Collaborator Profile: Chad Lencioni of Lencioni Construction

Amplified Lifestyles collaborates with the top builders in the Bay Area, who bring us on board at the beginning of a project. One of these is Lencioni Construction in San Carlos. Founded by Gary Lencioni in 1980 and specializing in custom new homes, it is now led by his son, Chad Lencioni, the second generation. Chad learned the trade from the ground up and is committed to craftsmanship, an integrated process, and transparent communication. Their projects range from an award-winning 7,000-square-foot modern masterpiece in Portola Valley to a 4,000-square-foot Georgian-style cottage in the Los Altos Hills.

AL: What was it like growing up in the building industry?

CL: My parents started the business from our home, so it was always around me. After my father graduated from San Jose State University in 1970 with a degree in aeronautical engineering, he found that there were no job opportunities in that field because the industry was facing a severe recession. He switched to construction, and my mother handled the books. My summers were spent working on sites, cleaning, setting up, and assisting. It taught me the value of hard work. 

AL: What was it like leaving the Bay Area to attend college at the University of Colorado Boulder?

CL: I loved Boulder, with its natural beauty, outdoor activities, and the University. It was the right balance of academics and recreation; I hope my two sons will go there. I studied business, which I enjoyed because I’m good at math, and I thought it would be a good career choice.

AL: After college, did you go straight to work for Lencioni Construction?

CL: No, after I graduated, I went to work for Morgan Stanley in Boulder. When I returned to the Bay Area and started working at a tech company, I decided that being in an office full of cubicles was not for me. Since I loved the outdoors and landscaping, my father connected me with some landscape architects and eventually asked me to join Lencioni Construction. I learned the trade like anyone else in the company, starting as a laborer who carried materials on site, becoming a carpenter, and eventually progressing to project manager. As President and CEO, I bring those experiences to the firm.

AL: For your San Carlos office, you collaborated with Feldman Architecture. What were the origins of the industrial yet modern design?

CL: The building lent itself to a modern, sleek design, with its exposed concrete floors, wood trusses, and ceilings, which we carefully restored and refurbished. Now it’s a great place to meet with homeowners, architects, and collaborators.

AL: Your projects vary from building a Georgian-style cottage with Skurman Architects and Tucker & Marks to a modern home by architect Robert Swatt. Do you have a favorite vernacular architecture? 

CL: Yes, we build it all, and I love the creativity of working on a modern, cutting-edge design from the ground up. However, I also appreciate homes that have a sense of age and history.

AL: As a builder, how do you incorporate technology, such as home electronics, into your work? 

CL: It is essential to bring a systems integrator like Amplified into the process from the beginning. When we start a residential project, we make that recommendation and introduction right away, ensuring the home automation, home theater, smart lighting, and motorized shades integrate seamlessly into the architecture and design. We appreciate Amplified’s solution-oriented approach and excellent customer service.

AL: How would you define your work in three words?

CL: I will give you four. “That was worth it.” We want the homeowner, the architect, and the other collaborators to feel like all of the hard work was worth it when the project is completed.

AL: What do you enjoy doing when you are not building?

CL: My family and I recently moved from the Peninsula to Murphys in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, where we enjoy off-road motorcycles, mountain biking, and skiing.