Today we’d like to introduce you to Soheil Nakhshab.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
– I was exposed to the design and engineering industry at an early age as my father was a Developer and Structural Engineer. Born in Tehran, Iran, my family moved to the United States in the early 1980s and settled in San Diego County. As a result, I was able to experience vastly different types of architecture and city planning at a very young age.
– I began working as a draftsman in architecture and engineering offices during high school, where I began learning how to properly draw Structural and Architectural Building Plans. I worked for three different firms over the course of six years to hone my skills and experience. At age 18, I built my very first home using drawings that I had prepared.
– Given my natural ability with Design, rather than focus of architecture for my formal education, I opted for a technical degree and attended San Diego State University majoring in Structural Engineering, which I felt could provide more hollistic opportunities for me in the future. My goal was to follow the footsteps of the old Master Architect/Builder Philosophy, where the architect was the engineer and builder of their projects.
– After being employed at several firms already, I decided during my senior year of college that I wanted to start my own company. I presented my model to my father, who was willing to help me achieve my goal. As I was not yet licensed at this time, it was invaluable to have him (a licensed civil engineer) as my partner to be able to complete projects. During our first years in business, we were very diverse with our services, offering any portion of Architecture, Engineering and Construction Services for all different types of projects. As a result, we took on more than 50 design/engineering projects in year one, followed by 70, then 80, in years 2 and 3. The housing market crash and ensuing recession hit us like a ton of bricks and our workload dropped to about 15 projects. At this point I decided to pivot my focus and began bidding on the projects we were working on, transitioning to fully handling the development and construction process. Once we shifted our model, our company became significantly more profitable, even with fewer projects. Aside from the economic gain we had shifted our model where we could design and build all of our own developments and be selective about the client projects we took on.
– In the early years of our business, we focused primarily on developing custom single-family homes. However, after taking into considering the volume of work, the level of risk, and the amount of time that each project required, we determined that we also needed to include larger-scale commercial developments in our portfolio. We didn’t want to compromise our core design or material values, however, so we transitioned into boutique multi-residentials properties. Our process was as follows: I would find the perfect site, one that was often priced lower than others due to some unique issue (small parcel, steep grade, historic element, etc.). Next, we would purchase it—either by ourselves or with the help of investors, followed by personally performing all the architectural design and engineering, handling the permitting/entitlement process with the local municipalities, acting as General Contractor, and, finally, renting it and providing property management services. With our extensive backgrounds, we had the ability to navigate all of these aspects as they were already vertically integrated in our operations.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Nothing is ever smooth—unexpected issues arise mid construction; building codes change and we must alter our plan; the market is very volatile and material costs are at all-time highs. What’s important for success of any business is the ability of its leaders to acclimate or adapt to the variables at hand. Thanks to my support system and the diverse situations I encountered through my life, I’m able to shift when needed, learn from the experience, and grow as a professional.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Founded in 2003, NDD has become synonymous with sustainable design, certifying more than 90% of our properties with LEED credentials. Our other specialties include reviving and incorporating abandoned historical properties into our developments, navigating tricky urban infill sites, conquering steep, sloping parcels, and capitalizing on various Planning Codes that allow us to leverage local land use laws to infuse badly-needed workforce housing into San Diego’s starving market.
A locally owned and operated one-stop-shop, our firm specializes in managing each stage of a project: site selection, master planning, design and engineering, permitting and entitlement, construction, interior and landscape design, and even property management. Over the course of my career, I’ve watched as housing and infrastructure goals—largely driven by the Climate Action Plan—have become aligned with the design principles that I have historically incorporated in my projects: green building practices, multi-generational living, micro-communities, and the idea that modern, beautiful housing should be accessible at every price point.
I carefully select land parcels to achieve sustainable living in San Diego, returning citizens to the urban core and creating vibrant, walkable communities that are attractive to different demographics and socioeconomic groups, resulting in fewer cars on the road and less emissions in our environment. In recent years, I have heavily championed the Complete Communities program, transforming underutilized land into thriving rental properties dedicated to injecting workforce and affordable housing into San Diego’s starved market. As a result, I’ve received local, regional, national, and international recognition for my commitment to building better housing solutions in urban core areas.
As a local firm, we work hard to engage the communities in which we live and build. By fostering strong relationships with local municipalities and community leaders, we are able to streamline the development process and aggressively pursue the density and scale of our projects while maintaining respect for the fabric of our communities.
By capitalizing on urban infill lots and tricky parcels that require unique structural approaches and leverage my engineering background, I have kept acquisition costs low and used the savings to offset rental rates and provide stable and secure housing options for the broader community. With Complete Communities, I have demonstrated success at maximizing usable space and infusing the market with a combination of workforce and affordable housing units. Additionally, we ensure that our multi-residential properties are LEED certified and energy efficient to offset utility fees for renters and lower long term operating expenses.
Finally, the basis of our developments have long centered around the well-being of our tenants. We employ high-quality, eco-friendly materials and design open layouts featuring abundant natural light, lush landscaping and a clean, airy aesthetic. Our properties feature shared common spaces designed to foster a sense of community among our tenants. Prospective parcels are stringently vetted to ensure ease of use—near dining and amenities, close to public transportation, and within walking distance of open green spaces.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.nakhshab.com
- Instagram: @nakhshabdesign
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/nddinc
Image Credits
Darren Bradley
