The Best Residential Architects in Upstate New York

Last updated on October 9th, 2024 at 03:24 am

Finding the right architect is crucial when embarking on a residential project in Upstate New York. A good contractor understands the local climate conditions and building codes specific to the region. They can guarantee that your home is constructed or renovated to withstand Upstate New York’s harsh winters and variable weather conditions while also adhering to regulations that ensure the safety and durability of your property for years to come. The cost of such projects can vary widely, ranging from $50,000 to $300,000 on average, with high-end projects potentially exceeding $500,000. The completion of a residential project typically spans up to 30 weeks, contingent on the project’s complexity and unforeseen issues that may arise during construction. Given the significant investment of time and resources, selecting a trustworthy architect is essential to ensuring your project runs smoothly and meets your expectations.

Upstate New York, home to approximately 20.2 million residents, is a region known for its diverse architectural styles and vibrant communities. The median home value here is $405,000, reflecting a robust real estate market with a demand for high-quality residential design and construction. Whether you want to build a modern, sustainable home or restore a classic property, the right architect can transform your vision into reality, navigating the complexities of design, permits, and construction.

Choosing a reliable architect is more than just finding someone to draw plans; it’s about partnering with a professional who can manage the intricacies of your project and help you avoid costly mistakes. The difference between a competent and inadequate architect can translate to considerable differences in costs, time, and stress. If you’re looking to start your residential project, our guide to the best architects in New York State will help you make an informed decision, ensuring your project is in the hands of a skilled and trustworthy professional.

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Overview: The Best Residential Architects in Upstate New York

See Ranking Methodology at the bottom of this article to learn more.

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Balzer & Tuck Architecture

468 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

Balzer & Tuck Architecture provides award-winning designs as it works hand in hand with homeowners, designers, builders, and developers to execute the exact vision of the project, be it a single or multifamily residence or an adaptive mixed-use space. For its great work in residential projects, Balzer & Tuck Architecture has even received recognitions like the 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2015 AIA Eastern New York Honor Award 2020, as well as the AIA New York State Single Family Residential Citation Design Award for the project featured below. Balzer & Tuck Architecture was featured in an article from Fine Homebuilding, highlighting their expertise as an architect in New York.

Pictured is the State Street Residence, a modern home design Balzer & Tuck Architecture worked on in Saratoga Springs. The client wanted a modern home that still respected its neighborhood’s traditional, historic fabric, resulting in a truly unique and beautiful design solution. The exterior is a more contemporary take on the traditional gable roof structure, with a screened porch that connects the home to the street. Meanwhile, inside is a stunning modern masterpiece. The first floor has polished concrete floors, a board-formed concrete fireplace, and 12-foot high ceilings. It even has a wood and steel staircase that seems to float up to the second floor, where the more private spaces are located. This stunning 5,400-square-foot home also features an outdoor shower and sauna, a 32 kW photovoltaic solar panel roof, and a geothermal heating and cooling system, making it a sight to behold and a very comfortable place to live in.

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Verdant Architecture

49 Front St. Second Floor, Ballston Spa, NY 12020

Verdant Architecture is a relatively new architecture firm that offers clients a fresh perspective on building their homes. Through a fluid process, Verdant Architecture provides clients with a healthy and efficient design that brings their unique goals for their homes to life.

An example of Verdant Architecture’s expertise in residential properties is this Forest Grove project featured below. This farmhouse-inspired home can be found among the trees of Greenfield Center, New York, with a striking facade that mimics the greenery surrounding it. The home has a clean and efficient interior flow within its modest two-story frame. It also features a shaded patio and a walk-out basement surrounded by the forest, which provides a great view of the woods and a sense of privacy and seclusion.

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Greater Living Architecture, P.C.

3033 Brighton Henrietta Town Line Rd., Rochester, NY 14623

For over 50 years, Greater Living Architecture has served unique spaces tailored to its clients. Its talented design team has also shaped neighborhoods with thousands of custom homes, additions, and renovations. Regardless of size, every project offers great creative attention to detail with the client’s best interest in mind.

One example of that is this lovely residential project named Cedarville. This traditional craftsman-style home features a huge open living space inside, with wood and stone detailing throughout the public spaces. Each nook and cranny of this house has a homey, welcoming atmosphere that is a delight to come home to. It even has a large outdoor, two-story covered patio in the back where the homeowners can entertain guests or simply hang out with the family with views of the surrounding greenery.

