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Edw J Shannon, Architect/Spirit Lake Studio

Edw J Shannon, Architect/Spirit Lake Studio

Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars10 Reviews
Architects
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About Us

I am a Licensed Architect with over 25 years of experience in commercial, institutional, and residential sectors. While I reside in Des Moines, Iowa, I still maintain a strong Chicago presence and am also available for projects in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan. I also have a branch office in Spirit Lake (address below): 1710 Lincoln Avenue Spirit Lake, IA 51360 I design homes and light commercial projects that are inspiring, comfortable, economical, and flow well to enhance livability. I refer to myself as the "Neighborhood Architect" because I treasure old neighborhoods and believe in investing in these. Two Design philosophies I work closely with are The Not So Big House and The Original Green. The Not So Big House: • Values Quality over Quantity • Emphasizes Comfort, Beauty, and a high level of Detail • Doesn't necessarily mean small. It means not as big as you thought you needed, but designed and built to perfectly suit the way you live. The Original Green emphasizes sustainable buildings that are: LOVABLE - If they can’t be loved, they will not last. DURABLE - They must endure, in order to be sustainable. FLEXIBLE - If they endure, they will need to be used for many uses over generations. FRUGAL – because energy hogs can’t be sustained in a healthy way long into an uncertain future. Building a new home is one of the biggest investments a family will ever make. Yet, despite spending a lot of money, a new home can still be flawed by way of planning, structure, and aesthetics. You deserve only the best! Going through a thorough design process with a licensed, seasoned design professional will ensure you get the house that best suits your needs and fits your site. Do it right with an Architect!

Awards

Licnsed Architect, State of Iowa, Illinois, NCARB - National Certificate of Architectural Registration Boards, AIA RESIDENTIAL HONOR AWARD, American Institute of Architects Northeast Illinois

Category

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Projects

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Business Details

Business Name

Edw J Shannon, Architect/Spirit Lake Studio

Phone Number

(515) 779-9050

Website

www.edwardjshannon.com

Address

3269 Lincoln Avenue
Spirit Lake, IA 51360

Typical Job Cost

$50,000.00 - $1,500,000.00

www.architecturalfees.com

License Number

ARCHITECT IA-06580 IL-015868

Followers

143 Followers

Socials

Find me on FacebookFind me on LinkedinFind me on my blog or other site

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Services Provided

Architectural Design

Building Design

Home Remodeling

Architectural Drawings

Custom Homes

House Plans

New Home Construction

Home Additions

Home Extensions

Sustainable Design

Energy-Efficient Homes

3D Rendering

Green Building

Universal Design

Drafting

Historic Building Conservation

Handicap-Accessible Design

Barn Design & Construction

Deck Design

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Areas Served

Des Moines

West Des Moines

Ankeny

Urbandale

Waukee

Johnston

Clive

Grimes

Norwalk

Pleasant Hill

Polk City

Windsor Heights

Saylorville

Granger

Beaverdale

Cumming

Berwick

Chicago Suburbs

Door County WI

Lake Panorama IA

Okoboji IA

Spirit Lake IA

Sun Valley Lake IA

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Credentials

2 Houzz Awards
Best of Houzz 2025 - Service
Best of Houzz 2021 - Service
4 Houzz Badges
Star Houzzer
Houzz Influencer
Recommended on Houzz
100 Ideabook Saves
3 Affiliations
AIA Custom Residential Architects NetworkThe American Institute of ArchitectsAIA Iowa
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Write a Review

