Working with Richard and his team was great. Our main contact on our project was Ara, who has an eccentric demeanor that I can imagine rubbing some folks the wrong way - but he is exactly who we wanted even if we didn't know it. He brings more to the table than simply moving things around in your home, he brings a sense of design and livability and a wealth of experience. He is unafraid to question your intentions and ideas and challenge what you had in mind, which is what I want from an expert - not simply a yes-man. When our ideas were good, he would relent, when they were bad, he'd present better ones. It was more like a collaboration than a mere "service" and we came away with a much better project for having wrestled through the process together. Also, he and Richard are something like a duo-vaudeville act when they're together. It's pretty funny. We worked through the pandemic, we drastically changed direction mid-design, we worked on-site and remotely, our permits were acquired with ease, and we finished on budget and on time. What more can you ask for? read more

We were desperate for some guidance regarding a possible project and Richard not only took the call and gave us some of his valuable time and insight but was open to further inquiries. Very accessible, knowledgeable, and warm! read more

Despite his extensive knowledge and experience, Richard is one of the nicest, easygoing professionals I've ever met. Beware of his quick-witted sense of humor though because he'll catch you off guard! Richard helped me with a rather unique and complicated project for a commercial property back in 2015-2016. His vast knowledge combined with his patience made the process seamless. A few days ago, I called in a huge favor and Richard came through big time! He saved me a pretty big chunk of change when he really didn't have to. That's the kind of person Richard is and we definitely need more like him in this world. All I can try to do is follow his example and pay it forward. If anyone is looking for an architect, I highly recommend Richard. You won't find a better one out there! read more

After going through 3 different Architects, lots of headaches and heartaches, we had the pleasure of finding Richard and having him complete our remodel. Go figure, his office was located right at the corner of our same block! Our house was in dire need of renovation. Located in Glendale, it was hard enough hiring someone familiar with a ridiculously strict city, let alone trustworthy and able/willing to finish someone else's mess. The remodel had already been met with plenty of delays and complications (irregular lot, grandfathered setbacks, maximizing square footage to code). Despite how much was already spent, we had little to show. Richard assured us he would see our project to the end, and that he did! He picked up where the other architects had left off, made the necessary corrections and modifications and was able to get a working plan cleared by the city in no time. Richard always kept us informed through the whole process, answering our countless questions and met with us in person to discuss any issues that arose, even throughout construction. He met with the city multiple times, coordinating between the different departments and obtaining the necessary permits/approvals. We will forever be grateful to Richard as we can now enjoy our newly remodeled home and know we couldn't have completed this project without his help. Thanks again! read more

Richard is a dream to work with. After drawing up plans for a guest house for us several years ago, we were forced to abandon the project. This year we resurrected it and Richard was there to update the plans and do the legwork to get the approvals and navigate the red tape for us. Richard came through for us and I'm sure that he'll come through for you too. A+ read more

Had a great chat with Richard about my project ... he took time out of his day to explain what was needed and how the permitting process works. Very knowledgeable, friendly and directed me in the best way possible. read more

Plans for my garage renovation to a guest house are beautiful! Richard hung in there with all the delays at the permit office due to COVID and I hope to have this project completed by summer. Richard & Ara had some inspired ideas that are going to make my guests so comfortable. Thank you so much Richard! read more

I've been working with Richard and Ara on an ADU for an apartment building and just wrapped up our plans and approvals. As we all know, working with the city can have it's share of setbacks and surprises, and if you have to take someone along for the ride, Richard is simply the best. He knows the city, knows the requirements, and even when hit with things we weren't expecting, he does his best to fight for you to get what's needed done - whether it be saving you time, money, etc. I began calling him the magician halfway through our project because he is just that...able to magically get things done. Best of all, he is ALWAYS so fun to talk with no matter how much he is juggling. I'm very glad I found him and would love to work with him on all our projects if he had the time! Thank you Richard and Ara. read more

I called Richard for a bathroom addition in my house. He was extremely pleasant and helpful in answering all my questions. I eventually worked with his associate Ara, and the whole process from design to attaining the permit went without a hitch. They are both highly experienced and knowledgeable. I highly recommend contacting Richard. read more

