--- title: "Burr & McCallum Architects — Architects & Building Designers | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/burr-and-mccallum-architects-pfvwus-pf~1166026153 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~1166026153.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "Burr & McCallum Architects" category: ["Architects"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/82f3eace0f6b2fd2_6412-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "720 Main St, Williamstown, Massachusetts 01267, United States" latitude: 42.7089 longitude: -73.2036 phone: "(413) 458-2121" website: http://www.burrandmccallum.com rating: 5 review_count: 7 best_of_houzz_awards: 9 followers: 289 last_updated: 2026-09-08 --- # Burr & McCallum Architects Original Houzz profile: [Burr & McCallum Architects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/burr-and-mccallum-architects-pfvwus-pf~1166026153) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Architects - **Location:** Williamstown, MA - **Serves:** Berkshire, Pittsfield, Bridgewater, Roxbury, Sharon, North Adams, Norfolk, Salisbury, Adams, Williamstown, Great Barrington, Dalton, Lee, Lenox, Warren, Berlin, Sheffield, Cheshire, Lanesborough, Becket, Hinsdale, Stockbridge, New Marlborough, Richmond, Otis, West Stockbridge, Windsor, Sandisfield, Monterey, Florida, Hancock, Peru, Savoy, Tyringham, Washington, Alford, New Ashford, Cherry Plain, Clarksburg, Cornwall, Egremont, Kent, Mount Washington, New Hartford, North Pownal, Petersburg, Pownal, Readsboro, Stamford, Woodbury - **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (7 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 9 awards (2013–2026), for Design. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Star Houzzer - Houzz Influencer - Recommended on Houzz - 50,000 Ideabook Saves - Best of Houzz winner - Family owned - 37 years in business "Burr and McCallum fitted the house to the land like moss to a rock.” ~ Robert Campbell, FAIA, architecture critic for the Boston Globe "Frank Gehry meets the Shakers" is how former Dean of the Yale Architecture School, Thomas Beebe, once described our work. These two quotes describe what we strive for in our architecture. It must start with a strong connection with the site: physically, historically, and emotionally. And from that beginning emerges invention. We love to use old materials in innovative ways. We update traditional construction methods that have proven their worth over centuries with new materials and current energy conservation techniques. History is our friend and our inspiration. Franklin Andrus Burr, FAIA, received his B. A. from Williams College and his M. Arch. from the Yale School of Architecture (1970). Andy is a registered architect in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Ann Kidston McCallum, FAIA, received her B. A. from McGill University and her M. Arch. from Yale School of Architecture (1980). She currently teaches architectural design at Williams College. Ann is a registered architect in Massachusetts and New York. Ann and Andy are both Fellows of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA). Becoming a Fellow is considered a great honor; fewer than 2 percent of all registered architects in the United States are elected to fellowship in the AIA. Of these, less than 15% are design fellows, putting Burr and McCallum Architects in an honored status among less than one half of one percent of all American architects. David Shaughnessy, Partner, has been a vital part of the firm’s success for nearly three decades. David is in charge of construction documents and project management, collaborating with contractors, suppliers, consultants, and clients. ### Services Provided - Architectural Design - Building Design - Home Remodeling - Architectural Drawings - Custom Homes - House Plans - New Home Construction - Home Additions - Home Extensions - Kitchen Design - Sustainable Design - Kitchen Remodeling - Energy-Efficient Homes - Floor Plans - 3D Rendering - Bathroom Design - Green Building - Space Planning - Universal Design - Multigenerational Homes - Pool House Design & Construction - Home Restoration - Drafting - Historic Building Conservation - Project Management - Handicap-Accessible Design - Structural Engineering - Barn Design & Construction - Basement Remodeling - Mudroom Design - Basement Design - Attic Conversion - Staircase Design - Deck Design - Site Preparation - Laundry Room Design - Home Gym Design & Construction - Prefab Houses - Rooftop Deck Installation - Construction Drawings ### Areas Served - Berkshire - Pittsfield - Bridgewater - Roxbury - Sharon - North Adams - Norfolk - Salisbury - Adams - Williamstown - Great Barrington - Dalton - Lee - Lenox - Warren - Berlin - Sheffield - Cheshire - Lanesborough - Becket - Hinsdale - Stockbridge - New Marlborough - Richmond - Otis - West Stockbridge - Windsor - Sandisfield - Monterey - Florida - Hancock - Peru - Savoy - Tyringham - Washington - Alford - New Ashford - Cherry Plain - Clarksburg - Cornwall - Egremont - Kent - Mount Washington - New Hartford - North Pownal - Petersburg - Pownal - Readsboro - Stamford - Woodbury ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | Burr & McCallum Architects | | Address | 720 Main St, Williamstown, Massachusetts 01267, United States | | Phone | (413) 458-2121 | | Website | http://www.burrandmccallum.com | | Followers on Houzz | 289 | **Social profiles:** - Blog — http://www.burrandmccallum.com/press/ ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [Burr & McCallum Architects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/burr-and-mccallum-architects-pfvwus-pf~1166026153) - **Website:** http://www.burrandmccallum.com - **Phone:** (413) 458-2121 ## Credentials **Certifications & Awards** - 20+ Awards for Excellence in Design: Architectural Record Houses, Boston Society of Architects, Western Massachusetts AIA, Residential Design + Build, Builders Choice Awards, New England Design Hall of Fame, Andrea Palladio International Design Competition, Japan Architect Competition - **Best of Houzz:** 9 awards (2013–2026), for Design. **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: 5.0 out of 5 — 7 reviews** *Aspect averages:* - Work Quality: 50.0 - Communication: 50.0 - Value: 50.0 ### All 7 reviews **★★★★★ — Stephen Jenks, Dec. 2021** > We used Burr and McCallum to design a new house in Williamstown, MA. We were attracted to them initially by their demonstrated ability to design traditional New England residences in an updated clean manner. Throughout the process they proved adept at listening to our ideas while introducing their own unique design concepts. We can honestly say that the process was highly collaborative and enjoyable. We've been asked several times by friends whether we would change anything in our design, and our honest response is that we would not change a thing. **★★★★★ — Greg Hunt, Jan. 2018** > After working unsuccessfully for 6 months with another firm to design our Virginia farmhouse, my wife and I met with Ann and Andy. They understood our vision in a short initial meeting and quickly developed plans that needed only minimal changes. Our VA builder took it from there. > Perfect! We could not be happier with their work. **Comment from Burr & McCallum Architects:** > We are delighted that we could help with your Virginia farmhouse > and are thrilled to hear of the excellent progress and completion! **★★★★★ — Knockout Knobs, Oct. 2016** > I LOVE my house! designed by Ann and Andy at Burr and McCallum. From the start of my project to the completion of my new home, i enjoyed working with Ann and Andy. They listened to me and created a plan which met ALL of my needs in my new home. They coordinated well with my builder and made changes as needed. They turned a low ceiling cape with lots of rooms into a bright and open floor plan, which takes advantage of all the natural light. Their attention to detail throughout the project was exceptional. Burr and Mccallum is the rare combination of creative and professional. **★★★★★ — User, Aug. 2016** > Andy Burr and Ann McCallum designed our newly built home in the Berkshires. > > We first contacted them when we were looking at land, and undecided between two lots. They quickly and intuitively steered us in the right direction. From that first meeting we felt that Ann and Andy would design something both special and very right for us. As design work got underway, we continually appreciated their aesthetic. They developed our design quickly and concisely, and we went from design to occupancy in less than a year. They were great listeners and communicators. Their help in selection of contractors, and seeing how the contractors regarded them, further confirmed our decision. We could not be happier with the result. **Comment from Burr & McCallum Architects:** > Wonderful to work on your project. Thanks for your support! **★★★★★ — tomcostley, April 2015** > B&McC designed our house (built in 2006). Ann and Andy were terrific to work with and we love our house-- it reflects our dreams and their art. **★★★★★ — merylsf, April 2015** > From the beginning, working with Ann & Andy was fun. We looked forward to every one of our meetings, responding to a myriad of questions regarding our daily habits, home life preferences, style desires and practical concerns. As the design took shape, they worked closely with our builder to value engineer our project without compromising our goals. They proved to be respectful, responsive, creative, funky, thorough and familiar with Berkshire design and feel. They gave us tours of many houses they had designed which allowed us to validate our vision and to incorporate ideas we had not contemplated. > During construction they provided guidance and oversight to our builder to ensure conception matched reality. They also were available to our landscaper and pool contractor to achieve the environment look and feel we sought. > We have now lived in our dream house for nearly 6 years and have never had a single regret. A remarkable achievement which could not have occurred without the attention, caring and professionalism of Ann and Andy. **★★★★★ — gleopold, Oct. 2014** > We had long admired the work of this talented duo (Ann McCallum and Andy Burr) and had especially enjoyed the success they had creating the Porches Hotel in North Adams, MA, which had a decidedly Mid-Century vibe. When we bought our little 1950's Cape in Williamstown we knew they'd be the perfect choice to update the house and convert it into an idyllic weekend and Summer retreat. Our goal was to remain true to the building's original mid-century roots and add a contemporary vibe at the same time. Working with