Joel Berman Architecture & Design, Ltd.

Attentive and fast. 👍

Reviewed on Google Maps

Working with Berman Architecture was the worst mistake I could have made as a small business. They cost me an extra $50k in unplanned expenses fixing their mistakes due to their awful design work, and counting. I signed the contract and put a 50% deposit down in the amount of $7k in March 2021 for a 2800sqft space that was to be made into a doggy daycare. Due to their complete lack of action and communication I was not able to open my doors until January 2022, costing me $21k in rent for a space I couldn't even use on top of their $14k fee. I couldn't get any clear timeline, meetings were forgotten about and missed, emails asking for any kind of update whatsoever after many weeks of silence went unanswered, things we had discussed at previous meetings hadn't been updated at the next meeting and I ultimately didn't receive the necessary drawings to even START getting contractor bids until June - four months after I starting working with Berman Architecture. It would then frequently take weeks to get a reply on any questions I or my contractor had. My contractor expressed his frustration and disbelief many times at the complete lack of communication. The final straw was my contractor asking Berman Architecture to sign off on our HVAC approvals and it taking nearly a month to get so much as a response, and that was only after multiple emails and calls from both myself and my contractor. They missed entire pieces of design such as the electrical wiring which cost an extra unplanned $17k, requested dual-entry doors which ran another $10k, and they floored our entire store in extremely expensive custom epoxy flooring, not just the rooms the dogs are in as requested. I don't even know how much extra that cost us. Additionally, Joel personally repeatedly assured myself and the landlords we could soundproof our space as it's in a building with other offices. As it turns out, NONE of the soundproofing we discussed was actually worked into the designs! Less than six months in we are getting noise complaints. I never would have pursued this space or dumped $350k and counting into it if I had known he wasn't even going to follow through on my biggest concern of noise. Never. So now we are looking at even more $$$ to fix what was supposed to have been done in the first place. I chose them because I knew Joel personally and thought he was a upstanding man and he had the expertise we needed, particularly with having designed other doggy daycares and animal-related facilities, even passing over other quotes for literally half the price. I'm sure they're great if you're a multimillion dollar business but I do not recommend them for small businesses. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

As experience mechanical engineer Joe B. aske me to do a through job on an electrical panel report for project. I spent 15 hours doing research for this project (this was municipal licensing home project). It required a full report and documentation from my part. I worked with the journeyman electrical professional. I created the report and completed the project for Joe and his office staff. I then Joe B. also to do more work for him - an in-depth inventions on the electrical wattage on some appliance used in the home. Wok I also completed and submitted to Joe B. and his office. HE NEVER PAID ME for the work. I was was imbedded in his projects via internet (COVID-19 protocols). It has been over 18 moths, 10 attempts to collet $800 wroth of time to this project and he WILL NOT pay me. I talked to him many time, he says he'll pay me but them lies about it. I am about to take Joe Berman and his architecture firm to small claims court over this breach of contract he made with him. If you see Joe B. please ask him to pay his contract engineers, like me. This is a very untechnical way to run a business. Be carful with Joe B. and his firm. I have all the documents and emails to prove my case against this Joe B. He has show me disrespect as a Hispanic degree engineer. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

Reviewed on Google Maps

Great architect, and great office coffee.

Reviewed on Google Maps