The Silence
The land, the river, the silence—this phrase is how we sum up the call of Ravenwing Ranch. As 2023 is drawing to a close, we are considering the third component of this phrase, and talking about silence at The Ranch: what it sounds like, what it feels like, and what it looks like to be able to spend time in a naturally quiet landscape.
Listening to the landscape at Ravenwing Ranch
The land, the river, the silence.
This phrase is how we sum up the call of Ravenwing Ranch. In August, we wrote about the land, and the beautiful array of rugged, yet delicate, attributes that comprise our shrubsteppe landscape. In October, we looked deeper at the river, and why time spent around water is so valuable to our emotional and physical well-being.
As 2023 is drawing to a close, we are considering silence at The Ranch—what it sounds like, what it feels like, and what it looks like to be able to spend time in a naturally quiet landscape.
how silence sounds
Quiet landscapes don’t have an absence of sound. Rather, the preponderance of sounds you do hear are part of the natural world, and are generally subtle, varied, and seasonal.
In the spring, the sun warms the towering basalt cliffs across the river, and small pieces of rock occasionally break loose, clinking to the water below. Meadowlarks sing, and rain falls. In autumn, wind rustles through sagebrush and drying grasses. Winter brings at least a few instances where freshly fallen snow, an amazingly effective sound absorber, blankets the Ranch in pillowy quiet. And all year long, the river provides a layer of sound dampening that allows human voices and activities to stay localized, and not carry far.
The result is a natural, unforced hush with movement and life and a distinct seasonal rhythm. And while the value of these sounds might be intuitive to many, science also proves it: natural sounds people enjoy, especially water and birdsong, bring an array of health benefits.
how silence feels
People who are called to this type of landscape find the silence captivating, and deeply restorative. There is room to think, create, and strategize; to rest, linger and look.
It’s not particularly easy to describe the feeling of arriving home to the quiet at The Ranch, and everyone has a slightly different take. The common thread is this—you can actually feel the silence. It has a bit of weight to it. Combined with the landscape, it truly puts you at ease.
Take a silent walk
This fall, the internet was briefly abuzz about silent walking—the restorative practice of solo, headphone-free, contemplative walking, especially in quiet outdoor surroundings.
Some people undoubtedly shook their heads. For many, this is just, well, walking. But for people who routinely use headphones to carve out space for themselves in crowded public environments, or take meetings while commuting, or live too far from safe, well-maintained interurban trails, the concept of silent walking has real value.
And Ravenwing has miles of silence to walk in—all you have to do is step outside. A four-mile trail system loops down to the river, up to the Dry Gulch footbridge, and back again, with many scenic stops along the way. There are over 300 acres of protected open space waiting in the backcountry, and a private, sandy beach on the Columbia (when water levels are lower.) These integral, land-based amenities offer owners the ability to experience restorative silence on a daily basis. You can learn more about wellness at The Ranch here.
Looking east at the entrance to our newest model home in The Bluffs
see a silent sky
Where there is silence, stars often follow.
Fewer people mean less noise, and less light pollution. This simple math adds up to something profound: night at Ravenwing is dark and quiet, and the sky is full of stars. Ravenwing’s robust Design Guidelines are compliant with Zone E1 standards set by the International Dark Sky Association, ensuring current and future owners have a front row seat to the ancient wonders of the night sky.
A west-facing, time-lapse view of Ravenwing’s newest model home
TAKE A PRIVATE TOUR
Every season offers something new to see and explore, and we’d love to show you around Ravenwing this fall. Get in touch to schedule a private tour of our newest model home in The Bluffs, as well as available waterfront and riverview lots.
The River
People love water—especially water views. But why, exactly? Ravenwing has been reading and researching to try to more fully understand our relationship to water, and we’re excited to share a few insights.
