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April 24, 2023

In the News: Creating Projects That Are Good Community Neighbors

The April edition of Western Real Estate Business dives into the transformative power of well-designed modern industrial projects and their profound influence on neighboring residential communities.
March 3, 2023

Leadership Retreat 2023

This February, our Principals, Associates, and Studio Directors from Oakland and Hawaii enjoyed an off-site leadership retreat at the Craneway Pavilion in Richmond, CA.

January 30, 2023

Patrick Nelson Promoted to Job Caption in Our Oakland Office

We are excited to announce Patrick Nelson's promotion to Job Captain!

January 26, 2023

In The News: Caption by Hyatt Township Nine

Our designs for Caption by Hyatt Township Nine in Sacramento have been published in the Sacramento Business Journal.

December 22, 2022

Project Tour to Watch JESD Workforce Housing Get Stacked

Check out our photo gallery from our JESD Faculty + Staff Housing site tour!
December 20, 2022

Grant Chang Promoted to Principal in Our Hawaii Office

As we begin a new year, we are excited to announce Grant Chang as a new Principal at Lowney Architecture!


December 16, 2022

Lowney’s Holiday Party 2022

As we raise a glass to the New Year, browse our photo gallery for a selection of images from our 2022 Holiday Party.
December 9, 2022

In the News: Environmental Report Published For 808 Alameda Townhomes, San Carlos

808 Alameda de las Pulgas's Draft Environmental Impact Report has been published. This project with Veev would bring 87 prefabricated units to San Mateo County. 

December 6, 2022

Hawaii’s New Office Opening 2022

Great food, ambiance, and company all around at our Hawaii Office Opening. Check out our party photo gallery!

September 1, 2022

Design and Development Team Engages Kuhio Park Residents for Community Input on Upcoming Project

Lowney Architecture assists in the development of a Master Plan for the Hawaii Public Housing Authority.

June 20, 2022

In the News: New Prefabricated Multi-Family Approved by SF Planning Committee

The San Francisco Planning Commission recently approved 1721 15th Street, bringing 50 affordable for-sale homes to the City of San Francisco.
June 10, 2022

Grant Chang Leads Lowney Architecture’s Hawaii Office Toward Growth

Grant Chang sits with Pacific Business News reporter Stephanie Salmons to discuss his path to becoming an architect, the evolution of Lowney Architecture's impact in Hawaii and what's spurring the firm's growth. 


June 1, 2022

Lowney Architecture Builds on Rapid Hawaii Office Growth

Lowney Architecture's Hawaii office has experienced significant growth in 2022. Read more about our recent hires and what they bring to the team.
May 24, 2022

Calabazas Community Apartments Celebrates Grand Opening in City of Santa Clara

The new development delivers housing and on-site supportive services to formerly unsheltered populations and households at or below 60% AMI (area median income). Calabazas Community Apartments is the first supportive housing complex in the City of Santa Clara.

May 18, 2022

In The News: Hotel Management – Post-pandemic design trends: Upgrading spaces to enhance guest experiences

The hospitality industry is gearing up for a renaissance, and strategic designs and layouts are critical to attract guests and encourage future revisits. Janice Li and Noe Pegarido help shed light on how hotel spaces can evolve at any phase of a hotel property’s development.

May 17, 2022

Affordable Housing Month: Touring Mayfair Affordable

In preparation of kicking off Affordable Housing Week, last Friday our team welcomed a sold-out project tour of the Mayfair Affordable Homes Development in El Cerrito, CA with AIA East Bay.

May 9, 2022

Tim Sloat named Retail Influencer by GlobeSt.com

Congratulations to Senior Project Designer, Tim Sloat for being recognized as a Retail Influencer by GlobeSt.com! Tim’s talent for creative problem-solving and novel urban design strategies have positioned him as a valuable resource for confronting challenges facing the rapidly evolving retail landscape.
May 4, 2022

Big Moves at MBI’s 2022 World of Modular

Last week, Ken Lowney represented the firm in San Antonio, TX at MBI's 2022 World of Modular conference. With an appointment, two presentations, and two awards, Lowney Architecture's reputation as an experienced modular architecture firm was again, reinforced.


