From Sedona roots to statewide reach, Nanke blends generations of craftsmanship with future-focused environmental responsibility 

Shaping life in Northern Arizona for over 75 years, design-build firm Nanke Signature Group has been proudly passed down through four generations since forming in Sedona in 1948. Now located in the city of Prescott, it specializes in high-end residential projects, combining design, construction and home furnishings. Although custom homes remain at its core, the company is actively evolving its portfolio in response to market pressures, social needs and environmental issues.  

With exciting plans in place for further expansion, CEO Jared Nanke talks to Modern Home Builders about current projects, exclusive furniture lines and the crucial work being undertaken for disaster relief. “The group was founded by my great grandfather, my grandfather and my great uncle,” begins Jared. “Respectively, they were a land developer, a general contractor and an architect, so they each brought separate skills to the home building business which they created after moving here post-World War Two. My father and his brother took over the company in the 1990s, then I joined in 2014, initially carrying out design work and studying under my uncles.” 

Social responsibility 

Jared has since helped lead a new phase of growth for the company, which has expanded phenomenally throughout Arizona. “Alongside our high-end residential projects, we’ve recently been taking on more commercial projects, with some multi-family homes also in the works,” he continues. “We are also focusing more on our workforce and affordable housing division, developing models with a nonprofit organization.” In addition, the firm is exploring resilient, long-term disaster relief housing using off-site production. Currently in discussion with collaborative partners, including framing manufacturers, Jared sees this as a responsibility as much as an opportunity, due to worsening wildfires in the Southwest and climate-related risks on the coast. 

Luxury and resilience 

Its Iowa Clay Mine build – a hillside project overlooking Prescott – captures this blend of luxury and resilience. “I spent some time in Portugal studying with engineers and architects, so when the opportunity arose, I was able to incorporate some modernist influences into this residence for my client,” Jared reveals. “It is essentially a glass box that cantilevers out over the hill with beautiful, wide views. I love the unobstructed glass featured heavily in a lot of Portuguese architecture, so I utilized that with set steel columns behind the glass to carry the roof load. The foundations are underway and the home is currently under construction.”  

Being in a high-risk zone for wildfires, this project also serves as a proving ground for fire-resilient strategies. With challenging insurance dynamics becoming more prolific in these areas, the build has allowed the company to research various fire-resistant materials, alongside the simplification of roof designs, enabling it to mitigate some of the concerns from the insurance company and help clients navigate these issues. In addition, the group’s project for Stringfield at Granite Mountain in Prescott places further focus on resilience. “Fire concerns are paramount in the Southwest after the disaster that occurred in California,” discloses Jared. “With Stringfield, we had to devise a strategy for both landscape design and finished materials to ensure we could alleviate those concerns for the insurance company and the homeowners.” The team is also acquiring a property that adjoins Prescott National Forest to serve as a spec home and research platform, as it works on integrating concrete, masonry and stone cladding along with fire resilient strategies. 

Pivotal year 

Drawing on his background in fashion design, Jared is also extending Nanke Signature Group’s experience beyond bricks and mortar. Not only has Jared created a collection of luxury furnishings, including cabinetry and sculptural accessories, he has also developed a signature fragrance for the company, which clients can integrate into their HVAC systems and home diffusers. With design and home décor firmly infused into the heart of the group, it is also passionate about allowing every home to feel native in its setting – a necessity in a fragile environment. Jared explains: “It’s particularly important in our area because we have a delicate ecosystem and native plants don’t grow back quickly in the low desert. When you disturb the site, you’re impacting it for years to come. Nothing is more tragic to me than seeing an entire hillside graded down. It’s just devastating. This is why we do everything in our power to work with the terrain and integrate the home within the site, utilizing crawl spaces and terracing through the hillside.” The team also focuses on low-impact products, local sourcing and energy efficiency, such as solar applications, where possible. 

2026 is a pivotal year for Nanke Signature Group, as it navigates a transforming industry – and an ever-changing world. “There are many aspects of the business I’m working on this year, and there are numerous things we need to address,” Jared highlights. “It’s our responsibility to take control of what will undoubtedly impact us in the future, and get ahead of that,” he states. This includes input on a platform for rapid, resilient housing, serving government and nongovernment organizations in disaster contexts. “While constructing luxury custom homes remains the staple of the company, these other projects I’m working on may completely change what we are over the next five to ten years.”  

www.nankeluxuryhomesprescott.com