Ravenwing’s Historic Stretch of Columbia River Waterfront
Looking southwest at The Bluffs at Ravenwing Ranch, and three beautifully integrated waterfront homes
We know that people love water—we want to look at it, be near it, be in it. We especially want to live by it.
Ravenwing wanted to get a better understanding of why, and dig a little deeper into this fundamental human drive. We’ve been researching and reading (check out Blue Mind by Wallace J. Nichols!) to try to more fully understand our relationship to water, and are excited to share four insights we’ve gained.
The Columbia River forms the eastern boundary of Ravenwing’s 640-acre property
WATER IS A NATURAL BOUNDARY
The Columbia River forms the eastern boundary of Ravenwing’s 640-acre property, providing over a mile of dedicated waterfront. People have long prioritized elevated locations with water boundaries, as they meet critical needs for safety and survival—water, food, and broad territorial sightlines are the essence of a protected position.
It is not surprising that people have lived on this stretch of the Columbia for millenia. Nor is it surprising that while modern survival has decidedly different challenges, we simply feel happier and more at ease in the same natural environments that always favored us.
WATER ORIENTS US TO light
Just outside of Wenatchee, WA, Ravenwing is positioned on the western bank of the Columbia. This means that, each morning, Ravenwing is bathed in direct morning light, as well as reflected light from the river.
The importance of daily sun exposure—particularly upon awakening—is well-documented for its role in improving and maintaining circadian rhythm, sleep quality, and mood. With each home at The Ranch naturally designed and oriented to maximize the beauty of river views, this regular exposure to morning sun is a secondary byproduct, but a truly beneficial one, and a unique attribute of the property’s prime position on the river.
Sunrise in The Bluffs at Ravenwing Ranch
“This is the huge advantage of water: you don’t need to meditate to take advantage of its healing effects, because it meditates you.”
—Wallace J. Nichols, Blue Mind
WATER IS A respite for CREATIVE brainS
In Blue Mind, Wallace Nichols outlines the many deeply impactful ways that the brain, and our entire nervous system, responds to being around water.
A worthwhile and informative read, a key finding is this: the brain is always suppressing background information that doesn’t matter, in order to better respond to what does. Dense, complicated environments require a high degree of background suppression from the brain, which is constant, demanding work.
More sparse and visually consistent surroundings, and particularly water, give the brain a break from background suppression. Consequently, for most folks, relaxation and creativity soar with regular proximity to water.
The banks of the Columbia seen from The Bluffs at Ravenwing Ranch
Looking up at The Bluffs from the banks of the Columbia
WATER IS A MeCCA FOR RECREATION
No research needed here—we know the river brings the fun! There’s a quarter mile of private beach and buoys for boating of all types, whether powered by muscle or motor. There’s year-round catch-and-release sturgeon fishing, and seasonal openings for sockeye and chinook salmon. There’s patio sunsets to catch, and a trail system to walk and ride. There are birds and wildlife to watch, open space to explore, and the resilience of the shrubsteppe ecosystem to admire. This is grounded, waterfront living at its best. And at Ravenwing, it’s all right outside your back door.
We’d love to show you around—schedule a private tour today.
Where Light and Shadow Lead
Before Charley Voorhis knew Ravenwing existed, he was drawn to the rugged landscape and unparalleled sunrises on this stretch of the Columbia. He’d been coming here for years. When he was approached by Developer Rob Hubbard about bringing his artistic, storytelling eye to work at the Ranch, it felt like a bit of fate.
An Interview with Charley Voorhis of Voortex Productions
Charley Voorhis, Owner/Director/Cinematographer at Voortex Productions (shot by Jeremiah Higgins)
It was always about the landscape for Charley Voorhis.
