Gontina Building & Design
By Timothy Alan Risk, MA Arch
Michigan International Interior Design Association
Fall 2008 • Download Newsletter (PDF)
Based in Clawson, Michigan, Gontina Building & Design is a full service design and building firm that serves Oakland County and the surrounding areas. The company focuses on creating spaces that require fewer resources to build as well as operate. From small remodeling and addition projects to custom homes, Gontina Building & Design approaches each project with an eye towards artistry, technology and sustainability.
The company was founded in 2004 by partners Timothy Risk and Woody Gontina. Both began their careers in the building industry, Gontina in Real Estate development and Construction and Risk in Architecture and Carpentry. Both received degrees from Michigan State University, Risk in Interior Design and Gontina in Building Construction Management. Risk later received a Master of Architecture degree from University of Michigan..
“We started this company together because we share a real passion for building and recognize Green Building as the standard for the way buildings will be built in the future”, says Gontina. Risk adds, “We also feel that design plays a key role in making buildings more sustainable, so we spend more time in the planning phase to ensure that our projects are unique and will meet a very broad set of requirements for meeting our goals.”
The company is currently working on a new 3700 square foot custom home in Bloomfield Township. The home is registered to be LEED certified and the company is shooting for a Platinum certification. The home will utilize a geothermal heating and cooling system and has been constructed to optimize the efficiency of the building shell through the use of Structural Insulated Panels (SIPS) and Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFS). The house has been designed using Passive Solar as well as natural daylighting strategies to further reduce the energy needs of the home. Additionally, water saving systems like rainwater collection for irrigation and greywater storage will be installed. Interior finishes will include FSC certified woods, low VOC paints, Wool Carpet, and Energy Star appliances and fixtures.
The company’s goal is to become the leading Green residential construction and design firm in southeast Michigan by focus on a range of markets spanning affordable housing to higher end residential projects. This year, Gontina Building & Design worked with Habitat for Humanity in Oakland County to design the organizations first affordable LEED certified home. In addition to the new homes the company is working on, the company is well versed in additions and efficient retrofits for existing homes. For more information, please visit www.gontinabuilding.com.