Great at design, terrible at build In 2020, I hired this company to design and oversee an extensive remodel of my Berkeley home. The design process went very well--the team was very helpful, and the architecture and engineering work, though pricey, was very collaborative. The build was not so great. Some subcontractors were competent, others delivered poor work, employees quit and overall supervision by the Owner / GC ranged from non-existent to substandard. The roof leaked, glass was defective, floors are uneven, walls are not plumb, and drywall was not finished. A costly French drain failed immediately. The bathtub leaked on first use, and new systems appeared untested. After more than two years, I have been able to navigate through most of the fixable issues. But the worst failure remains the brand-new HVAC. The system I paid for was swapped without notice or approval for a substandard model. The new system was poorly installed and incompatible. Ducts were crushed, brand new cabinets were hacked apart, and numerous "repair visits" (twice with six month disappearing acts by the sub) produced no resolution. The system does not work. The Owner / GC has washed his hands of the matter and ghosted me. I have now retained legal counsel and am going through the dispute resolution process. Given all of the great reviews I was excited to work with this company but given my experience I cannot recommend them. read more

AT6 Architecture + Design Build - Brand new cabinet totally destroyed to run a duct that was supposed to go behind the wall. The duct is totally crushed and delivers no air. - Architects Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

On budget, on time, such incredible design and integrity of work. The process is in depth and communication is key. Lauren and Camila and Jason were informative and communicative through the entire process. We loved working with AT6! read more

When our next-door neighbor's massive trees collapsed on our 1930s house one stormy afternoon in 2023, we were abruptly evicted from our dream home which sustained severe structural and water damage. In 2018 AT6 Design-Build remodeled our home; we were very pleased with Jason and his team for making it so much more functional and attractive. After the house being just the way we wanted it, we thought we were finished with construction, but unfortunately that only turned out to be a short-lived reality. On the day of the 2023 storm, the second phone call I placed (after first filing the insurance claim) was to Jason who expressed willingness to help us rebuild. Over the subsequent months, AT6 architects produced floor plans, obtained the building permit (a one-day process!), assisted us in selecting interior finishes (e.g., bathroom tiles, fixtures, paint), and more. After construction mobilization, the lead architect worked hand-in-hand with AT6's construction superintendent who was onsite daily to supervise and guide a parade of their preferred subcontractor as they performed demolition, framing, roofing, finishes, flooring, painting, and revamped mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. Most notable, aside from their subcontractors' high level of workmanship, was how AT6 orchestrated this succession of subs who showed up each day on time. As one sub finished, they were followed by another, such that there wasn't an idle day that went by. The completion of major phases of work were followed by well-timed building inspections that passed smoothly. In addition to our delight that the reconstruction was completed in record time, the AT6 team was truly a pleasure to work with. They distinguish themselves by being personable, caring, responsive, reliable, creative, efficient, and honest. The few changes in personnel along the way were marked by a seamless handoff, maintaining the same level of quality and service. We are extremely thankful to AT6 for being supportive and compassionate, and for helping us through a most disruptive episode in our lives and making the house our home again. read more

