Office: 617.234.5300
Cambridge Office:
1972 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02140
Office: 617.234.5300
Cambridge Office:1972 Massachusetts Ave. Cambridge, MA 02140
Curious?
Q
What Are Your Consultation Prices?
A
Fees are only one part of the equation. Value is more to the point. If we charged you $50/hour, you might think that’s reasonable, but if it took 40 hours to accomplish what one hour with a $235/hour person (Leslie) would solve, which is the better value? Each project is priced according to what is needed. We do not mark up any items that we specify, instead passing any and all discounts on to our clients.
An easy way to get started with us is:
Step 1: initial phone call (free)
Tell us about your project: what you want and need, what you expect, when you are hoping to complete your project, where you are located, where the project is located, and we can know more about whether we are the right match for you.
Step 2: initial consultation (in person on site, or by Skype, FaceTime or telephone)
We get into the details of your project, review your homework assignments (that come after the phone call), and get started solving problems!
$600 buys you up to 3 hours of Leslie’s time
$400 buys you up to 3 hours of Monique or Suma time.
We will establish the next steps for the project including a very rough budget for the project and our fees. You can elect to continue working with us or you may find that one consultation is enough to keep you going.
Q
What is the culture of the firm like?
A
Our office is open and collaborative. We quickly learn what each person loves and does well, and where they need help. I’m always amazed at how easily and naturally folks help each other. The learning goes in both directions, from Senior staff to Junior staff, of course, but also from Junior staff to Senior staff. This is the difference between true collaboration versus command and control. For us, part of the true value of collaboration is the efficient production of documents and drawings for our clients.
We believe that a life outside of the office brings value to the workplace in happiness, inspiration, and responsibility to family, friends, and community. It means that we work normal hours and plan our projects to avoid last minute work, although, of course, we have spent many late nights when that is unavoidable. Too many late nights leads to burn out of the individual, cut corners, and mistakes that could be avoided, so we value shorter more efficient work days
Q
How well do you listen to your clients?
A
We will interview some of our clients to ask them!
Here is a place that understanding Agile Design could be helpful. Agile Design is when design can respond to various and changing needs. Sometimes our clients aren’t sure what they want when we start, so the ability to respond to client needs as they evolve is important.
You might enjoy reading our page about “design with life built-in”. If we didn’t search for the sweet spot where the wants and needs converge among the individual, the community/planet, and Design, we wouldn’t need to listen to our clients. If we only listened to our clients, they wouldn’t need us, either!
Q
How much time do you plan to be on site to coordinate with the contractor?
A
There is no such thing as a perfect set of drawings and documents, for various reasons including a limited schedule, tight budget, and unknown unforeseen existing conditions (most of our work is a renovation of existing structures). Sometimes it is actually more efficient to draw less and spend more time in the field. We see architecture as a real life endeavor, so we see ourselves as ready to walk in the mud, collaborate with engineers, contractors, suppliers and vendors, in order to create a better result for our clients. Some of this collaboration happens in our offices, but some has to happen in the field. We, as your architect or designer, want to go to the site and coordinate with the contractor! Usually, we try to go on site every other week, and call-in every other week. Sometimes, due to budget constraints, we just are on-call, and go when requested. In every case, we offer free phone calls to answer contractor questions at any time. We have found that a 5-minute phone call can keep a project on track.
Q
Can you tell us how we are going to feel during the project duration?
A
We can never say that you won’t feel tension and anxiety, but we can say that when you the project is completed you will be able to enjoy it. You may want to take a look at the “happiness curve” that we created to help you anticipate the emotions. Being prepared for what you are about to undergo makes a big difference in how you will feel.

Q
What does diversity mean to you?
A
Innovation comes about by bringing together people with a diverse set of skills and backgrounds. Some tension may be part of progress, but if we are open to new ideas, new ways of doing things and new people, we can make the world a better place for people…
who work, play, age, live and learn.
One thing that I am sure of is that we as individuals can’t do it alone, or at least do it well all by ourselves. Life and Design are a team sport.
You may enjoy reading one of my blog posts about the size of a design team on a big project. There were more categories of consultants than there are letters in the alphabet. We need diversity to succeed!
