Bitarchitects was so easy to work with! Responded to my Request a Quote for a structural…read moreengineering assessment in a matter of a hour and got things scheduled quickly afterwards. They completed a full scan and photographing of the property to provide the best quality report. The engineer was super knowledgeable and happy to explain any issues he noticed while working through the assessment. I then met with staff to discuss the report and answer any remaining questions. And all in 1 1/2 weeks from start to finish! Highly recommend them for any future projects!

Editing to add actual dates to the events described…read more I will update this rating if we ever get our final report, but the bottom line is we've been waiting close to eight weeks now to get a diagnosis and recommendation on how to resolve the front room of our house, which is apparently breaking off the rest of the house. Longer story: I was excited to work with Bitarchitects - they have great reviews, I appreciate that they are woman-owned, and in our initial conversations, they were so responsive and confident that they had all the necessary in-house expertise to figure out what was happening in the house we just bought. The structural engineer seemed great during the inspection on 9 July - spent lots of time at the house, took all the measurements, answered all my questions. We chatted about the fact that there is this crawl space under the front room that doesn't have an access panel, so you can't get underneath to inspect the stem walls. He told me he would have the report to me in a week. Six weeks later (18 August), we got the report. And the report said. . .we can't diagnose the problem without access to the crawl space under the front room. So question the first - WHY would that conclusion take six weeks? When it was known at the time of their visit? (It was actually known before that - the home inspector had included it in his report, which we had sent Bitarchitects in advance of their visit.) But okay, they said they could send someone out to create an access door to the crawl space, take some pictures, and then we would get a completed report. So that happened a week ago (28 August), and we've heard nothing. Almost eight weeks now since the inspection, meanwhile there are new cracks appearing in the floors and walls. Communication overall has been extremely frustrating. While assuring us that the (first) report was imminent, I was told several times "don't worry, your house is not falling down, you're not in danger." Which is great of course, but doesn't remotely address our concerns. I get answers to maybe 50% of the questions I ask (fairly reasonable questions, like "will cutting a door in our foundation create structural instability down the road?"), if fact, the only time they respond quickly is when they are asking for payment. I am so so disappointed and frustrated at this point, I don't even know what to do.

After speaking to the owner of Applied Civil Engineering I was compelled to express my level of…read moredissatisfaction when the reason for my call was to obtain information on their company. Inquiring about them conducting a Topography and Utility Survey on private property. From the onset of our conversation he was condescending and rude; challenging me and my Architects knowledge behind my request as well as the required permits. Adding insult to the injury he questioned my ability to pay for his services by referencing the cost prior to stating what the services would be. He proceeded without any hesitating to tell me of the incompetence of my Architect, of which he has no prior knowledge and proceeded to tell me that my architect would not know about the permits required. I was a potential customer calling for information with the possibility of securing his services. To be met with a patronizing and demeaning attitude was very off putting and very unfortunate. This is just my experience with this company. You may encounter a different exchange. I was seeking their services. There was no conceivable reason for me to be rude nor should I have been the subject of such behavior. That was unacceptable. I am a firm believer that confrontation does not yield positive results in any situation, let alone business. Thus, do not see any reason for the level of disrespect I received.

We have worked with Chris Tucker on several projects over the last ten years. The most recent…read moreproject was a rear screen porch and patio. After listened to our desires to reclaim our back yard from the mosquitos, Chris designed a slightly modern outdoor entertaining space off the back of our traditional 1920s American Foursquare. The results were the blend of the traditional screen porch (beadboard ceiling, ipe flooring) with modern features (recessed LED lighting, ceiling fans, all-weather speakers) creating a perfect bug-free entertaining space. Completing the project is a small patio containing a couple of chairs and our grill. We could't be happier with the way the project turned out! While the project went slightly longer than expected (don't they all!), the quality of the design and construction were worth the extra few weeks. Chris was very good at keeping us appraised of the progress during all phases of the project (design, permitting, change orders, inspections, etc.), answering our questions and concerns about building process, and incorporating our changes during construction. We will certainly use Mode 4 Architecture and Chris Tucker for any future projects at our house!

