Basis founder Charles Pick has analyzed or worked on over one thousand buildings. His due-diligence experience created a detailed knowledge of what works and what fails in buildings. All the while, he has designed and consulted on projects with a specialty in multi-family.

Mr. Pick is a longtime multi-family housing advocate, both affordable and market rate. He has a long history of activism in supporting the creation and preservation of moderate or high-density housing in existing urban areas. In San Francisco, he was a member of the local neighborhood design board that tackled opposition to valuable projects head-on. He was deeply involved in the politics and planning of the Central Embarcadero Plaza in San Francisco during the 1990s. This involvement included briefing a newly elected Mayor Willie Brown, a meeting that resulted in City approval for what is now known as Ferry Plaza.

Mr. Pick is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis with a Masters in Architecture. He has spoken to such groups as The Commonwealth Club of California and AAHMA Northern California. He presently sits as a Planning Commissioner in the City of San Rafael, California. He is a licensed architect in five Western states.

Barbara Kuhn, Chief Financial Officer, grew up in her family's construction company, which was established in 1950. There she gained experience in the construction business and took care of the administrative side of the contracting and development business. Ms. Kuhn managed all administrative aspects for a wide variety of residential rehabilitation projects. Later, she went on to administer the Design Division of Skywalker Ranch. After spending a decade away from the construction industry while she marketed Sonoma County wines, she returned to provide Basis Architecture and Consulting, Inc. the skills and patience required to properly administer our client's projects. Ms. Kuhn holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management.

Robert Mackey, Project Manager, has extensive practical experience in the construction industry and others. Prior to acquiring his expertise in CAD technology and entering the architectural field, Mr. Mackey was a state certified expert in electronic, mechanical and hydraulic systems. Later he gained experience in carpentry and in land surveying. This varied hands-on experience resulted in his common sense approach to problem solving. Combined with his CAD production skills, Mr. Mackey provides Basis clients with efficient and well informed construction documentation for their projects. Mr. Mackey has AUTOCAD certification, HAZMAT certification and has studied at College of Marin.

Samantha Speer, Project Manager, has been conducting Phase I Environmental and Capital Needs / Property Condition Assessments (CNA/PCA) of commercial, industrial, and multi-family residential properties throughout the United States since 1996. Ms. Speer has provided these services for a wide range of governmental institutions such as Fannie Mae and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, as well as financial clients, attorneys, insurances companies, and others. She also has more than six years experience conducting construction plan costing reviews and feasibility analysis, in addition to construction project monitoring and loan disbursement approvals for construction lending institutions. She is a registered EPA AHERA Asbestos Inspector, AHERA Refresher, and a California State Registered Environmental Assessor (REA).

Vivian Volz, LEED AP, began her career in Houston after graduating with a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Rice University. Vivian began to specialize in specifications in 2001 at Gensler, joined CSI (Construction Specifications Institute), and became a CSI Certified Construction Specifier. Vivian served as Specifications Leader for Gensler's Northwest region until January of 2009. A LEED-Accredited Professional, Vivian's work contributed to successful LEED projects from Certified to Gold in both the New Construction and Corporate Interiors standards. Vivian is active in CSI's San Francisco chapter, where she chairs the Certification Committee and serves as Secretary. She also is a member of the Institute's Strategic Planning Task Team.

Associates