BuildBackBetterLA
The devastation caused by the Altadena and Palisades Fires calls for a team that will deliver a comprehensive response.
Build Back Better LA is a dedicated coalition committed to supporting Los Angeles residents and commercial property owners in their recovery from the 2025 fires. By bringing together a network of experienced real estate professionals—including architects, general contractors, engineers, insurance experts and others—we streamline the often overwhelming processes of design, permitting, and construction. Our comprehensive, end-to-end approach not only simplifies rebuilding but also helps transform loss into renewal, restoring hope and resilience to the communities we serve.
VTBS Architecture has been providing meaningful design solutions that respond to the needs of our Clients. Our practice has been in Santa Monica for nearly 50 years. We have direct experience with rebuilding homes lost or damaged in the Topanga Fire (1993), Latigo Canyon Fire (2014) and the Woolsey Fire (2018). Partners Van Tilburg, Banvard and Soderbergh each designed and built their current homes in Malibu and Pacific Palisades. This local experience is critically important as we assist those who have lost their homes in this disaster. VTBS is widely acknowledged as a creative and award-winning design firm with substantial technical abilities on single family homes and multi-family typologies.
Lifestyle Design Consulting was founded by architect Manny Gonzalez, FAIA Emeritus who has been instrumental in creating vibrant residential communities across the country. An eighth generation Californian, Gonzalez was raised in Malibu and has over 40 years of single and multi-family design experience. He has received numerous design awards for his innovative home solutions. His significant contributions to national architecture and society resulted in being recognized with his induction into the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Design Hall of Fame.
Craig Lawson & Co. is a land use consulting firm offering, most importantly, Planning Department processing/approvals and expediting the Building Permit process. CLC also handles application preparation and departmental clearances among a full range of real estate entitlement and zoning services, including Zoning Code research. Craig Lawson was raised in the Pacific Palisades and Brentwood communities, and he attended Palisades High School. CLC is committed to providing impeccable consulting services to its clients. Over the last twenty-five years, CLC has achieved a very high success rate in obtaining City and County approvals for complex development projects.
Labib Funk + Associates is currently helping ongoing clients who lost their homes in the fires. They focus on structural engineering services that streamline the design process and significantly reduce project costs and timelines. Our design approach ensures coordinated and cohesive solutions tailored to the challenges faced by disaster-affected communities, facilitating quick and effective execution without compromising quality or safety. Many of LFA’s projects have been constructed in Malibu and Pacific Palisades.
VCA Green (VCAG) is a division of VCA Code, and delivers expert technical services for energy certifications, including Title 24 Energy Analyses, and provides sustainable services including LEED Commissioning and Well Design from project inception through building operations. VCAG is recognized throughout the Western region as a leader in green building and sustainability expertise.
GEOCON provides comprehensive geotechnical engineering, environmental consulting, engineering geology and construction inspections, including materials testing and special inspections. In addition to these services, we also provide environmental remediation contracting (cleanup) services and operate soils and materials testing laboratories.
Forma specializes in Civil Engineering and Surveying, and delivering high-quality solutions. With a strong presence in in Pacific Palisades and the City of Malibu, we have successfully executed numerous full-site redevelopment projects for single-family homes. We've completed more than 25 projects in Malibu and more than 30 projects in Pacific Palisades. Our team has deep expertise in hillside grading, ensuring precision and compliance in even the most challenging terrains. Forma is committed to delivering cost-effective, timely, and innovative solutions tailored to each project’s unique needs. We utilize AutoCAD Civil 3D for precision engineering and state-of-the-art Trimble survey equipment, including the SX10 Scanner and Total Station. We enhance data accuracy, streamline processes, and improve overall project efficiency.
Lemette Construction is a general contracting company that has been building single family homes in the Malibu, Sunset Mesa and Pacific Palisades areas for over two decades, delivering high-quality construction services with a commitment to excellence and reliability. Over the years, LC has built strong, long-standing relationships with top-tier subcontractors who share our dedication to craftsmanship and professionalism. Our reputation speaks for itself, as the majority of our work comes from client referrals, a testament to the trust and satisfaction we’ve earned through our unwavering commitment to quality and integrity.
WEST is a client-driven General Contractor with broad experience in new residential and commercial projects. WEST capitalizes on long-standing relationships with a large base of local sub-contractors which is essential in the current climate. WEST understands the specific and unique needs of each client/project and reinvent their procedures and methods as needed. This flexible strategy and proven track record have allowed WEST to earn the continued trust and ongoing business of their clients. WEST possesses a staff with extensive construction knowledge, experience, and the technical skill sets necessary to deliver results that exceed client expectations. WEST’s company philosophy allows them to understand the synergy that must exist between design, cost and constructability.
ACS is led by Karl Soderbergh, a lifelong resident born and raised in the Pacific Palisades; he and his family have always been actively involved in the community. With 15 years of experience in the construction & real estate development industries, ACS is an experienced General Contractor having constructed numerous custom homes and many substantial remodels in the area. ACS is actively involved in Phase II of the debris removal and has relationships with several of these companies who can provide bids for this portion of the effort. Bringing much history & knowledge of the Palisades to our team, ACS will serve as a Homebuilder to increase construction capabilities while working with all the team members to expand outreach and our positive impact throughout the rebuilding of the Palisades community.
Plant Prefab (PP) builds prefabricated homes and offers services to construct high quality, semi-custom and custom homes designed by your architect. PP can provide modular, often called volumetric, solutions as well as panelized systems. Their 270,000-square-foot factory in Tejon Ranch is the first facility in the nation specifically designed to manufacture panelized and modular housing components at scale. It is the only automated, high capacity prefabrication factory in Southern California and has the capacity to manufacture 1,000-2,000 homes per year. Leveraging automated panel production, the Plant Building System™ provides better quality control, design flexibility, and time, cost, and material efficiency than traditional methods of offsite or on-site construction. Plant Prefab has built many homes for victims of previous wildfires (Tubbs, Woolsey, etc.) and the company is very experienced at fire resilient design and construction.
Artistic Environments (AE) has been providing award-winning interior design services for over thirty-five years, consistently turning clients’ dreams into reality with an innate ability to listen and translate concepts into tangible results. AE takes pride in every phase of the design process, from the schematic/planning stages to the final installation of furniture and furnishings when requested. Resourceful, creative, and collaborative from beginning to end, we understand the homebuilding process and are always sensitive to financial constraints. The Palisades Fire was life-changing for thousands, including one of our Principals. Kathy Weber, born and raised a Palisadian, saw her family home burned to the ground, forcing her extended family and 99-year-old mother to flee the area. With great interest and pride, we are very pleased to collaborate with those affected by the fires, hoping to build back better and keep Pali Strong alive.
Michael C. Genthe, founder of MCG, is a real estate executive specializing in luxury single and multi-family development, finance and operations in Los Angeles for more than 40 years. Mr. Genthe has successfully identified, entitled, developed and sold over 5,000 single and multi-family homes with an estimated combined total market value exceeding $3 billion. Michael advocates for property owners, experienced in all facets of the design, permitting and construction process including financial modeling and construction budgeting. He represented Northridge earthquake survivors by negotiating insurance company settlements and managing construction repairs for housing owners.