April 20, 2022

2022 All-Electric Leader in Outstanding Commercial Project: JESD Workforce Housing

The Jefferson Elementary School District in Daly City received the 2022 All-Electric Leader Award from Peninsula Clean Energy for Outstanding Commercial Project for a 50,500-square-foot project that is the first workforce housing campus for grades K-8 in California.
January 12, 2022

In The News: Designing and Planning for Hybrid Retail, Dark Stores and Urban Warehouses

To satisfy growing stocking and product movement needs as well as last-mile delivery demands, the critical warehouse role is finding its way into the urban landscape, and existing storefronts are experimenting with micro fulfillment center conversions.

November 16, 2021

Groundbreaking Ceremony for Depot Community Apartments

Depot Community Apartments broke ground on November 15th in Hayward. This supportive housing project will be the city's first all-electric building.

November 8, 2021

Grant Chang Named Small Business Leader of the Year by PBN News

Congratulations to Grant Chang, for his recognition as a Small Business Leader of the Year by Pacific Business News! This honor is a testament to the dedication and commitment Grant brings every day to elevate our firm, the community, and the practice of design. We’re proud to have such an inspirational leader paving the way for Hawaii’s built environment. 

October 22, 2021

Media Mention: Major Projects Boost California’s Effort to Build Housing for Homeless People

California’s Gov. Newsom recently signed a slew of bills to help house the state’s rising homeless population, but what do they mean? Ken Lowney provides a Bay Area perspective in the ENR California article, “Major Projects Boost California’s Effort to Build Housing for Homeless People.”
October 18, 2021

In the News: Why Supportive Housing Demands Smart Design Strategies

As we work to bring more supportive housing projects to the Bay area, key design elements that differ from traditional multi-family developments need to be considered. Here, Paige Smith outlines and describes the best design strategies for success on these projects.


September 12, 2021

Local Architects Talk About Repurposing Existing Buildings in Post-Pandemic Hawai’i

In the Hawaii Business Magazine article, “Local Architects Talk About Repurposing Existing Buildings in Post-Pandemic Hawai’i,” Grant Chang talks adaptive reuse and shares how to evolve buildings for modern lifestyles and uses, covering every space from office to residential to hospitality.
September 9, 2021

Anthony Cataldo named Industrial Influencer by GlobeSt.com

Congratulations to Anthony Cataldo, AIA, LEED AP for his recent recognition as an Industrial Influencer by GlobeSt.com!

August 9, 2021

In the News: Evolving Grocery Practices to Meet Modern Lifestyles

Grocery store formats have only changed in small ways over time – until recently. Emerging trends and consumer behaviors are leading traditional grocery designs to change in unprecedented ways. In the latest issue of Today’s Grocer, Eric Price outlines strategies for these businesses to consider to keep up with new demands.

July 20, 2021

In The News: Design Strategies for Elevating Grocery Practices

In the latest issue of Food Logistics Magazine, Senior Project Designer Tim Sloat outlines the latest developments guiding grocery store design and strategies that neighborhood grocery businesses can apply to keep up with the latest trends to deliver positive consumer experiences.

July 13, 2021

Architecture + Innovation Podcast – Episode 13: Ken Lowney

Featured in Episode 13 of the Architecture + Innovation Podcast, Ken joins Tom Dioro to design the design process from the human element through the quantitative process of solving issues and transforming a project vision to reality.
July 1, 2021

AIASF Housing Symposium: New Ideas, New Designs – Listen Now!

What’s the current housing agenda for San Francisco, and how are architects responding to the demands and opportunities presented by the shifting parameters for new housing? Ken joins seasoned panelists and describes his take on micro-efficiency housing that is affordable by design.


June 7, 2021

In the News: Grocery Stores Anchor Communities.

