Sam Rodell | Architect

Sam Rodell and his team designed an extensive home remodel and addition with us. We took a pre-fabricated, 1960's rancher and Sam helped us turn it into a unique, mid-century modern home in honor of my dad, who passed away. Sam listened when we asked that our home be designed to be far more energy-efficient and he paid attention to our desire to use quality, natural and non-toxic materials. During the construction phase, Sam worked closely with us and our builder to bring his design vision to life. Sam's team also helped us to select appliances, furniture and blinds. We have moved back into our home and could not be happier with how it all turned out. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

Sam and his firm designed and built a house for me. It was one of the best experiences of my life. He listened to what we wanted and needed, and did a thorough job of educating us as to the process and the options. His design won several awards, but to us the fact that the house fit like a glove and delighted us every day was far more important. I've rarely met anyone more professional or more truly interested in his clients. Sam and his firm go far more than the extra mile to give clients an extraordinary home. Sam is the gold standard for creativity, design, and professionalism. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

Sam's integrity and concern for the planet are manifest in every one of his projects. Add to that a wonderfully artistic design sense, technical proficiency and versatility. He designs for the client and for the site. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

We are in the middle of a big project with Sam and I couldn't be more pleased. His attention to detail is amazing and is so responsive when I have a question. He is also a great listener. He is actively involved in all aspects of the project. He even went shopping with me for the plumbing fixtures and kitchen appliances! I highly recommend Sam Rodell and his amazing team. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

Sam is an exceptional architect, one who's work will stand out far into the future. He designed an office space for my company that was conceptually rich, but comfortable and inviting. His team custom-built furniture that plays well with the light in the space, as he always does. The project was on time and budget. Sam has brought rammed earth construction to the Northwest and Passivhaus architecture to the US, and fits them together with the land they sit upon thoughtfully and sustainably. Sit with him and you'll find yourself in the presence of technical mastery, sublime aesthetic, and more humanity than most. I think Sam will stand among the architects who history remembers most fondly. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

Sam is extremely easy to work with. In addition to his being an excellent listener, we totally appreciate his designing our home to passivhaus standards (very energy-efficient), as well as his creative engagement and personalized approach. He is remarkably reliable, chatting with us weekly and sending his meeting notes immediately thereafter. He knows all aspects of creating a home from scratch, even given the constraints of our property. Sam is truly a master of his art. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

Sam Rodell's attention to meaningful subtle details raises the value of projects exponentially. Sam transforms good design into and exceptional and memorable personal experiences.

Reviewed on Google Maps

Sam Rodell cares, and they design the most energy efficient buildings in the area. Keep leading us into the next century!

Reviewed on Google Maps

We have been working with Sam and his team for the past 3 years on a house remodel. They have been a delight to work with from beginning to end. Right from the start, Sam came out and looked at the house and it was really fascinating to watch him study the house. You could tell he was paying close attention to detail and thoroughly enjoys his work. We then had Nathan, their project manager, out to perform measurements. Very professional and always fun to discuss the before of a project. Especially, the oddities that were included in the original building of the house. Things like, placement of walls, code violations, etc. The final reveal came with Sam, Nathan and Wendy (interior design). It was amazing to see the transformation of a old, tired looking house into a work of art. The team is very open and accommodating. They work with you, not against you. They are also prompt. I would not hesitate for a second to recommend Sam Rodell and his team for any project. From start to finish, they have made the project fun and enjoyable. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

If you're fortunate enough to be in a position to design your own home, you typically will get only one shot at it. So it pays to choose your architect wisely. Especially true if, like my family, you've decided to build an extremely high performance passive house. The design methodology is so exacting that you must choose your architect carefully. Sam and his team have the experience, expertise, and tools to get it right the first time. We're among the fortunate few who got that one shot, but if we ever needed to design another high performance building, there'd only be one call, to Sam Rodell. Sam and his team were very easy to work with. Communication was great (we did all of the design work from 1500 miles away via video conference). We enjoyed periodic interaction and full consideration of every detail we wanted in our new house. And the service didn't stop once the blueprints were dry. Sam and his team were on the project site frequently during construction and for some time after the house was complete. They'd test and re-test and make sure the home designed was the home delivered, and that the measured performance met or exceeded the design criteria. It did, and we couldn't be happier in our new home. While our neighbors struggle with the seasonal chore of cutting, hauling, and burning firewood, bundled in sweaters with their thermostats cranked way down in winter, we're enjoying year round shirtsleeve comfort at 72 degrees. And for much of the winter, we don't even need to turn on our heat pump! It feels like we're cheating mother nature. But it's not cheating; it's science. Homes of the future will certainly be built to this standard. Why wait? You can have it now. Call Sam Rodell and get it started; you'll be glad you did. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

We’ve had the recent pleasure of working with Sam Rodell Architects on a Passive Home. The trendsetting and innovative architectural capabilities of Sam Rodell and his team set them apart as leaders in the industry. From the start, it was evident we both shared a common desire to build a high-performance home for our client. In the end, that mutual collaboration ensured a successful outcome. We look forward to future opportunities to work together. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

Sam Rodell’s extensive architectural experience is highlighted by a meaningful understanding of the importance of sustainable building technologies. Our company provides high performance window systems designed to adhere to passive house standards and it has been a pleasure to work with Sam Rodell and his team in creating rigorously energy efficient and beautiful building envelopes. More...