I couldn't help but to gravitate to Richard's amazing reviews. By no means does my review reflect Richard as an architect. In fact, the few exchanges I had with him over the telephone inspired me to definitely hire him because of his wonderful and courteous customer service! Richard is so nice. However, I was very eager to meet him, but then he told me that he would send his associate Ara and that they worked together. In addition there is a consultation fee involved which I thought would be no problem, because I was thinking of hiring Richard anyway. I assumed that he would probably be as wonderful as Richard. My project is a bit complicated, but as questions were asked because I was a bit confused ,some responses from his associate were "I already told you, it's very simple" "You're not listening." "I have other projects" "This is becoming a big headache." He appeared irritated with my questions. I felt like I was being scolded. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that this was not the person to do business with. I am so sorry Richard, because we really looked forward to working with you, but unfortunately your associate did not make us feel like valued customers. Ara is probably a great architect I'm sure, but treating customers in a respectful manner is so important. We will take our business elsewhere. read more

Richard is the B E S T! I was recommended to him by a friend and couldn't be happier with the results. I hired him for a complete home remodel and man, he knows all the tricks and the city requirements. I thought my remodel was going to be a submittal but after two City visits he was able to get all plans approved over the counter. I will trust him for any future projects and sure will be referring him to all my clients. Thanks Richard we look forward for a very long business relationship with you! Cynthia and Carlos Quirarte read more

After researching some architects in the area, we decided to use Mr. Diradourian and are beyond glad that we did! We would like thank him for all his hard work and assistance, and we greatly appreciate his follow through and staying with us to the very end of our project. Mr. Diradourian was also very prompt and easy to get a hold of, anytime we had a question. He has been in the business for a long time and it's obvious that he's an expert! Thanks again! read more

I spoke with Richard by phone about a project that I am planning to do. Even though he wasn't able to help me directly with my project, he had some great advise and was as professional as it gets. He took the time to answer many of the concerns that I had. I hope we can work together in the future on some other project. I know he'll be a trustworthy person. read more

There is a reason that Richard Diradourian is a member of the Glendale Fire Review Board and does the verbal reviews of new architects...he is a total professional and knows what he is doing. Richard has worked on many projects for my wife and I and we have always been happy. read more

Richard was a pleasure to work with. He added a super tight second bath to our house plans. I was impressed by his innovative thinking, he made everything fit without forcing anything. He does hand draft his plans (as well as CAD, I believe) so some might consider this old school, but in my book old school is the best school sometimes! Richard also provided the structural plans for taking down a load bearing wall. He was so kind to drop everything to quickly adjust the plans to satisfy the city's nitty gritty structural requirements. Just an all around nice guy, good at what he does, at a reasonable cost. Will definitely use his services again should we undergo another home remodel. You might even get a couple of jokes out of him. :) read more

Richard is extremely knowledgeable, honest, and easy to work with. He was very dependable and helped every step of the way. He is funny and professional. I encourage anyone looking for an Architect to look no further and hit up Richard. read more

I found Richard through Yelp, and I'm so lucky I did! Richard is incredible! I could not have been more pleased with my experience working with him. He really knows the in's and out's with Building & Safety and helped me with an extremely complex ADU permitting situation. He doggedly moved the project along with the city and came up with creative solutions to what at times seemed like insurmountable issues. He is highly knowledgable, caring, and was very patient with my many questions. read more

Richard was an amazing architect. Responsive, on time, and so helpful with all my questions despite all the restrictions due to covid. If I ever need similar help again I will definitely reach out to Richard. read more

I absolutely loved working with Richard - he is knowledgeable, easy going and funny. He created a bathroom addition design/plan for us, helped us navigate the City's permitting process (and got our permit which a previous architect/contractor had said wouldn't be possible) AND recommended an amazing, well-priced contractor to get the job done. I couldn't be happier with everything and would definitely use Richard again and recommend him to friends! read more

