Name: Homeowners Workshop - Build New or Renovate - Which is Right for You?
Start: 2026-05-28T17:00:00-04:00
End: 2026-05-28T20:00:00-04:00
Location: 425 Watertown St

Homeowners Workshop - Build New or Renovate - Which is Right for You?

Join local builder, Nick Falkoff, and local architect, Tagore Hernandez, for an informal talk on whether to build new or renovate in Newton.
About this Event

Homeowners Workshop - Renovate or Build

Are you outgrowing your current home but love your Newton neighborhood? Maybe you're looking to age in place or thinking about making room for extended family?

Deciding whether to renovate your existing house or start fresh with a new build is a big decision. Newton resident and founder of Auburndale Builders, Nick Falkoff, and Newton architect and founder of Group Design Build, Tagore Hernandez, are hosting an informal and informative community discussion where we’ll answer your questions and help you explore the best path forward to turn your ideas into an actionable plan.

We designed this workshop as a helpful, conversational session for anyone trying to navigate the "stay or go" dilemma in the Newton market.

Topics for This Workshop:

The Investment: Looking at the costs and value of a major remodel vs. a new build in Newton today.
Navigating Local Rules: Demystifying Newton’s zoning ordinances, setbacks, and building considerations.
Design Potential: How possibilities shift when working within your existing home's footprint versus starting with a blank slate.
The Process: Realistic timelines for design and construction, and where to start.

Join Us:
To keep the conversation personal and answer everyone's questions, we’re limiting the workshop to 25 guests. Light refreshments will also be served!

A $25 donation reserves your seat, with all proceeds donated to the Studio for High-Performance Design + Construction (Studio HPDC), a Newton-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, to fund scholarships for training and education in High-Performance, Net Zero, and Passive House design and construction.

About us:

Nick Falkoff is a life-long Newton resident and founder of Auburndale Builders, an award-winning, Newton-based firm specializing in sustainable custom homes, renovations, ADUs, historic restorations, and deep energy retrofits across Boston and MetroWest. Now in its 20th year, Auburndale Builders focuses on Net Zero, Passive House, and all-electric homes powered by renewable energy.

Tagore Hernandez is the founder of Group Design Build, a Newton-based practice merging building science and construction. He holds a Bachelor of Architecture from BAC and has 20 years of experience in Passive House design.