Peter Terpinski is the owner and founder of Collaborative Construction, and has worked on renovating and restoring a number of LA’s historically significant architectural homes.  Peter brings a passion for architecture (design) and working with his hands (building), as well as his keen intellect and personal integrity to every project.

Peter came into the construction and design industry by a somewhat unusual route.  When he first moved to Los Angeles in the late nineties, it was actually to continue work on a PhD in English literature -- one that he had started on at Duke several years prior.  His sister moved out here shortly thereafter and secured a position as the business manager of a highly successful local architecture firm.  Getting to know her business associates, he began collaborating with them on some projects, while honing his carpentry skills, and in a few short years received a Contractor’s License.  The transition was so fast and felt so natural that, in retrospect, we can only conclude that it must have been genetics.  After all, Peter's parents had always been hands-on, do-it-yourself types – though chemists by profession.  If you ask, he'll tell you about vivid childhood memories of them building their own sailboats with their friends.

Peter's most memorable project was the restoration of the Polito House. Originally built in 1940, and photographed by Julius Shulman, this gem of the Case Study movement was re-photographed by the octogenarian Shulman upon the completion of our remodel (after some terrible things had been done to it in the 60's and 70's).