Richard and his team were so helpful throughout our entire submission process to City Of Pasadena. They worked on everything in a timely manner and always had our best interest in mind. Even after our plans were approved, Richard and his team quickly came out for field observations when the city asked for it. They even assisted on extra questions and assistance when dealing with my contractor all along the way for the project. I can't imagine my whole ADU project without them. They are worth every penny. Again, I am so thankful for Richard and Ara!!! read more

Richard is great!! I built my first house with him and he was a pleasure to work with. Knows so much about the city's requirements and building process couldn't have done my house without his input. Very responsible, honest and helpful Thanks Richard it was a real pleasure working with you!!! read more

We just finished working with Richard on plans for a major remodel and it was a good experience. Once we provided all the details and measurements to Richard (and Robert), he was able to draw them up quickly/efficiently into plans. It was very convenient that he did the engineering work on his plans as well and we did not have to engage another party to do this - saved us a lot of time and effort. His prices are reasonable and he was accessible by phone throughout the process to answer any questions we had. We got the plans approved over the counter and I am glad we chose to work with him! read more

It was a pleasure to work with Richard for our home remodel plans. He was responsive and very knowledgeable especially when it comes to all things City of Glendale (priceless knowledge). You can't beat his prices and his turnaround time was excellent. Very sweet man and we wouldn't hesitate to use him again! Thank you Richard! read more

Richard is the go to architect if you are new to this whole process of getting city permits. He is a seasoned professional who can guide you to your goal in the quickest and most economical way. We ran into problems with getting permits for our new restaurant in Diamond Bar, he stepped in and provided timely help and were able to get the permit immediately. His biggest asset, he listens intently to your problem with empathy and understands it from your point of view, clearly you can see his Yelp reviews reveal this approach. You won't be disappointed if you choose Richard as your architect. read more

Richard had to deal with very last minute BS from City of LA and he was so kind to produce the exact documents I needed so I can get my supplemental permit. Thank you Richard! read more

Richard was an absolute delight to work with-- he's smart, creative, thorough, and determined! Not to mention a lovely, kind person. We used Richard for our addition and remodel in Pasadena, which was a big job, and Richard was so thoughtful in helping us figure out how to maximize our square footage and stay faithful to the 1920s architecture of the house. He gave us so much time and attention while being drastically cheaper than some of the big firms out there. Couldn't have been happier with the results, and I can't recommend him highly enough! read more

Honestly Richard was amazing! so i had begun to convert my garage into an ADU and midway i got caught by the City of Burbank for not pulling a permit. Richard was easily able to get plans approved by the city with the first draft and very minor corrections. What was the amazing part is that at the end of the approval process, the Burbank water and power company said that my ADU was too close to a power line which was odd because every other house on the street was much closer to said power line then i was! Richard did some awesome research and went all the way back to when the house was built in the 1930's and found that that power pole which was on my property was never given approval to be there in the first place so the city was sent a letter by Richard saying they were trespassing without an easement on file and the Water and Power company were quick to back down and allow me to build my ADU! it was awesome! read more

I've done several projects with Richard throughout the years. His very honest, knowledgable and very fair compared to other architects I've used previously. He promises a job to get done at a certain time and he sure gets it done. His work is very accurate and if there are changes, he'll go out his way to make sure it's done! He never charges extra fees for minor changes. His prices are very reasonable and I recommend Richard to anyone who wants a great architect for a great price. Keep up the great work! Thanks. Tiko read more

Richard was kind, helpful, honest, prompt, and his rates were great. I used him to get a wall removal permitted for my home in Glendale, and he took care of the site, floor, and other plans needed. He handled everything with city. His rates were great, as I got several other bids. He was able to meet us right away and got the work done very quickly. I plan on contacting him again if I ever expand my house. read more

Mr. Diradourian took my drawings and made a design that met the requirements of the City of Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety. His work and assistance during construction was great. I highly recommend Richard Diradourian. read more

We always due our due diligence prior to hiring anyone especially for a project like this. We interviewed about 5 architects. We picked Richard because he was very professional and knew what he was talking about when discussing the additions to our house. So glad we hired him. We had a great experience and would use his services again in the future. He was beyond helpful and our house looks great. If you are looking for someone who is professional and knows his stuff then look no further then Richard. read more