In a collaboration piece with Bisnow, Ken Lowney discusses how the pandemic has highlighted what we've always known: grocery stores are the best development anchors - but they don't come without their own unique design challenges.
May 30, 2021

Insight: Modular Design Through the Construction Perspective

Throughout this three-part series, we have looked at optimizing projects for modular construction. In the previous installments, we have explored modular from both the design and fabrication perspectives. Now, we turn our attention to the construction considerations that will help projects take full advantage of the value associated with this construction method.

May 20, 2021

In the News: San Francisco Business Journal Executive Profile

Featured in the Executive Profile section, Ken Lowney sits with the San Francisco Business Times to discuss everything from his progression from grocery stores to modular projects, from the firm's pandemic pivots to how he envisions the future of cities post-Covid.

May 6, 2021

In the News: Western Real Estate Business – Maximizing Modular Fabrication

Regions like the Bay Area can greatly benefit from modular construction, especially as the area grapples with affordability and housing crises. 

May 5, 2021

Lowney Architecture Receives Retail Influencer Award by GlobeSt

GlobeSt.com just released their 2021 picks for top retail influencers. Among many talented individuals, our firm is honored to have made the list.
April 27, 2021

Project Spotlight: The Nexus Receives Berkeley Design Advocate Award

The BDA has announced winners of its 14th Biennial Design Awards. Our student housing project, The Nexus, located at 2539 Telegraph Ave, was among seven honored projects and received a citation award based on its excellence in urban planning and innovative design solutions.


April 22, 2021

Insight: Can Utilizing Modular Construction Lower Our Carbon Footprint?

But beyond solar panels and sustainable materials, an increasingly pressing issue we face in the 21st century in building is reducing our carbon footprint. As Earth Day approached, we wanted to dig deeper into the environmental impact of one of our greatest areas of specialties: modular design and delivery.
April 19, 2021

In the News: Why industrial buildings are key to the future of cities

The growing demand for R&D, e-commerce and delivery/warehousing facilities, escalated by the pandemic, has intensified the need for industrial projects to be woven into the fabric of urban planning and design.

April 15, 2021

Media Mention: Stocky modular buildings are popping up in East Bay. They look surprisingly good.

Ken Lowney lends insight to John King at the San Francisco Chronicle on how modular building is good urbanism. The article highlights two Lowney projects, Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley and the newly opened Moxy hotel in Oakland, as examples of modular projects that are moving the East Bay forward.

April 7, 2021

In the News: Hawaii Business Magazine Asks Grant Chang About Reimagining Retail Post-Covid-19

Q: How Can Businesses Redefine Shopping and Dining to Encourage Repeat Local Customers and Draw Tourists?

March 18, 2021

Optimizing Urban Industrial Projects for Success

Early planning and design are vital to maximizing performance and ensuring seamless functionality, explains Anthony Cataldo of Lowney Architecture.
March 4, 2021

Modular Construction Has An Image Problem Housing Proponents Are Trying To Fix It



March 2, 2021

Becoming a Design Firm CEO

The Architectural Foundation of San Francisco (AFSF) interview, packs in tons of advice on the personality and habits necessary to run a design firm. Ken Lowney describes his road to becoming the CEO of Lowney Architecture.
February 25, 2021

How Multilevel Warehouses are Capitalizing on the End User

Designing for flexibility is vital to accommodate the next wave of industrial needs including more maneuverable automated trucks, drones and other means of transporting products to/from warehouses.

January 28, 2021

Architecture and the Lost Art of Sketching

With all of the new technology in architectural computer-aided software like AutoCAD and Revit, it has been fashionable in many architectural circles to declare the death of hand sketching. We strongly feel that architecture is a form of art and some of our staff recently participated in a napkin sketching exercise we did to kick off the new year. Hand drawing is certainly not a lost art here at Lowney, and we encourage our staff to nurture their inner creativity as often as possible!

January 21, 2021

Grocery stores were already in flux. The pandemic could change them forever.