At-Six was recommended to us by a friend in the industry when we were looking to do an extensive renovation on an older home in Alameda. Jason's pitch was that they are bit more expensive than other contractors, but they handle projects down to the last detail. Sounded good to us. He let us know he was very busy but would be able to start design in January with construction slated for early summer. In January, Jason introduced us to Michael, who he said was our project manager. As Michael started communicating with us, we realized that Michael would actually be the architect on the project. This had not been clear to us from any previous conversation, but Michael seemed competent, so we started working with him on conceptual drawings over the next few months. Some unexpected issues came up during this time, including a foundation problem, but we worked through them and understood that we were still moving along on the project. Around June we were expecting to hear about starting construction and realized the team had been pretty quiet. When we reached out, Jason told us that they had started another build that week and would not be able to start ours until September. We thought they had been working on permits, but they had not made any progress on this. We were, honestly, shocked. Not at the delay--delays are inevitable--but that nobody had thought to mention this to us. Jason and Michael apologized, and at any rate we were about to leave for the summer, so the only thing we could realistically do was leave the project in their hands and hope that we were now on the same page. Fast forward to mid-August when we got an email saying they were just now submitting the planning permit. When I questioned this, Jason said that they had had a busy summer, had not submitted the permits on time, and now would not be able to start construction until November. We had been in touch all summer and, again, nobody told us that they were running behind. Around this time we started to look more closely at costs, as we were still getting bills in the thousands each month, despite what seemed like little progress. I went back and checked the initial proposal Jason had given us, which estimated fees for design at $8,000. By now he had billed us about $28,000. Jason's explanation was that they had done work beyond the proposal, but that the design was now complete and we wouldn't see any more invoices until the construction phase. A couple weeks later we got another bill for $6,000. By this point we were fed up, and there was frankly no way we were going to proceed to the construction phase with a firm that appeared to be delivering everything behind schedule, over budget, and with zero proactive communication. We started interviewing other pros to take over the project. Then, the clincher. We talked to two contractors, three architects, and the head of an upscale design/build firm, and every single one was shocked at how much we had paid for the drawings we had. All 3 architects estimated they would have charged about $18-20k for the same work (by now we had been billed $34k). The head of the design/build firm suggested we take legal action. Also a surprise to us was the fact that the drawings we had were nowhere near what was needed to start construction. One contractor said he couldn't even provide a firm bid based on them, as we lacked electrical, mechanical, and structural plans. I realize this is a very negative review. My intention is not to slam Jason or Michael, and it does seem they have delivered quality work for other people. Unfortunately, we had a level of trust when we started with them, which was misplaced. If you are considering working with them, you should be prepared to carefully watch spending, question every invoice, and check up on them frequently to make sure they are making the progress they have promised. Ideally you would also have someone else in the industry (like a contractor friend) to check in with if anything starts to seem fishy. We realize now that some of the stuff Jason told us was pretty far off base. In the end, it was kind of a blessing that they screwed up the design process badly enough that we had to let them go. We could absorb the unexpected costs for the design, but if they had handled the much costlier construction phase with the same level of (cough) care and attention, we would have been absolutely screwed. If you are educated about the process and able to watch it closely, I think you could potentially get good work out of these guys, although I'm not sure why you'd pay a premium for their services only to have to micromanage them. Unfortunately, for us, working with At-Six was a monumental waste of both time and money. read more

We switched to At Six in the middle of a new house construction project, as we had persistent problems with our prior architects. Jason thoughtfully and delicately maneuvered the situation by working within the framework given by the existing design, but contributing new angles and direction wherever it was appropriate. The interaction between Jason and our contractor was seamless. Jason's dual experience as a builder makes him very qualified to solve challenging issues. He never shied away from technical details that the construction crew requested and played an essential role in making our project progress without major hiccups. Jason always had interesting viewpoints to contribute and had suggestions and solutions that we hadn't thought of before. We would highly recommend him as an architect. read more

Jason is an exceptionally talented designer who pays extraordinary attention to detail. Regarding dealing with the labyrinthine City bureaucracy, Jason was able, on a secondary egress issue, to accomplish what three other architects told us wasn't possible. After living in our house for three years we wouldn't change a thing -- the highest compliment I can give. We've referred Jason to numerous others who seem to be equally pleased. read more

Jason at At-Six handled the design of my kitchen/living room/dining room and laundry room renovation of my home in San Francisco and everything turned out perfectly. I had interviewed a number of architecture firms before starting the project and At-Six was the firm that I felt most comfortable with not only because of their experience and expertise but Jason just seemed to be on exactly the same page as me as far as the vision for the project from the minute he saw the house. In the design process, Jason presented a wide range of creative design alternatives and worked closely with me on finalizing plans that would both look great and provide the most functionality as well. However, the design plans were just part of the value that Jason brought to the entire process. Jason was integral in helping me choose the proper materials and finishes for almost all aspects of the kitchen and dining room. Again, he was able to provide a wide range of suggestions and took a very practical approach to each material (knowing where it was worth spending a little money to upgrade and where money was not well-spent). In addition, Jason was key to overseeing the construction on the project and really worked closely with the contractors to ensure that the final result reflected the plans perfectly. One of the major reasons I went with Jason on the project was his prior experience as a contractor. Since this was the first renovation project I had done, his insight both as an architect and an ex-contractor were very important to me as he was able to quality check the contractor's work based on his own experience. That kind of knowledge really helped me get comfortable with the entire renovation process, which was an incredibly daunting project that I could not have done without someone with Jason's experience helping guide the process. I couldn't have asked for a better finished product once the renovation was completed and I would highly recommend Jason and At-Six for any design projects you might have. read more