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Walker Architecture

59 Mill Hill Road, Woodstock, NY 12498  

Walker Architecture is a collaborative practice between father and son, Lester and Jess Walker. This full-service architecture office has been practicing architecture as a functional art form for decades and has been designing for diverse projects, ranging from large commercial buildings to multifamily residential and iconic single-family homes around the country.

This expertise is backed by the duo’s rich experience in the industry. Jess Walker RA LEED AP has over 20 years of experience with planning, design, presentation, and construction of projects. He has even participated in the design and construction management of many landmarks nationwide with his previous gigs. His father, Lester, has decades of experience working as an architect and manager. Throughout his career, he has written eight architecture books, published in magazines and papers worldwide, and even lectured at several esteemed American universities.

The firm’s impressive portfolio displays its love of modern and refined aesthetics, and the Woodstock project is one example featured below. Even with its adherence to modern aesthetics, the team still considered the vocabulary of the project’s site, what makes the site unique, and how the building could improve it. In the case of this modern home, the dark wooden house poses as a striking and beautiful contrast against the greenery of the surrounding forest. Large windows line the walls of the home as well, giving it access to the views beyond.

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LEAP Architecture

96 Philip St., Albany, NY 12202

Since its establishment, LEAP Architecture has been designing healthy spaces, both in the commercial and residential sectors. The firm was founded by Eric Davenport, who wanted to share his passion for elegant and clean designs, green building practices, and creating spaces that serve the people. In its 8 years in the business, it has garnered extensive sustainable design experience, as seen in the firm’s portfolio, demonstrating passive solar designs that allow for winter solar heating and natural ventilation during the summer. LEAP Architecture, with founder Eric Davenport interviewed in an article from Times Union, represents innovative architects in New York State.

One of its green projects in the residential sector is this modern, luxury farmhouse that beckons a lot of natural light into this home, which was built with a mix of natural materials and textures. It also fits right into its surroundings with its farmhouse inspiration, considering the farming heritage of the area in which it is located. This luxury farmhouse exudes a fresh, modern atmosphere from the outside, while the inside is a light and airy environment with an open floor plan, a gorgeous eat-in kitchen, and a great room with a fireplace. About green features, this entire home has geothermal heating and cooling, which makes for an energy-efficient building design.

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In. Site: Architecture

2 Borden Ave. #202, Perry, NY 14530

In. Site: Architecture is an award-winning firm. For 20 years now, it has been designing stunning homes in the area, often beginning with a deep investigation of the site to fully capture the essence of the home to be built. Each project is completed with the help of its highly talented team, which comprises many leaders in energy and environmental design (LEED)-accredited pros who apply sustainable design solutions to each project. In. Site: Architecture was featured in an article from Architect Magazine, showcasing their innovative approach as an architect in New York.

This team is led by Rick Hauser, AIA LEED AP, and Ali Yapicioglu, AIA. Rick has a background in landscape architecture and architecture from Cornell and UVA, meanwhile, Ali has education and experience that spans several countries and regions. They are joined by a talented team that has turned In together. Site: Architecture into the firm that it is today.

Below is an example of the firm’s award-winning work, the littleHOUSE project. It is a modest dwelling built to Passive House standards. This 1,200-square-foot home was created as an extension of the family’s homestead and occupies a small clearing near a deep forest. Every inch of this house was thoughtfully built, even its location and positioning, perched near a forest to allow the children to explore. The house is angled to catch winter solar rays, is earth-bermed to enhance insulation, and silences road noise. This beautiful home in Big Flats, NY, won the 2021 New York State AIA Design Award and the 2018 Rochester AIA Honor Award.

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John Wingfelder Architect

2495 Main St. Suite 541, Buffalo, NY 14214

When it comes to exceptional homes, John Wingfelder Architect has your back. It is a small architecture studio that takes the time to truly understand the specific requirements of each client and the site they are going to build upon. Each project in the firm’s portfolio can be characterized by its elegant solutions to particularly complex problems, creating homes that are truly unique to the client.

The most notable John Wingfelder Architect’s work is the Gallery House, featured below. In one of Buffalo’s historic urban districts, John Wingfelder transformed what was once a run-of-the-mill 1930s house with limited daylight into an art lover’s dream home. The home’s facade still kept some of its original architectural identity but set itself apart from its conventional neighboring houses with its modern landscape design.

This project speaks for the firm’s ability to adapt to certain design challenges and turn them into unique design opportunities. From the facade, the home looks like a modern take on a traditional home. But inside is a crisp and modern masterpiece with abundant daylight and plenty of space to accommodate the homeowner’s vast collection of artworks. The house itself is divided mainly into three zones: the center hall lined with rooms on either side, a private rear garden with full glass walls, and the upper floors accessed through a central atrium space with a skylit staircase, bringing in a lot of the sun into the heart of the house.

