--- title: "ALTUS Architecture + Design — Architects & Building Designers | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/altus-architecture-design-pfvwus-pf~687869091 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~687869091.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "ALTUS Architecture + Design" category: ["Architects"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/ca6360980f8c8354_2905-w400-h400-b1-p10--.jpg address: "420 Second Street, Excelsior, Minnesota 55331, United States" latitude: 44.9007 longitude: -93.5791 phone: "(612) 333-8095" website: http://www.altusarch.com rating: 5 review_count: 4 best_of_houzz_awards: 4 followers: 716 last_updated: 2026-08-28 --- # ALTUS Architecture + Design Original Houzz profile: [ALTUS Architecture + Design](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/altus-architecture-design-pfvwus-pf~687869091) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Architects - **Location:** Excelsior, MN - **Serves:** Minneapolis, National - **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (4 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 4 awards (2014–2020), for Design, Service. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Houzz Influencer - 100,000 Ideabook Saves ALTUS Architecture + Design is a firm that focuses on creating places for living that reflect the identity of the Client and are inseparable from their context or site. As a full-services architecture and interior design firm the work that we develop with our clients extends the ideals and issues of the project through to a level of craft. We believe in the refinement of human scale, the celebration of light, the intrinsic characteristics of materials and excellence of execution culminating in work of lasting integrity. The classic role of the architect who develops a “unique and custom” design for an individual client in a particular place often leads to a formulaic methodology with predictable “signature” results of an individual style attributable to the architect, with the client succumbing to the will of the architect. It is the belief of this firm, that in this period of maturing Modernism, advancing technology and emerging green design, that one must understand the qualities and issues present in all great architecture over time. For it is these issues of design integrity that can be made unique in each project. The homes on this site are an exploration of such issues that result in progressive contextualism - a belief in place making that allows each project to express an individual identity while evoking intangible experiential qualities. Each individual location has a sense of place and identity that should be amplified, whether it is on a lakefront site or 8 floors above the city. Thoughtful placement and composition of the aspects of the house on the site, with the integration of landscape design allows the project to be a natural extension of that place. Indoor and outdoor spaces merge, integrating the living experience with the site. Equally important to the creation of architecture is the capture and development of natural light. Great residential architecture seeks to celebrate the rituals of the day, and light is the spiritual food that nourishes the soul, transforming these experiences. Understanding the path of the sun, one can compose the spaces within and outside the home with natural light, enriching the experiential qualities of space and creating a sense of place. ### Services Provided - Architectural Design - Building Design - Home Remodeling - Architectural Drawings - House Plans - New Home Construction - Home Additions - Home Extensions - Kitchen Design - Kitchen Remodeling - Sustainable Design - Energy-Efficient Homes - Floor Plans - Green Building - Space Planning - Site Preparation - Landscape Plans - Custom Homes ### Areas Served - Minneapolis - National ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | ALTUS Architecture + Design | | Address | 420 Second Street, Excelsior, Minnesota 55331, United States | | Phone | (612) 333-8095 | | Website | http://www.altusarch.com | | Followers on Houzz | 716 | **Social profiles:** - Facebook — http://www.facebook.com/pages/altus-architecture-design/191288344243240?sk=wall - Blog — http://www.altusarch.com ## Offers Call for a Free Initial Consultation! ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [ALTUS Architecture + Design](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/altus-architecture-design-pfvwus-pf~687869091) - **Website:** http://www.altusarch.com - **Phone:** (612) 333-8095 ## Credentials **Certifications & Awards** - 2015 & 2014 Best of Houzz; 2013 Home of the Month, Deephaven Res.; 2010 RAVE Award, Uptown Penthouse; 2010 AIA MN Honor Award, Minnetonka Res.; 2009 Architect of Distinction Award; 2009 Home of the Month, Minnetonka & Farquar Lake Res.; 2009 RAVE Award, Minnetonka & Farquar Lake Res. - **Best of Houzz:** 4 awards (2014–2020), for Design, 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: 5.0 out of 5 — 4 reviews** ### All 4 reviews **★★★★★ — linda\_ch, Jan. 2015** > We decided to hire Altus Architecture + Design to redesign our kitchen and adjoining informal dining and sitting area, approximately 700 square feet, after seeing a couple of homes they had designed and speaking with Tim Alt. > > Tim had a clear vision for the space. He provided great concepts and details with integrating our two key material selections and fixing our kitchen work flow concerns. Tim and Chad were excellent at communicating and collaborating with us throughout the whole process. They are highly talented and creative, very