--- title: "Foster Dale Architects, Inc. — Architects & Building Designers | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/foster-dale-architects-inc-pfvwus-pf~1133008470 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~1133008470.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "Foster Dale Architects, Inc." category: ["Architects"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/4b93cd7b0230b033_2362-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "3717 North Ravenswood Avenue, Suite 111, Chicago, Illinois 60613, United States" latitude: 41.9543 longitude: -87.6575 phone: "(773) 327-1000" website: http://www.fosterdalearchitects.com rating: 4.9 review_count: 16 best_of_houzz_awards: 2 followers: 188 last_updated: 2026-11-08 --- # Foster Dale Architects, Inc. Original Houzz profile: [Foster Dale Architects, Inc.](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/foster-dale-architects-inc-pfvwus-pf~1133008470) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Architects - **Location:** Chicago, IL - **Serves:** Chicago, Evanston, Arlington Heights, Skokie, Oak Park, Glenview, Park Ridge, Northbrook, Highland Park, Wilmette, Lincolnwood, River Forest, North Shore - **Houzz rating:** 4.9 out of 5 (16 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 2 awards (2021–2025), for Service. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Houzz Influencer - Recommended on Houzz - 1,000 Ideabook Saves - Eco-friendly - Award winning - Offers Custom Work At Foster Dale Architects, we create architecture that delights and inspires. By listening well and crafting thoughtful projects that are creative and responsive to client needs, we can achieve amazing things. Foster Dale Architects. Design. Inspired. ### Services Provided - Architectural Design - Building Design - Home Remodeling - Architectural Drawings - Custom Homes - New Home Construction - Home Additions - Home Extensions - Sustainable Design - Kitchen Design - Kitchen Remodeling - Energy-Efficient Homes - Green Building - Multigenerational Homes - Home Restoration - Historic Building Conservation - Outdoor Kitchen Design - New construction homes - Remodeling ### Areas Served - Chicago - Evanston - Arlington Heights - Skokie - Oak Park - Glenview - Park Ridge - Northbrook - Highland Park - Wilmette - Lincolnwood - River Forest - North Shore ### Typical Job Cost $250,000 - 15 million ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | Foster Dale Architects, Inc. | | Address | 3717 North Ravenswood Avenue, Suite 111, Chicago, Illinois 60613, United States | | Phone | (773) 327-1000 | | Website | http://www.fosterdalearchitects.com | | Followers on Houzz | 188 | ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [Foster Dale Architects, Inc.](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/foster-dale-architects-inc-pfvwus-pf~1133008470) - **Website:** http://www.fosterdalearchitects.com - **Phone:** (773) 327-1000 ## Credentials **Certifications & Awards** - USGBC Greenbuilt Home Tour 2014 - USGBC Greenbuilt Home Tour 2015 - Glencoe Historic Preservation Commission Design Award 2015 - City of Chicago Landmark Award for Preservation Excellence 2017 - **Best of Houzz:** 2 awards (2021–2025), for Service. **Affiliations** - [The American Institute of Architects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/schools-and-organizations/the-american-institute-of-architects-pfvwus-pf~1350720471) ## Reviews **Overall rating: 4.9 out of 5 — 16 reviews** *Aspect averages:* - Work Quality: 5.0 - Communication: 5.0 - Value: 5.0 ### Reviews **★★★★★ — B Johnson, Sept. 2024** > Foster did great work on our project to build an addition to our home, renovate existing bathrooms, and update mechanicals. Highly recommend! **★★★★★ — Josh Coleman, July 2020** > We hired Foster and team to help us with an addition onto our beautiful 1906 Logan Square home that took it from 1450 sq ft to 3300 sq ft - a significant undertaking and ~2 years of work. I highly recommend Foster without any reservation. > > For our project, he helped from soup to nuts: initial concept, full drawings, budgeting, permit application, contractor selection, construction management, and some more detailed interior design toward the end. Needs were complex: we dug down 3 feet to deepen the basement, added a split-level mudroom, added new mechanical zones, added 2 new living spaces 2 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, etc. We absolutely love our new home. Without Foster, the project would not have been a success. There are many reasons I recommend Foster and FDA but here are the top 3: > > 1\) Professionalism. Foster is the consummate professional. This was our first big project and suffice it to say that sometimes things don't go to plan and it is not always clear why. Foster never once shied away from a problem, even if he had no part whatsoever in creating it. He just helped solve it. > > 