I am an apartment owner/investor and want to let other apartment owners know about my experience…read morewith Reverence Engineering. Last year, I obtained an inspection of the deck and balcony at my family's 10 unit apartment complex in order to comply with Senate Bill 721. After learning that our cantilevered balcony needed structural work, I began calling engineering firms. I chose Reverence Engineering because I wanted to work with a smaller firm and I was impressed with my initial call with principal engineer Brett Sauers. During that conversation, he explained in simple terms how he would approach creating plans and seeking permits for a major retrofit of our balcony walkway. From there, I was kept well informed by email at every step of the way. Because I live out of state and was not able to be present for any site visits, Brett prepared an explanatory video for me so that I could see exactly what he was seeing and understand how we could solve the structural challenges. The draft plans were ready more quickly than I expected and Brett personally addressed all my questions with patience and precision. The City took longer than I had hoped to do its plan review, but Brett's staff sent me weekly updates. In addition, they walked me through all the forms that I needed to sign so it ended up being a pain-free process from start to finish. I really couldn't be happier with the attentiveness of Brett and his team, as well as the outcome. They deserve accolades for exceptional structural engineering work, at a very reasonable cost.

I submitted a request to Reverence for an Architect in early January 2026, I received a call back…read morefrom Brett to go over the services Reverence provides and their approach to support the clients. At the end of the call, Brett stated he would work on the contract and send over for review. The following week, I called Reverence to better understand the timeline for contract creation so I could maintain realistic expectations; I was told I should have the contract that day (January 13) or the following day (January 14). I contacted Reverence on January 20, after not receiving a response and was advised a message would be sent to Brett for an update. I again did not receive a response (no callback nor email) and contacted Reverence on January 22 and again on February 2, and was provided a similar response (that I should receive the contract soon if not today or the next). I subsequently left a message on February 4, indicating that I no longer wished to proceed with their services and would look elsewhere. I have no doubt that Reverence provides customers with solid service once contracted, however, I find it is equally important to effectively communicate with prospective clients to ensure transparency. I would have gladly waited a few more weeks if that was the standard and was communicated to me. Hopefully future clients will have a better experience.

We bought a cool mid-century modern house that was full of bad 1980s updates, so we wanted to hire…read morean architect to help us turn it into our dream home. Although there was plenty of room in the house for two of us, the space was not well-planned. We were feeling overwhelmed by what needed to be done in our new home, and hiring Ken to design our interior was easily the best decision that we made. He took the time to get to know us and we felt he really understood our needs and how we would use each area of our home. There were many design challenges and Ken's out of the box thinking both met those challenges and improved the space. He was very easy to work with and his calm energy was a perfect fit for us. We knew from the plans that our house would be spectacular when finished, and it definitely exceeded those expectations. Everything about the house is improved, and there are a couple of the design elements that consistently draw an amazed response from visitors to our home.

Setting a goal to build an ADU was both scary and exciting, since I have had terrible experiences…read morewith construction professionals in past projects. I knew I needed someone, who was knowledgeable about local ADU laws and the nuance in the construction process to help us make this dream come true. After interviewing different companies, we ended up hiring Ken and his team at One World Architecture. Ken and his team's professionalism was second to none. They were quick to respond whenever I have inquiries. Ken understands the process is scary for homeowners, and never made us feel that our concerns weren't important, no matter how insignificant they were. He was not only our architect, but he was also our therapist during this process. He listened to our needs, provided ideas we never even considered, and set up multiple meeting until we found the right contractor. He didn't just design and let us fend for ourselves. He was proud of his work and guide us though the completion of the project. I now have a beautiful home office, a place for my elder parents to live in and an opportunity to supplement my retirement income many years down the road. I'd recommend One World Architecture wholeheartedly. In fact, I had so much joy working with Ken, I would personally vouch for him to work on any of my families' and friends' projects. I know they will be taken care of!

Andrew was a real pleasure to work with. He took on our master bathroom design, which is a very…read moresmall project for any architect. Despite this fact, he took his time when meeting with us and was very attentive to our needs. His design turned out great too! I will highly recommend him to friends and family because he's affordable, has great design ideas, and is great with his clients.

