TAKE 10 WITH JEFF CLARK

Aug 24

Written By COUPAR

Head estimator, Jeff Clark has been with QuarryHouse for over twenty-three years. The East Coast native came to California for graduate school and never left, acclimating to the San Francisco Bay Area's climate and culture. Jeff's estimates span from small residential jobs to large commercial endeavors with past estimates ranging in value to millions of dollars per project.

QH: You received your BA in Landscape Architecture at the University of Massachusetts and your MA in both City Planning and Construction Management from the University of California, Berkeley. How did the experience of living on both the East and West Coasts affect the way you do your work?

JC: I grew up in Valatie, NY, a small town in Upstate New York; we didn't have earthquakes on the East Coast, but you don't get severe winters in the San Francisco Bay Area. When you do estimates, you have to consider any delays, such as emergencies or inclement weather. Then QuarryHouse had a Lake Tahoe project during the worst winter on record; it was just as tough as being in the Northeast.

QH: What were your first jobs out of college, and how did they prepare you for today?

JC: While still in graduate school, I worked for Denny Abrams of Abrams/Millikan & Associates, a design/build firm in Berkeley, one summer. Denny and his partner Richard developed Berkeley’s Fourth Street retail area. When I worked for Abrams/Milikan, I was titled as a project Landscape Architect to assist during the retrofitting process happening to the Fourth Street retail area. I dedicated portions of my time to researching and reporting costs relating to the exterior retrofitting.

While still in graduate school, I also worked for a short time at Ken Kay Associates, a firm specializing in Landscape Architecture, Planning, and Urban Design. At the end of my time working in the office, Ken Kay was aware that Ed Westbrook and QuarryHouse needed someone with my possible professional abilities. Ken was my entre to QuarryHouse, where I have been since 1997. My first jobs with Denny Abrams and Ken Kay provided me with an array of building and planning skills necessary for being an estimator.

QH: Which do you prefer building Private Estates or Public Works?

JC: QuarryHouse works on many incredible Private Estates, but their impact is limited to those who can see them. With Public Works, like the granite amphitheater we built at Stern Grove, San Franciscans and visitors enjoy it during the annual Stern Grove Festival. It is more rewarding to be a part of a legacy that touches so many lives.

QH: Your favorite project of all time?

JC: I have always been an enormous fan of actual Stone Work, love the "feel, texture, and look" this material provides. I still love to be involved with this material, no matter the project's scope or goal. A few aspects of past projects related to the word "favorite" correlate to the inclusion of other influences: artistic elements connected with the Marin LandArt project and cultural/historical aspects in a large residence south of San Francisco.

Stern Grove also stands out as a great project to be a part of; it's great design accessible to the public presented by the talented landscape architect Lawrence Halprin. Mr. Halprin had an affinity for stone and an appreciation for the craft of stone masonry. I remember learning about his legacy and impressive design. I felt proud to be a small part of the construction of one of his projects.

QH: What have been some of the most challenging projects you have worked on?

JC: The number one challenging aspect of estimating is when I receive drawings or information about a project that is not complete. Then I have to rely on my knowledge of stone masonry principles to accurately estimate the cost of labor and materials to understand the project’s scope.

QH: How have you had to adapt your work since the pandemic?

JC: I worked from home for the first two months; now, I am socially distancing at our San Anselmo office. At first, the field staff at our Richmond, California, and Verona, Italy, stone shops were not working. Now they are, but we have to follow strict guidelines to keep them safe; they can no longer travel together in the same vehicle to job sites.

QH: What is the one food always in your kitchen?

JC: Crunchy granola with a smattering of Welsh honey in a bowl of Ripple.

QH: What’s your current TV obsession?

JC: 60 Minutes; worldwide stories ranging from political unrest to interesting stories of physically challenged individuals who are masters of playing the piano. Reports seem to be presented in a light that has not been influenced by “other” forces.

QH: Song, you can listen to on repeat?

JC: I have many Pandora stations to listen to while working; Trentemoller, Kutiman, Downtempo Radio, St. Germain, Claude VonStroke. I like beats with musical accompaniments, no distracting lyrics to disrupt my thinking mind while working.

QH: If you had one more hour in the day, what would you do with it?

JC: I would work on creating a transporter machine to allow me to go back to New York and visit my family at any time.