December 11, 2020

Why This is the Time to Build in Top Tourist Destinations

The unprecedented pandemic we are facing has caused hardships throughout the hospitality industry and tourist destination communities. Yet, we are still seeing brisk business in building and remodeling hotel properties. Why is now a good time to build a hotel in top tourist destinations?
August 24, 2020

The Registry “Real Perspectives” with Ken Lowney

Lowney Architecture President & CEO, Ken Lowney recently appeared on The Registry's "Real Perspectives" podcast to discuss forming his own architecture firm, the challenges with doing innovative work, and the opportunities large disruptions like COVID-19 may create for the industry


August 12, 2020

Meet Our Team: Jennifer Ivanovich

We’re jumping on the #showusyourshelfie bandwagon to give you a peek inside the minds of Lowney Arch team members. Next up: Landscape Architecture Studio Director, Jennifer Ivanovich.
August 10, 2020

Q & A: How Hotel Design Can Adjust Public Perceptions

COVID-19 has brought the travel industry to a screeching halt and hotels are facing an uncertain future. But just like retail, the hospitality industry is looking for ways to sell the public on safety during the pandemic.

August 3, 2020

Exploring the Lasting Imprint of Our Pandemic Places

A few weeks ago the Lowney Architecture team gathered to quickly sketch and discuss our “pandemic places.” This was, in part, a design-thinking exercise led by the Landscape Architecture Studio, meant to explore how several months of working from home had caused our perceptions of “space” to evolve.

July 30, 2020

The MicroPAD®: Innovative Housing for the Homeless

Lowney Architecture worked with Patrick Kennedy at Panoramic Interests to design the MicroPAD (Prefabricated Affordable Dwelling). As a new approach to address the growing number of homeless people in the Bay Area, the MicroPad provides a way to build high-quality housing quickly and economically.

July 27, 2020

Meet Our Team: Annie Tveten

We’re jumping on the #showusyourshelfie bandwagon to give you a peek inside the minds of Lowney Arch team members. Next up: Designer, Annie Tveten.
July 13, 2020

Modular Design Helps the Education Sector Respond to COVID-19

As school administrators evaluate solutions that allow for the safe return of students in coming months, modular design and construction presents a great opportunities for both short- and long-term considerations.


July 9, 2020

Meet Our Team: Mark Donahue

We’re jumping on the #showusyourshelfie bandwagon to give you a peek inside the minds of Lowney Arch team members. Next up: Design Director, Mark Donahue.
July 6, 2020

Designing Restaurants for a Socially Distant World

The hospitality industry has taken a massive hit with hotels and restaurants seeing sudden declines due to COVID-19, forcing some to close their doors for good. While some restaurants have remained open for takeout and delivery, providing literal comfort food for anyone hungry for some semblance of normalcy, we’re wondering what comes next as statewide measures to “reopen” are explored?

June 29, 2020

KCBS Radio “Ask An Expert” with Ken Lowney

Today as Texas and Florida orders all bars to shut down again, we're taking a closer look at the future of traditional communal spaces like restaurants, bars, hotels and schools with Ken Lowney, the President and CEO of Lowney Architecture in Oakland.

June 26, 2020

Meet Our Team: Aleksandra Makuch

We’re jumping on the #showusyourshelfie bandwagon to give you a peek inside the minds of Lowney Arch team members. Next up: Desinger, Aleksandra Makuch.

June 22, 2020

Virtual Groundbreaking: Parrott Street Apartments

We're excited to announce that earlier this month, a virtual groundbreaking took place for Parrott Street Apartments, our housing project with Eden Housing, Inc. and BBI Construction. Located across the street from the downtown San Leandro BART station, this project will add 62 new units of affordable housing to the East Bay!
June 15, 2020

Meet Our Team: Nick Gomez

We’re jumping on the #showusyourshelfie bandwagon to give you a peek inside the minds of Lowney Arch team members. Next up: Multi-Family Studio Director, Nick Gomez.