Reviewed on Houzz

Absolutely loved our time in design mode with Sam Rodell and the resulting product is a true marriage of site and structure. 25 years later, and I wouldn't change one thing. He is a true master. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

I never thought designing a home would be fun but with Sam it was. It was as though Sam took our needs and dreams for our home and helped us expand our vision to levels beyond our expectations. The result was a beautiful home that is fun to live in and a delight for friends to visit. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

Spokane is lucky to have Sam among its distinguished panel of architects. I know him well and am amazed how much time and money he has spent doing in service training in a wide variety of very interesting and new building techniques. I try to keep up with what he is doing but find it impossible simply because he is doing so much and all of it well. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

Sam Rodell has been working with my husband and me for the past year on the design of our new passive home. In the beginning of the process, Sam presented a wide variety of styles and options, and together with his team of experts we have refined our choices down to the smallest detail.

Our plan reflects all of our unique needs in a design that is energy efficient, wise in its use of space, and beautiful to look at and live in. They include a musical performance space that features room for a small audience that is separated from the bedroom area, all fitting into a modest footprint.

Throughout the unfolding of the design, Sam has been a careful listener who responded to all we said and remained flexible to allow needed changes which helped us to meet our budget. Sam has exhibited the highest of professional standards in this extraordinarily enjoyable and informative process. As we conclude the design phase and move into construction, Sam promises to be present to insure that construction meets his high standards. This past year has been so much fun that the time spent in the development of the project will be missed.
In short, I can heartily recommend Sam Rodell and his team for any residential or commercial design venture.
Carol Tevenan, Spokane More...

Reviewed on Houzz

Sam Rodell, and his fine team of Associates, has helped us nearly realize a long envisioned project. This will soon be a retirement home, an aging in place, Passive House. Our site is challenging, yet, Sam wasn't daunted. He encouraged us with his technical skill, commuicative style, creative thinking. He has been respectful of budgetary constraints and nuanced notions we have about our style of life. He wants this project to work for us and he and his exceptional team collaborate to create confidence in the outcome we envision. Sam brings informed inspiration, state of the art technology, teamwork, artful architectural awareness, and sound building practices to our planning process. We are in good hands. More...

Reviewed on Houzz

As a Landscape Architect my work allows me to meet and design with an many talented architects but certainly right up there at the top has to be Sam Rodell. He is creative, thoughtful, humble and works extremely well with others to constantly create and develop amazing projects. Sam is a total thumbs up in my world and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend him!Steve Smart, Landscape Architect and owner of Environment West Landscape Services and Smart Gardens Nursery More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

I can’t say enough about the positive experience of working with Sam Rodell and his team. He is very thoughtful and knowledgeable with his design and never comprising the long-term goal of high performance building. Sam is an innovator and is much appreciated in this industry. More...

Reviewed on Houzz

I am a Contractor here in Spokane WA. and have worked with Sam Rodell on several occasions. Sam genuinely cares about his Customers, his Projects and his Contractors, he is always striving to bring us all together to form a cohesive quality orientated team.

Shawn Gabel
Gabel Woodworking and Construction LLC More...

Reviewed on Houzz

Sam Rodell is the consummate professional. His sense of design is one of his great strengths and he is able to communicate this to the client in a thoughtful manner. Because he is a contractor, even though he doesn’t practice, it shows up in his work and hence the end product is superior. I particularly like his cutting edge understanding of new technologies in the building industry, specifically as it relates to energy efficiency. Sam’s use of computer aided design tools makes the process and timeframe for creating the end product that much more efficient. More...

Reviewed on Houzz

When I first met Sam, I was immediately impressed with the expertise and passion he has for his work. His ability to not only explain the various elements of architecture, but listen to the needs and ideas of the client is a balancing act that few possess. Sam's thoughtful designs are unique in that they reflect the natural environment in which they are built. The structures seem to melt into their surroundings while still maintaining their own aesthetic beauty and functionality. His advocacy for the Passive House concept has brought the technology to the attention of the Inland Northwest community and highlighted its financial, environmental, and functional benefits. He did this while very few other architects in the region even knew the technology existed. He is a true professional and takes pride in what he does. Every aspect of his projects have been carefully calculated and are based on his thoughtful, site-inspired design. I would highly recommend Sam to anyone looking for a true expert who puts the needs of the client first.
-Jeffrey Richardson More...

