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Local draftsman has a hand in plenty of Sonoma Valley construction

Posted on July 10, 2009 by Sonoma Valley Sun

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Fred O’Donnell feels some of his best work can be found throughout Sonoma Valley. Since 1985, he has produced drawing for more than 300 new homes, home additions, and remodels in the North Bay. He’s done drawings for local schools, shopping centers, and vineyards. The native Sonoma resident is most proud of his drawings of the steel framing of the duck pond in Sonoma Plaza Square.
O’Donnell formed Figo Construction Drawing in 2006 after 20 years in the architectural drawing industry, which included 12 years in the reinforcing steel (rebar) industry and 8 years working for architects and engineers. The name of his company combines his first initial with those of wife Gillian, and his children, 8-year-old daughter Ivy, and 11-year-old son Oscar.
“I started Figo because I saw the need for an affordable drafting service in the Sonoma Valley,” said O’Donnell, who became interested in drafting by hand while taking classes at Sonoma Valley High School and later attended an architectural drafting school in Phoenix. “I also wanted to be in town, so that I could be a part of my kids’ activities.”
O’Donnell spent a decade bidding jobs and producing shop drawings for ironworker installation. His rebar drawings were used to retrofit the toll plaza of the Golden Gate Bridge. Locally, he did all the rebar detailing for the Sonoma Court Shops, and a number of Sonoma schools, including Adele Harrison School, Presentation School, and his alma mater Sonoma Valley High School.
“I enjoy working on each residential project, because no two are the same and it is nice to meet new clients,” said O’Donnell, who gets a lot of business as a result of word of mouth. “Interestingly enough, some jobs I have liked the most have not been the norm for a draftsman, like isometric catalog drawings for roof tiles and carved stone, vineyard layout, and even inventions.”
The four years O’Donnell spent working as a carpenter have come in handy while creating shop drawings for cabinet designers, such as Robert Castillo of Wood Touch Inc. Cabinet makers take measurements and create designs, which O’Donnell uses to create shop drawings. The drawings then go to the client for approval. Once the drawings are okayed, they go to the shop were the cabinets are manufactured.
Figo’s Web site, which was designed by O’Donnell’s wife, features photographs of the firm’s many completed home remodel and addition projects. Figo makes everything from a detailed bathtub alcove to a complete second-story addition possible. O’Donnell works closely with architects builders, landscapers and, perhaps most importantly, homeowners through all phases of remodel drawings.
“I take their ideas and turn them into a set of construction drawings, which are ready for permits,” said O’Donnell. “I enjoy making easy work of what seems like a complicated process. Clients always seem to think it will be a nightmare – I see myself as something of an expert in smoothing out the possible wrinkles.”
O’Donnell recently joined the Sonoma chapter of Business Network International and is looking forward to growing Figo’s client base. To give back to the community, he donates his services to several local schools when they are planning their annual benefits.
“I am currently expanding my commercial drafting business by working on tenant improvement drawings for Top That Yogurt Shop, with Sonoma Rentals for their relocation project, and with the new owner of the former office building across the street from St. Francis Winery,” said O’Donnell. “Expanding my business and continuing great customer service is always my focus.”

Figo Construction Drawings, 1051 Broadway, Sonoma; 707.996.0103. Web site: figodrawings.com.




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