2\) Design expertise. Foster and Jarrett really listened to us and how we were going to use the space. And then ... they did a lot that I didn't fully appreciate during the design phase to ensure the space actually works that way. They applied their expertise to harmonize: sight lines, walkway / flow clearance, privacy concerns, mechanicals implications, natural and artificial lighting interplay, appropriateness of architectural aspects and materials for a 1906 house etc. etc. etc. > > 3\) Detail detail detail. Your construction drawings are basically the only "source of truth" for the project, and anything not on them can be renegotiated, undercut or changed by subcontractors, the GC, etc. So it is fundamentally important that no detail go unexplored or undefined at the outset. Precision matters. I did not fully appreciate that until I had to go back to the drawing hundreds of times with the GC to ensure everything was to plan and as bid. Without the extreme level of detail and foresight from Foster and team early on, I am 100% certain this project would have gone off the rails. Good construction drawings are invaluable. I have since reviewed drawings by other architects from friends' projects etc. and I am astounded at how much is left to the GC / chance. > > Highly recommended. **★★★★★ — Emily Weseman, July 2020** > Working with Foster and his team was a great experience. They helped guide us from the beginning and took our feedback and requests seriously and thoughtfully. Our project had a very full scope- design (with many revisions), zoning change, bidding and construction. His recommendations on contractors and ability to work with our chosen contractor was also excellent. His professionalism and experience in the industry make him an excellent choice. **★★★★ — Michael Murray, May 2020** > Had a great eye for our major renovation project. Helped us "see" what the upgrades would look like. Still love it 4 years later. Would recommend him for anyone considering a significant project requiring a fine "eye". **★★★★★ — linda\_maccracken, May 2017** > Foster Dale designed an upgrade to a cape style house in Glenview that made the second floor has been added. He heard all our requests and lifestyles preferences and translated them into a transformation from a small cottage house to a big family house with large windows. He also tackled a tricky single room turning into a large Mayer bedroom and master bath. Foster was a pleasure to work with, an excellent professional providing options and contractors. The house has grown in value largely due to the house design. **★★★★★ — Brian Stube, Nov. 2016** > I hired Foster to help me design and build out a 4,000 sq ft raw loft space. He was the best professional I had the pleasure of working with through the whole 2-year process and helped immensely. In the design phase he provided much inspiration while also being a good listener. During construction he helped find many good contractors to help with some unique specializations this project had, including the installation of professional level sound insulation. And when the work was complete I couldn't have been happier with the result -- he helped me turn my dream home into a reality. I highly recommend Foster Dale Architects. **★★★★★ — Craig Courter, Nov. 2016** > My wife and I hired Foster to redesign a significant part of our row home in the Gold Coast area of Chicago. It was a pleasure working with him and the project turned out better than we initially envisioned it. Foster did the plans and worked seamlessly with our other professionals. It was a great experience, not something you usually say about a remodeling project. **★★★★★ — thetrimmers, June 2016** > FDA did an excellent job with our two story addition to our single family home in Chicago. He guided us through planning, design, and building. FDA is extremely professional, courteous, and responsive. I highly recommend this firm. **★★★★★ — ks8383, June 2015** > FDA helped us to completely reconfigure the first floor and a portion of the second floor of our home in Chicago. They were thorough and enthusiastic and helped us at every step of the process. Our project entailed extensive and complex changes to the structure and many systems of our house. Now that their design is built, we’ve forgotten the complexity and love the elegance of our house. The rooms flow well, the light is great and the many details they helped us with continue to serve our needs. In short, our house is beautiful and works so much better for us and our family. > > Foster and his team are not just talented and creative architects; they are really client focused. They were great collaborators with our contractor in solving some existing conditions issues that came up during construction and were always responsive to us and our busy schedules. They coordinated the bidding and the permitting processes for us and worked really well with our