Residential Architect in Glendale, CA
A residential architect in Glendale needs to know two things well: how you want to live, and how this city reviews a set of drawings. Verdugo Studio designs new homes and whole-house remodels across Glendale and the foothill cities, and carries each one from the first sketch through permits and construction.
Who this is for
Homeowners who already own a lot or a house in Glendale and want an architect, not a design-build package.
What we design
New custom homes on flat and hillside lots. Whole-house remodels where the plan no longer fits the family. Kitchens and primary suites when the rest of the house is fine. Second stories and rear additions when you want to stay on your street.
We work in Glendale's full range of housing: 1920s Spanish Colonial Revival in Rossmoyne and Verdugo Woodlands, mid-century ranches in Montrose and Sparr Heights, and new construction in Chevy Chase Canyon and the Whiting Woods hills.
How a project runs
- Site visit and feasibility. We walk the property, read the zoning, and tell you what the lot allows before you commit to a design fee.
- Schematic design. Plans, a model and two or three options, with rough construction cost ranges from a contractor we trust.
- Design review and permits. Glendale reviews most single-family exterior work through its design review process. We prepare that submittal and answer the city's comments.
- Construction documents and bidding. A complete set for three contractors to price.
- Construction. Site visits, shop drawing review, and answers to the contractor's questions until you move in.
Why the city matters
Glendale applies its Comprehensive Design Guidelines to single-family work citywide, and hillside lots carry extra grading and fire-zone rules. Second-story additions go through administrative design review. Knowing which track a project falls into, and designing for it from the start, is the difference between one round of comments and three.
Fees
Architectural fees for full service on a custom home or whole-house remodel are typically quoted as a percentage of construction cost, with smaller projects quoted as a fixed fee. You get a written proposal after the site visit, with each phase priced separately so you can stop after feasibility if the numbers don't work.
Questions about this work
Do I need an architect for a remodel in Glendale?
For structural changes, additions and most exterior changes, yes: the city requires stamped drawings for the permit, and design review looks at the exterior. For a kitchen that stays inside the existing walls, a designer or contractor may be enough.
How long does a new home take in Glendale?
Design and permits usually run nine to fourteen months for a flat lot and twelve to eighteen for a hillside lot, followed by twelve to eighteen months of construction. Hillside design review and geotechnical work add time at the front.
Do you work outside Glendale?
Yes. Most of our work is in Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge, Burbank, Pasadena, La Crescenta-Montrose and Eagle Rock.
Related work
All projectsStart with a site visit.
A site visit is the first step. We walk the property, tell you what the lot allows, and give you a cost range before you commit to a fee.
Not sure the lot is buildable? Ask about a site feasibility review.