Take an exclusive look at Nanke Signature Group’s enduring legacy of architectural excellence and design innovation
For over 75 years, Nanke Signature Group’s (Nanke) award-winning team of artisans has been utilizing its high-level design-build process to produce stunning homes and buildings throughout Arizona. The family-owned company undertakes architecture, engineering, construction, management, and delivery to guarantee consistently superior quality and standards. As one of the oldest new home builders in Arizona, Nanke is the state’s leading expert in new home construction. With father and son John and Jared Nanke at the helm, the business continues to grow with some of the brightest professionals in the field. We learn more about Nanke’s rich history from Jared himself.
“In 1948, my grandfather, Don Nanke, partnered with his father-in-law, a land investor, and his brother-in-law, an architect, and purchased land to develop in Sedona, Arizona. This marked their very first project as Nanke. From there, they continued to build homes and commercial buildings throughout Arizona, including the Northern Arizona University (NAU) campus and projects in Phoenix. My father and uncle, John and Todd Nanke, took over the company in the late 1980s. John was the general contractor while my uncle Todd handled the architectural side, taking over design and subsequently transitioning into luxury custom home building. As they were based in the mountainous area of Prescott, Arizona at the time, Todd became renowned for integrating his unique designs with the natural topography of the land, which prompted many locals to seek Nanke’s design services,” he explains.
Brand identity
Raised in the family business, Jared took on a managerial role at Nanke in 2014, continuing the legacy of excellence within the company. “Being a manager was ideal for me as I desired to make significant moves with the company, which my dad was open to. With my background in fashion, I have dedicated most of my focus on building a cohesive brand centered around high-quality design, materials, and craftsmanship. In an effort to make the Nanke brand about more than just homes, we have incorporated a lifestyle component into it and brought in an interior design team. Consequently, we now offer construction, architecture, interior design, and engineering all under one roof, resulting in a complete turnkey solution for our clients as well as improved quality control. Within the lifestyle aspect of the business, we have been working on several projects for some time, such as launching our own furniture line, developing home fragrances, and more exciting innovations poised to be released within the next year or two,” he announces.
As the conversation branches off into the inevitable topic of ongoing projects, Jared highlights a new home underway in Prescott’s American Ranch community, a residence he designed from beginning to end. “This project is significant, partly because my uncle Todd was highly involved in the creation of the American Ranch development, where he formed the development’s design guidelines and designed its equestrian center. We have completed many projects in Prescott, but this new residence in American Ranch particularly stands out to me as it is the first home I have designed by myself from start to finish. In my eyes, it ushers in an exciting new era for our company where some of the younger members are becoming more actively involved,” he enthuses.
Nanke foundation
Speaking of empowering the younger generation of professionals, Jared mentions Nanke’s upcoming program aimed at encouraging more young talent into the industry. “I have too many friends who graduated from architecture school only to end up working for a large firm where they cannot contribute anything creatively. Instead, they are stuck working on details and section drawings, which can lead to significant burnout. This is why I have always been dedicated to bringing in young creative minds on the architecture side and allowing them to contribute their creative ideas when we are working on projects.
“On the construction side of the business, the labor workforce is equally as important, especially with so many young people moving away from the industry. To address this shortage, we are in the process of creating more interest to encourage kids to attend trade schools to learn construction. Additionally, we are developing the Nanke Foundation, which will be a sort of homage to my grandfather, our family, and our history, all while providing necessary funds for scholarships supporting trade programs. We are also connected with an American organization called the She Built Foundation, whose driving purpose is to educate kids, especially young women, about the homebuilding process and to spark interest in the industry.
Workforce development
“To further address the lack of skilled labor, we are dedicated to donating funds to Prescott’s Yavapai College, a local community college, which has expanded its course offerings to include skilled trades programs like construction. These programs enable people with limited financial means to get into the homebuilding industry and make a good living. Similarly, we are collaborating with a client locally to fund a scholarship for students at Yavapai College, making it easier for kids who might be interested in becoming skilled labor but may not feel so compelled by their peers who may be attending four-year institutions. Although a four-year institution is still a valuable career path, we believe that everyone is meant for different things, and we certainly need to foster a young workforce that feels confident in who they are and what they do,” Jared goes on, visibly passionate about this issue.
With Jared guiding the business into a promising new era, Nanke’s legacy of craftsmanship and integrity will undoubtedly continue to shine, cementing its position as a trailblazer in the industry.
www.nankeluxuryhomesprescott.com