Bitarchitects was so easy to work with! Responded to my Request a Quote for a structural…read moreengineering assessment in a matter of a hour and got things scheduled quickly afterwards. They completed a full scan and photographing of the property to provide the best quality report. The engineer was super knowledgeable and happy to explain any issues he noticed while working through the assessment. I then met with staff to discuss the report and answer any remaining questions. And all in 1 1/2 weeks from start to finish! Highly recommend them for any future projects!

Editing to add actual dates to the events described…read more I will update this rating if we ever get our final report, but the bottom line is we've been waiting close to eight weeks now to get a diagnosis and recommendation on how to resolve the front room of our house, which is apparently breaking off the rest of the house. Longer story: I was excited to work with Bitarchitects - they have great reviews, I appreciate that they are woman-owned, and in our initial conversations, they were so responsive and confident that they had all the necessary in-house expertise to figure out what was happening in the house we just bought. The structural engineer seemed great during the inspection on 9 July - spent lots of time at the house, took all the measurements, answered all my questions. We chatted about the fact that there is this crawl space under the front room that doesn't have an access panel, so you can't get underneath to inspect the stem walls. He told me he would have the report to me in a week. Six weeks later (18 August), we got the report. And the report said. . .we can't diagnose the problem without access to the crawl space under the front room. So question the first - WHY would that conclusion take six weeks? When it was known at the time of their visit? (It was actually known before that - the home inspector had included it in his report, which we had sent Bitarchitects in advance of their visit.) But okay, they said they could send someone out to create an access door to the crawl space, take some pictures, and then we would get a completed report. So that happened a week ago (28 August), and we've heard nothing. Almost eight weeks now since the inspection, meanwhile there are new cracks appearing in the floors and walls. Communication overall has been extremely frustrating. While assuring us that the (first) report was imminent, I was told several times "don't worry, your house is not falling down, you're not in danger." Which is great of course, but doesn't remotely address our concerns. I get answers to maybe 50% of the questions I ask (fairly reasonable questions, like "will cutting a door in our foundation create structural instability down the road?"), if fact, the only time they respond quickly is when they are asking for payment. I am so so disappointed and frustrated at this point, I don't even know what to do.

We have worked with Chris Tucker on several projects over the last ten years. The most recent…read moreproject was a rear screen porch and patio. After listened to our desires to reclaim our back yard from the mosquitos, Chris designed a slightly modern outdoor entertaining space off the back of our traditional 1920s American Foursquare. The results were the blend of the traditional screen porch (beadboard ceiling, ipe flooring) with modern features (recessed LED lighting, ceiling fans, all-weather speakers) creating a perfect bug-free entertaining space. Completing the project is a small patio containing a couple of chairs and our grill. We could't be happier with the way the project turned out! While the project went slightly longer than expected (don't they all!), the quality of the design and construction were worth the extra few weeks. Chris was very good at keeping us appraised of the progress during all phases of the project (design, permitting, change orders, inspections, etc.), answering our questions and concerns about building process, and incorporating our changes during construction. We will certainly use Mode 4 Architecture and Chris Tucker for any future projects at our house!

Called with a quick architecture related question and was impressed with the professionalism and…read moresupport. I will definitely consider using this firm with my next project.

This guy presents himself as a guru of green architecture, but his main talent is writing invoices…read more To design a top-to-bottom remodel of my four-story house, he visited it once. He flew in a young architect from Colorado (!) to document the house, but they were both distracted by a disaster on another job (frantically redesigning at the last minute) and the drawings of my house were a mess - a door where there wasn't one, pipes and radiators missing, measurements wrong. They brought in a 'structural engineer' who jumped up and down on one part of the concrete floor like a toddler on a trampoline, pronounced it sound, and added, grinning, "I went to school for 10 years to learn how to do this." Maybe he should have studied longer, since it turned out that the floor was cracked through, and only one inch thick in parts (and underneath it was a sewer pipe that could have passed for a colander). Helicon also gave wrong information about the DC code and regulations. As for Helicon's proposed drawings for the renovation, just for one example, we would have had to walk around a bed to get out the back door. When I began to raise questions about the work, he simply refused to answer my emails and refused to go to mediation - although that's what his contract calls for in case of a dispute. When we finally parted ways, he kept all of his hefty fees and retainer, and didn't even return the books and magazines I had lent him as examples. Now, I'm glad to say, I've got a sound, beautiful renovation underway, and a great architect - who just can't believe the drawings from Helicon.

Helicon Works provided me with truly global guidance during a major whole-house renovation,…read morebringing expert attention to the practical/technical details of design and construction as well as the spiritual aspects of making a home. The result is a home that is beautiful, functional, and energy-efficient. I did not hesitate to call on them again when undertaking a second major project.

We used Greg at Barnstar to design a new en suite bathroom. He was great. Very punctual and very…read moreprofessional. He was able to suggest various contractors also, and helped oversee construction while we were on vacation. I strongly recommend.

We worked with Greg of Barnstar Architects during a complete remodel of the second story of our…read moreCapitol Hill townhouse. Greg was very responsive and creative, and he helped us out on to paper the vague ideas we had about redoing our second floor. He is very familiar with all the quirks of Hill homes, and also helped us through the incredibly complex process of getting all the necessary permits. He regularly visited the job site as the project progressed at no extra charge, and gave us many mid-project tips and ideas. We were very pleased with Greg's work and can't recommend him highly enough.