contractor and interior designer. Their ability to listen well and to give us great design options made the process of working with them fun and productive. Most importantly I knew that Foster genuinely cared about the outcome of our project and that it met our needs. He is a high integrity professional and a pleasure to work with. I would work with Foster and his team again given the chance. > > We highly recommend Foster Dale Architects! **★★★★★ — shankariyer, May 2014** > Foster is the ultimate professional. From the beginning, he listened to our family's needs, and then translated those desires into an efficient and practical, yet gorgeous, design which will serve us for years to come. It's hard to imagine what our home might look and feel like without the personal touch that FDA added. One of our best decisions was having him help us manage the project from beginning to end. De-conveting a two flat into a three story single family home is no easy task. Having him shepard us through the, at times, stressful process, made things much easier. In fact, there were many times that he was able to identify and correct errors, before they turned into costly, long-term headaches. We couldn't be happier with our dream home thanks to he and his team's efforts! **★★★★★ — karenboblewis, April 2014** > We hired Foster Dale Architects to design and facilitate the execution of a unique project joining two existing structures on adjacent lots with objectives that included strong, unified design, aesthetic appeal, functionality and resource sensitivity. In addition to invaluable and efficient navigation of the City’s construction approvals, FDA brought environmental credentials to the project and coordinated the identification of potential contractors who would similarly bring value and insight into this project. The project required monitoring and cataloging the green building elements of the project – from reclamation of portions of the existing structure, to the geothermal heating system, to reclaimed and environmentally sound building techniques and materials – to receive green certification from the City. The project took slightly more than a year to complete and our home is what we expected at the outset and better because of the input and counsel received from FDA. FDA is a great combination of both expertise and value. **★★★★★ — lakeviewbend, April 2014** > My wife and I originally contacted FDA in March 2009 while we were looking at houses in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood. We weren't exactly sure what we wanted but Foster graciously came with us to look at specific properties and helped us visualize what we wanted to create for our home. Keep in mind we hadn't even officially hired him at this point, as it would be two more months before we bought a house to rehab. > > Once we had a property and began to design our new home, Foster and team did an excellent job of incorporating our ideas into the project. We had a long list of requests and not everything was possible when working within the exterior constraints of a nearly 100-year old house on a tight city lot, but Foster's experience with similar gut renovation projects (including one on the same block) made the process much easier. The interior of our new house "evolves" from the classic, early 1900s look of the neighborhood when you first enter the main level to a much more contemporary look on the third floor. Foster and team were equally at ease with both styles and, even though we thought we'd seen it all, managed to surprise us with a few suggestions of things we hadn't considered. > > Beyond the architectural design, FDA served as the de facto project manager by helping us select the general contractor (not to mention our interior designer and some of the other specialists we used) and stayed engaged every step of the way. Our family is thrilled with the final result and we look forward to many enjoyable years to come in our new house! ## Selected projects - [House of Volumes](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/house-of-volumes-pj-vj~5944430) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 13 - Description: Owners of this standard size (25' x 125') Chicago city lot in the Lakeview neighborhood came to FDA asking for help to design a new home with a sleek and modern design sensibility for them and their family. The house has interlocking spaces that express themselves as volumes at the exterior with a rich but nuanced palette of materials (brick, stone, fiber cement panels and "wood" siding). A second floor bay cantilevers over the front door, stairs and porch to create a bold and welcoming entry. F… - [Lincoln Park Historic Renovation](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/lincoln-park-historic-renovation-pj-vj~5925535) - Location: Chicago, IL - Photos: 6 - Description: FDA designed a gut renovation and addition to a landmark house in Chicago's