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Claudia Falconer Architect

As a registered architect with thirty years of experience, I have worked on a vast array of architectural projects, as a sole proprietor running my own firm, and when employed at medium and large-sized firms. I am a Certified Access Specialist with a deep knowledge of accessibility requirements and Universal Design.
I have run my own architectural practice since 1991, providing architectural services for public agencies, commercial clients and residential homeowners. I have designed many types of building, from small house remodels and high-end custom homes to recreation centers, offices, commercial and retail buildings and facilities for BART and other public agencies.
My architectural experience includes all phases of architecture: marketing, programming, interacting with clients, design, presentations, preparation of working drawings and specifications, coordination of consulting engineers, planning approval, building permit application, bidding, construction administration and project closeout.

Professional Experience

1991 – Present: Principal of Claudia Falconer Architects, Oakland

I opened my firm with a contract to design renovations for nine recreation centers for the City of Richmond. My scope included all phases of design, from programming through preparation of working drawings, bidding, permitting and construction administration. The project expanded to include eleven recreation centers, and Richmond returned to me for design services on many projects over the years, including renovations to fire houses, libraries, city offices such as City Hall and the Hall of Justice, and park rest room buildings.

Over the years, my practice expanded to include residential projects, both remodeling and new houses, as well as commercial and educational buildings. I designed a bus depot for the City of Richmond, as well as renovations to the historic Richmond Plunge, rest rooms for the Oakland Zoo, and the $2 million expansion and renovation of a building in El Cerrito for Ifshin Violins. I also designed more than 20 facade improvement projects for the Oakland Redevelopment Agency. In 2008 I designed the $3 million expansion for the Port of Richmond Security and Operations Center.

2013 to 2017: Richard Avelar & Associates, Oakland

As a Project Architect, I designed the remediation and reconstruction of several projects that had come through construction defect litigation. I interacted with condominium homeowners associations to develop projects that meet their budget and their needs for waterproofing or reconstruction due to defects. I coordinated teams of production personnel and engineers to produce highly detailed and technically superior construction documents and specifications. I administered the projects through competitive bidding and construction administration. My larger projects included reconstruction at Tiffany Gardens Condominiums and 2090 Great Highway in San Francisco, replacing 42 carports at Baytree condominiums in Santa Cruz, remediation construction at Orange Park condominiums in Oakland, as well as many smaller projects.

2010 – 2013: HNTB, Oakland

In my three years at HNTB, I worked on several large infrastructure projects, including the BART extension to San Jose, the Central Subway in San Francisco, the replacement for Doyle Drive (Presidio Parkway), California’s High Speed Rail Pursuit and the CalTrain San Bruno Grade Separation. I worked with a team of engineers and technicians to produce working drawings for both traditional design-bid-build and design/build contracts.

1984 - 1991: Project Manager, Interactive Resources, Pt. Richmond

I started at Interactive Resources as an architectural drafter, detailing wood-frame buildings, and worked my way up to become a designer and project manager. During this time, I became licensed and took on more and more responsibility, including managing a team of architects, coordinating consulting engineers, preparing drawings, writing specifications, and managing projects through construction and project closeout. I acted as Project Architect for the new Sheriff’s Building for Contra Costa County, and designed a $1 million renovation to Richmond’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation Center. I worked on the Richmond Tech Center, a 40,000 s.f. commercial and R&D campus. I also conducted several programming studies for public agency clients including Richmond, Contra Costa County, Martinez and the Marin Municipal Water District.

1982 - 1984: Project Architect, Roller & Massen, San Francisco

At Roller & Massen I worked on commercial projects primarily for insurance and banking clients. We designed several new CSAA branch offices, as well as renovations for branch offices and interior office space for the CSAA headquarters. I developed space plans for system furniture installations for many CSAA and bank locations, both in high rise commercial buildings and branch offices.

1978 - 1982: Technical Drafter, Allen B. Carr Associates, Sonoma

While in school, I worked as a drafter for this civil engineering firm, which gave me an opportunity to hone my drafting skills on wood-frame and concrete tilt-up buildings, as well as become familiar with structural and civil detailing. I also worked on the surveying crew and prepared topographical plans.

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