I highly recommend Andrew as he has an extensive knowledge of the trade. He was kind enough to…read moreanswer all my questions about permits (very important in the Oceanside area) FOR FREE. It is rare to find someone in this industry that genuinely wants to help others. Andrew's attention to detail really sets him apart from the rest!

I would recommend Ergo Architecture to anyone looking for an engaged, approachable and experienced…read moreteam to help them design, permit and get built a project in San Diego or elsewhere. We hired Ergo to design an extensive addition onto our hillside home - a challenging design and permitting situation - and were very happy with the results. The team at Ergo was highly collaborative, helping us explore possibilities while being realistic about our constraints (site limitations, budget, etc.) Ergo also oversaw & participated in the construction of our addition, a process which certainly provided great learning opportunities for them as well as bringing the designers' insights to the process. Given the complexity of our project, the involvement of the Ergo team in this stage was certainly helpful in getting our house built as we intended. Though Ergo is a small firm, the experience and professionalism that they brought to our project rivaled that of larger firms. And in the end, the level of service and attention given to our project exceeded expectations. Disclosure - I am married to the Principal at Ergo Architecture who participated in but did not manage the project. The guidelines of Yelp allow such reviews and I hope readers find it useful.

As first-time business owners, there was a very large learning curve when it came to making our…read morebuilding compliant with the city. Ergo Architecture, specifically Steve M. and Paul, were our acting guiding light in this very complex process. They explained everything in a way we were able to fully understand. When extreme obstacles would arise, Ergo researched up to date building codes that eliminated unnecessary requirements for our business type. They always answered the phone when we called. They always kept us up to date with detailed emails and itemized the charges of their services. Their charges were absolutely reasonable and we feel they deserved more. We plan to expand our business in the future, and they will be the first we call for our architectural needs. They personally wanted to see us succeed and grow. Their intentions were genuine and heartfelt. True gentlemen. We have even been told by our city council member and building planning department that these men are highly regarded and extremely professional. I couldn't agree more. They have really gone over and beyond for us. I have no doubt that I would not have been able to stay in business without them. As requirements from the city arose, Steve M found a way that I could become compliant in an affordable way. We couldn't be more grateful. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts Steve and Paul.

Jeanne is great to work with. Very communicative and her plans are organized and easy to read.read more

Jeanne is an absolute professional who clearly understands her roles and responsibilities. Jean is…read moreintelligent, sharp, and very clear in her communication. I have been very impressed with the thoroughness of Jeanne's work and her follow through to make sure the job is done in a timely manner. Jeanne is also a gem of a person and an absolute pleasure to work with. I also like that Jeanne makes helpful recommendations that I need for my house. Jeanne worked closely with the city to do preliminary historic review of my home and did it exceptionally well. Jeanne also worked closely with the drafter of my home renovation plans and worked very well with him. Overall I am very impressed with Jeanne and I not only recommend her strongly but also plan to use her services again in the near future. We are very fortunate to have Jeanne in SD.

I hired Rummy from IL Total Design for a major three-story remodel permit that included adding…read moresignificant square footage, and she exceeded expectations in every way! This was not a simple cosmetic project -- it was a complex build with structural changes, multiple levels, and a lot of moving parts in a coastal zone. Throughout the process, Rummy was incredibly resilient. Whenever challenges came up (and with a project this size, they always do), she stayed solution-oriented and kept the project moving forward without hesitation. She was also extremely responsive. Calls were returned, questions were answered quickly, and updates were consistent. I never had to chase her down ever! Communication was clear and direct, which makes a huge difference on a large remodel. What stands out most is her "get it done" mentality. She doesn't give up no matter what the city says -- takes ownership and executes. She handled everything with professionalism and confidence. If you're looking for an architect/design team that is dependable, responsive, resilient, and truly delivers results -- IL Total Design is the perfect choice!