Called with a quick architecture related question and was impressed with the professionalism and…read moresupport. I will definitely consider using this firm with my next project.

This guy presents himself as a guru of green architecture, but his main talent is writing invoices…read more To design a top-to-bottom remodel of my four-story house, he visited it once. He flew in a young architect from Colorado (!) to document the house, but they were both distracted by a disaster on another job (frantically redesigning at the last minute) and the drawings of my house were a mess - a door where there wasn't one, pipes and radiators missing, measurements wrong. They brought in a 'structural engineer' who jumped up and down on one part of the concrete floor like a toddler on a trampoline, pronounced it sound, and added, grinning, "I went to school for 10 years to learn how to do this." Maybe he should have studied longer, since it turned out that the floor was cracked through, and only one inch thick in parts (and underneath it was a sewer pipe that could have passed for a colander). Helicon also gave wrong information about the DC code and regulations. As for Helicon's proposed drawings for the renovation, just for one example, we would have had to walk around a bed to get out the back door. When I began to raise questions about the work, he simply refused to answer my emails and refused to go to mediation - although that's what his contract calls for in case of a dispute. When we finally parted ways, he kept all of his hefty fees and retainer, and didn't even return the books and magazines I had lent him as examples. Now, I'm glad to say, I've got a sound, beautiful renovation underway, and a great architect - who just can't believe the drawings from Helicon.

Helicon Works provided me with truly global guidance during a major whole-house renovation,…read morebringing expert attention to the practical/technical details of design and construction as well as the spiritual aspects of making a home. The result is a home that is beautiful, functional, and energy-efficient. I did not hesitate to call on them again when undertaking a second major project.

Working with Jason of Emotive Architecture, renewed my faith in housing professionals. I had been…read moreburned by housing professionals over the years and was very cautious about who I worked with this time around. Luckily, Jason came into the picture early on. He immediately took ownership of the project and was truly invested in making my project a huge success. He was so meticulous and thorough with the permit drawings, that I was able to get a building permit through DCRA in one week, which is unheard of. While the care he took with the drawings was outstanding, I think the most important aspect of working with Jason was that he made me feel extremely comfortable with the process and gave me no doubt that I was in good hands. I am a single woman handling this project on my own. Jason went out of his way to vet the contractors and review their bids. He even visited one contractor's work site. He also provided input on the million and one Houzz photos I sent him. I inherently trust Jason's opinion, work ethic, and professionalism. He's not only a great architect, but he's a great person who is fun to work with. With the transparent design contract, submitting deliverables ahead of time and being extremely responsive and accessible, I highly recommend Jason for anyone's remodeling project.

I hope there isn't a character limit here, because I don't think I will ever be able to fully sing…read moreJason's praise. In December 2012, I purchased my first home - a row house that was in need of a complete gut renovation. Jason was recommended to me by a friend, and I am eternally grateful for her sage recommendation! Skill and Workmanship: When the professionals at DCRA (including former architects) are asking for your architect's card because of how spot on his work is, you know you're working with a top-notch architect. When a zoning reviewer's call is overturned based on your architect's interpretation of a code section, you know you're working with an architectural genius. Jason = architectural genius. That is all. Customer Service: As you may imagine, being a first-time homeowner is stressful in and of itself. Buying your first home and stripping it down to the studs (think Extreme Makeover: Home Edition) is pretty insane. Thankfully, I had Jason to guide me through the entire process. From summer 2012, when I hired him, through present day, Jason has treated this project as if it were his own. There was not one renovation decision that I made without consulting Jason (and with a gut renovation that spanned a year and 3 months from design to completion, there were LOADS of decisions made). He was ALWAYS available and made me feel like I was his only client, even though I knew I wasn't. Jason is more than my architect; he has truly become a family member (the kind you don' t mind when they stop by unannounced). If you're looking for just a "good" architect, Jason is out of your league. I recommend him for homeowners who, like me, wanted near perfection. I certainly found that and more in Jason, and he was worth every single penny I paid for his services. Any and every renovation I do will always begin with Jason.