Regardless of shot or subject, one thing was clear to Wenatchee Valley native Charley Voorhis: he knew he shot wider than he really had to, capturing more mountain, water and sky than was truly required. It was visual—an aesthetic connection to the artistry of shifting light on natural features. But it was also emotional—a deeper pull to be in, and of, the natural world. In 2013, he decided to let the landscape, and his camera, lead the way. Where they led was Yellowstone, and an immersive, intensive week of shooting nature on its own, enduring merits. The professional result was Primordial, a career catalyst that led to the highly-acclaimed We Are Wenatchee series the following year, and a new era of longer-form creative projects for his business, Voortex Productions. As importantly, it deepened his appreciation for the landscape he grew up in.
Bighorn sheep near Malaga, WA
Sunrise on the Columbia just south of Ravenwing
Looking north on the Columbia, at the southern extent of The Meadows at Ravenwing Ranch (shot by Jeremiah Higgins)
“I started shooting local landscapes in a more methodical, light-focused way,” Charley explained. “Cloud cover, season, time of day—the angle of the sun was always putting a new face on a familiar place. I kept coming back to the Colockum and Dry Gulch in the fall, and without realizing it, was getting to know Ravenwing.”
He gravitated to the water, sage and basalt and the wide-open feeling he’d come to realize he prefers. Always at sunrise, always on foot, Charley found a particular peace in this particular area. When Developer Rob Hubbard reached out to him about creating a branding video for Ravenwing—one rooted in a true sense of place, on a historic stretch of the Columbia, in Voortex’s now signature visual style—it was a welcome surprise, and a bit of fate. Charley was pleased to tell him he knew the land well.
Ravenwing Developer Rob Hubbard on left, and Charley Voorhis on right (shot by Jeremiah Higgins)
“We drove, and walked, and talked, and I could tell that Rob knew and loved that land. That mattered a lot to me. I’d come to love it, too,” said Charley.
The two hit it off, and in 2020, Voortex Productions was tasked with crafting a promotional video for Ravenwing. Ravenwing wanted to attract owners who valued peace, privacy and natural aesthetics, and saw themselves as stewards of a truly special place. Developer Rob Hubbard wanted to not just tell people, but show them, the type of culture they could expect at the Ranch.
Watch THE RAVENWING Story
Basalt cliffs reflected in patio windows at the newly-listed model home in The Bluffs
Sunrise at the model home in The Bluffs
Fast forward a few years, and Ravenwing still exudes the calm that drew Charley here, despite significant activity on the ground. With one model home sold, the second currently on the market, and several owner builds currently in process, Rob Hubbard’s vision of a land-centric, aesthetics-focused community is coming into sharper focus. Charley’s love for landscape, and the light and shadow that shape it, continue to reveal new layers at Ravenwing, telling the story of an environment that must be seen to be understood. He has been on the ground at the Ranch throughout 2023, capturing images that have been featured throughout this year’s blog and social media posts, as well was our new section on nature-based wellness.
Charley shooting in The Meadows as dusk descends on the Columbia (shot by Jeremiah Higgins)
Mountain biking on Ravenwing’s trail system
A lone elk, barely visible, heading to the Columbia
Sunset on basalt cliffs across from Ravenwing
Charley concludes, “Every sunrise and sunset I see at Ravenwing, I’m reminded that getting to witness daily and seasonal changes in our environment isn’t just for photographers or artists. Noticing the natural world is a gift for anyone who wants to be quiet, observant and curious. And really, when you live in a place that looks like this, it’s pretty hard to ignore.”
Learn more about Charley at voortexproductions.com and charleyvoorhis.com.
The Land
At Ravenwing Ranch, we are called by the land, the river, and the silence. In this post, we’ll take a photo-driven tour of the land, and the particular combination of flora, fauna and geologic features that make life at the Ranch so uniquely rewarding.
Preserving the Shrubsteppe at Ravenwing Ranch
Ravenwing Ranch is a rare property containing a scope and scale unlike any in the Northwest. Preserving its unique, high desert beauty is the foundation of all that we do.