knowledgeable, professional and trustworthy. We are extremely pleased with the results and would definitely choose to work with them again. We highly recommend Altus! **★★★★★ — eodeh, April 2013** > My wife and I have Altus Architecture + Design as the design firm for our custom home which we are planning to build next spring. We have been working on the design with Altus for nearly 3 years. > > This firm is highly experienced and very talented. Our design is for a contemporary 3 bedroom, 21/2 bath home on a 3.7 acre lot in Rochester, Minnesota. The design has references to middle eastern culture. > > We give Altus Architecture + Design permission to share any photos of our home design. **★★★★★ — pnyberg, April 2013** > My husband and I hired the architectural team of Altus Architecture,Salmela Architect and Coen and Partners to custom design our home. We have lived at this home for nearly 8 years and absolutely love living here. Altus Architecture was the lead architectural firm who saw the project from design phase to end of the construction phase. They were organized and well prepared throughout the process. They worked well as a team member. They provided us with a unique design that met all our goals and needs in a home. Tim Alt sited our home on our lot in such a way that we enjoy magneficient views and sun light. Tim provided creative interior design of cabinetry and woodwork. Tim has excellent communication skills being able to express and explain information for us as clients. He was very thorough in all his documentation and drawings. Commuting to Rochester from Minneapolis was never an issue although a long commute. We would not hesitate recommending and hiring Altus Architecture to build a custom home. **★★★★★ — KICK Interiors LLC, April 2013** > Altus was the architectural firm I selected for our complete home renovation. I am thrilled with both the process and the results and would highly recommend them. Both Tim and Chad are extremely knowledgable, innovative, thoughtful, creative, and professional. They listen and provide terrific solutions. Their aesthetic is clean, functional, and incapsulates the client fully. Wonderful to work with, honest, and of high integrity. So happy that I chose to work with them! ## Selected projects - [Woodland House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/woodland-house-pj-vj~4192147) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 32 - Description: Sited on a wooded plateau overlooking a wetland and lake beyond, this new residence seeks to quietly integrate into the surroundings while capturing dramatic views and optimizing natural light. Organized as a single-level home, the "realms" of the program are defined by three wood clad wings that are connected by glass entry links. The placement of the wings of the house creates an arrival courtyard complimented by a free-standing "mystery object". The exterior composition of the house is dark-s… - [Lake Waconia House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/lake-waconia-house-pj-vj~498760) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 26 - Description: Situated on the Southwest shore of Lake Waconia, this industrial modern house for a family of 8 seeks to celebrate its natural surroundings through natural materials and dramatic transparency. Located adjacent to a grove of 200 year old oak trees near the shoreline the house is organized as a bold sculptural response to the lake and trees. The two-story, 5,500 square foot home is designed to promote the outdoors and active lifestyle of the family. The central living room is created as a two stor… - [White Bear Lake Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/white-bear-lake-residence-pj-vj~93872) - Location: White Bear Lake, MN - Photos: 16 - Description: Located on the east shore of White Bear Lake in Dellwood, Minnesota, a small historic community, defined by water recreation, leisure activities, and a century of traditional architecture. The site was an undeveloped part of the Client’s existing property, characterized by mature Oak trees and a low open space with a westward view of the lake. The client was seeking a new home that conveyed a crafted, resort-like quality; a place where indoor and outdoor spaces merge, and activities flow freely… - [Deephaven Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/deephaven-residence-pj-vj~93800) - Location: Deephaven, MN - Photos: 7 - [Farquar Lake Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/farquar-lake-residence-pj-vj~93853) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 18 - Description: The open, permeable design of this house results from the client’s active lifestyle and desire for connectivity to the site from all spaces. Designed for a narrow, wooded, pie-shaped lakefront site, this young family sought to develop outdoor play and garden spaces while enjoying views of the lake. The concept organizes the public and private spaces into two separate wood-clad forms connected by a glass-enclosed breezeway and screen porch. The breezeway becomes an open access between the car cou… - [Minnetonka Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/minnetonka-residence-pj-vj~93815) - Location: Minnetonka, MN - Photos: 17 - Description: Nestled on a deep wooded site, this modern house is designed for a young family to create open, flexible spaces for living and playing that allow the indoor and outdoor spaces to merge. Entering the site between mature spruce and white pine trees, the L-shaped plan creates a car court and play area under a landmark tamarack tree. The landscape was sculpted to create a series of flat activity spaces extending