Building with Purpose
An Interview with Kent Lenssen of Lenssen Homes
Kent Lenssen, Co-Owner of Lenssen Homes
The high desert landscape stretches in all directions—rocks and water, sky and sagebrush. For some, the scale can be little daunting. But, for others, like Kent Lenssen, the wide open expanse of Ravenwing feels deeply right. It feels like home. He finds solace at the Ranch; the presence of stillness, and the absence of static.
A clarification, and a slight reality check, are now in order. Lenssen Homes, owned by Kent and his brother, Kevin, is currently building three custom homes at Ravenwing. With all the intensity, precision and expectation that the building process entails, Kent still feels at peace here? He agrees it’s pretty remarkable.
“I find so much beauty here,” Kent says. “I feel very connected to the Ranch. I grew up across the plateau in Ephrata, and my family has spent a lot of time in the Palisades. But it’s not just that the land is familiar to me. There’s something more, something bigger, at Ravenwing—it’s just unique.”
New Model Home on Lot 7 in The Bluffs
Listing in Spring 2023
From the beginning, Ravenwing has been built by people connected to place.
Developer Rob Hubbard enters into partnerships mindfully, ensuring the fit is natural, and values are aligned—because the land matters. This commitment can be seen throughout the Ranch, in ways large and small. But nowhere is it more evident than the graceful, low-slung homes currently coming to life in The Bluffs.
Rob had long been familiar with the work of Syndicate Smith, a sought-after Leavenworth architectural firm with a distinctive Northwest modern style. After a successful design phase with Syndicate Smith Owner and Principal, Todd Smith, Rob then asked Lenssen Homes to build Ravenwing’s first model home. Lenssen enthusiastically agreed.
During the process, Kent observed Rob and Todd’s developer-architect collaboration with interest, particularly the considerable effort devoted to the relationship between site and structure. Lenssen Homes was enlisted to build subsequent Smith-designed homes at the Ranch, including the new model home to be listed this spring, as well as two owner builds on Lot 22 and 23 in The Bluffs.
Builder Kent Lenssen (left) and Architect Todd Smith (right) at the new model home nearing completion
Todd Smith (left) and Kent Lenssen (right) on the model home patio, with the two owner builds below
“I really see Rob’s vision, and Todd’s designs make so much sense,” Kent explains. “To me, this is just what a wide open place like Ravenwing needs—true integration with nature.”
Owner Build - The Bluffs Lot 22
Under Construction
Owner Build - The Bluffs Lot 23
Under Construction
“The houses are modern, for sure, but they’ve got personality, and they’ve got purpose. It’s almost like they are rising out of the rocks,” he said. This is high praise from Kent, who alongside his brother and business partner, Kevin, have forged a 30-year reputation for building custom, Craftsman-style homes with traditional footprints and warm, hand-crafted details. The transition to a sleeker, more modern aesthetic was a welcome one, and an opportunity to lean into learning, once again.
“We were ready for modern,“ Kent said. “From Day One, Kevin and I have always sought to expand our expertise, and take on new challenges. And over three decades, yeah, there have been some challenges,” he adds, laughing. “But we’ve gotten where we are because we love what we do, and we love learning—we don’t just tolerate it, we find meaning in it, and actually enjoy it.”
“Kevin makes details happen,” explains Kent. “He’s happiest when he’s directing the day-to-day and logging all those miles on his truck—our clients, crew and subcontractors benefit immensely from his leadership on the ground. As for me, I love the relational aspect of building. I really enjoy helping clients understand what they want, and helping them get it. I bring that people-first approach to everything I do—making sure that our clients feel heard and understood, and that the final product is a source of true meaning and joy for them.”
Kent goes on, “These last eight or so years have been a really good time, personally and professionally. My wife and I have five boys—ages 8 to 20—and our house is chock full of learning and growth at so many different stages. Kevin and I are really fortunate to have dedicated, long-term employees, including my oldest son, Caiden, who is a really great problem solver, and an increasingly important part of our team.”
Kent adds, “Ultimately, we help people build something that matters so much. Kevin and I feel that homes with purpose support lives with purpose.”
“I love thinking about how buildings live for the people in them, and how light, warmth and wood transform a room. I’ve really got a growing appreciation for Northwest modern architectural style, and how much smart, spatial thinking is involved. We are very proud of our work at Ravenwing, and all of our partnerships here. The fit is right, and it’s been a lot of fun.”
Learn more at lenssenhomes.com.
