SWENSON Completes Landmark Big Wave Center (19459000)
The project transforms two decades of vision into a residential community that is inclusive for adults with disabilities
Big Wave Center
SAN JOSE – August 24, 2026 – PRLog SWENSON is a Northern California-based real estate, architecture and construction company. Today, the firm announced that it had completed its Big Wave Center in Half Moon Bay. The community, which measures 50,000 square feet, was designed to offer housing, community integration, and education for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. SWENSON, as the general contractor for the project, supported it through two years of planning and construction. The 18-month building effort was completed recently, making this one of the most complicated community developments in the area.
Big Wave is the culmination more than 25-years of community activism, planning and fundraising. SWENSON’s experience in delivering large-scale projects was chosen for the Big Wave project.
SWENSON worked with Big Wave to help support their budgeting efforts, construction reviews, coordination of permits, and funding.
“This project is so important to so many families,” Case Swenson is the CEO of SWENSON. “We’re grateful Big Wave trusted us to help bring its vision to life. It took years of planning, problem-solving and collaboration to get here, and that’s a credit to everyone who stayed committed along the way. Our team is proud to have worked with Jeff Peck, the Big Wave board, and so many dedicated partners to create a community that’s going to make a real difference to families for generations to come.”
A completed two-story residence will include apartments for forty adults with IDD.
It also includes shared gathering areas, a courtyard outside, and designated spaces that link residents to programs on the Big Wave Campus, including those that support workforce development and recreational activities. This project complements both the Big Wave Farm adjacent to it and future employment options designed to assist adults with IDD in building skills, independence and lasting connections within their communities.
SWENSON’s goal was to maintain the vision of the project throughout planning and construction while maintaining constructability, costs, accessibility, and long-term performances. The project involved careful coordination with underground infrastructure, utility upgrades, environmental permits, biological protection measures and wetlands restoration.
The owner, the design team, the consultants, the public agencies and the construction partners had to work closely together at every phase to create a future-proof community.
“I’ve been fortunate to work on a lot of projects, but every once in a while you’re part of something that stays with you,” Jeff Huff is the Vice President for SWENSON Santa Cruz. “Big Wave was one of those projects. From the beginning, our team understood we were building something much bigger than a residential community. We were helping create a place where people can live independently, build friendships and be part of a community. That purpose was felt by everyone who worked on this job, and I think you’ll feel it when you walk through the building.”
Since more than 100 years, SWENSON, in partnership with developers and public agencies has delivered projects to strengthen Northern Californian communities.
Big Wave is a reflection of the company’s expertise in guiding large-scale projects, from planning to construction and delivering places that will serve for generations.
SWENSON
The Swenson Family has played a vital role in the construction of Northern California for over a century. With four generations of experience and a Design-Development-Build (DDB) platform that has been proven, Swenson delivers an unmatched level of creativity, high-quality developments, and efficiency in construction. SWENSON’s wide array of real estate service is supported by years of experience, referrals, and solid business practices. This has made SWENSON a leader in the Golden State. Visit swensonbuilders.com to learn more.