Montclair's Victorian and early twentieth century houses are a big part of its appeal. We design and engineer additions and renovations that keep that character.
Montclair is a township of about six square miles on the east side of the First Watchung Mountain, where higher streets look out to the New York skyline about 12 miles away. It has six historic districts on the state and national registers and 92 individually listed landmarks, with work by architects including McKim, Mead and White and Charles A. Platt. Sections include Upper Montclair, Watchung Plaza, Walnut Street and the South End, served by six stations on the Montclair-Boonton Line.
Large older houses here often need careful structural work before they can grow. Our engineers evaluate the existing house first, then design the addition, second floor or renovation alongside the architecture.
Licensed architects and professional engineers on one team, one contract and one set of signed and sealed drawings. See all of our services.
Rear, side and wraparound additions for kitchens, family rooms and primary suites, with the existing house evaluated by our engineers.
New floors over ranches, capes, garages and one story wings, with foundations and framing checked and reinforced as needed.
Whole house and partial renovations, wall removals and open plans, basements and attics, with structure and systems designed in house.
Ground up single family homes and teardown rebuilds, from site planning to sealed construction drawings.
Decks, covered porches, pergolas and garages engineered for footings, ledgers and loads.
Beam replacements, foundation fixes and engineer's letters for homeowners, buyers and insurers.
In New Jersey, most additions and structural renovations need zoning approval from the town before the construction permit, and the construction permit itself is reviewed under the state Uniform Construction Code. When a design needs relief from a setback, coverage or height limit, it goes to the town's land use board for a variance hearing.
For homes in or near Montclair's historic districts and landmarks, we design additions that respect the original architecture and prepare drawings for any required review.
Streets climbing the First Watchung Mountain bring slope, rock and drainage. We design footings and retaining walls for actual conditions.
However your project is approved, we deliver signed and sealed drawings to you, support you and your contractor through the permit submission and answer the building department's review comments in house. Read how a project moves from consultation to close out on our process page.
Yes. We document the existing house and design new work that follows its architecture.
Yes, across all of Montclair.
We deliver signed and sealed drawings and support you or your contractor in the permit submission.
See a fixed design fee in about two minutes, or book a consultation and we will visit your home.