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SD Atelier Architecture L.L.C.

511 Broadway Second Floor, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

SD Atelier Architecture LLC is a local architecture firm. Sue Davis first founded the company before Donald Davis joined to combine his expertise in the architecture and planning industry. In addition to creating beautiful and well-designed residential projects, the firm is also known for its municipal and commercial projects, such as the Burnt Hills Veterinary Clinic, the Malta Ambulance Facility, and the Theater Building for the Oscar Seagle Colony in Schroon Lake.

An example of the firm’s residential handiwork, featured below, is the Spruce Mountain Lane Residence, a warm and welcoming home designed to blend seamlessly with the site overlooking Lake George. To create harmony between the built structure and the surrounding woods, the home features natural stone, timber accents, cedar shakes, and fiber cement board on the outside, while the interior of the home has ample space for multiple families to enjoy the indoors with maximum view of the lake. With this project located on the side of a hill, the design of this house takes full advantage of the natural land features while still following APA height regulations.

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Edge Architecture

277 Alexander St. Suite 407, Rochester, NY 14607

With every project, Edge Architecture strives to understand the client’s dream. From the initial design to the finished product, clients can expect the team to provide open and honest communication to see the client’s dreams become reality.

President and CEO Allen Rossignol AIA LEED AP leads the firm. He established Edge Architecture to promote sustainable design principles. He has since applied green practices daily in each project throughout western New York and New England.

One example of the firm’s residential projects in Upstate New York is the Brighton Home project. This house features modern construction, sustainable design elements, and even plans for the future. The firm included full accessibility to specific functional needs on the first floor for the convenience of an aging owner. Also, it included bedrooms, baths, and loft areas for the leisure of the teens living in the house. Brighton Home is also a testament to Edge Architecture’s work on green design with its geothermal system, high-efficiency windows, recycled content within its materials, and even the use of other renewable and sustainable materials inside.

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Architectura, PC

16 Pitkin St. Suite 100, Rochester, NY 14607

With over 30 years of experience, Architectura, PC is an accomplished and experienced architectural firm known for its high-quality designs and enthusiastic service. It is also notably a Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) led by Jennifer Takatch, AIA, who has over 35 years of experience in architecture and interior design. She serves as the company’s principal and project manager, while Scott Powell, AIA, serves as principal and code reviewer, focusing on administration, project management, and project design.

Each project in the firm’s portfolio is characterized by its distinct designs that positively impact its community. One example of that on the residential side is the Silver Lake Residence pictured below. It’s a new 4,000-square-foot family retreat and vacation home in Silver Lake, New York. With stunning views of the lakes from the balcony and patio of each bedroom, this vacation home offers the family a home that takes full advantage of nature beyond. The house also blends well with its surroundings thanks to complementary finishes like tile, wood, and stone detailing throughout the home, on top of the columns, brackets, fireplace hearth, and bar made out of the salvaged Tamarack trees around the property.

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Design Works Architecture, P.C.

6 N. Main St. #104, Fairport NY 14450

Design Works Architecture helps its clients tell their stories through its buildings. Upon completion, the goal is always to delight the end-users and create a lasting positive imprint on them. When it comes to designing, Design Works Architecture strives to follow the three Vitruvian principles of Architecture: firmness, commodity, and delight. Likewise, it values good structural integrity, the usability of the building, and, of course, maximizing the opportunities the site offers.

This can be seen especially in the firm’s Lantern in the Woods project in Victor, New York. This Adirondack-style home was built into a hillside around a wooded area. With the landscape, the firm designed the house with guest rooms on the lower part of the home, while the rear yard has a timber porch and an outdoor fireplace perfect for the area’s climate.

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Chianis + Anderson Architects, PLLC 

31 Front St., Binghamton, NY 13905

Chianis + Anderson Architects, PLLC is an experienced and imaginative full-service architectural firm founded by Partners Greg A. Chianis, AIA, Todd J. Anderson, AIA, and Jeffery T. Smith, AIA, National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). They are joined by an energetic team devoted to creating wonderfully built environments that advance their ambition of enhancing communities and improving people’s quality of life. On that note, it also strives to be environmentally conscious in its practice with the help of its LEED-accredited staff professionals who guide the design towards high efficiency and cost-saving architecture.

