Matthew V. Piotrowski, Architect, is a seven person firm located in
Our staff is often applauded by our clients for assisting them in the development of the most effective strategies for achieving their goals, creating exciting spaces and getting their projects approved by local planning commissions, zoning boards and code officials to ensure that they are completed on schedule, within budget and to the high standards of our clients.
We take great pride in the fact that approximately 95% of our projects are either repeat client projects or the direct result of client referrals. We consider this track record a true testament to our consistency in helping our clients achieve their goals.
At Matthew V. Piotrowski, Architect, we understand that a new project can be a daunting, time-consuming and an exhausting endeavor. Without proper guidance, creativity and resources, what once started out as a dream can quickly turn into a nightmare. While the selection of a licensed design professional (Architect) is one of the biggest steps you can take to prevent this occurrence, it is just as important that you select an Architect with whom you are comfortable as you embark upon your journey.
In order to assist you with your selection, we are enclosing the answers to some Frequently Asked Questions to provide you with some additional insight into our firm.
While we are hopeful that you will select Matthew V. Piotrowski, Architect to turn your project dreams into reality, we wish you a successful and fruitful endeavor!
Frequently Asked Questions
Are you a licensed Architect?
Yes, Matthew Piotrowski is a registered Architect in
What else can you tell me about your firm and your staff?
Matthew V. Piotrowski has been practicing Architecture in the
Our staff consists of fellow architects and graduate architects. Since all of our employees have an educational background in architecture, there are no ‘draftsmen’ preparing drawings.
How much do you charge for Architectural Services?
We do not have a set fee or hourly rate for our Architectural services. Our fee is dependent upon a variety of factors including, but not limited to, project size, location, complexity, schedule and scope. After an initial consultation, we would be pleased to provide you with a proposal that would include our proposed fee for achieving the specific goals of your project.
How much do you charge for this initial consultation?
We are pleased to provide you with an initial consultation free of charge and without obligation.
Free of charge?
Yes, free of charge.
What is the purpose of the initial consultation?
There are several purposes for this consultation including, but not limited to, the following:
§ To introduce you to our firm and answer additional questions that may not be addressed in this FAQ.
§ To learn more about you, your goals and your expectations.
§ To acquaint ourselves with the site conditions of your project and discuss the feasibility of your project.
By educating us with the details of your project, you will be equipping us with the tools to perform our work in the most cost effective way.
How soon after the initial consultation can I expect your proposal?
Within a week we will send you our proposal that will include the project scope in addition to our fee structure.
If I am comfortable with your proposal what do we do next?
If you are satisfied with our proposal, the architectural staff member awarded with your project will contact you within two weeks of receiving the signed proposal and small good-faith deposit. At that time we will work with you to schedule a mutually convenient time when we can conduct a site survey to obtain the specific dimensions and conditions required to develop a feasible design for your project.
When we arrive to conduct our site survey, our architectural staff member will review your wish list with you and discuss the project further as required to assure that we have a firm grasp of your expectations and desires.
How soon after you survey my site will it take for your firm to develop a design for my project?
The length of time required to develop our initial design depends on many factors that vary from project to project including, but not limited to project size, location, complexity, scope and how busy our office is. If requested, we can include a general time frame for your specific project in our proposal.
When we have a firm grasp of when the design will be ready for your review, we will contact you to arrange a mutually convenient time to review the design. During that meeting we will present our vision for your project for your review. At the end of that meeting we will discuss how to proceed. In some cases, revisions will be necessary and we will embark on another round of design. In other cases we will proceed with Construction Documents or, if required, Zoning Board submission drawings.
What if I sign a contract and I’m not satisfied with your designs?
While none of our clients have ever requested this, they are free to provide us with a written request to terminate our contract at any point in the process. After being compensated for the services rendered to that point, we will grant such a request.
Can you tell me how much the construction of my project will cost?
Since we are not General Contractors we are not comfortable providing construction cost estimates. However, the drawings you will receive during the design phase will show enough information for you to get ‘ball park’ type estimates from general contractors. If requested during the initial consultation, we can customize the staging of our services to include the development of pricing drawings. Completed after the design phases of the projects, these pricing drawings will allow you to get ‘real world pricing’ from General Contractors of your choice. Upon receiving pricing from the contractors, we can work with you to make any necessary revisions to keep the project within budget before completing the final construction documents. In turn, the final construction documents will provide enough information for contractors to submit more accurate bids, to follow during construction and to obtain a building permit.
What if I don’t know any General Contractors?
If requested, we will provide you with a short list of qualified General Contractors selected specifically with your project in mind.
What can I do to accelerate the time it takes for your office to complete my project?
Based on our experience, having a good sense of your project goals will greatly reduce, if not eliminate, the need for multiple design revisions.
Since our evening schedule is usually pretty tight due to our attendance at zoning and planning meetings, being available for meetings during business hours often results in a significant reduction in project completion time.
Will your firm design a new heating and air conditioning system for my project?
For larger residential projects and for most commercial projects we have qualified Mechanical Electrical and Plumbing consultants that would be able to assist us in custom-designing a system that best works within the parameters of your project.
While our designs will keep the practical and often overlooked issues of access and maintenance for such systems in mind, all design and required drawings for these systems in residential projects are normally the responsibility of the General Contractor and his subcontractors. If specifically requested by the client we can include the hiring of the appropriate consultants and required coordination in our proposal.
OK, I might be interested in hiring your firm. What do I do now?
Give us a call or e-mail us. Shortly thereafter we will contact you to arrange a mutually convenient time for the initial consultation.
