Builder in 5 is our five-question series with the minds behind standout custom homes. 

Next Up: Javier Carcamo, co-founder and director of operations at Yonkers, N.Y.-based Cargo Workshop. Carcamo's early work in advocacy and housing policy helps define his approach to renovations across New York City. We spoke with Carcamo about his early introduction to residential construction and design, his early political career as part of Manhattan's Community Board 9, and the advocacy background that helps set his firm apart.

1. Tell me more about your early introduction to residential design and construction. From learning about design in high school to developing a thesis on housing for immigrant day laborers during architecture school, how did these early experiences impact the work you do today?

Javier Carcamo: I was born in Peru and came to New York when I was six. In many ways, it was the typical immigrant struggle. My parents were hard workers who had to put in long hours and be creative with money to make ends meet. This experience inspired me to speak up and advocate for others in similar situations.

When I was in my teens, I developed an interest in architecture. I attended Bronx High School of Science, where I took many math and science classes that I enjoyed. I also started working with my cousin on renovations after school and on the weekends. I liked the work and assumed that architecture would involve a lot of math and science (I soon discovered this was a misconception!).

For my thesis project in architecture school, I designed an imaginary building to house immigrant laborers. At the time, some felt my project was controversial, and many of my professors couldn’t understand what I was trying to accomplish. My thesis advisor recognized my interest in policy, and was the reason I ended up joining Manhattan’s Community Board 9.

All of these experiences have shaped me as a business owner, and I find that I leverage them all differently in the business. Watching my parents and cousin work so hard and struggle led me to become more detail-oriented and to care deeply about implementing our designs properly. My advocacy work also serves me well when I feel the need to push back on certain restrictions.

2. What was your biggest takeaway from your time on Manhattan's Community Board 9?

When I first joined the board at 23, I was one of the youngest members. I stayed quiet that first year but quickly found my voice and became very vocal.

At the time, there weren't many sidewalk cafes in West Harlem. A close friend owned a Mexican restaurant, so I did the research, gave him the cost and process, and he applied to the board to get a permit. The board discussed it, and many members were against it. I pushed back, citing quotes from Jane Jacobs’ book The Death and Life of Great American Cities, and even recused myself from the vote to avoid any conflict of interest. Luckily it passed, and the restaurant was the first sidewalk cafe within a 20-block radius. It was wonderful to see how it made the area so much more vibrant.

This experience taught me there is power in numbers and that it is important to advocate for the community's best interests.

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3. What’s a time you’ve taken a risk on a project, and how did it pay off?

A number of years ago, we were working with a developer to design a ground-up building on a lot in Harlem. The townhouse that had previously sat on the lot was demolished, but the townhouse party walls remained, reducing the lot size to about 14 feet wide.

We developed plans for a five-story building and submitted all our paperwork. The commissioner came back and told us that we would need to add an elevator—which would take up half of the width of the home and make the entire project unviable. We pushed back and argued our case, finding precedents for five-story buildings in the area without elevators. Ultimately, we were granted a variance for the project, and we were able to build our first ground-up building in the city before we were 30—not many architects can say that!

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4. What’s the biggest challenge you face working on New York City renovations? Going through the approval process? Costs? Something else?

I would argue there are three main challenges that can greatly impact renovations. It’s not a secret that the approval process in the city is notoriously difficult, and sometimes it feels like there are a million hurdles to jump through.

On the design side, difficulties can arise from the site’s building conditions. Clients also struggle if they live in a condo or co-op that prohibits tenants from conducting gut renovations. Insurance has become so expensive for contractors, and we often have to turn away smaller projects because they simply wouldn’t be profitable.

5. What is a detail you obsess over that clients likely wouldn't notice?

I’m so interested in what’s behind the wall. In New York, when you're working on a multifamily or a commercial buildout, you’re not allowed to use wood or other flammable materials, so contractors will often use 25-gauge steel studs, but these are very flimsy. Instead, we use 20-gauge steel studs, stiffening rods, and rock wool for greater durability. We feel it’s important to challenge conventional practices when there is a better way to build.