Below is the Resident House project, a 5,500-square-foot testament to the firm’s commitment to helping its community. For this project, the team provided full architectural and interior design services for a new residential building for an organization serving people with developmental disabilities. With that in mind, this single-story structure has two apartments on either side of the main core, with a shared kitchen, laundry, and various staff support services in the middle, making up an efficient space where the residents and members of the organization can move around comfortably.

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Jason K Demarest Architecture

950 Danby Road Suite 105, Ithaca, NY 14850

Jason K. Demarest has designed various projects in markets such as custom residential, commercial, municipal, educational, and recreational.

One example of the firm’s residential work is the Kamarck Residence pictured below, a sprawling residential project in Ithaca, NY. This single-family lakefront home is nestled atop a cliff overlooking Cayuga Lake. This home takes full advantage of its location with its gorgeous sitting rooms, with just a wall of large windows offering a 180-degree view of the sights below. The firm used many wood and stone elements to build the home to embrace the environment. 

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Hagan Architects, P.C.

180 Intrepid Lane, Syracuse, NY 13205

Hagan Architects is a family-run architecture firm under the father-and-son team of Jim and Kevin Hagan. Jim started the firm. His son Kevin is now his partner at the firm. Kevin has worked in the firm since 2007. The combined expertise of both first-generation and second-generation architects has resulted in exemplary design-build services, particularly for commercial and single-family residential projects. Hagan Architects provides its clients with the full package in each project, helping them from the concept stage to project completion.

One example of the firm’s residential work is this private residence in Brewerton, NY. This beautiful colonial-inspired home displays an impressive stone facade that is elegant and welcoming. Nestled between water and an open area, this home takes full advantage of its beautiful surroundings with its many large windows that open up to the fresh air beyond.

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Abstract Architecture, PC

313 Broadway, Buffalo, NY 14204

Although Abstract Architecture is relatively young, it was founded on over a decade of experience in all aspects of the building industry. Guided by its founder, Michael Anderson, LEED AP BD+C advocates for smart and environmentally sustainable techniques and sensitive architectural principles shaped by its surroundings and the client’s goals and budget.

One example of this in practice is the Elma Retreat project featured below. It is located some 1500 feet from the road and was designed to recreate the sensation of a peaceful retreat, a “departure from the daily grind.” The home features many shared open spaces where the family can bond and host gatherings, with the front and rear exterior patios functioning as extensions of these living areas. What makes this home most exciting, however, is how the private spaces are laid out to simulate an atmosphere separate from the outside world’s noises. The finishes throughout the house also reinforce a warm and peaceful environment with exquisite wood paneling, wallpapers, and decorative stones lining the house. The home also has strategically placed windows welcoming the sunlight and the beauty of the woods.

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Hanlon Architects

1300 University Ave., Rochester, NY 14607

With a unique focus on adaptability for the most unpredictable business environments, Hanlon Architects has provided all design aspects to its clients since its establishment. Its design approach, whether for corporate projects or residential homes, is primarily client-driven and relies heavily on the strong communication skills and deep experience of its 16-member team. The goal of each project is always to create a space that supports and inspires its occupants.

For example, featured below is the West Lake Road Project, a single-family residential project found in Canandaigua, New York. This lovely home was designed with consideration for the lake nearby. Large windows frame the house to maximize 360 views of the surrounding woods and water, giving the spaces ample daylight. At the same time, the home’s layout lets the homeowners enjoy the lakeside property with a small bridge connecting the main house to an outbuilding on the other side.

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Rod A VanDerWater – Architect P.C.

7515 Morgan Road, Liverpool, NY 13090

Rod A. VanDerWater – Architect P.C. is a highly experienced full-service architecture firm that sticks with the clients from the design phase to the construction administration. With over 32 years of experience, the company was born from the founder’s love of art. Since the company’s establishment, it has been building projects for a diverse group of clients that give the company its edge in the industry. Rod A VanDerWater – Architect P.C.’s project was featured in an article from Syracuse.com, highlighting their contributions among architects in New York State.

One example of the firm’s handiwork is this modern farmhouse project, Parade of Homes 2019. While it retains elements characteristic of a typical farmhouse, this modern home features stunning modern style choices inside and out. These features include the airy open floor plan, the wood and stone detailing, and the crisp, clean lines that decorate the home.

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Conklin Architecture

50 Rt. 23A, Catskill, NY 12414 

Up-and-coming Conklin Architecture is an ambitious architecture firm that has had its hand in designing various spaces. The firm was founded by Kevin Conklin, who has decades of architecture experience, enabling his firm to thrive in building projects in various markets like education, hospitality, commercial, and residential.