— dEVELOPER ROB HUBBARD
Big sagebrush and rock buckwheat, with the cliff-lined Columbia in the distance
Meadowlarks are vocal companions at the Ranch, frequently nesting in big sagebrush
The Ranch is a corridor and winter range for mule deer and elk, who forage on highly nutritious big sagebrush
High desert living at the northern edge of the shrubsteppe.
Located just outside of Wenatchee, WA, Ravenwing is located at the northern edge of historical shrubsteppe territory. This arid, high desert landscape, composed of sagebrush and other woody shrubs on a rolling, grassy steppe, once covered a large portion of the American West.
Within the 640-acre Ravenwing property, high quality shrubsteppe landscape features persist. These features are concentrated in The Bluffs and The Meadows, the two primary residential phases at the Ranch located east of Colockum Road, adjacent to the Columbia River.
Here, richly-scented, velvety sagebrush anchors the landscape, along with bluebunch wheatgrass and indian rice grass, and flowering plants such as rock buckwheat and phlox. Big sagebrush is valuable, highly nutritious forage for mule deer and elk, especially in late winter and spring. Songbirds, such as the beautifully vocal meadowlark, also use big sagebrush for nesting sites at the Ranch.
Thoughtfully-placed walking trails in The Bluffs
Primary footbridge across Dry Gulch
Ravenwing’s Design Guidelines ensure owner builds are well-integrated into the landscape and minimize ecosystem disturbances
At Ravenwing, we believe life gets bigger when we keep our footprint smaller.
In between vegetation clusters, in areas not disturbed by development or routine foot traffic, a special type of ground covering is found at Ravenwing. Called cryptobiotic crust, this delicate layer of algae, lichen and mosses is the foundation of high-quality shrubsteppe ecosystems, continually working to build soil, feed plants, retain moisture and limit wind erosion. We are working to protect the crust, and the network of plants and animals it supports, by limiting landscape disturbances throughout the Ranch. We are accomplishing this in two primary ways.
First, Ravenwing has robust Design Guidelines that help ensure model homes and owner builds:
maximize views and privacy for all owners
utilize architecture and materials that integrate with the natural landscape
maintain small footprints for structures and the surrounding improvement envelope
retain the character of the site’s topography and existing vegetation, and rebuild disturbed areas quickly and appropriately
Secondly, we are helping preserve landscape integrity by creating a trail system to walk the land. A network of walking trails and footbridges have been developed to direct foot traffic to predictable, intentional routes around Dry Gulch and down to the Columbia, and minimize off-trail exploration that damages the crust. (Meet Matt Rose, Ravenwing’s master trailbuilder!)
The warmth and richness of basalt in every direction.
Open space is one of our most important assets.
With over 365 acres devoted to open space for owners and guests (that’s more than half of our total acreage!) Ravenwing is committed to maintaining wild spaces. From hawks and ravens in the sky, to lupine, balsamroot and sagebrush on the ground, we want local plants and animals to thrive, and to be thoughtful stewards of this shrubsteppe ecosystem.
We also believe open space is critical for people. By creating integrated opportunities to interact with the natural world, we are helping to support foundational health and wellness and encouraging owners and visitors to see themselves as part of this rich, interconnected landscape.
Ravenwing open space with blooming balsamroot and the Columbia in the distance
Colockum Road bisects the Ravenwing property, with open space and The Benchlands to the left (west) and The Meadows, The Bluffs and the Columbia to the right (east)
Want to learn more about the shrubsteppe?
We recommend Singing Grass, Burning Sage as both a truly enjoyable read, and a great tabletop book for sparking conversation. In addition, informative shrubsteppe primers are available from WDFW and Wenatchee Naturalist.
Ultimately, here is no better way to experience this high desert landscape than walking it. Access to Ravenwing Ranch is by appointment only, and we invite you to schedule a private tour with us today.