Lincoln Park (portions of the house predate the Great Chicago Fire) on a land-locked site. FDA and the owners researched the history of the house and worked closely with the Commission on Chicago Landmarks to create a design that respects the historic character of the exterior (as viewed from the street). Evidence of a front porch (long ago demolished) was discovered, and the new wood front porch has been built in the sp… - [Lincoln Square Modern Farmhouse](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/lincoln-square-modern-farmhouse-pj-vj~5925554) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 8 - Description: This custom home required some unique design solutions to create a house and yard on a very irregularly shaped lot. The triangular shape (because of the adjacent angled alley/street) meant that the largest area of the house is located almost entirely in the rear yard setback. FDA assisted the zoning attorney and our clients at the Chicago Zoning Board of Appeals in order to obtain the variations needed to build the project. To achieve the interconnected living spaces and open feel requested by o… - [Lincoln Park Revamp](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/lincoln-park-revamp-pj-vj~5944181) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 7 - Description: As the "heart" of the house for their family, the rear of the first floor of our clients' home didn't work as well as they wanted. Through a careful design of the space and custom cabinetry, FDA re-envisioned the informal center of the house. The renovated kitchen, the breakfast area and the family room are integrated and function better for this family. Large rift-sawn white oak panels slide away to reveal the television above the modern gas-fired fire box so that the family room can be a cozy,… - [Hyde Park Modern Renovation](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/hyde-park-modern-renovation-pj-vj~5944408) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 5 - Description: Our clients loved this vintage house in Hyde Park when they bought it several years ago and wanted it to work better for them and their children. They saw the potential that it had despite poor decisions by previous owners. FDA worked with them to design a renovation and addition project that strengthened the good existing elements while reworking the parts that did not work well. The changes were implemented as a multi-phase project over several years as their lives allowed. The earliest phase… - [Sustainable Age in Place Cottage](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/sustainable-age-in-place-cottage-pj-vj~793730) - Location: Chicago, IL - Photos: 16 - Description: FDA designed this project for a retiree who wished to move closer to his family in the city. His goals were to have an urban home which maintains the historic character of this vintage "cottage" and that would be accessible (as he ages). The renovation and addition place the primary living space and master bedroom suite on the first floor. The reconfiguration creates a series of open first floor spaces with a large "great room" at the front, open to the dining room and the kitchen. The small sin… - [Lakeview Light-filled Renovation](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/lakeview-light-filled-renovation-pj-vj~1467968) - Location: Chicago, IL - Photos: 4 - Description: Our clients bought this relatively new house on a wide lot in Lakeview knowing that the first floor had serious layout flaws. Creating a floor plan with a better flow and rooms that were sized appropriately for their larger family and their lifestyle required significant structural changes and the elimination of a circular two-story space. An existing steel column that compromised the layout of the rear of the house was replaced by a long steel beam that spans most of the width of the house. We… - [Modern Timber Loft Apartment](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/modern-timber-loft-apartment-pj-vj~395423) - Location: Chicago, IL - Photos: 11 - Description: Our client purchased this raw loft space and came to FDA excited about the potential of a blank slate. He knew there were challenges involved because the neighboring units above and below had been finished by their owners years earlier when the building was originally converted to condos. We helped him to work with an acoustic consultant (Threshold Acoustics) to design isolating systems for the floor, walls & ceiling - these strategies will greatly reduce the noise from (and to) the neighbors an… - [Sustainable Wide-Lot House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/sustainable-wide-lot-house-pj-vj~323523) - Location: Chicago, IL - Photos: 17 - Description: The clients for this new single-family home asked FDA to design a sustainable home that would fit into their north side Chicago neighborhood. This project was enrolled in the City of Chicago