Richard and Ara could not have been easier to work with! We contacted many different architects to understand what needed to be done for our room expansion. They were incredibly thorough with explaining what steps we needed to take and their prices were very reasonable. After completing our project with them, I have no idea how others are charging the prices that they do. I don't know what more they would have done for us that Richard and Ara didn't do. From the day Ara came to our house to measure and start the initial drawings to having the permit approved, it was maybe 2 weeks. We were anticipating 5-6 weeks at a minimum. They also had a few ideas that we didn't think of that we ended up loving and deciding to go with. They're both very professional and a pleasure to work with. Please do give them a call for any project you're in need of help with... you won't be disappointed. read more

I have been working with Richard the past few months on a local project in Glendale. He is EXTREMELY knowledgeable in the area, and has been very helpful along the process. The city of Glendale has been a challenge, however with Richard's help we were able to get our plans approved and proceed with our project. I will definitely be working with Richard on more projects in the near future. He is a pleasure to work with. Highly recommended. read more

Being a general contractor, my experience with Richard is awesome! His prices are reasonable, his experience is exceptional, and he offers options to keep cost from getting out of control. read more

I don't think I've left a bad review on yelp before , but the attitude of the the woman who picked up the phone when I called was horrible. Common courtesy goes a long way these days, They will lose my current business and future business because of that. I would recommend people stay away from here. And the funny thing is she didn't even get to hear why I called. read more

Richard helped me rearrange a laundry area and a bathroom to fit a new hallway in my house. He went to get the city permits for me and provided the approved plans quickly. He was very responsive to my calls and the information that the inspector requested. I really appreciate his fast work and friendliness. I would go to him again with any new projects I might have. read more

Richard just got the plans for my house renovation approved by the city and has been so helpful in answering all of my questions. He is even able to give informal, off-the-record advise on legal issues based on his long standing experience in the field. I've had bad experiences with other architects so working with Richard is a pleasure. He delivers his services on time and as promised and is consistently accessible by phone. And he can do the structural engineering work on his plans as well, which makes him a convenient one-stop architecture/engineering service. I would unequivocally recommend Richard for your next project that requires architectural plans. read more

I am in the process of an addition/conversion project for my house in Calabasas, which brought me to work with Richard. If I had to say that I chose Richard initially because of his fair price and credentials, I just could not be happier when I actually started working with him. As the 1st time home owner also 1st time to manage a big project, I was very stressed about this. I no longer felt stressful when Richard joined my efforts. This resulted from his knowledge, experiences, and importantly, a sense of humor. From his first site visit to return me the "as built"floor plan, it took him only 1 day. As a scientist who pays attention to every detail, I am also impressed by the rigorous quality work he returned. On day 2, he already drew out very creative ideas. As an architect, he has my interest/personal budget in mind, and balances the 2 perfectly. This comes from his 40-year's experiences. Not only he listens and realizes my ideas, he also guides me through the process. I felt very assuring when working with him . In addition, he is always very responsive to my calls and emails. He is generous to offer his knowledge even when I ask non-architect related questions about my project - although he could have easily brushed me off, which he would have reason to. But he did not. From him, I saw the work ethic I really respect. All in all, he is quiet but he is sharp and intelligent, most importantly, he is there for you. I will recommend Richard with a heart beat. read more

I highly recommend Richard Diradourian for design and execution of architectural plans for building projects in Glendale hills areas. About two years ago we had to revise a planter, wall, light posts in the front partial set back of our house in the Oakmont area of Glendale hills. Slope/grade of the hill caused extra planning and complications in the interactions with planning, building and safety, in Glendale. I was desperate when I first found Richard Diradourian--by the great comments posted on yelp from clients. I requested his help. We went idea-by-idea and consulted with the Glendale building department of planning and then building and safety. We were successful and received support for our direction and finally developed an approved plan. We could not have survived the process without the guidance and drawings from Richard Diradourian. read more

He got us out of a huge mess with the City. He is the best Architect you will ever find with the most reasonable fees. He is caring and will go out of his way to help you without any expectation. His work is impeccable and he is a remarkable person. read more