Built to Last
A legacy business with a revered name, Leonard Unander Associates, Inc. is synonymous with quality.
Written by Jenn Thornton
Photographs by Sara Prince, Manolo Langis, Jim Bartsch
The gold standard of residential builders, Leonard Unander Associates, Inc. (LUA) is behind some of the most exceptional high-end homes in Montecito and Santa Barbara. With its uncompromising standards and strong relationships, the first-class brand has built something even more valuable than its meticulous creations: an unshakeable bond of trust between the company and the community they have called home for generations.
A legacy business with building in its DNA, LUA was established in 1977 by Leonard Unander Sr., a third-generation contractor whose Swedish grandfather built local homes and whose father worked as an architect and developer. His sons, Leonard Jr. and Clint, as well as son-in-law Brandon Friggione, all graduates of Westmont College, also joined the company, infusing it with their diverse talents. Integral to the business from the beginning, Deborah Unander continues to work behind the scenes, and extended family member Taryn Rodriguez manages the office. With nine grandchildren in the family, the Unanders hope the future generation will carry the company and its tradition forward. Of course, “a company is only as good as its people,” and to that end, the majority of LUA employees have been with the company for at least 10 years and several others for more than two decades. The result is a consistency of character, quality and culture, resulting in a reliability rarely equaled in the homebuilding industry.
If honesty and transparency are core LUA values, relationships are its backbone. As the company puts it, “Working in a small community, our focus has always been relationships. It’s about the team of people. It’s about the client.” From owners to architects, owners’ representatives, subcontractors, suppliers and neighbors, “If your relationships are in the right place, that is the foundation of everything else.” Their approach, based on care, communication and customization, combined with utilizing management technology to monitor construction costs and schedules closely, is in service of delivering “a five-star experience.”
Always at the forefront of a continually changing field, LUA constantly strives to exceed industry standards. Leonard Sr. is a perfectionist, not only hands-on but on-site, and his discerning nature sets the bar for the whole company. His commitment to excellence touches every aspect of the building process, manifesting in a common refrain among building circles in which “that’s a Unander project” is shorthand for immaculate job sites, superior craftsmanship and scrupulous attention to detail. Among LUA’s magnificent and rigorously built residences, many are of immense scale, but each is unique and highly customized in styles ranging from Santa Barbara historic, traditional Montecito and Spanish-Mediterranean to mid-century modern, island contemporary and more. Their latest construction, Lanai Estate, is a sublime take on tropical modernism, with clean lines, vast walls of glass and sweeping indoor/outdoor space that embraces nature. Whether intimate or elaborate, stately or warm, each residence is a reflection of a brand dedicated to the highest degree of quality control. Seeking praise is not LUA’s style. The company prefers to let its work speak for itself. But lately, that work is speaking volumes. Lanai Estate was awarded the New Residential Award at the 2025 Santa Barbara Construction Awards while LUA itself was named Builder of the Year and the recipient of the Members Choice Award. But for a family business rooted in achieving the best possible result, recognition is secondary to reputation. “In Santa Barbara, reputation is everything.” With gratitude for every client, “We strive for 10 out of 10.” unanderconstruction.com