Green Homes Program, utilizing energy efficient strategies such as a ground-source (geothermal) HVAC system, a highly insulated building envelope and solar photovoltaic panels. The interior and the exterior of the house are richly detailed using traditional materials such as limestone, copper, cedar and stuc… - [LEED House with Spacious Roof Deck](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/leed-house-with-spacious-roof-deck-pj-vj~591904) - Location: Chicago, IL - Photos: 10 - Description: Converting this vintage brick 4-flat in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood into a sustainable home was a “dream-come-true” for the owners. They love the pedestrian lifestyle of the neighborhood and the green approach to repurposing the building. The goal was to incorporate a multitude of sustainable design strategies with the comforts of a high-end home while offering the many benefits of saving the existing masonry structure. The project includes a first floor rear addition that allows skyligh… - [Evanston Church House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/evanston-church-house-pj-vj~324512) - Location: Evanston, IL - Photos: 14 - Description: FDA designed the conversion of this 1904 church into a wonderful single-family residence. The existing brick and limestone facades were restored with great care, and the character and brick detailing of the addition (two garage spaces below two bedrooms) match the original church building. This home has received a 2008 City of Evanston Preservation & Design Award, in the category of "Adaptive Reuse" and a 2010 Design Evanston Award. FDA integrated a sophisticated uplighting system and many "gree… - [Wide-Lot Chicago House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/wide-lot-chicago-house-pj-vj~506609) - Location: Chicago, IL - Photos: 8 - Description: This new single-family residence is located on a wide lot in the Chicago neighborhood of Lakeview. FDA was asked to design a house that would feel like a "classic older Chicago home." The house, of brick and stucco, has traditional brick detailing, well-proportioned rooms, high ceilings and graceful character of an older home in which a few lucky families have lived over the years. The house has a rear stair for the family and a more formal front stair as well. There is a large kitchen that is o… - [Lakeview Transitional House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/lakeview-transitional-house-pj-vj~491993) - Location: Chicago, IL - Photos: 5 - Description: The couple that owns this house asked FDA to study ways to reinvent the house for them and their family while retaining the original character of the home. The house is in an historic district and utilizes a property tax freeze by having the design meet the guidelines of the Illinois Property Tax Assessment Freeze Program. The first floor was opened dramatically linking the rooms axially to the light/view of the beautifully landscaped yard. The second floor addition creates a master bedroom/bath… - [Lincoln Park Renovation](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/lincoln-park-renovation-pj-vj~492017) - Location: Chicago, IL - Photos: 9 - Description: This renovation of and rear-addition to an older, brick single-family home in Lincoln Park also includes a new brick garage with a roof-top garden/deck. The interior of the original house was restored with great care; the stair received a facelift, the plaster crown moulding was repaired and the wood floors and trim were repaired and replaced. The rear of the house was expanded to create a new open and light-filled space for the kitchen and family room. Linking the house and the garage garden/de… - [Highland Park Addition/Renovation \#1](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/highland-park-addition-renovation-1-pj-vj~482813) - Location: Highland Park, IL - Photos: 5 - Description: This brick and stucco home sits on a large lot on the North Shore of Chicago. FDA designed a complete renovation with an addition at the front and the rear of the house. The reconfiguration creates beautiful spaces for entertaining and for more private family time with the new kitchen as the center. The house has an enclosed sun room and a “matching” trellised deck off of the breakfast area that leads to a semi-circular patio. The second floor was expanded to make five bedrooms including a maste… - [Wrigleyville Graystone De-conversion \#1](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/wrigleyville-graystone-de-conversion-1-pj-vj~323496) - Location: Chicago, IL - Photos: 11 - Description: Many sustainable design strategies were included in this "gut" renovation and addition to a custom single-family house, which was enrolled in the City of Chicago Green Homes and Green Permit programs. Reusing a large part of the shell of the existing 2-unit masonry building was an important first step, but the addition of