About Us

Over 40 years experience

David J Elliott and Associates was founded in 1979. We have over 40 years experience working with hundreds of clients on over 2000 projects all across the central coast of California. We serve our clients through the whole process from imagining the project and researching the feasibility, to design and permitting, bidding and negotiation and construction administration. We bring the same passion and excellence to a small remodel or ADU as to a large scale housing development, because for us we are not serving a project we are serving our clients.

Our

Philosophy

We believe great architectural design comes from a collaborative effort across multiple disciplines to create something that will marry beauty and function to meet the needs of the client and the community they serve in a sustainable and inclusive way that puts people first. We are passionate about using our skills to serve our clients and the community to build a better future..

We bring that same skill, experience and passion to every project whether it is a custom home, a shopping center, housing development, a restaurant, small business, a new sanctuary for a historic church, a home for non-profit providing vital services to the youth of a community, or tiny home live/ work village to address the affordable housing crisis.
We also have 40 years of experience making countless presentations to planning committees and permitting authorities. We know how to put that something special into your project to get it approved. We know how to properly present a project before the decision makers and stakeholders in the community and defend it when necessary. If you have a complex project with multiple stakeholders, we would love to serve you.
The architectural design of the future must be sustainable with wise and creative use of resources to help address the social economic factors that are driving poverty, exploitation, homlessness, and unequal access to opportunity. With humility and an interdisciplinary collaborative vision we can design and build a better future for all.
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Our

History

David J Elliott and Associates was founded in 1979 following the transitional partnership with the retiring partner Richard Murphy, his former employer since 1976. David established the practice offering design services for exclusive homes on the Monterey Peninsula. Completing private residence commissions for celebrities such as Alan Jardine (Beach Boys) and Paul Anka (My Way). The firm expanded to produce a wide variety of work including planning, architectural, and interior design services for government, industrial, commercial, non-profit organizations, and multi-family as well as single family residential projects. Today we are a full service architectural services agency serving the entire central coast of California and beyond. Through countless public hearings assisting clients before planning commissions, city councils, and supervisor boards we have built a reputation as mediators, and innovative problem solvers through time consuming and often difficult approval processes.
Our

Creative Team

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David J. Elliott

Founding Principal

David J. Elliott is the founding Principal and has over 45 years experience in the field. He graduated from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo with a Bachelor of Architecture in 1974. Following graduate studies concentrating in Design Methods of Problem Solving, David began his career in Monterey County. David interned with Salinas architectural firms until earning a partnership in the well established firm of Richard Murphy and Associates in 1978.

David J Elliott and Associates was founded in 1979 following the transitional partnership with the retiring partner Richard Murphy, his former employer since 1976. David established his practice offering design services for exclusive homes on the Monterey Peninsula. After completing private residence commissions for celebrities such as Alan Jardine (Beach Boys) and Paul Anka (My Way) David quickly became popular serving an exclusive custom home clientele. The firm expanded to produce a wide variety of work including planning, architectural, and interior design services for government, industrial, commercial, multi-family as well as single family residential projects. Today we are a full service architectural services agency serving the entire central coast of California and beyond. Through countless public hearings assisting clients before planning commissions, city councils, and supervisor boards we have built a reptation as mediators, and innovative problem solvers through time consuming and often difficult approval processes.

David J. Elliott has made a substantial contribution to his community by assuming leadership roles in his profession as well as his community.

David served five (5) years, three (3) as Chairman, on the Governance Council for Liberty Family Academy Charter School, an elected position. Liberty Family Academy was a California public benefit non profit corporation. David oversaw a Five Million Dollar ($5,000,000) annual public school budget with its highest population reaching over 900 students served by over 50 employees.

He served on the executive board of the American Institute of Architects Monterey Bay (AIAMB) for five years including its President in 1986. He served for two years on the California Council of the American Institute of Architects.

David has served on the Economic Council of the Salinas Area Chamber of Commerce representing the construction industry by authoring quarterly economic publications as well as guest speaking public events.

David has developed communication and leadership skills through Toastmasters International at the Salinas Sunrise Toastmasters Club. He was Club President, Toastmaster of the Year, Area Governor, and Area Governor of the Year as well as participant in numerous speech contests. He has been the moderator of two public political debates and the speech coach of the Miss Salinas Valley Pageant. David has chaired or participated in numerous speaker’s bureaus including the Steinbeck Festival, the United Way, as well as the California Rodeo Association.

David volunteered over 200 professional meeting hours, one of three public representatives, serving the Monterey County Zoning Ordinance Task Force.

Do you have a project you think we would be a fit for?

We would love to start the conversation

17800 Cunha Lane
Salinas, California 93907