My wife and I are incredibly happy with our new porch, designed by the talented and professional…read moreKurt West. It was a modest project as far as home remodeling projects go, but Kurt still gave us his full and undivided attention, which meant a lot to us. He patiently answered and provided a quick response to our (many!) questions about the design and construction process, personally visited with us on multiple occasions to go over draft designs and flooring/roofing/coloring samples, and was extremely helpful in working with our structural engineer and construction contractor (since we had some foundation and drainage issues that were also being repaired). His design advice, based on his many years of experience, was superb, and he actually ended up saving us tens of thousands of dollars based on his input on our concurrent foundation/drainage project. Kurt is a true artist, and a really nice guy as well. He did an amazing job for us, and we can't wait to work with him again on our next remodeling project. Thank you, Kurt!

From the owner: West Workshop Architects is an award-winning contemporary architecture and design studio focusing…read moreon residential, commercial and public art projects. Kurt West, a registered Architect, founded the firm in 2017 and provides leadership in project design and firm operations. The firm's collaborative design process translates clients' desires into unique, practical and enduring solutions that exceed customer expectations. The firm operates offices in Alexandria, Virginia and Raleigh, North Carolina.

Working with Jason of Emotive Architecture, renewed my faith in housing professionals. I had been…read moreburned by housing professionals over the years and was very cautious about who I worked with this time around. Luckily, Jason came into the picture early on. He immediately took ownership of the project and was truly invested in making my project a huge success. He was so meticulous and thorough with the permit drawings, that I was able to get a building permit through DCRA in one week, which is unheard of. While the care he took with the drawings was outstanding, I think the most important aspect of working with Jason was that he made me feel extremely comfortable with the process and gave me no doubt that I was in good hands. I am a single woman handling this project on my own. Jason went out of his way to vet the contractors and review their bids. He even visited one contractor's work site. He also provided input on the million and one Houzz photos I sent him. I inherently trust Jason's opinion, work ethic, and professionalism. He's not only a great architect, but he's a great person who is fun to work with. With the transparent design contract, submitting deliverables ahead of time and being extremely responsive and accessible, I highly recommend Jason for anyone's remodeling project.

I hope there isn't a character limit here, because I don't think I will ever be able to fully sing…read moreJason's praise. In December 2012, I purchased my first home - a row house that was in need of a complete gut renovation. Jason was recommended to me by a friend, and I am eternally grateful for her sage recommendation! Skill and Workmanship: When the professionals at DCRA (including former architects) are asking for your architect's card because of how spot on his work is, you know you're working with a top-notch architect. When a zoning reviewer's call is overturned based on your architect's interpretation of a code section, you know you're working with an architectural genius. Jason = architectural genius. That is all. Customer Service: As you may imagine, being a first-time homeowner is stressful in and of itself. Buying your first home and stripping it down to the studs (think Extreme Makeover: Home Edition) is pretty insane. Thankfully, I had Jason to guide me through the entire process. From summer 2012, when I hired him, through present day, Jason has treated this project as if it were his own. There was not one renovation decision that I made without consulting Jason (and with a gut renovation that spanned a year and 3 months from design to completion, there were LOADS of decisions made). He was ALWAYS available and made me feel like I was his only client, even though I knew I wasn't. Jason is more than my architect; he has truly become a family member (the kind you don' t mind when they stop by unannounced). If you're looking for just a "good" architect, Jason is out of your league. I recommend him for homeowners who, like me, wanted near perfection. I certainly found that and more in Jason, and he was worth every single penny I paid for his services. Any and every renovation I do will always begin with Jason.

In a central part of town, the District Architecture Center opens its lobby to the public for free…read more Most days, ring the doorbell and see architecture-centric displays on the ground and lower levels. There are also restrooms for use.

This was my first time at the district architecture center and I enjoyed my time visiting. This…read morepast weekend they hosted a watch event with local starters and international brands. There was a good variety of watches and different prices ranges. I got to see the different styles, sizing and prototypes of upcoming watches that were not yet released as well. The even was free and everyone who attended were also very friendly and polite. They ended their event with a raffle and my boyfriend won a free watch.

I have talked to Matt about a project we have, and he showed great deal of knowledge and expertise…read more In addition, he wasted no time in explaining and talking to me about what I want in the project and guiding me to the right approach. I can see from the thinking process he showed that his projects will be well thought of. He also demonstrated familiarity with the DC permitting process and requirements. I highly recommend Ossolinski Architects as a professional and reliable architects for commercial or residential.

Ossolinski Architects did the renovation on our late 19th century home, and we are extremely happy…read morewith the end results. Matt was great to work with. He really listened and worked hard to ensure we understood exactly what he was thinking, and he took time to ask questions to make sure he understood what we were thinking. He has a great eye for design and included details to our project that really aded to the look we were going for. He had a contractor that he worked with, rather than putting the project out for bid. We were unsure of how this might affect the project, but the contractor, Stan, was knowledgeable, practical and demonstrated great integrity.