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KEITH THOMAS BROWN (1959-) Brown grew up in Durham. He graduated from the NCSU School of Design in 1983 and founded Sun Forest Systems, a custom design/build firm, in 1984. The company was unusually successful at both custom homes and large spec homes. Bill Waddell joined Brown as a partner in 1987 and stayed though 1995 when they closed it to focus on larger projects. Brown created BuildSoft, a software company, in 1989. He was widely regarded as a brilliant and visionary entrepreneur revolutionizing the construction supply chain -- which is estimated to be at least one-third waste. Brown changed the company name in 1996 to BuildNet, expanded its software line and began recruiting high-powered execs in the computer industry. By January 2000, the company raised an astounding $143 million from outside investors, and three months later prepared to go public. Even 1996 Republican VP candidate Jack Kemp joined BuildNet's board of directors. But that October, after the technology stock market crashed, BuildNet withdrew plans to go public and later the company sold its assets. Brown wrote The Builder's Revolution in 1996 describing his procurement vision with a sequel The Interactive Marketplace in 2000. Photos are by Keith Brown unless otherwise noted. |
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1987 - The Dale and Karen Gillespie Residence, 4130 Wallingford Place, Durham. Sold in 1993 to Vance and Elizabeth Brown, Keith Brown's brother and sister-in-law. Sold in 1997 to Todd and Allison Dimsdale. 3104 square feet. Features a parking area that extends directly off the street and a bridge from there to the main entry of the house. Sold in 2010 to Heather Paddock. For sale in 2011.
1987 - The Philip B. Brown Residence (another brother of Keith's), designed with Bill Waddell. 4126 Wallingford Place, Durham. Features a parking area that extends directly off the street and a bridge to the main entry of the house. Built for current owners.
1987 -The Michael and Mary Matros Residence, 4108 Livingstone, Durham. Designed with Bill Waddell. Sold in 1990 to Elizabeth Sugg. Features a parking area that extends directly off the street and a bridge to the main entry of the house.
1989 - The Peter Huttemeier and Helene Benveniste Residence I, 1409 Pinecrest, Durham. They bought it from Brown's company, Sun Forest Systems and sold it in 1991 back to Sun Forest Systems. Sold to the Pinto family in 1992. Sold back to Sun Forest Systems in 1993. Brown and his wife Rebecca lived there until 2003, when it was sold to current owner Bryn Forbes. 2830 square feet. Top photo by Heather Wagner.
1989 - The Charles R. Adkins House, 1715 Faison Road, Durham. Built as a spec house and sold to Adkins in 1990. Sold back to Keith Brown's Sun Forest Systems in 2004. Sold in 2005 to Jon and Theresa Meliones. Four bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms. 4903 square feet. Sold in 2010 to Carrie Matteson and Corrie Odom. Sold in 2011 to Kirsten and James Bushick.
1991 - The Roger and Carole Van Dyke House, 204 New Castle Place, Chapel Hill. Located in Durham County. Has a cantilevered glass railing, steel stair, a hot tub in the master bath suite, and a play loft in the kids’ bedroom wing. Built for current owners.
1996 - The Richard and Ann Shachtman House, 185 Sun Forest Way, Chapel Hill but located in Chatham County. Built for current owners.
1991 - The Peter Huttemeier and Helene Benveniste
Residence II,
288 Highview Drive, Chapel Hill.
2002 - The Lara Anne Reller Residence, 618 Hamecon Place in Cedar Grove NC, on Lake Orange. Built from components in just 30 days. |
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