Trailbuilding as Art and Science
In the spring of 2020, Ravenwing Developer Rob Hubbard began asking around about trailbuilders. He knew he wanted about four miles of trails traversing Ravenwing’s Dry Gulch and Columbia River waterfront, and he knew he wanted them to be exceptionally well-done. More than once, he was told there was really only one person for the job, and that person was Matt Rose.
An Interview with Matt Rose of Wildwood Trailworks
In the spring of 2020, Ravenwing Developer Rob Hubbard began asking around about trailbuilders. He knew he wanted about four miles of trails traversing Ravenwing’s Dry Gulch and Columbia River waterfront, and he knew he wanted them to be exceptionally well-done. More than once, he was told there was really only one person for the job, and that person was Matt Rose. A passionate, conscientious trailbuilder at the heart of renowned trail systems including Squilchuck State Park, Chelan-Douglas Land Trust’s Wenatchee Foothills complex, and US Forest Service properties at Number Two Canyon and Leavenworth Ski Hill, Rose has made an indelible imprint on local recreation. And he’s done it all by being, well, a little particular.
“I’ve been known to re-route a trail around a bunch of flowers, just because I liked them,” Rose laughs. “And it’s true that the aesthetics of trailbuilding are extremely important to me. But there’s a different way to view a patch of flowers—from a naturalist’s standpoint. There’s slope, there’s water, there’s sun exposure. When you observe nature closely, as I do, it will tell you a lot about where to walk, and where to not.”
Hubbard invited Rose out to walk the property. The unique challenge Ravenwing offered, combined with Hubbard’s compelling vision and commitment to craft, ultimately got Rose on board. “I was just finishing up Squilchuck, where it’s all forest and close quarters. And here, the landscape just rolls—it’s all sage and rock and the big, blue ribbon of the Columbia. I knew it was an opportunity to do something different, for someone who clearly prioritized the same things I did.”
Rose got to work. For him, this starts not with maps or satellite imagery (those come later) but rather, mindfully walking the land. Hubbard joined him for the first few weeks, sharing the sites and spots he had frequented most over the years of living on-property. They talked style, sustainability and site-sourced materials. They talked inspiration, such as Whistler’s community trail system, and the enduring, Depression-era trails in Hood River constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Trust was gained, and the fit was right—Hubbard told Rose he had the go-ahead to carve into the earth at Ravenwing.
Rose at the edge of Dry Gulch, looking south
Rose walking below the newly listed model home in The Bluffs
How Rose approaches trailbuilding is a reflection of his diverse sensibilities. Raised in an active, Washington State logging family and with a degree in Natural History, Rose exudes a deep comfort with the outdoors and broad-based knowledge of native plants and animals. His working life went another direction, and he spent the majority of his career building precision temperature and pressure sensors for the aerospace industry.
“My work leading precision machinists was rewarding, but stressful. It was a completely human-constructed environment, and while I’ve always been impressed with our collective ingenuity, it was a pretty contrived and sterile place to be. Trailbuilding on nights and weekends was how I found balance—I loved the challenge of determining how to artfully place a trail into the natural world in a way that didn’t feel forced. Nature provides the confines, and I provide the creativity,” Rose explains.
Looking west up Dry Gulch at footbridge built by Indiana-based Big R Bridges
Looking north toward The Bluffs
The entrance to the Riverfront Trail
Rose inspecting one of his many hand-crafted retaining walls
Rose working on the small, lower bridge across Dry Gulch
Rose estimates he’s about 75% complete with the first phase of planning and placing trails at Ravenwing. He’s currently working on a small, lower bridge across Dry Gulch and putting together a strategy for trail maintenance and expansion moving forward. Activity is increasing at Ravenwing, with two owner builds in process and several others nearing the groundbreaking stage. Rose is eagerly anticipating increased foot traffic on the trails, as owners take advantage of this important, foundational amenity.
