Park City is one of Utah’s rare gems that consistently upholds the highest ideals of art, living, recreation and aspiration. Quite a few highlights of this mountain-side city’s allure can be attributed to one man, Richard Jaffa, along with his family and their company.
The Jaffa family is rooted in generations of craftsmen and builders. Inspired by his father’s work in lumber and concrete, Richard developed an interest in the family craft as early as high school, when he worked as a construction-site cleaner. He quickly evolved his talents to become a distinguished general contractor. Richard’s son Scott joined the family trade to become an award-winning architect. After working in Washington D.C. for 8 years, he and his father joined forces in Park City and co-founded the Jaffa Group.
Their family business focuses on building one-of-a-kind dream homes for Park City’s most discerning clientele. You can see several of their finished projects all over the city, including homes that overlook Deer Valley Resort, historic Old Town, The Colony, Promontory and many other breathtaking landmarks.
While Scott and Richard have their hands full, respectively being the CEO and Director of Operations, their main priority is always their clients. Richard and Scott work hand-in-hand on every project, and they are both involved from inception to completion. At their office, you can often hear them debate over balancing aesthetics, practicality, regulations and costs in order to achieve the vision their clients expect. As Richard puts it, “We won’t move forward on a decision until we both agree on the proper course of action, and that includes everything from the landscaping to the appliances.”
Their motivation to achieve perfection doesn’t just stop at the designing stage, either. Site procurement, materials, electrical, etc. are all gone over by two sets of Jaffa eyes, and they don’t settle for less than perfection. Scott is a firm believer that every architectural dream is achievable with enough time and effort. To put it in his own words, “I don’t look at catalogs. I imagine it and draw it. Sometimes when I go to order a custom piece, like a front door, they’ll ask if I can show them a photo of what I want and I tell them, ‘No, I don’t have a photo because it hasn’t been done before.’”
Aside from setting the bar on the highest rung for quality work, Jaffa Group, and Richard in particular, have also always been big believers in lifting others up and spreading the blessings around. As Richard likes to say, “You gotta help people up sometimes.” He’s carried that attitude his whole life, and the impact he has had on Park City is deeply felt and treasured.
If you ask any of the Jaffa Group employees about their experiences working for the Jaffas, they’ll have glowing reviews and anecdotes. Debbie Kairys, Jaffa Group’s principal architect, has been working for Scott and Richard for 15 years, and she summarized her experiences:
“Scott and Richard have been unbelievable mentors over the years. Their experience, knowledge, and willingness to teach has made Jaffa Group an incredible opportunity not only for me, but all of their employees. Richard is always willing to make time to field any question you may have and help you understand not just the solution, but the process behind it. The creative freedom that Scott allows his team members to have and the direction he provides, brings out the best in us. [Their] guidance and support over the years has helped shape me into the designer I am today and helped me find my voice.”
The influence Richard has had doesn’t stop at just his employees or business, though. His good works also include joining the board of, and being a financial contributor to, the Peace House. Peace House started as a domestic abuse shelter that has grown into a safe haven with housing resources, education and support services. Richard also helped advocate and build a synagogue for the Jewish community, and he is a proud supporter of the National Association of Women in Construction. One of his favorite stories to tell is about a woman he hired in 1974 to be a bookkeeper for his business. There weren’t a lot of opportunities for women to get their foot into the building business back then, but with Richard’s support and mentoring she became an accomplished builder, met her husband when they were coworkers, started her own building company with him, and eventually had a son who remodeled the Lincoln Center. When she was hesitant to enter the field of building she told Richard that she didn’t know anything about the industry. His response was, “Do you live in a house? Well then you know about building.”
With that kind of attitude, determination and generosity, it’s no wonder Richard has built such a legacy that lives in people’s hearts and as monuments on the mountainside. However, his success has never changed who he is at his core. When I asked him what he was most proud of, out of all of his builds and accomplishments, he said, “My proudest accomplishment is to see the designs that my son has created in working together and how lucky I am to get the opportunity to partner with my son and work with my family every day.”
If you are imagining what your life could be like in Park City, start a conversation with Richard and Scott by scheduling a time at jaffagroup.com. Their decades of expertise will ensure that your residence will be more than just a house; it will be a unique forever home, perfectly tailored to your lifestyle.