a very modest budget, Burr & McCallum came up with a wonderful (and affordable) way to add a shed dormer, open up the interior, create a master bath and utilize standard materials (like Pella windows and IKEA kitchen cabinets) that gave us the look we wanted, yet stayed within our agreed to budget. They helped us identify and work with a great local contractor (Vince Martel) and were shoulder to shoulder with us throughout the process. They even brought a colorist in to ensure we got the bright, fun, cheery palette for the house that we desired. It was a really great collaboration -- they were wonderful listeners and always found a way to take our input and ideas and make them even better. In the end we got exactly the house we had hoped for and we credit that to the vision, talents and thoughtful approach that Ann and Andy use. I'm pleased to say that even though the house is a renovation and very modest in size and scope, it's been featured in Boston Magazine, Better Homes & Gardens and elsewhere. We can't say enough good things about this firm and recommend them highly. ## Selected projects - [Berkshires House XX](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/berkshires-house-xx-pj-vj~5508859) - Location: Williamstown, MA - Photos: 14 - Description: As a student at Williams College, our client lived for a year in a cabin on a hill with a spectacular view of the valley and in the distance, Mount Greylock, the highest mountain in southern New England. After marriage to his college sweetheart and a successful career in finance, he and his wife leapt at the opportunity to buy that beautiful piece of the Berkshires and build a house large enough to accommodate their extended family on vacations and holiday gatherings. The first phase of construc… - [Berkshires House XVII](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/berkshires-house-xvii-pj-vj~2056882) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 27 - Description: On a sloping, wooded site high in the Berkshire Hills with a long view to the east, our challenge was to create a spacious contemporary house with a New England feel. We knew that a massive block of a house would overpower the site and probably be a sore thumb in the landscape, so we broke the house into four pieces, rather like farm buildings that had been assembled over a period of time. This allowed us to expose every major room to the dramatic eastern view, to discreetly separate the master… - [Berkshires House XVI](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/berkshires-house-xvi-pj-vj~2030665) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 14 - Description: Our clients came to us with an unusual and refreshing idea. They wanted to build a smaller, more efficient house than the fifteen year old home in which they were living. With grown children, they didn't see the need for a large and usually half empty house. Both are involved in the arts (he is a photographer and she is a print maker) and so they wanted a separate small building to serve as a studio. The site, a gentle hillside with a lovely Berkshire view, was ideal for a small house and we saw… - [Berkshires House X](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/berkshires-house-x-pj-vj~43437) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 19 - Description: This 4,100 square foot residence was completed in 2008. Natural conditions drove the forms of this rural house on a windy hillside. Capturing the warmth of the sun is particularly important in a house used primarily in the winter, but it is challenging when the views are in every other direction, most spectacularly to the west, from which direction a brutal wind blows all winter. Three barn forms are connected to each other with simple sheds, forming a south-facing courtyard that shelters the en… - [Berkshires House XIV](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/berkshires-house-xiv-pj-vj~1105090) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 34 - Description: Tucked into a secluded hillside in the Berkshires, this is a semi-retirement home for a family that loves entertaining, cooking, gardening, sports, and outdoor living. Designed in a rural vernacular that recalls barns and farm outbuildings, the main house includes a large living and dining space, a sun room, an ample kitchen, his-and-hers studies, and four bedrooms. Triple hung windows in the living area allow one to walk directly out onto a terrace with a spectacular view. On the other side of… - [Berkshires House XIII](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/berkshires-house-xiii-pj-vj~43409) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 24 - Description: Residence with three bedrooms and two studies focused around a spectacular contemporary art collection. We had to balance the clients’ desire for long stretches of wall space protected from UV light, with their wish for plenty of windows to see the spectacular Berkshire views. The site is located at the crest of a steeply sloping hill with a dramatic view facing north-west. Design Solution: The house is composed of three bars. The main bar with living spaces one room deep, enfronts the view. A s… - [Berkshires House IX](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/berkshires-house-ix-pj-vj~2276167) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 20 - Description: Sited at the brink of a spectacular precipice, this collection of buildings houses the living and working needs of a family of four. We intentionally pulled the house back from the edge to preserve the view for the surrounding region. Allowing certain existing trees to remain and painting the house in muted earth tones helped to accomplish this goal. A second benefit of this decision is a front yard that creates a park-like setting. The soffits of the very large overhang, painted red, are suppor… - [Residence in Williamstown, MA](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/residence-in-williamstown-ma-pj-vj~43424) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 20 - Description: On a dramatic site overlooking Williamstown with Mount Greylock in the distance, our clients asked for a traditional New England house, designed for contemporary living, but looking like it could have been there for 150 years. A family of four, very involved with sports and the outdoors, our clients wanted not just a house, but exterior spaces, including a pool, a place for outdoor entertaining, a spot for a basketball hoop and a field for soccer. In addition, a space had to be found for an outd… - [Renovation in Williamstown, MA](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/renovation-in-williamstown-ma-pj-vj~43426) - Location: Williamstown, MA - Photos: 16 - Description: Our client found a very affordable 1949 Cape to use as a vacation house in the Berkshires. Its pluses were small size, charm, an interesting site, and good basic construction. On the minus side, was a dark interior, lack of visual connection to the outdoors, outdated kitchen, constricted flow pattern, and an almost unusable second floor with two narrow rooms, each with a single window in the two end gables. Our goal and challenge was to give the house an exciting new feel, improve circulation an… - [Residence in South Egremont, MA](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/residence-in-south-egremont-ma-pj-vj~43422) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 10 - Description: Hillsides facing north present a thorny problem when designing a house. You want big windows facing the view, but you also want direct sunlight to brighten the rooms, and you don’t want too much heat loss through those north facing windows. Our solution in this house was to use special insulating glass toward the view while bringing light into the major living rooms using high south-facing windows in a shed dormer. A magnificent stand of birch trees gave us the opportunity to create an interesti… - [Berkshires House XIX](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/berkshires-house-xix-pj-vj~2224560) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 15 - Description: Our clients wanted buildings to house cars, a tractor, and a workshop, as well as a guest house with living space and bedrooms for their extended family. The logical and economical solution was to combine all those functions in one simple building. In a two and a half story barnlike structure we put all the utilitarian functions on the ground floor with living spaces above. We carved out a corner of the second floor to make a screen porch with a long view over hayfields, and used a glass garage… - [Berkshires House XVIII](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/berkshires-house-xviii-pj-vj~2673827) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 14 - Description: Our clients bought an older ranch house because they liked the in-town site, which was nonetheless fairly out-of-the-way and quiet. However, they were not at all excited about the house itself, which they found dark, a little small for their needs, and very dated in appearance. Rather than tearing it down, which seemed wasteful, they wanted us to work with the existing structure. Our solution was a major facelift and a small addition to expand the dining area and add a master bedroom. When we fi… - [Residence in Alford, MA](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/residence-in-alford-ma-pj-vj~43414) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 13 - Description: Berkshire vernacular architecture has always inspired our work, which borrows heavily from houses, barns, and old mills of the area. This project marks the first time we have stolen inspiration from the sawtooth roofs of the many moribund mills of the Berkshires. Our clients had always admired our industrial-inspired work and they wanted a small footprint with a lot of punch, but on a tight budget. The absence of a second floor gave us the opportunity for top lighting, and the sawteeth allowed u… - [Berkshires House VI](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/berkshires-house-vi-pj-vj~43442) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 9 - Description: An adventurous pair of houses with an interesting dynamic. The clients are brothers, both avid fans of New England industrial architecture, the grittier the better, who asked us to design two houses for their young families on two separate sites. As we worked with each of them, it became apparent that their ideas of what it meant to transform industrial into domestic were polar opposites, giving us an opportunity to analyze two directions in what might constitute an “industrial” architectural st… - [Berkshires House