Family business
The tight-knit Notts of South Pasadena keep their architecture firm thriving the old-fashioned way
By Joanna Dehn Beresford 03/11/2010
“Walk softly and carry a big stick.”
— Teddy Roosevelt
It’s funny that Tom Nott should mention Roosevelt — and this phrase in particular — when I asked him recently what he’s learned from his son, Jeffrey. Mr. Nott reminds me that Roosevelt’s aphorism was originally meant to describe international relations, of course, but the statement has evolved into something more universal and adaptable in the century or so since Roosevelt uttered it.
Anyway, I’m not sure if Mr. Nott is talking about himself or his son when he shares the quote. It could be either, or both. For example, I assume that Tom Nott talked quietly or calmly to his children when they were young, but that he wielded unmistakable authority. I just think the stick would be more accurately called a shovel, in the case of the Nott family. Jeffrey Nott describes (affectionately, warmly) a youth of slave labor under the auspices of his father, the longtime and charismatic architect. As evidence he presents an early photo: Jeff in diapers digging in the yard with a shovel.
Located in South Pasadena, Nott & Associates is an architectural and general construction collaboration with more than 35 years of experience designing and building custom residential projects. It is a father-son operation that works with a larger team of professionals in the field. The elder Nott earned his degree in architecture from USC and raised his family in South Pasadena. After graduating from UC Santa Barbara, Jeff eventually joined his father as a general building contractor and the design-and-build family firm was born.
Did Jeff learn how to run a company, build a home and consult with clients at the university? Not exactly. He took a lot of math classes, which enhanced his sense of spatial analysis, and he developed a deeper, richer sense of history, literature and geography. But most of his training happened in what we might call the real world. In addition to the lessons Jeff learned while working alongside his father, he feels that his childhood experience in South Pasadena influenced him significantly.
“Unknowingly, too, I would say. I was surrounded by a lot of beautiful homes, with beautiful detail, in Craftsman and Spanish styles ... I grew up in an area rich with architectural history, and that was an immense influence,” Jeff says.
Not surprisingly, Nott & Associates specializes in, among other things, remodeling and restoring historical homes. It’s a tricky business. For example, they’re presently working on a 101-year-old Craftsman bungalow in South Pasadena. The challenge is to maintain the historical integrity and appearance of the home, while implementing the newest energy and telecommunication technologies and meeting contemporary seismic concerns.
“We basically rip out the existing electrical and plumbing systems and replace those with their current counterparts. The house still looks beautiful, but underneath we’ve included all modern facilities,” Jeff says.
The Nott & Associates’ office on Mission Street represents an open, flowing plan that encourages communication and teamwork — aspects of the firm that Tom Nott cherishes.
“We’re fairly unique, in that we do all of our structuring in-house,” he says.
In terms of the father-son partnership, Tom and Jeff both meet with clients during initial consultations. They listen to clients’ ideas, and while Tom can conceptualize changes or expansions, Jeff can address practical concerns.
Tom is unusual among many of his peers and contemporaries, because he still relies upon a lot of hand drafting.
“It’s a lost art. When you revert to hand drawing, you can get into much finer detailing,” he says.
He’s worked on commercial and public projects: the California School of Culinary Arts on Green Street, the LA subway system and the LA Olympics facilities. And he’s won awards for custom work on residential projects and historical restorations throughout the West. But maybe the Notts’ most interesting relationship to history has to do with the continuity of their own lives and family. Jeff probably isn’t going to be the only toddler who’s ever wielded a shovel. He has three young sons of his own — a 4-month-old baby and 17-month-old twins — and they’re already playing with toy screwdrivers and hammers.
“Would I like to hand down everything I’ve learned about people and trade? Of course I would. I’m trying to train the next generation of Notts,” says Jeff. “Still, it’s up to them what they choose to do with their lives ultimately.”
Right, Dad and Grandpa. Just keep walking softly, and keep on shoveling.
Contact Joanna Dehn Beresford at truewrite@yahoo.com.
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