high-performance spray-foam insulation, energy-efficient windows, energy saving building techniques and ground source heat pump (geothermal) heating and cooling means that this… - [Soda Pop Factory House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/soda-pop-factory-house-pj-vj~324487) - Location: Chicago, IL - Photos: 10 - Description: This older brick soda pop bottling plant on the south side of Chicago was gutted and put back together as a unique single-family residence for an artistic couple and their children. The front facade was redesigned in the spirit of an urban palazzo. The brick wall along the sidewalk encloses an herb garden (accessed from a first floor study) and focuses the view of the front door. A new steel circular stair was designed for the two-story portion of the house, and the stair leads up to the bedroom… - [Wrigleyville Graystone De-conversion \#2](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/wrigleyville-graystone-de-conversion-2-pj-vj~327967) - Location: Chicago, IL - Photos: 14 - Description: This masonry two-flat near Wrigley Field was gutted and expanded to create a beautiful single family home that still retains the architectural character of the greystone facade. The renovation involved a 12'-0" rear addition, lowering the basement floor, a new garage with a roof deck and a partial third floor guest suite addition. A new wood stair (with a steel and wood railing) was designed near the center of the house and allowed the floor plan to be completely reconfigured. The kitchen/breakf… - [Modern Gallery Apartment](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/modern-gallery-apartment-pj-vj~395414) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 5 - Description: The bachelor who owns this apartment asked FDA for help to update to his coop in the Gold Coast of Chicago. The kitchen and both bathrooms were reconfigured and refinished. The living/dining room is a light-filled gallery for the owner’s art and poster collection. The elevator lobby (serving only this apartment) was also renovated. An image of the kitchen was published in the book, It’s Your Kitchen, by Joan Kohn, host of the Home & Garden Television (HGTV) show "Kitchen Design". - [Sustainable Double Lot Addition \#1](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/sustainable-double-lot-addition-1-pj-vj~327939) - Location: Chicago, IL - Photos: 13 - Description: The owners approached FDA for help in transforming this vintage home to accomodate a contemporary lifestyle and use of space. They had already acquired the adjacent neighboring lot and removed the house (but kept the original coach house). In order to gut, renovate and add a new second floor to the primary house, current City of Chicago Zoning guidelines required that the coach house either be removed or combined with the primary structure. FDA designed a connection to unite the two buildings, p… [See all 27 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/foster-dale-architects-inc-pfvwus-pf~1133008470) ## Community Q&A **Q: Nelson Platform Bench** *(in Photo Questions)* Can you please tell me if that bench is the walnut or maple wood? Thanks A: Hi Veronica, Our client found the bench, but it sure looks like maple and not walnut. Thanks and good luck! **Q: Who made the wood top and iron base table?** *(in Photo Questions)* I'm in Chicago and looking at something similar. A: I believe that this is a custom table. **Q: what color is the blue in the bedroom photo** *(in Photo Questions)* A: The interior designer says that the paint color is Benjamin Moore \#2129-30-Blue Note. Thanks and good luck! **Q: Where is the beautiful modern table from?** *(in Photo Questions)* A: The interior designer replied as follows: The contact info for the dining table is Scott Chambers at Fine Woodworks, 5915 N. Ravenswood Ave, Chicago 60660 His phone number is 773.334.6050 Email is scott@finewoodworksinc.net Good luck! **Q: Flooring and countertop** *(in Photo Questions)* Hello, This is a beautiful kitchen. 1\) Is this maple flooring? 2\) What color hardwood floor is this? Where can I find it? 3\) Where can I find this countertop? Thanks! A: Hi and thanks for your questions about this project. The flooring is walnut with a custom stain. You should be able to work with a custom wood flooring contractor to get a stain that works in your house. The interior designer specified the counter, and we will see if we can get more information about it. **Q: Where are the lucite chairs from?** *(in Photo Questions)* Where are the lucite chairs from? A: The chairs are from Florense (here in Chicago) - their contact info is 312-640-0066 (you can ask for Karin Wowk). The chairs are called, "Gaia", but per the interior designer who helped select the furniture, they may now be discontinued. You may still be able to find floor models, though - good luck! --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-11-08.*