III](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/berkshires-house-iii-pj-vj~1261573) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 26 - [Berkshires Pool House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/berkshires-pool-house-pj-vj~43438) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 9 - Description: Our clients needed a swimming pool to lure their children up to the country. They wanted it to be small and placed near their existing tennis court, with an extra little building to house a bathroom, storage for pool supplies, and tennis rackets. We included a shady porch that works simultaneously for tennis watching and pool lounging, and utilized an existing steep slope dropping away from the tennis court to avoid a code mandated pool fence. Where the slope up to the tennis court would make th… - [Berkshires House XII](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/berkshires-house-xii-pj-vj~1261498) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 10 - Description: Twenty-five years ago we designed our first free-standing house for these clients and gratifyingly they returned to us fifteen years later as they had so enjoyed the experience the first time. One half of the couple had always wanted to live in a stone house, and the other hesitantly agreed if the cost could be kept reasonable. Our solution was to build the living, dining, and kitchen with stone to evoke a stone schoolhouse nearby. The bedrooms, laundry, and garage were included in a large attac… - [Berkshires House IV](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/berkshires-house-iv-pj-vj~1261390) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 11 - Description: This house mines the potential of vernacular form to create residential architecture that is inspired by the rich agrarian heritage of the region. The arrangement of the house and barn/guest house forms a protected courtyard open to the southeast and the view. Columns of rough-hewn local granite are similar to those used in nearby nineteenth century Shaker communities. A metal chimney allows the windows to continue uninterrupted around the southeast corner of the living room. - [Guest House in Williamstown, MA](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/guest-house-in-williamstown-ma-pj-vj~43441) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 6 - Description: This garage with a 700 sq. ft. guest bedroom and bath above is located in a semi-rural area. A gable - penetrated by a curve – forms the roof of the carriage barn. This traditional form of a double pitched roof with a shed dormer on each side becomes something new when the shed is pushed to new dimensions. The steel structure of the curve becomes visible on the interior to make a dynamic “ceiling-scape”. The exterior is finished with corrugated steel with wood trim. Interior finishes include pic… - [Berkshires House VII](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/berkshires-house-vii-pj-vj~202755) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 14 - Description: An adventurous pair of houses with an interesting dynamic. The clients are brothers, both avid fans of New England industrial architecture, the grittier the better, who asked us to design two houses for their young families on two separate sites. As we worked with each of them, it became apparent that their ideas of what it meant to transform industrial into domestic were polar opposites, giving us an opportunity to analyze two directions in what might constitute an “industrial” architectural st… [See all 30 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/burr-and-mccallum-architects-pfvwus-pf~1166026153) ## Ideabooks - [annmccallum's ideas](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/47537586/list/annmccallum-s-ideas) — 15 ideas [See all 1 ideabook](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/annmccallum) ## Community Q&A **Q: What is the name of the stone flooring on covered porch?** *(in Photo Questions)* Rectangular flat stones look like they’re possibly slate. Would love to know what quarry or state they come from if name of stone isn’t known. A: We believe it's bluestone. **Q: Wonderful mini-roofs** *(in Photo Questions)* and can face north for soft indirect light? How to do this? A: Our architects advise that one should be careful about facing north because north light is a very cool light. **Q: Decking material** *(in Photo Questions)* Hi, what kind of decking material is this and what color is it? Thanks in advance! A: The wood is Ipe. It was finished with a matte, transparent oil-based sealer. PPG Sikkens ProLuxe Cetol SRD is a good choice. This product comes in Natural (unpigmented) and other colors. **Q: What a beautiful home** *(in Photo Questions)* I’m wondering if there is much heat transfer and reflection of the sun while you are enjoying the outdoor patio? (Compared to wood siding) A: It is a light grey steel roof with a Kynar coating. **Q: Door color** *(in Photo Questions)* Would you mind sharing the color of this door. We love the buttery tone and how it still pops off this siding. A: Thanks for your interest. This is Benjamin Moore's 'Apple Crisp'. **Q: Please give me the name of the water tile and where did you find it** *(in Photo Questions)* A: These are wood planks. --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-09-08.*