Mignon O'Young's Page

Right off of California Highway 101 and along the way to Stinson Beach, there sits a project “that could.” It accomplished many feats over the course of its development. As the construction manager on this project, I'll be sharing my insight on the project’s green building process over a series of articles. Almost ten years in the making, The Fireside Apartments is finally going to open.… Continue

Four years ago, I asked a contractor and architect whether or not there exist concrete masonry units (CMU) with recycled content. “CMU is CMU, just use the standard specs,” they said. Fast forward to 2009, while speed-walking through the exhibit aisles at the 2009 Green California Summit and Exposition, I came upon Integrity Block. The name was eye-catching. I thought to myself, “green CMU--could it be?”… Continue

During my student days at U.C. Berkeley, my friends and I would go to the Great China Restaurant for dinner and the California Theaters for a movie. Along the way, there was a big parking lot which was often viewed as an eye-sore. More than 10 years later, this lot has been transformed into two new buildings that beautifully anchor the urban street edge along the campus, and provide a pleasant surprise as one comes upon the curve of Oxford Street.… Continue