Architects, Architecture Firms, & Building Designers in Torrington

“Our Project was an 1300-sf commercial addition to a summer camp/conference center 4 season dining room facility. It included open dining space, an additional egress, and an ADA bathroom. The interior blended in perfectly with the existing dining space and added new modern flare with large windows/views. We were able to seal the addition up tight with foam/fiberglass combo insulation and the large windows were triple pain solar heat absorbing windows to help control our winter heating costs. In the summer, very large/simple shades pull down to mitigate heat gain and some of the pains are operable to let out the hot interior air. The space is not air conditioned. They were excellent at reviewing our needs and coming up with an elegant approach to our project. much to our surprise, they even built a physical model. Its hard to say if it was worth the time to do the model, but it likely abated some questioning and delays on the part of our boards and review committees. They were very considerate of our needs and worked fairly with both us and the contractor. We did have some project challenges as the project bids the first time came in way over expected prices. A testament to their character and focus on delivering a successful/quality project, they performed design modifications (structural/location) and helped us rebid the project with successful results. The changes kept with the original design elegance/simplicity and brought the bids down to a very reasonable fee. We had three change orders on our project and they were all opportunity changes to fix moisture issues on the existing unmodified portion of the building. Basically, they did a very good job scoping the project and including all info on their plans and specs. If I had to pick out any low points it would be their construction cost estimating. However, i still give them 5 stars because when things went astray, they fixed it fast and effectively. Their design prices are not rock bottom but they are MORE than fair for their skill, style, and people friendly manner. I would hire them again in a second for another project.”

“Dave is a highly skilled architect with a deep knowledge of the style and structure of the building(s) he is asked to design and draft. Dave is easy to work with and has a keen sensitivity for his clients' tastes. He spends considerable time listening and understanding the "wants" of his clients and balancing the practicality and realistic options for construction. I would enthusiastically recommend him to anyone interested in designing and building a "house of one's dreams". You will not regret the time and effort he contributes to your project.”

“A kitchen renovation turned into an expansion of the room. Michael was recommended to me by my brother-in-law who also builds large projects. We found Michael to be prompt in returning calls, on time with appointments and most of all full of great ideas! He showed us his extensive portfolio and we were truly impressed. He is easy to work with mainly because he's a great listener.”

“Working with Jimmy Crisp and his associates was a great and valuable learning experience that could not have turned out better than it did. Jimmy truly met, and in many instances, went beyond our expectations. The project, which was a complete gut renovation, went very smoothly and it did come in on budget with the exception of new items that were included after our original quote. Of course there were differences of opinions and long discussions about changes/desired outcomes and new costs, however, I would say that because of Jimmy's constant presence at the site, complete knowledge of exactly what was suppose to happen at all stages of the project and calm manner we escaped situations that could, at the time, have been less satisfactory. Jimmy, the associates and clerical employees of his firm are all a 10 in my book! My experience with Crisp Architects makes me believe that anyone seeking a great architect, backed by a most professional staff, could not do better than to choose Crisp Architects.”

“I have worked with Peter Coffin of Doyle Coffin Architecture on a number of occasions both as a client (for my own homes) and as a design partner (for our mutual clients). The quality and beauty of Peter's work is undisputable but what I appreciate the most is the quality of the design process - anticipation and understanding of clients' needs, timeliness of delivery and communication skills. Doyle Coffin Architecture is a great asset when dealing with zoning issues and when finding creative solutions to design problems is a must. Peter's team is highly professional and responsive and I am looking forward to my next project with the firm.”

“John R. Schroeder, AIA, you have given us our dream home and by that I mean a home more beautiful than we could have imagined and yet completely suitable to our hectic everyday lives as a family with four young children. You listened to our random ideas and put them together into a design that is better than the sum of its parts and what's more, it was completed on schedule (I didn't think this ever happened!).”

“James Dixon Architect PC are helping us transform our 1780 farmhouse and 14-acre site near Millbrook NY with impressive sensitivity to the age of the house and the beauty of its location. They have introduced us to contractors, landscape architects and craftsmen and retained careful oversight of our requirements throughout the process. We recommend them very highly.”

“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.”

“I've used Bob and his crew to design a den addition for us. Bob has both an architectural and design background which is a huge plus. Not only did the den look great as a room, but he was helpful at figuring out how each area would function well and what to put in that space. He worked great with my builder and was a great go between when things got a big hairy. Funny and affable, Bob was a pleasure to work with.”

“My husband and I were interested in a house, but saw some things that needed to be changed that were a deal breaker for us. I reached out to Stephanie and she fit it in her busy schedule to meet with us. Stephanie came to the house we were interested in and took a great amount of time walking through taking measurements and discussing all our options. She was very helpful , knowledgeable and full of insight.”