the house into the site from the main and lower levels. This site design included a "lan… - [Prairie House No. 2](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/prairie-house-no-2-pj-vj~98341) - Location: Rochester, MN - Photos: 15 - Description: The second custom Prairie house at Mayo Woodlands was designed and built west of the first house. Like the neighbor this house incorporates a main house with one attached and one detached garage structure, creating a variety of scale and outdoor spaces to the site composition. Oriented on a north/south axis on its elevated site, the house captures western views of the prairie landscape and optimizes morning and evening light through each space. The materials and color of the house relate to but… - [Bryn Mawr House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/bryn-mawr-house-pj-vj~610278) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 12 - Description: This home is an urban retreat with views of downtown Minneapolis and is surrounded by the bucolic setting of Theodore Wirth Park in the Bryn Mawr neighborhood of Minneapolis. The home evokes Finnish contemporary design with warm, natural materials and dramatic windows providing abundant natural light and views of the surroundings. The owner sought to elevate the living level to the second floor to capture extended views of the park and the city beyond. This design strategy allowed the living spa… - [Cedar Lake House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/cedar-lake-house-pj-vj~596597) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 3 - [Village House No. 1](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/village-house-no-1-pj-vj~610336) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 15 - Description: Designed as the first house for the Village neighborhood within The Mayo Woodlands development in Rochester, Minnesota, the project was created as a collaborative design effort between ALTUS Architecture + Design, landscape architect, Coen + Partners and architect, David Salmela. The project has received a Progressive Architecture Citation and has been published in the New York Times and many national magazines. The house is designed to express the design philosophy at the Woodlands through an e… - [Uptown Penthouse](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/uptown-penthouse-pj-vj~45535) - Location: Minneapolis, MN - Photos: 15 - Description: This sixth floor penthouse condominium overlooks the Minneapolis lakes, Uptown area and downtown beyond. Designed for a young professional the space is intended to distinguish the private and public realms through sculptural spatial gestures. The private master suite is created behind a curved white marble dust plaster wall that pulls one into the space. A freestanding Burlington stone bathroom mass organizes the master suite and separates the bedroom area from the bath and dressing spaces. A st… - [Minneapolis Penthouse](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/minneapolis-penthouse-pj-vj~610225) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 13 - Description: The design of this home is intended to maximize the daylight established by the floor to ceiling glass, and to celebrate the panoramic views of the city. The space is organized without walls, but by edges of differing wood cabinet elements that organize the spaces, but do not enclose. Private spaces such as bathrooms are treated as small stone masses within the space that do not reach the ceiling. Floating wall planes organize the circulation from the master suite to the living area. Within the… - [Uptown Condominium](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/uptown-condominium-pj-vj~93911) - Location: Minneapolis, MN - Photos: 9 [See all 13 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/altus-architecture-design-pfvwus-pf~687869091) ## Ideabooks - [Fireplace](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/32290998/list/fireplace) — 10 ideas - [Kitchens](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/31824273/list/kitchens) — 10 ideas - [Stairs](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/32290950/list/stairs) — 13 ideas - [Bathrooms](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/31824292/list/bathrooms) — 14 ideas [See all 4 ideabooks](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/altusarch) ## Community Q&A **Q: Garage Door?** *(in Photo Questions)* Hi what garage door did you use for this project? Thank you A: They are from Clopay. You can also research IDC for glass garage doors. T. A. **Q: what are the dimensions on this pool?** *(in Photo Questions)* A: The pool is 12' wide x 32' long. **Q: The wood looking material on the ground** *(in Photo Questions)* What is that? A: Brick pavers **Q: What is the material used for the fireplace surround?** *(in Photo Questions)* A: The fireplace surround is steel sheet and plate that has been chemically blackend. Hope that helps. T. A. **Q: I like the one pitch roof. Can you tell me how steep the slope is?** *(in Photo Questions)* A: The slope is 1/12. This shallow of a slope will require a metal and/or membrane roofing solution. Best wishes, T. A. **Q: Slate floor** *(in Photo Questions)* what kind of blsck slate? where can I order it? do you know sizes it comes in.? I am looking to do a kitchen,hall,laundry room. if sealed is it OK for heavy traffic such as mudroom and laundry? A: This slate is called Mauntauk Black available in Twin Cities area from Kate-Lo. It is very durable and affordable. We use it a lot in the locations you are asking about. --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-08-28.*