By the way, diversity is not just about skin color or gender. When I started this firm, I wanted to hire people who had strengths where I perceived that I had weaknesses. Two of those people have done just that, and together we are stronger and better than any of us would be on our own.
Curious?
Q & A’s
What Are Your Consultation Prices?
Fees are only one part of the equation. Value is more to the point. If we charged you $50/hour, you might think that’s reasonable, but if it took 40 hours to accomplish what one hour with a $235/hour person (Leslie) would solve, which is the better value? Each project is priced according to what is needed. We do not mark up any items that we specify, instead passing any and all discounts on to our clients.
An easy way to get started with us is:
Step 1: initial phone call (free)
Tell us about your project: what you want and need, what you expect, when you are hoping to complete your project, where you are located, where the project is located, and we can know more about whether we are the right match for you.
Step 2: initial consultation (in person on site, or by Skype, FaceTime or telephone)
We get into the details of your project, review your homework assignments (that come after the phone call), and get started solving problems!
$600 buys you up to 3 hours of Leslie’s time
$400 buys you up to 3 hours of Monique or Suma time.
We will establish the next steps for the project including a very rough budget for the project and our fees. You can elect to continue working with us or you may find that one consultation is enough to keep you going.
What is the culture of the firm like?
Our office is open and collaborative. We quickly learn what each person loves and does well, and where they need help. I’m always amazed at how easily and naturally folks help each other. The learning goes in both directions, from Senior staff to Junior staff, of course, but also from Junior staff to Senior staff. This is the difference between true collaboration versus command and control. For us, part of the true value of collaboration is the efficient production of documents and drawings for our clients.
We believe that a life outside of the office brings value to the workplace in happiness, inspiration, and responsibility to family, friends, and community. It means that we work normal hours and plan our projects to avoid last minute work, although, of course, we have spent many late nights when that is unavoidable. Too many late nights leads to burn out of the individual, cut corners, and mistakes that could be avoided, so we value shorter more efficient work days
How well do you listen to your clients?
We will interview some of our clients to ask them!
Here is a place that understanding Agile Design could be helpful. Agile Design is when design can respond to various and changing needs. Sometimes our clients aren’t sure what they want when we start, so the ability to respond to client needs as they evolve is important.
You might enjoy reading our page about “design with life built-in”. If we didn’t search for the sweet spot where the wants and needs converge among the individual, the community/planet, and Design, we wouldn’t need to listen to our clients. If we only listened to our clients, they wouldn’t need us, either!
How much time do you plan to be on site to coordinate with the contractor?
There is no such thing as a perfect set of drawings and documents, for various reasons including a limited schedule, tight budget, and unknown unforeseen existing conditions (most of our work is a renovation of existing structures). Sometimes it is actually more efficient to draw less and spend more time in the field. We see architecture as a real life endeavor, so we see ourselves as ready to walk in the mud, collaborate with engineers, contractors, suppliers and vendors, in order to create a better result for our clients. Some of this collaboration happens in our offices, but some has to happen in the field. We, as your architect or designer, want to go to the site and coordinate with the contractor! Usually, we try to go on site every other week, and call-in every other week. Sometimes, due to budget constraints, we just are on-call, and go when requested. In every case, we offer free phone calls to answer contractor questions at any time. We have found that a 5-minute phone call can keep a project on track.
Can you tell us how we are going to feel during the project duration?
We can never say that you won’t feel tension and anxiety, but we can say that when you the project is completed you will be able to enjoy it. You may want to take a look at the “happiness curve” that we created to help you anticipate the emotions. Being prepared for what you are about to undergo makes a big difference in how you will feel.

What does diversity mean to you?
Innovation comes about by bringing together people with a diverse set of skills and backgrounds. Some tension may be part of progress, but if we are open to new ideas, new ways of doing things and new people, we can make the world a better place for people…
who work, play, age, live and learn.
One thing that I am sure of is that we as individuals can’t do it alone, or at least do it well all by ourselves. Life and Design are a team sport.
You may enjoy reading one of my blog posts about the size of a design team on a big project. There were more categories of consultants than there are letters in the alphabet. We need diversity to succeed!
By the way, diversity is not just about skin color or gender. When I started this firm, I wanted to hire people who had strengths where I perceived that I had weaknesses. Two of those people have done just that, and together we are stronger and better than any of us would be on our own.