I met Rummy Dechner, owner and lead architect with IL Total, via a design/build firm last year for…read morean ADU project. Eventually, I fired the firm (read my other review), but Rummy stayed with us to help us move forward. Without a city approved design we already sunk $25k into (most of which she probably didn't make) we depended on her almost daily for the first few months after the mess with not one but a second builders as well. We were going solo through the toughest part of the ADU process. I mean we really, really depended on her. Rummy drove this to the end for the permit to finally be granted to us. Through thick and thin she'd be there with updates and keeping us in the loop about forms, payments, and any changes she was forced to make, etc. The design itself is beautiful. She's not only talented but honest and dependable. Answers all questions. Rummy knows ADUs and the ins and outs of city permitting headaches and most of all she's loyal to her clients. I didn't know her firm also does builds as well. If only I met them at the beginning I could have saved myself a ton of time and heartache. Highly recommend! Look at her YouTube channel for all of the ADUs she has designed throughout San Diego. https://youtube.com/@iltotaldesign?si=Lh4BJ_pdmOK5OFG9

Hi Doug, I hope that…read moreall is well. I've been admiring your designs and work for quite some time. Feel free to reach out to me if you ever have an ORCO Block questions, or request. Hennesys Hernandez Architectural Sales 760-799-4925 hennesys.hernandez@orco.com

I wanted to remodel my home but found "design build" type companies lacking in any real depth of…read morearchitecture and art history. I'm a bit of an academic type and a history buff and wanted to work with someone with similar interest and knowledge who could not just help me bring my ideas into reality, but could introduce me to new ones as well. Douglas exceeded my expectations!! He made a fixed price for what he called the "Design Phase" and then proceeded to take took me through as many ideas and versions of plans that I could ever have dream of, and then some!! He was extremely sensitive to not just functional things like sizes of rooms and circulation, but also had a great sense of natural lighting, proportions and architectural style. Working with Douglas was a pleasure. He was patient, generous with his time, and together we came up with a plan that I'm very proud of. Of course doing a remodel can be scary, but I was so confident with our final design that bringing it into reality was actually fun and exciting!!! I can truly say that, if you want to work with a highly skilled, creative, patient and generous architect, choose Doug Simon Architecture!!

Larson Design did the plans and permits for my new restaurant. It was large beauty shop before…read morethat. Denise drafted the plans for the environmental health permit, designed and drafted my construction documents and got my building permit from development services, and the sidewalk cafe permit. She knows a lot of people at development services and was able to resolve some difficult issues quickly. She was responsive and easy to work with, and had a clear understanding of the hurdles of changing a beauty shop to a restaurant. We were able to get the restaurant opened on time and on budget. If you need any design/architecture work, commercial or residential I would definitely give her a call.

Larson Design played a fundamental role in the development of my gym. As a first time small…read morebusiness owner, I wasn't really sure where to begin and Denise went the extra mile in helping me get the ball rolling on the project. Along the way, she routinely checked in to see how the gym was progressing and continued to offer suggestions on how to make the space even better. I am very pleased with how the gym turned out and know that it will continue to get even better with the aid of Larson Design.

I needed a site plan for a tiny house on wheels permit and was referred to Miller Design and…read moreDrafting by an engineering company I had contacted. What started as a simple site plan quickly turned into a full set of construction documents--and I couldn't be happier with how everything turned out. After being quoted an outrageously high price by another designer, I was relieved to find Alexandra. Her prices are very reasonable, communication is clear and responsive, and the quality of her work is top-notch. In less than two months, I have a building permit in hand. I handled the permit processing myself, and Alexandra was incredibly patient and helpful throughout the process. I had a lot of questions since this was my first time pulling a building permit, and she answered them all with care. Highly recommend Miller Design and Drafting if you're looking for someone skilled, fair, and easy to work with.

i called for basic drafting drawings for a bathroom remodel. Owner said they were to busy to help…read more Although she was very nice, she had no one to refer me too.

Grace was essential for us getting our planning process completed with all the paperwork. She's an…read moreexpert who really knows how the city works and that's what you need when dealing with the headache of San Diego city. She is incredibly organized and created a Dropbox for all of our important documents to be saved. Super grateful for her efforts! Highly recommend her especially since she works so well with EHM Architecture.

Grace is very helpful in my project issues. She listened and provided good guidance to make my…read moreproject moving. I really appreciated her advice.