Ovilla Building - History preservation project

A complete remodeling project, conserving the "embodied energy" in the existing materials. Salvage of 85% of the material for re-milling as furniture. Located in old downtown Missoula. Loken Builders won a state historical preservation award for the efforts.

Dean Horowitz, publisher of the magazine Professional Builder, wrote an article titled "Understanding Leaders", in the January 1999 issue of the magazine. "Visionary leaders" was the main topic of the article and the following is what he had to say about Steve Loken:

Steve Loken, Loken Builders (Missoula, MT) appears as a leading builder at many conferences and programs throughout the country. He is a vocal spokesperson for Green Building and certainly a Leader/Visionary. "Innovation doesn't get you anywhere until it is actually used by someone," he says about his work to push "that 10% change." Loken's 24 employees joined the company for various reasons. Some shared his ideas, others were idealists, but most were "practical people who were sick of business a s usual." For example, one of his finish carpenters focusses on eliminating waste from the process because it is "just what he does." In, general his implements and infrastructure supporters focus on "new and clever ways to work better with materials resulting in energy conservation". Beyond Loken Builders, Steve's presentations provide him a responsibility to quietly committed builders - those individuals who are making real change in their companies and communities. They sit quietly in the educational programs and take in what they need to know to make real change. These shy leaders make change happen with their 2,3,5 person outfits that push the industry's best ideas forward.

Since his house was completed in 1992, Loken's efforts have caught on in ways he never imagined, helping to spawn one of the country's hottest trends in house construction. In fact, over the past few years, Loken has become something of a guru to an alternative-materials movement among builders. He travels the country regularly giving lectures about his buildings techniques. So far, 12,000 people, including architects and builders from around the world, have made the pilgrimage to his Missoula home.

To view the entire Parade Magazine article "Houses to save the Earth"  by Seth Shulman Click Here

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