ABOUT US
Current Design Group, Inc. (CDG) is an A/E design firm based in Escondido, California, that specializes in the renewable energies sector. CDG is a leader in the solar industry with over 60 years of collective experience in design, architecture, engineering, project feasibility and cost analysis, project planning, construction management services and much more. Within our firm, clients can access the talents of award-winning architectural design professionals and project management experts. The Current Design Group team offers a unique combination of services and skill sets to ensure optimal project outcomes.
Philosophy
CDG strives to obtain a clear and comprehensive appreciation of our clients’ objectives at the outset of each project. Welcoming the opportunity to collaborate toward successful outcomes, our professional team encourages our clients’ vision and passion by making their input an integral part of each step of our design and engineering process.
Our excellent reputation has been established through our meticulously detailed plans that make it difficult for contractors to misunderstand the design intent. We take great pride in the satisfaction we bring our clients, and on the comprehensive services we offer. It is our greatest desire to understand, appreciate, and ultimately meet our clients’ needs. Our consistent dedication in applying this philosophy has resulted in a long list of satisfied clients
Relevant Experience & Capabilities
Current Design Group maintains a deep passion for creating sustainable projects for educational, public and private uses. These projects exhibit the highest community spirit and reflect growing cultural needs and services required for successful and sustainable communities and the agencies serving them. Team members of Current Design Group have lead the design on some of the most complex and elaborate solar projects around the country.
We have an outstanding, hard-earned track record with some of the world’s top solar dealers and manufacturers. What sets CDG above our competition is our attention to detail. We provide effective communication with the design team, our clients, and contractors alike, along with extensive experience from the conceptual design phase to comprehensive, user-friendly construction documents.
We seek out the most intricate and unique projects to inspire our team. We strive to bring out the creative energies of the design team and our clients, as well as challenge our own technical and inventive abilities.
MEET THE TEAM
Ben Packard
President, Principal Architect
Education: Bachelor’s of Architecture, NewSchool of Architecture & Design, 2009
Registrations: State of California C34479, State of Texas 25173, NCARB Certification
Ben Packard is the President and Principal Architect at Current Design Group. In his position, Ben provides financial, policy, and technical oversight for all projects. He acts as the Design Professional in Responsible Charge for all projects, including Division of the State Architect (DSA) projects for school districts throughout California. His extensive background and outstanding reputation for managing large-scale projects provides clients with surprising solutions to complex challenges. His specialty and success derives from close relationships with clients from planning through realization. Ben possesses an in-depth knowledge of the building code and it’s application to solar structures. Ben’s focus is on enhancing the client experience, streamlining design processes, creativity and mentorship. Over the years, he has overseen the design of over 150 solar sites. Prior to Current Design Group, Ben was the Architect of Record for Sunpower, where he managed the design and construction of various commercial solar projects along the West Coast.
David Ricci
Senior Project Manager
Education: Technical School - Instituto per Geometri Leonardo DaVinci - Architecture, 1984 : University of Florence - Architecture, 1989 : Santa Monica College - Architecture, 1992
David Ricci has a broad range of experience in architecture and construction with an emphasis on project management, technical design, and construction administration. His project experience of over 25 years has focused on all types of renewable energy projects, ranging from carports, rooftop designs, and parking garages. He has experience working with a number of jurisdictions on permit and design review issues, including the Division of the State Architect (DSA). Known throughout the industry for his creative solutions and dedication to high quality design, David is sought after when an holistic approach is required for challenging, complex projects. Consistent comments from project team members confirm the comprehensive nature of documents prepared by David make projects easier to construct and more economical to build.
Ezra Ash
Project Manager
Education: Associates of CAD Technology - Universal Technical Institute, 1998 : Construction Engineering - San Diego State University, 2014
Ezra Ash brings nearly 20 years of design experience on a wide range of civic, mission driven, mixed-use, office, retail and multi-family projects from master plan work to individual building design. His experience has carried him around the country and abroad bringing depth to the quality and performance of the team. Ezra’s objective is to deliver the best projects possible to the client and community through unique and appropriate design. His exceptional design talents and project diversity helps him understand structures in their context and in relation to various uses. His combination of design talents and technical knowledge enables him to be active in all phases of a project. Ezra’s capacity to bridge from concept to detail is rare among talented designers, which leads to design solutions that are elegant, functional and highly cost effective.