Jason at At-Six was integral to the renovation of my Victorian home in San Francisco. He developed great ideas and combined them with a pragmatic approach to problem solving. He was great at blending modern styling and materials, within a traditional environment. In addition he demonstrated great finesse in negotiating with other vendors and the city. I would not hesitate to work with him on my next project. read more

@six architecture will steer you straight and well! Here is my story: Moved to the city, bought a single family house that was zoned R2 with my dad with the intent of making it a legal 2 unit. (I know, crazy! but it has all worked out in the end!) I am in the conservation field and wanted a green architect so I searched the internets and talked to friends. Found @six on a list of folks that had taken classes and were "green". We met with a few to interview, chose them. I liked their ethic of not only green products, but an entirely green focus, right down to what engineer they work with that will design the space and the supports with less wood and using state of the art technology to cut down on materials. They develop a waste plan for the contractor to use, research products both finishing and support, and truly try for an entirely green approach. With backgrounds in construction, it is also not lost on them what a contractor needs to have and do, and they understand the expense of being green and know where to do it so it counts. We met with them with a list of dreams for our new space. It was to be a full flat with bathrooms, kitchen, separate entrance, and (eventually) a separate address. They mocked up a few ideas with our original idea of building out in the garage. They incorporated all the current SF building code requirements automatically. We looked at all the different designs, and decided that we couldn't get what we wanted with it. So, we started over from scratch, thinking of a third floor addition. Jason and John immediately showed us a ball-park budget and made sure that we knew what we were getting into. They took my dad's concept ideas of what he wanted (morning light in the bedroom, an open airy feeling, etc.) and made it into a fabulous plan for our third floor. They had about three fundamentally different designs, met with us and we refined it from there in a series of a few meetings. They had great ideas and recommendations about picking all the products so they could incorporate it into the design early. They also have helpful spreadsheets and lists to make your checklists easier. We needed an engineer to plan our support and earthquake retro-fit. We needed a contractor, a plumber, an electrician, and and and! They had recommendations and choices for all. Our entire permit process with the city took about 8 months. @six shepherded the process through the city from start to finish, with all the hoops and questions. We did neighbor notification, had an open house to show folks what we were to do. We got a street cut permit, a PG&E permit, a plumbing permit, a this permit and a that permit. They were with us every step of the way. Their original spreadsheet of fees included weekly checks and meetings with us and the contractor throughout the length of the build. They were no hidden costs regarding their services. They helped us with our overall budget and made sure we understood the reality of the bottom line that we were talking about. (And when all was said and done, they were not far off at the total.) They worked with us to find ways to cost save when we needed to. Personally, Jason and John are respectful, great listeners, interested and easy to talk to. Construction can be a stressful process, and we were not immune to this at all. They remained kind and understanding, patient and approachable with all our questions and items that always came up. We still talk to them and if we ever get around to having an open house, they are surely invited! At the end of a long construction project, that is saying something! We are using them for our next one-bedroom addition! They will give out our names and numbers for a reference to anyone who needs it. Really, I wouldn't go with any other architect. read more

Great people, great Architects, very happy with the job they did on my new home, Paul

I'm 66 and over the years I've worked with a variety of very good architects on various residential & commercial projects. Jason is terrific to work with. He has wonderful design sensibilities and is creative. He also has construction experience as a contractor, so he has a real understanding of the nitty gritty that gets projects built cost effectively. His construction experience also yields well-detailed plans & specs that can be readily be bid by contractors. Our project with him was in San Francisco, and there was a real question whether we could get it approved at all. Jason had excellent judgment on how to design and present it so that the City would go along, and his knowledge of the Dept of Building Inspection got us through the process crisply and efficiently. Other architects we interviewed had predicted a much more difficult time than we experienced with Jason. Highest recommendation. read more