June 8, 2020

How Hospitality Design Might Change Post-Pandemic

Today’s global pandemic has created “permanxiety” for some would-be travelers experiencing stress due to long-term confinement, geopolitical issues, and the ongoing public health crisis. How might an industry built on the idea of escape create new, responsive environments that allow guests to live for today and leave their worries behind for a while? Defining what “getting away” looks like post-pandemic is a worthwhile challenge.
May 27, 2020

Meet Our Team: Jesse Duclos

We’re jumping on the #showusyourshelfie bandwagon to give you a peek inside the minds of Lowney Arch team members. First up: Senior Project Designer, Jesse Duclos.

March 6, 2017

Seeking a Senior Designer

We are seeking a highly qualified senior designer with in depth experience in multi-family housing projects with a minimum of 7-10 years of relevant professional experience.

March 1, 2017

The Future of Oakland

This month, Ken Lowney spoke at a forum hosted by Bisnow regarding Oakland development trends. Along with other prominent industry experts, Ken explained the Bay Area's shift from traditional construction of multifamily housing to more compact housing with shorter construction times.

February 11, 2017

Hale Mahana Groundbreaking and Blessing

Today, the project site of Hale Mahana Collegiate Apartments had its groundbreaking ceremony and a traditional blessing from a Hawaiian Kahuna. Lowney Architecture's Ken Lowney and Brian Nee visited the site along with the Honolulu City Manager, University of Hawaii president, city council members, Laconia, and EDR.
December 22, 2016

Happy Holidays from the Lowney Team!



November 17, 2016

Now Presenting: New Parking

Yesterday, Neil Gray from the City of Oakland came to our office to present the recently adopted revisions to the City of Oakland's off-street parking requirements.
November 4, 2016

Field trip to SFMOMA

This past Thursday, Lowney Architecture ventured out of the office and over to SFMOMA for some full-scale design inspiration. We took a guided tour of the Mario Botta building and Snøhetta addition, stopping in to appreciate the art exhibits along the way.

October 31, 2016

Happy Halloween from the Lowney Team!


October 19, 2016

Exclusive: Huge Oakland Tower Plan Combines Housing, Office, and Retail

A proposal for one of the largest among over a dozen highrise plans recently approved and proposed in Oakland. It would be the only one to combine residential and office space.

September 28, 2016

Another Successful Tour

Lowney Architect Tony Valadez led a hard hat tour of Lowney's Chow Oakland on Saturday, September 24th.
September 22, 2016

Chow Oakland Tour on Saturday, 9/24

AIA East Bay will be hosting a tour of Chow Oakland, our project currently under construction on Piedmont Avenue.


September 13, 2016

Tour of the Orchards Just Days Before Grand Opening

On September 8th, the Urban Land Institute hosted a project walkthrough and discussion just days prior to the Grand Opening of the Safeway at the Orchards.
September 12, 2016

Trivia Night at Lowney Architecture Supports ARE Candidates

Lowney Architecture hosted the inaugural AIA East Bay ARE-prep Trivia Night at its downtown Oakland office on Tuesday, August 30th.

August 22, 2016

Lowney Architecture to Host AIA East Bay Trivia Night

You are invited to the AIA East Bay's Trivia Night, hosted at the office of Lowney Architecture, in Oakland, CA.

August 2, 2016

Kwik Way Plans Receive Broad Community Support

After years of scrapped plans and benign neglect, Oakland’s moldering Kwik Way Drive-In may soon be replaced by a five-story housing and retail development that will stand as tall as the nearby Grand Lake Theater.

June 15, 2015

Ken Lowney and Creative Development Partners vie for Kaiser Convention Center Project

March 4, 2015

Plank wins Real Estate Deals of the Year 2014 (Restaurant)

Plank is nearly 50,000 square feet and it’s a lot more than a restaurant.


January 23, 2015

Lowney Architecture Stays Profitable by Design, Lands ‘Best Year Ever’

August 29, 2014

Architects Reign as Grocery Kings

For Ken Lowney, 2012 was “the year of hell.” He had to buy out his business partner and his longtime girlfriend died.


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