Pinned
We completed the equity raise and closed the construction loan yesterday evening.
We’re wasting no time: we’re breaking ground today.
It’s time to BUILD!
Stay tuned.
Austin Tunnell
8,632 posts
Austin Tunnell
@AustinTunnell
Founder @build_culture. CPA ➡️ Mason ➡️ Designer ➡️ Urbanist ➡️ Builder ➡️ Developer. Crafting a thriving human habitat. Podcast 👇
- I learned something shocking today: In France, employer paid payroll taxes are 40 to 50%, so a 100k salary is 150k cost. Then, the employee pays 20 to 25% payroll taxes BEFORE income tax. $150k = $75k take home, before income tax. Mind blowing.
- Out of a ~$3.2MM total project budget (Cerca 2019), this Moongate cost us about $15k. It made the project. People take prom and wedding photos in front all the time. It anchors it in people’s mind. Where do you live? “I live by the Moongate” is a common refrain. This taught
- Prediction: incandescent bulbs will make a big comeback in the coming decade. Huberman is now comparing LED’s to “the processed food of lighting”, with mounting evidence showing how shortwave, blue light is wrecking our bodies. Incandescent is far better for human health.
- Holy ***t. I just got a quote to replace our HVAC unit, ductwork and everything, on a 2,000 sq/ft house, for $45,000. No joke. The guys that quoted know I have a building co (subs mainly do new construction), are a reputable company but quoting normal equipment (nothing super
- Just look at this arch... Our largest to date at 18' wide (2nd one). Substantial buttressing at ends to counteract thrust. Notice how we play with the direction and depth of the brick in the arch to create detail and shadow. Stupid simple, but adds so much richness.
- Well folks: we passed City Council unanimously last night for our 1-acre infill Townsend project with 20 for-sale townhomes and 8,700 SF of boutique commercial in downtown Edmond (Oklahoma City metro). Gearing up to break ground this spring. Boy this is going to be FUN!
- Behold... The most beautiful fireplace we've ever done! Every time I'm in the house I can't help but gaze at it. There is so much fun little detail to take in. The beauty of brick: it's a sculpting material, made of hand-sized pixels.
- Here it is completed. About 40’ tall. Marks the entrance to a sub-urban neighborhood. We did 2. What makes stuff like this make financial sense as a developer? Incredible branding. “Which neighborhood?” “The one with the brick towers.” “Oh, that one!” Sticks in ppl’s minds.
- Unfortunately, this is everywhere now. Could be Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Austin, Atlanta or Charlotte. Sprawl is the processed food of city building. And it’s making us sick, depressed, lonely, and bankrupt. Only takes a relatively small group of ppl to change this, & we must.This Post is from a suspended account. Learn more
- No more florescent lights! No more mini golf as an “amenity”. Just beautiful, intentional space—for deep focus, creative collisions, and being surrounded by people who actually care about their work.
- Have been itching to reveal this: rendering of our residential courtyard for Townsend, our infill mixed-use project getting ready to break ground. 12 townhomes surrounding a few connected courtyards with layered gardens and brick pavers. So. Dang. Beautiful. This is actually
- A fun backyard project from a few years ago. First thing I did when we bought the house. Just mixed two bags of mortar and laid brick on Friday evenings when I finished up work until I ran out. It’s cathartic. Will post video of it. But on a more useful note: very easy (and
- It’s worth noting that “life and safety” and “accessibility” are two of the top reasons for why this is now illegal today. Yet this is such a quintessentially human space. In our blind pursuit of “making sure nothing ever goes wrong”—we’ve completely dehumanized our habitat.
