Architectural Firm
Scarlett Breeding and John Alt met while teaching architecture and interior design at the university of North Carolina, Greensboro. They moved to Annapolis with the intention of transitioning from teaching to practicing the art of designing and building profoundly beautiful and useful places.
Two-plus decades later their efforts have established one of the premier architectural practices in the Chesapeake Bay-Washington, DC region.
Focus
Reviews
the project
Architectural Services for Historic Rental Property
"Their expertise is incomparable, but their ability to inspire trust is what made this a success."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m a business development analyst for a media platform. However, I handle some family property and hired them for that.
What challenge were you trying to address with Alt Breeding Schwarz Architects?
One of the rentals I manage is a rental property in Annapolis. The property is very old, and it’s had very few updates in the past 100 years. It’s not very efficient. So, we hired Alt Breeding Schwarz Architects to make renovations that preserve the memories of the house and maintain its historical integrity, while also making the property more energy-efficient and livable.
What was the scope of their involvement?
All the deliverables were architecture services that were phased. First, they put together a dossier that detailed the different phases that the project would entail. Then, a multitude of architectural drawings where they built out the specifications.
This went all the way down to wood species, insulation, a complete blueprint of materials in addition to the renovation drawings. The wood the house was built with doesn’t exist anymore. There are no Southern Georgia Pines left in the world, it's extinct. They just don’t grow anymore. It’s a challenge to get the wood and all the other choices for the project right.
They were really adept at managing my design choices throughout the process. They worked on the aesthetic aspects of the renovation and took the time to manage everything including my anxieties about the process.
What is the team composition?
I worked with a senior architect, Sarah (Senior Associate), as well as the principal, Jay (Managing Principal).
How did you come to work with Alt Breeding Schwarz Architects?
I was looking for an experienced architecture firm that specialized in historic properties. There are a lot of state and federal regulations on how to rent properties built before 1979 because of lead issues. Since this was an aesthetic project, I needed someone with both sets of skills. They really walked me through the process.
My realtor recommended them to me initially. I had a little trepidation because they specialize in enterprise projects. But they do a great job with smaller projects as well. Their portfolio and credentials are immaculate. They do excellent work with these historic homes.
How much have you invested with them?
The project is less than $10,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We’ve worked together since May 2020.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Anecdotally, every recommendation they made enhanced my vision for the project. There was nothing they recommended that I disagreed with. Metrics-wise, I can’t really give numbers, other than they were able to recommend outsourcing work to other vendors because it would have been way more expensive to do it themselves, which I appreciated.
How did Alt Breeding Schwarz Architects perform from a project management standpoint?
That’s one of their many strengths. You hear horror stories of creative types who aren’t business-oriented and who don’t have a rigid sense of time. I’m a very punctual and impatient person and their accessibility is one of their strengths. I was always able to get someone on the phone with a question and meetings were always expedient. Their project management skills were exactly what you would expect.
Their due diligence is also unparalleled. Since this is a historic property on the National Historic Register, they couldn’t just do whatever they wanted. They expertly navigated the permitting process and all the contractors to ensure everything worked.
What did you find most impressive about them?
This was my first time doing this sort of project. There was mild anxiety over making such an expensive, and permanent, renovation. I did a lot of second-guessing and they were highly adept at assuaging my fears. They said at one point, “I would not make a recommendation to you that I would not personally live in myself”, which built up my explicit trust in them. Their expertise is incomparable, but their ability to inspire trust is what made this a success.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No. They continue to be a delight to work with.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
When you embark on a project like this, you need to know what is a must-do and what is something you don’t necessarily need. Having a firm understanding of that will make the process smoother.
Every recommendation Alt Breeding Schwarz Architects made enhanced the project's vision. Their project management skills excelled, as did their due diligence in expertly navigating challenges like permitting and the original wood being extinct. They also inspired trust, helping a first-time client.