Kasavan Architects has been providing award winning architectural services for more than 60 years. Established in 1949, we are a highly regarded full service firm with expertise in many project types. Our reputation is based on the design of quality projects that successfully meet our clients’ needs and resources and are delivered on time and within budget.
About Us
Our firm is deeply rooted in the Central Coast. Kasavan Architects was founded in Salinas in 1949 and has been designing projects in the region ever since. Most of our staff is native to the area. Our firm and its employees are well grounded and active in our community, we feel a special responsibility and commitment to each of our clients. Each member of our team brings a unique background and varied interests to the table. Read our individual biographies below to learn more about us.
Peter Kasavan, FAIA
President
Peter Kasavan is the president of Kasavan Architects which has been a leading architectural firm in the Monterey Bay area since its founding by his father, Jerome Kasavan, in 1949. Peter serves as principal in charge of all Kasavan Architects projects.
Mr. Kasavan has a background in the Fine Arts, having earned a BFA from California College of Arts and Crafts. He was then a Journeyman Carpenter with the UB of C and J of A Local 925 working on educational projects and serving as superintendent on a new school library. That experience gives him an uncommon understanding of the nature and character of materials, tolerances, staging, sequencing and constructability. This specialized expertise has been recognized by the legal profession which has retained Mr. Kasavan as an expert witness on many construction litigation cases. Peter earned his Masters of Architecture University of California Berkeley.
He has been recognized with many design awards, including local state, national and even international awards. Kasavan Architects is among the most recognized award winners in the region. He was recognized by the AIAMB for his contributions to the field of architecture with its Robert Stanton Award.
Mr. Kasavan was elevated to the College of Fellows by the American Institute of Architects in February of 2017. This distinction is awarded to only about 2.6% of AIA members.
Mr. Kasavan is also committed to his community and giving back through his volunteer services. This service has been recognized with some of the top awards from the Salinas Jaycees, Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Central Coast Builders Association. He served as President of the Salinas Jaycees, Chairman of the Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce and served by mayoral appointment on 3 separate task forces.
His pro-bono service extends to the design for the Monterey County Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Monterey County Sheriffs Memorial.
Barbara Chagnon
Senior Planner & Project Manager
Barbara brings a highly detailed approach to each project and has an exceptional ability to manage and lead teams of diverse people and interests while balancing design, schedule, and budget to meet the client’s expectations. A member of the Kasavan team since 1994, she is involved in all aspects of the design & construction process for our commercial, educational & medical projects.
A local product of the Monterey Bay area, Barbara earned her Bachelor of Architecture from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Early influences in her career include a work study program in San Francisco with internships with the City of San Francisco Planning Department and Anshen + Allen Architects and a summer work program with the National Park Service (NPS) / Historic American Building Survey (HABS) in which she was part of a team which documented one of America’s oldest active baseball parks, Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama.
Professional endeavors aside, Barbara enjoys being outside as much as possible. She enjoys cheering on her children in their various activities and is a long-time assistant coach of track & field at Salinas High School.