10 Reviews for Edw J Shannon, Architect/Spirit Lake Studio

Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars5.0|10 reviews
Work Quality
5.0
Communication
5.0
Value
5.0
DT
David Tentinger
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars
We came to Edward with ideas; he listened to us and added his creativity and expertise; and now we have the beautiful lake home we envisioned. Edward was a great partner through the whole process, and that includes working with our building contractors and suppliers along the way. First class architectural design service!
PE
petula67
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars
We sought Edward’s expertise to design an addition to our house. Working with him was a delight from beginning to end. Edward has outstanding communication skills and is very responsive to questions. He is creative, very good at the big picture, but also very attentive to small details. He inspires confidence, and it’s clear that he deeply cares about his projects. Our project wish list included a large garage bay with storage above, vaulted workshop, safe room, mud room, and an indoor kennel, all within a footprint constrained by our lot’s setback requirement. Edward found a way to fit our whole wish list into a well-functioning layout. From the outside, the addition blends seamlessly with the rest of the house. The style and scale of the new section work so well, people marvel that it hasn’t always been there. We recommend Edward Shannon with enthusiasm!
Kay Stevens Custom Designs
Kay Stevens Custom Designs
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Edward listened to the vision for my project. He created an addition that blends perfectly with the existing structure!
H6
HU-621326709
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Edward designed a carport for us that was perfect for our house with our suggestions and his expertise. This was not an easy project-small space-county restrictions-and yet it was perfect. He was easy to talk to-had so many ideas that he would show. Followed up on questions we had and worked well with the contractor. I would highly recommend Ed.
Doug Wilson
Doug Wilson
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars
We were very pleased with our results from our architectural designs by Edward. Edward led the way forward with providing numerous options in order to accommodate our needs and to enable us to stay within budget. We were very happy with the final plan and would use Edward in the future if the need arises!
TL
Trudy LaBarr
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars
I hired Edward Shannon to draw up plans for my small retirement home. I had some ideas of what maybe I wanted and in working with him those ideas were clarified. In the past month I have located a builder in the Ozark area where my property is located and because I am having to scale down the size of my home due to financial reasons, I will not be using the plans that Edward drew up. I am having built a tiny home that just does not need plans.
PB
Patrick Beach
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Mr. Shannon worked with me creating a room we are very happy with! It came in on time and under budget. The contractor was most pleased with Mr. Shannon's plans and prints. The project was about 15 years ago and at the time construction cost exceeded 60k.
KB
Kathleen Butler
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Edward Shannon is an accomplished, passionate architect who understands and embodies the most important qualities to be successful. He has great communication skills that make him easy to collaborate with and a solid technical, design and business sense to keep a project on time and on budget. I highly recommend working with him!
DS
David Shumway
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Ed Shannon was the architect for my house addition. My wife and I knew we wanted to enlarge the kitchen, add an eating area and connect the kitchen and family room but did know how it could be done. Ed figured out an idea that was radically different than our thoughts. He presented several design options to us. We went with his radical idea and the house has been twice as nice to live in since. The improvement in usefulness of the house went well beyond what we were imagining. Now we hope we do not have to move away from this house. Ed met with us several times to understand our desires and the existing house design. He was easy to work with to develop the final design and did the work with the city for permit approval.
Douglas Clark
Douglas Clark
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Edward and I were neighbors in Palatine, Illinois and taught architecture together at Judson College. I have the highest respect for Edward's abilities both as a practicing architect and as an architecture professor. This combination of practicing architect/professor is respected in the profession as achieved by some of the most industrious and design savvy members of our field. Edward's photos speak volumes of his design sensitivity. His drawings are likewise works of art in a profession that has lost much of its hand drawn talent in 25 years of CAD prevalence. He clearly has the design maturity to know the disciplines of restraint, light and balance, harmony, forms and textures and can apply this maturity of design to multiple venues. Working directly with Edward I learned his quality of sincere responsible work ethic and constant self improvement motivation. He has excellent people skills and is a collaborative proactive problem solver. His continued professional advancement with LEED accreditation, professorship in Iowa, and his ever expanding portfolio are testaments of his commitment to a profession which demands lifelong learning to maintain excellence. Very glad to find Edward's page here and heartily recommend him to clients seeking a conscientious architect for their next project. Best Regards, Douglas Clark, NCARB Architect San Mateo, CA
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42 Ideabooks

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8 Comments

Commented: Critique our house plansWith all due respect, I have to wonder if you have any confidence in your "architect"? As a Licensed Architect, I feel I have no business critiquing a fellow licensed professional's design ...
May 13, 2020 in Building a Home
Commented: Design-builder v. purchase home plansAnother thing to keep in mind. Architects have areas of expertise, just like law practices. Most mid-sized and large firms concentrate on commercial and institutional buildings. A small project, lik...
May 9, 2020 in Building a Home
Commented: Thoughts on layout of stairs for addition" What building code applies to the stairs? Be sure to check the local amendments. I doubt what is drawn meets any building code but all that is probably required is to move the risers a half tre...
May 7, 2020 in Building a Home
Commented: Back finish ?Sorry, no I do not
July 14, 2013
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Frequently Asked Questions

How is Edw J Shannon, Architect/Spirit Lake Studio rated?

Edw J Shannon, Architect/Spirit Lake Studio is currently rated 5 overall out of 5

What services does Edw J Shannon, Architect/Spirit Lake Studio provide?

Edw J Shannon, Architect/Spirit Lake Studio provides the following services: 3D Rendering, Architectural Design, Architectural Drawings, Barn Design & Construction, Building Design, Custom Homes, Deck Design, Drafting, Energy-Efficient Homes, Green Building, Handicap-Accessible Design, Historic Building Conservation, Home Additions, Home Extensions, Home Remodeling, House Plans, New Home Construction, Sustainable Design, Universal Design

Where does Edw J Shannon, Architect/Spirit Lake Studio provide services?

Edw J Shannon, Architect/Spirit Lake Studio provides services in the following areas: Ankeny, Beaverdale, Berwick, Clive, Des Moines, Granger, Grimes, Johnston, Norwalk, Pleasant Hill, Polk City, Saylorville, Urbandale, Waukee, West Des Moines, Windsor Heights, Chicago Suburbs, Cumming, Door County WI, Okoboji IA, Spirit Lake IA, Sun Valley Lake IA, Lake Panorama IA