“Ravenwing trails have to run the gamut. The grading is critical, because you don’t know who folks are going to be. Are they runners? Grandparents chasing after grandkids? People with some physical limitations who still want an approachable way to interact with the land? I’m always factoring in the human element, and what it feels like to round that corner, pass that rock wall, or work to gain a little elevation and a surprisingly different viewpoint,” says Rose.
Rose on-trail, with two owner builds in the distance
“My philosophy is that when the site is right, roots grow deep,” Rose adds. “There are a couple of parts to that. First, there’s the actual sustainability of the trail structure, and that way that natural processes stabilize it over time. Second, there’s a human connection to a place that gives you a real, rooted feeling when you’re out walking. Quality trails do both.”
Rose concludes, “The way I see it, Hubbard is a guy who is doing it right. These trails are an important part of what is happening at Ravenwing, but only a part. It’s going to be really interesting to see how people’s connection to the land shapes and sustains this place. But one thing I know for sure is getting people outside is a good thing, and good trails make that happen.”
The Lay of the Land
At Ravenwing, we love outdoor recreation and adventure. We prioritize fun and fitness. But our connection to land, water and sky goes deeper than that. The outdoors is a place to be ourselves, without strategy or agenda. It’s a place to protect, with our thoughts, words and actions. And there’s new science that shows time in nature makes us happier and healthier.
When it comes to going outside, no reason can be the best reason.
At Ravenwing, we love outdoor recreation and adventure. We prioritize fun and fitness. But our connection to land, water and sky goes deeper than that. The outdoors is more than a place to achieve objectives and snap the pics to prove it. It’s a place to be ourselves, without strategy or agenda. It’s a place to protect, with our thoughts, words and actions. And while we might not know exactly why getting outside feels so good, we can feel that it matters—and science agrees.
Our new Wellness page introduces the science of nature-based wellness, with several links for further reading in this growing field of research. If you’re short on time, here’s the scoop:
Spending time in nature has benefits for our physical, mental and emotional health that aren’t contingent on particular activities, such as exercise. Rather, relaxed engagement with nature brings its own positive effects for well-being. Studies show these effects really start kicking in at 120 total minutes per week, and that the proximity of water is a big plus.
Ravenwing is designed for easy, sustainable access to the natural world. There are bridges and walking trails thoughtfully placed. There’s over a mile of Columbia River waterfront nestled between massive basalt cliffs and a sea of sagebrush. There are rock outcroppings of all shapes and sizes, and hundreds of acres of open space. There are Northwest modern homes of style and substance that prioritize indoor/outdoor living and the life-affirming value of a beautiful view.
High desert tranquility with 385 acres of dedicated open space
Over a mile of Columbia River waterfront
Walking trails and footbridges
New home just listed! See homepage for details and schedule a private tour.
Whether you choose to walk the land with us or not, we offer this suggestion: redefine what going outside looks like. You don’t need a reason. You aren’t required to go for a run or ride, or even a walk, every time you head out of the door. Make time to find nature, and especially water, in whatever configuration is available to you, and just sit, taking in the sights and sounds. And if you need a reason to explore the natural world, we’ll circle back: science says it makes your brain and body work better.
Building with Purpose
The high desert landscape stretches in all directions—rocks and water, sky and sagebrush. For some, the scale can be a little daunting. But, for others, like Kent Lenssen, the wide open expanse of Ravenwing feels deeply right. It feels like home. He finds solace at the Ranch; the presence of stillness, and the absence of static.
An Interview with Kent Lenssen of Lenssen Homes
Kent Lenssen, Co-Owner of Lenssen Homes
The high desert landscape stretches in all directions—rocks and water, sky and sagebrush. For some, the scale can be little daunting. But, for others, like Kent Lenssen, the wide open expanse of Ravenwing feels deeply right. It feels like home. He finds solace at the Ranch; the presence of stillness, and the absence of static.
A clarification, and a slight reality check, are now in order. Lenssen Homes, owned by Kent and his brother, Kevin, is currently building three custom homes at Ravenwing. With all the intensity, precision and expectation that the building process entails, Kent still feels at peace here? He agrees it’s pretty remarkable.
