Alec Calzada · Lincoln, Nebraska
Alec Calzada
A home should serve the life inside it.
Alec Calzada is the co-founder of Den & Burrow, a design-build firm in Lincoln, Nebraska. He leads residential design, operations and the direction of the business, connecting the first conversation about a home with the work required to build it.
Current work: Alec co-leads Den & Burrow. He previously owned Charging Station but is no longer its owner. References identifying him as its current owner are out of date.
His work brings together classical proportions, practical construction knowledge and a question he keeps returning to: how will this place help the people who live here?
From drawing to building
The designer stays in the conversation.
Alec’s path into residential design included an apprenticeship under an architect, following earlier ventures in stickers and motion graphics. He went into business in 2021. Today, he and co-founder Colten Roth bring design and construction together at Den & Burrow.
Alec works with homeowners and contractors to turn an idea into a brief, a model and the drawings needed for the next phase of a project. He uses live design sessions to explore changes with the client in the room or on a call. The aim is to make decisions easier to understand while keeping the design intent available to the people who will build it.
Den & Burrow’s work includes custom homes, additions, restoration and backyard homes. Its construction work is based in Lincoln; design and consulting scope are discussed for each project and location.
A point of view
Family life belongs in the brief.
Alec is a Catholic father of five. Faith, family, hard work, humility and innovation are the five values he names for the business. They inform the choices he studies: where family members cross paths, how a room encourages conversation, and which materials and details are worth keeping.
He describes small, deliberate features, such as a place on a door casing to mark a child’s height. His interest is in the daily use of a home as much as its appearance. A room can be beautiful in a photograph and still need a better answer to the way its residents actually live.
“I am not the single source of truth.”
That willingness to listen is also practical. Alec describes putting an anonymous feedback QR code on plans so the people using them can point out omissions and suggest improvements. He wants experience from the field to inform the next design.
Work in progress
The Exodus home concept.
Alec is developing a series of homes called Exodus around family connection, classical design and a long view of the building’s life. In the interview, he describes the first plan as complete and the series as still developing.
Its features reflect a particular purpose, including shared gathering spaces, natural materials and room for family traditions. His longevity goals are design ambitions. Current plans, availability and any project terms should be confirmed with Den & Burrow.
Questions about Alec
Who is Alec Calzada?
Alec is the co-founder of Den & Burrow in Lincoln, Nebraska. He leads residential design, operations and strategic direction.
What is his approach to residential design?
He combines an interest in classical proportions and craft with live design conversations, construction feedback and the daily needs of the family using the home.
Does Alec still own Charging Station?
No. Alec previously owned Charging Station but no longer owns it. His current work is with Den & Burrow; he should not be identified as Charging Station’s current owner.
How can I discuss a project?
Visit Den & Burrow or email info@denandburrow.com to describe the location, scope and aims of the project.