A particularly striking example of his work is this Woodstock Farmhouse featured below. This 2000-square-foot new construction offers three bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms inside this cozy, wooden farmhouse. The exterior communicates well with its wooded surroundings, while the interior retains many of the wooden, earthy elements. The result is this warm and inviting home with a unique facade.

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Holmes ▪ King ▪ Kallquist & Associates, Architects, LLP

575 North Salina St., Syracuse, NY 13208

For 40 years and counting, Holmes, King, Kallquist & Associates has been designing award-winning structures in the area, specializing in historic preservation, residential, commercial, and civic buildings, and interior design. Since its establishment, it has constantly pursued producing high-quality craftsmanship and detailing with every design. By valuing substantial input and involvement from the client, the company ensures that each home it builds is a unique synthesis of the client’s needs, the site, and the team’s expertise.

One of the firm’s founding partners, Carlton H. Holmes AIA LEED AP, is the one who guides the firm’s work on residential design and unique development opportunities. He’s been in the construction management business for over 40 years which has shaped his knowledge in both commercial and high-end residential work. Regarding homes, he is particularly interested in log and timber frame homes, which is shown in the Timber Frame Lake House project featured below.

Found in a previously developed lakefront lot in a tree-lined village street, this sprawling house was designed based on the aesthetic tradition of shingle and stick that has defined American resort architecture for generations. This gorgeous, earth-toned home was planned around a tucked-in corner entry leading into the great room, with a library and office to the left and the dining area, staircase, and service space to the right. The kitchen even features a stunning 180-degree view of the lake with big windows throughout the house, welcoming the surrounding lush greenery enveloping this lakeside home. For its beauty and functionality, this project received the 2013 Design Award for Residential Single Family Detached category from the Central New York AIA. 

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Wallant Architecture

883 Broadway, Albany, NY 12207

For 32 years, Wallant Architecture has been creating original residential and commercial designs. Its impressive portfolio is lined with a diverse set of projects, ranging from single- and multi-family residential to the adaptive reuse of a 150-year-old firehouse. Be it commercial or residential, Wallant Architects assures quality each step of the way, as proven by the awards it has received from the AIA and its features in notable publications like Builder Magazine and Hudson Valley Magazine.

Featured below is the breathtaking Saratoga Lake House, a sprawling testament to the beauty of wooden elements in design and Wallant Architecture’s particular knack for working with them. This classic timber home spells out a warm and inviting atmosphere from the facade and delivers accordingly with the warm materials used around the house. Every nook and cranny of this home is outlined by wooden details, from the wall paneling to the ceiling. The result is a uniquely beautiful timber home with earthy, natural elements that make it look welcoming.

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Ranking Methodology

To evaluate the performance of architects, our methodology employs a systematic approach that considers various factors contributing to customer experience and satisfaction. We focused on assessing the residential architects in the Upstate New York area. The methodology involves assigning weightings to specific categories based on their significance in determining customer service quality. Here’s the breakdown of the categories and their respective weightings:

• Average Customer Satisfaction (35%): This metric represents the average rating given by customers across the same review platforms as the Average Customer Satisfaction Score. A higher average rating indicates greater overall satisfaction with the service provided.
• Service Rating Score (25%): We analyze the ratio of high (4-5 stars) to low (1-2 stars) ratings for each business across multiple review platforms: Google, Houzz, and Yelp. A higher percentage of positive reviews contributes to a higher score, reflecting better customer satisfaction.
• Complaint Percentage (25%): We analyze the ratio of complaints to total reviews for each business. A lower complaints ratio indicates better service quality and results in a higher score.
• Business Hours and Availability (10%): The operating hours of each business are assessed to gauge accessibility. Companies with extended operating hours are awarded a higher score, as they offer greater convenience to customers.
• License Status (5%): We verify the licensing status of each contractor with their local licensing board to ensure legal compliance. Companies with valid licenses receive a higher score, reflecting professionalism and adherence to regulations.
• Total Score: We determined the overall rating for every contractor by calculating a weighted average, with the category weight determining the amount the subscore contributed to the total score 

Additional Note: Service Rating Score, Average Customer Satisfaction, and Complaint Percentage are calculated with a Bayesian estimate to account for if the contractor has a low number of total reviews. A Bayesian average is a statistical method used to calculate the average of a set of data points while taking into account prior information or beliefs about the distribution of the data. It combines the observed data with a prior distribution to generate a more accurate estimate of the true average.

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