Reviewed on Houzz

Sam Rodell intuitively understood and honored this land that I love from the first day he set foot on it. Sam patiently guided the process with a gentle, reverent sensitivity that allowed an evolution of design work and the natural setting to work in tandem. The finished results that I enjoy immensely on a daily basis are binding and timeless. Sam Rodell made this possible and I will be forever grateful. More...

Reviewed on Houzz

Sam Rodell has provided design, drawings, details, and complete energy calculations for a new construction residence for our clients in Issaquah, WA. He is an expert in energy efficient and high performance construction techniques. His design for this house is in the Passive House category of high performance buildings. His drawings and details are clear and logical. Even though this is a relatively new & complex construction technique, he passed the County's plan review process without a single correction. We look forward to breaking ground in 4 - 6 weeks. I would highly recommend Sam to anyone looking to build a high performance or Passive House building.

Glenn Carter
Advanced Building Consultants, Inc. More...

Reviewed on Houzz

Sam is the best in the business. He is a brilliant mind with unmatched talent, and also has a big heart and social conscience. He is a rare breed. My experience with him has been nothing but positive. Rodell Architecture has many innovative design ideas (materials, structure technology, etc.); very much an "out of the box" approach to structure and style. Whether you are in the market for a residential or commercial architect, Sam and his team will surpass your expectations. Being a novice to the commercial building process, and having very specific needs, I was overwhelmed with where to start. There is a lot information on the internet, and I spoke with several different companies, but Sam was the only one who sat down with me and thoroughly, respectfully, and patiently went through the process and options with me. I learned many things during the design phase and am very pleased with the high efficiency design and optimal usage of the land and natural resources. I am grateful to Sam for helping me through a daunting process. He truly deserves the professional recognition he has earned. More...

Reviewed on Houzz

Architectural services. Sam provided blue print design for and architectural drawings for a 24,500 sf building expansion that replaces a 1914 building on our campus. Sam designed the building in a Passive House design that is beautiful and energy efficient. More...

Reviewed on Houzz

It is not very often that you come across an individual so dedicated and knowledgeable about his trade. Sam is extremely passionate about the design process. His ethics and commitment to fundamental principles are something others should model. More...

Reviewed on Houzz

Passive House design uses the most effective and affordable energy technologies in the world. Our energy costs will remain extremely low as we enjoy improved comfort all year, we will always breathe pristine quality interior air in an acoustical sanctuary, and we will dramatically reduce our carbon footprint.
From concept to completion, Sam and his team have been invaluable, there for us every step of the way. More...

Reviewed on Houzz

We really enjoyed working with Sam Rodell and his team. They really listed to our vision and created a space that we love and can be proud of. We would recommend Sam to anyone looking for a thoughtful and competent design. More...

Reviewed on Houzz

Sam Rodell's work is thorough and thoughtful. He curates his clients' experience so as to make the process as easy as possible for them. His commitment to energy efficient design is genuine, and he finds ways to build with high performance without sacrificing aesthetics. More...

Reviewed on Houzz

A bit of context
I'm a native Californian. In my professional life I teach graduate courses in project management. As a result I have a fair amount of expertise in planning and decision-making models. I approached the decision to move to Spokane and build my dream home on 40 acres we had purchased a decade before with the same methodical planning I apply in my business activities and teaching role.

Now about Sam
When we moved to Spokane one of the first things we did after moving into our rental home was to start the process of selecting a local architect to design our home. I had collected the names of five architectural firms in the area via Internet search, Better Business Bureau review, word-of-mouth, etc. I had researched and compiled a list of formal questions to ask each candidate, and I arranged to photograph and tape record each candidate as a part of the process (I learned long ago dealing with vendor selection - it gets hard to keep all the players straight in your head). I invited each candidate to the property, explained my process and asked my questions. This was the first time I had met Sam Rodell.

Sam impressed me from that first meeting. While I got various sales pitches from the other four firms, from Sam I got careful and thoughtful answers directly on point to the questions I posed. He is naturally self-effacing, calm, and very deliberate in his speech. However what he loses in the sure volume of his commentary he makes up in the clarity and directness of his communication. My wife and I carefully reviewed all the data we had collected from our interviews but I knew before I started the data review what our decision would be.

The Process
After the selection of Kirkwood Rodell was made the next up was the contract. We had essentially two models to choose from. One was to spec everything out essentially to the last nail and then bid that out to contractors. The other approach was to construct the conceptual drawings and architectural plans and then negotiate with our selected contractor on the particulars as we move through the build process.
 
