissioned by Bernice Lucas Dinwiddie, the house was sited dramatically along a ridgeline to capture expansive views across the Bay.

Continuing in Alward's profiles of artisans, we spotlight Matteo Salvato of Salvato Fabrications. Matteo is a metalworker and fabricator who merges artistry with technique. From his new workshop in Richmond, he collaborates with architects, designers, and contractors to transform complex concepts into refined, buildable metalwork. 

It is an honor and a privilege to work on a historic building. For Alward, one of these projects was a collaboration with Architectural Resources Group to restore Frank Lloyd Wright's Hanna House on the Stanford University Campus. The National Historic Landmark was Wright's first work in the Bay Area. Started in 1937 and expanded over the course of 25 years, the architect patterned it after a bee's honeycomb.

The architect and designer get the glory for a project, while the builder and subcontractors execute their vision. Alward Construction is fortunate to work with many exceptional artisans. One of our favorite collaborators is Lorna Kollmeyer, who runs an ornamental plaster studio at the Torpedo Training Center on Hunter's Point Shipyard.

Alward Construction is honored to work on many historic buildings, one of which is The Hicks House in Berkeley, which esteemed architect Julia Morgan (1872-1957) designed in 1906. The homeowner, Lewis Albert Hicks, was a civil engineer and a pioneer in steel-reinforced concrete. He and Morgan knew each other professionally from working on the Hearst Greek Theatre and the Fairmont Hotel.

When builders constructed the three-story Bernal Heights Edwardian in 1900, there were few houses in the rural area, the roads were dirt, and the working-class residents came from Ireland, Germany, and Scandinavia. There was plenty of land for dairy cows and goats, with windmills providing power. The remote area grew popular after the 1906 earthquake because solid bedrock protected the existing homes, including the Edwardian.