Drafting Companies in Ruby

“We had the pleasure of working with Wendy on a two story condo renovation design project. Wendy expertly guided us through each phase of the process, from schematic designs to materials choices to permit-ready construction designs. She turned everything around quickly and always provided different options for us to consider throughout the process. Since we are in a condo and can’t expand our square footage, we were continually impressed by the efficient use of space in her designs. She also saved us an interminable number of hours by guiding us through all the materials choices. Her professionalism, vision, and kindness made what could have been a stressful experience enjoyable. I strongly recommend working with Wendy on any architectural design project you are embarking on.”

“We have a 1938 brick colonial which had never been brought up to modern standards. We wanted to make the space we had more usable, add additional living space and improve the interior aesthetic while staying true to the original exterior architecture. We interviewed a number of architects and Seth Ballard stood out and above the others from the first meeting. He got how important it was to us to make sure the exterior would look as if the house had always been that way. We also appreciated his design process and proactive work style emphasizing communication. The design went relatively quickly through a cycle of in person conversations and sketches followed by drafting done by the firm and then additional conversations and sketches to further refine until we landed on a final design. My wife and I have strong opinions and are decisive, which probably helped the process go quickly. But Seth also offered new ideas and challenged us to consider different ideas when he thought there was a better alternative. Ultimately he supported our decisions though, so we felt like it was a great partnership and we got exactly what we wanted (and plenty of “what we wanted” were Seth’s ideas we hadn’t previously considered). The final design exceeded our expectations. Seth and his team also worked closely with us and the builder throughout the process, with a number of site visits to ensure the build aligned with the plans. Most decisions were made before demo even began (tile, light fixtures, plumbing fixtures, appliances, etc…), but there were a few to be made as work progressed (ex. placement of outlets and light switches). The level of decision making at the start felt intense, but it was fun and I think yielded the best results. Decisions were made when thinking about the whole project rather than dozens of individual decisions made over a longer period of time. Our renovation/addition was done during COVID, which came with supply chain and other complications, but Seth partnered with us every step of the way and we couldn’t be happier with the final results.”

“I am a builder/developer. My wife and I hired Broadhurst Architects, Inc. after interviewing 3 architectural firms, all expert in designing custom homes and large, complex additions to existing homes. Our goal was to add two large additions to allow us to age in place; to provide a new bedroom wing for a luxurious master bedroom suite, a studio, a guest suite for overnight guests and a large storage bay for outdoor recreational equipment; and to create a new family gathering and entertainment wing with the large spaces, amenities and features of a vacation home to provide a welcoming and comfortable destination for family and friends. The excellent “bones” for the new additions were provided by a 1955, all brick, custom rambler of excellent quality that featured a finished, walkout lower level and a full, unfinished attic topped by a steeply pitched slate roof on a 2 acre wooded lot. After thoroughly considering our goals and concepts, Jeff Broadhurst responded with site plans that showed six completely different alternatives for locating our two new building wings. After we selected the plan that best met our goals, we then worked with Jeff to modify that plan to even better meet our needs. Jeff and his team then proceeded to create architectural and permit plans for each of the two phases of construction consecutively. The plans created two additions perfect in design and materials to conceal the fact that they were new. Further, the plans retained the lovely, country-cottage ambience of the original, although square footage was increased from 2,600 SF to 5,700 SF. The designs created by Jeff created elevations and interior spaces of remarkable beauty and function, with sections and details that provided all the complex technical information required to mate the new additions to the original and to build and install the custom millwork and intricate trim details. I personally served as general contractor, and although my superintendent and I both reviewed and edited drafts of the plans, upon their finalization, the plans for the two phases contained no errors, a truly remarkable accomplishment. Jeff is a savvy and skilled artist with strong capabilities in creating livable spaces and in design function, proportion, balance, color, texture, mass, architectural history, construction techniques and materials. Jeff was a consummate professional throughout the creative process, from the first concept plans; to the stainless steel linking multilevel adjacent foundations; to underground and through-house utility chases; to the sophisticated MEP systems and their space requirements; to energy conservation products; to the exposed timber framing for two sections of the home (using oak selected and harvested from a Pennsylvania forest for shaping and assembling by hand in Maryland); to helping us select finishes compatible with both the classic colonial detailing of the original home and the rustic timber frame sections that are a reflection of a mountain lodge. Jeff listened intently to our stated goals for design and function and for harmonious indoor and outdoor living, and expertly transformed those statements into plans that became a construction reality. If you consider making changes to his plans, he will (if asked) explain his reasoning for his original concepts, how he views those concepts in comparison to the changes you may be considering, and then accepts without ego-involvement any changes in plans that you decide to make. He worked smoothly with all other members of the development team, from various engineers to our interior designer. He also assisted in recommending subcontractors and engineers. Each of the two phases took 3 months to prepare the detailed architectural and permit plans and 9 months in construction. We lived in the home for during the entire period and each new wing was isolated from the remainder of the home during construction. Construction began in 2010 and was completed in 2012. Out of pocket costs exceeded $1m. In my experience, Jeff is able to work by the hour or if you are able to provide a detailed design request, by a fixed rate. His rates are remarkably reasonable compared to those charged by many other similarly experienced architects. The final product exceeded our expectations and even our fondest hopes. We give Broadhurst Architects, Inc. a ten-star recommendation. And even beyond that superb rating, if you are considering commissioning Jeff as your architect and do not hire him, I expect there is a likelihood you made a mistake. I have taken the time to write this extensive review (instead of simply rating him as five-stars and adding a few sentences) out of respect and in thanks for Jeff’s skills and dedication in helping my wife and I achieve the home of our dreams, for us and our family, and one that literally could stand as an heirloom for a 1000 years with adequate care. Good luck with whatever design and construction adventure you are considering. I continue to use Jeff professionally through my business. If you wish to speak with me personally, you can reach me through Jeff Broadhurst, AIA.”