Newsletter: February 2025

As architects and artists, the blank canvas is not only the right place to start but is also a clean slate for what can be.
                                                                       — Andrew Pedrick

January and February of this year were dominated by the devastating fires in Los Angeles and Pacific Palisades, a scene of so much loss for our community — and even our firm. Coming to grips with the reality of those massive losses, the numbness of so many things to do, so many steps to take along a new and unknown path, the struggle to take each day with presence and purpose, searching and ultimately finding elements of our shifted lives . . . the devastating reality of starting from a blank canvas.

As architects and artists, however, the blank canvas is not only the right place to start but is also a clean slate for what can be.

In the midst of the most immediate response, we have seen a great deal of hope. In spite of the destruction, we are here, and we will continue to move forward. We care so much about all of you, and helping to rebuild.

We hope you are staying safe, staying well, staying in community with each other, and will also stay in touch.
 

Drew Pedrick, AIA, Founder and CVO, MCTIGUE

Resources for Rebuilding
 

The information and the steps required to rebuild from the Los Angeles and Pacific Palisades fires are still changing frequently. But MCTIGUE’s extensive team and trusted partners are prepared to serve as a caring, informed resource through the duration. To us, architecture has always been a single act, made possible by many, and in this case it will be even moreso.

Our website now hosts a page of quality, vetted information and resources assembled to assist you as you and your community rebuild, including options for your rebuild approach.

This page will continue to evolve as we learn more ourselves and from our trusted community members and partners. Beyond this resource on our site, we are also posting regular updates on YouTube and our LinkedIn page. Please visit (and revisit often) for help and hope.
 

Steps We Need to Take to Rebuild

NOTE: These steps will continue to evolve and change as new developments arise and we learn more about them. Please continue to check back and stay in touch.

Previous Fire Rebuilds

Unfortunately, being based in California means we are familiar with the destruction and damage caused by wildfires. After the Woolsley fires in 2018, MCTIGUE had the honor of rebuilding and reimagining homes, two in particular we want to share: Bell Canyon and Malibu residences.

In the case of the latter, we rebuilt with nearly the exact same floorplan (which allowed all permits to be expedited) with Conscious design to ensure the new home is fire-resistant, more connected to the land, and better for the Planet.

For the Bell Canyon home, we provided pre-permitted plans for what was Consciously possible for that Place — raising and establishing the value of the land for our client, and benefitting its People whether they lived there or left it as a legacy for the future.

Rebuilds with Accessory Dwelling Units

Thank you to Stephanie Gutierrez for hosting MCTIGUE's Founder & Principal Drew Pedrick in the discussion, "Rebuilding L.A. with ADUs."

This was an all-too-timely conversation about how to Consciously design, construct — and now rebuild — Accessory Dwelling Units that keep the resilient needs of People, Place, and Planet in mind.

During this discussion you'll hear:

- Drew and MCTIGUE's experience during the January 2025 Pacific Palisades fires
- What resilient, global work styles mean and can provide in times of disaster
- How MCTIGUE consciously approaches ADU and development & conversion
- Why and how this mode of building can the best way to make housing both affordable and resilient for the future
- Resources and advice for finding help and staying in community during the rebuilding process

Listen to the entire conversation, and let us know what other topics you want to hear most about in the coming weeks.

Affordable, Conscious Housing at Scale

Modular tiny homes are an excellent way to construct affordable, resilient housing at scale — that is also good for the Planet! At MCTIGUE, we design these homes using the latest technologies including MSIPs — Magnesium Cement Board Structural Insulated Panels, which are composed of a mixture of magnesium and cement: a new tech version of what was used in ancient Roman structures. This allows these homes to be not only resilient and fire resistant, but built quickly and to last in ways that are good for People, Place, and Planet.

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