3 Best Residential Architects in Madison, WI

I contacted Todd in 2011 to see if he was interested in working on an unusual project. My wife and I had a buildable lot and I wanted to build a smallish high-performance house (aka Passive House from the German Passivhaus trend). I had seen a couple of his projects and I liked the contemporary feel and interesting use of materials. He explained how he worked and I found out he was also a fan of Sarah Susanka's ideology (see the "Not So Big House" book series). (His design partner, Sara, in fact worked for Sarah Susanka some years before.) He was also familiar with the Passive house concept and knew what was involved. I was sold. As others have noted, Todd approached the project in a very inclusive, collaborative fashion. Ready with his sketch pad, he draws ideas, makes suggestions, but goes where you guide him. The more ideas and direction you provide, the easier he and Sara can start putting things together. My advice is to show up with more ideas than "I want a house with 3 bedrooms". Do some research, find examples, pictures, etc. Once you help establish a direction, he will supply options and alternatives based on your taste and budget. I can tell you he will offer lots of cool ideas you had no idea existed. Ultimately, he wants to help you get the house you want, not one he wants. I highly recommend him. As for the smallish house It got bigger, but that was because of me. I'm a woodworker and after weighing costs, I included a fairly sizable workshop into the footprint, rather than build a separate outbuilding. It turned out great.

Our new addition is splendid, and it is definitely all about the design. Todd took our little 1960 three bedroom ranch and made it a roomy, light, airy space that our family of four will continue to enjoy for years. I think it is some of his creative details that really make the project, such as opening up the stairwell by the dining room, which gives the effect of a larger open dining space. The unique placement and size of the windows in the new bedroom make it a magnificent room, along with the efficient use of dead space that has given us a study area and two beautiful built in book shelves. We really feel like we have a whole new house. Todd was so easy to work with. From the beginning I knew this project would go well, because he took the time to sit with us, and really listened and responded to what we wanted. Todd was patient with our indecision and helped steer us in a practical yet thoughtful direction. Ultimately, he designed a space that exactly met our needs, and was within our budget.

This is the letter I sent to Todd at the completion of our project: “On Friday, it will be one year since we moved into our "new" home. I remember the very first meeting we had when I told you I wanted to walk into my house every evening and say "ahhh" and feel that I was where I most wanted to be. And I do! Every night when I come through the door I think how much we love living here and how perfect it all is. We want you to know how much we appreciate all you did to make that happen. From the beginning, you and Sarah both grasped the idea that we really did want to keep things small, to make the house perfect but not huge. You didn't encourage us to expand the footprint, to add things we didn't need, or to incorporate "extras" that weren't necessary. What we have is exactly what we wanted; every area of our home has a purpose and is daily used and enjoyed. We always appreciated your availability, your creativity, and your willingness to listen to and incorporate our ideas. Your sensitivity to the history and age of the house meant a lot. I am glad you encouraged us to be true to the character of our home and to incorporate as many of the historical aspects as possible. We love the original beams in the fireplace room and the light pole made from reclaimed wood. I especially appreciate the stone archway between the addition and the original house. As you know, I am all about symmetry and I absolutely love it every time I walk through that area. It is so in harmony with both the past and the future of this home. Thank you, also, for helping me with the decisions I found hardest. It would have been very difficult to choose the millwork without your guidance. I also appreciated your help with the light fixtures. Everything ties together so perfectly and is so consistent with the age and feel of the house. Further, I had no idea how important it is to have just the right color paint for the various areas. One of my favorite times of the day is the morning, when the sunlight streams in from the east and the walls seem to glow! Although we are not planning on ever moving, there are things we would eventually like to do with the other buildings on the property. You will be the first person we call when we get to that stage. You have shown us the value of involving an architect from the earliest point and look forward to again utilizing your imagination and guidance. Please feel free to list us as a reference for future clients as we would be very happy to give you our highest recommendation.” CH and BC, Mequon, WI.

These reviews are provided for information purposes and to help you make informed decisions.

To share your experience, click here or send it to reviews@threebestrated.com.

We will display both positive and negative reviews. All submitted reviews are published after verification for authenticity and compliance with our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Community Review Guidelines.