“I find so much beauty here,” Kent says. “I feel very connected to the Ranch. I grew up across the plateau in Ephrata, and my family has spent a lot of time in the Palisades. But it’s not just that the land is familiar to me. There’s something more, something bigger, at Ravenwing—it’s just unique.”
New Model Home on Lot 7 in The Bluffs
Listing in Spring 2023
From the beginning, Ravenwing has been built by people connected to place.
Developer Rob Hubbard enters into partnerships mindfully, ensuring the fit is natural, and values are aligned—because the land matters. This commitment can be seen throughout the Ranch, in ways large and small. But nowhere is it more evident than the graceful, low-slung homes currently coming to life in The Bluffs.
Rob had long been familiar with the work of Syndicate Smith, a sought-after Leavenworth architectural firm with a distinctive Northwest modern style. After a successful design phase with Syndicate Smith Owner and Principal, Todd Smith, Rob then asked Lenssen Homes to build Ravenwing’s first model home. Lenssen enthusiastically agreed.
During the process, Kent observed Rob and Todd’s developer-architect collaboration with interest, particularly the considerable effort devoted to the relationship between site and structure. Lenssen Homes was enlisted to build subsequent Smith-designed homes at the Ranch, including the new model home to be listed this spring, as well as two owner builds on Lot 22 and 23 in The Bluffs.
Builder Kent Lenssen (left) and Architect Todd Smith (right) at the new model home nearing completion
Todd Smith (left) and Kent Lenssen (right) on the model home patio, with the two owner builds below
“I really see Rob’s vision, and Todd’s designs make so much sense,” Kent explains. “To me, this is just what a wide open place like Ravenwing needs—true integration with nature.”
Owner Build - The Bluffs Lot 22
Under Construction
Owner Build - The Bluffs Lot 23
Under Construction
“The houses are modern, for sure, but they’ve got personality, and they’ve got purpose. It’s almost like they are rising out of the rocks,” he said. This is high praise from Kent, who alongside his brother and business partner, Kevin, have forged a 30-year reputation for building custom, Craftsman-style homes with traditional footprints and warm, hand-crafted details. The transition to a sleeker, more modern aesthetic was a welcome one, and an opportunity to lean into learning, once again.
“We were ready for modern,“ Kent said. “From Day One, Kevin and I have always sought to expand our expertise, and take on new challenges. And over three decades, yeah, there have been some challenges,” he adds, laughing. “But we’ve gotten where we are because we love what we do, and we love learning—we don’t just tolerate it, we find meaning in it, and actually enjoy it.”
“Kevin makes details happen,” explains Kent. “He’s happiest when he’s directing the day-to-day and logging all those miles on his truck—our clients, crew and subcontractors benefit immensely from his leadership on the ground. As for me, I love the relational aspect of building. I really enjoy helping clients understand what they want, and helping them get it. I bring that people-first approach to everything I do—making sure that our clients feel heard and understood, and that the final product is a source of true meaning and joy for them.”
Kent goes on, “These last eight or so years have been a really good time, personally and professionally. My wife and I have five boys—ages 8 to 20—and our house is chock full of learning and growth at so many different stages. Kevin and I are really fortunate to have dedicated, long-term employees, including my oldest son, Caiden, who is a really great problem solver, and an increasingly important part of our team.”
Kent adds, “Ultimately, we help people build something that matters so much. Kevin and I feel that homes with purpose support lives with purpose.”
“I love thinking about how buildings live for the people in them, and how light, warmth and wood transform a room. I’ve really got a growing appreciation for Northwest modern architectural style, and how much smart, spatial thinking is involved. We are very proud of our work at Ravenwing, and all of our partnerships here. The fit is right, and it’s been a lot of fun.”
Learn more at lenssenhomes.com.