Sam was conspicuously neutral in that decision even though it had economic consequences to him. In fact in all such decision points in our interaction with Sam he maintained that same posture. He would inform us of the options and likely consequences and then let us decide. In the instant case, we decided on the second model and made the detailed decisions in consultation with Sam as we moved through the build process.
Sam also helped us with the second most important decision in the project (besides picking the architect), the selection of the general contractor - in our case Eagle Mountain. His advice and counsel was instrumental in our decision to use Eagle Mountain and we could not be happier with that choice.
As we moved through the design process I was constantly surprised and thankful for Sam's consistent, patient, and insightful support through the myriad of decisions that lie between the blank page and a completed design. As a recent secretary of defense made famous… There are known knowns, there are known unknowns, and there are unknown unknowns. Sam helped us articulate and document our known knowns as to the kind of home we wanted. He helped us with the known unknowns -the parts of the design we had either not considered or the consequences of we did not understand. Here his patient, low keyed demeanor was of great assistance through a seemingly endless list of decisions. As to the unknown unknowns, we fought them as we found them as a team, the Georges, Sam, and Eagle Mountain. The result was so much more than we had hoped.
The thing I remember the most about the design experience with Sam Rodell was how amorphous, vaguely sketched ideas on our part would be rendered into several potential and elegant solutions by Sam. In the end when I look at my home I can't tell what idea came from me or my wife or from Sam. It doesn't matter of course, we just love the results.

In Summary
We found Sam Rodell and (Kirkwood Rodell), to be honest and ethical in every aspect of our work together. Sam took a lot of time and effort working diligently to understand what it is we really wanted in a home. Such questions as "what does quality mean to you" were taken up with all seriousness in order to find the subtle differences that makes a custom home custom. We recommend Sam to anyone who wants a thoughtful, intelligent, honest partner in the design of a unique and personalized dwelling. More...

Reviewed on Houzz

I just completed my second project with Sam. The first was a residence; this one a remodel in my living room. On both projects Sam was thorough, professional, meticulous, creative, and just plain fun to work with. It had been some time since I first had the pleasure of working with Sam and I was SO pleased to remember how wonderful an experience he can make of an architectural project. We're beginning work on what will be my third project - a much more extensive remodel of my condo and I can hardly wait. I've worked with other design professionals, architects, and contractors over the years, but have never met anyone who does any portion of this work better than Sam. More...

Reviewed on Houzz

Sam designed our dream house for us. He took our ideas and turned them into a house we could both be happy with, and build! He was a joy to work with and is extremely patient, thoughtful, brilliant, and creative. I would recommend him to anyone looking for an architect! More...

Reviewed on Houzz

Sam designed our retirement home. He is knowledgeable, reliable, and professional in his dealings with us. I like the fact that I can contact him directly anytime I need to. He is responsive to my needs and questions. He was also very patient with us as we worked through the designing of our house and continues to be patient with my questions and concerns as the house is being built.
I also like the fact that although the house design is complete and we are now in the process of building, he continues to contribute his time and talent on a personal basis by visiting the building site monthly. He appears to have a great working relationship with our builder and they work well together to insure that our house will be built according to Sam's plans.
I highly recommend Sam as an outstanding architect. More...

Reviewed on Houzz

My husband and I have enjoyed working with Sam Rodell. He brings not only his expertise and talent as an Architect, but an ability to listen and interpret your vision to reality.

Reviewed on Houzz

Mr. Rodell provided architectural and construction management services for several small and large projects that I did. These range from 100,000+ SF Retirement Communities to work on my personal home. The last project Mr. Rodell did was for my home. Sam is creative, organized, knowledgeable and trustworthy. I highly recommend him and his firm for commercial and residential work. More...

Reviewed on Houzz

I developed my initial respect for the high quality work done by Sam working on several commercial retirement communities with him. Based on that work my wife Wendy and I choose Sam to be our Archetect when we build our "dream" home.
He guided us through a design process that helped both mature our vision and fill in the many details that are required to build a home that is both beautiful and a joy to live in. Friends and family love coming to our house for partys because they enjoy the houses beauty and the comfortable warm feeling that it engenders. Our house was recently features in the Spokane/Coeur D'alene Magazine featuring the design with empahis how the house blended so effectivetly into its spacious outdoor environment effectively extending the indoor living environment into outdoors. Sam definatley delivered beyond expectation. More...

Reviewed on Houzz

I must be honest, it's hard to reduce my joy and trust in working with
Sam Rodell to mere words. He is the ultimate professional. Sam uses his substantial creative skills to design visually exciting, technologically superior architecture that harmonizes beautifully with the natural environment. He is sensitive to the client, has a commitment to sustainability, and brings enormous creative wisdom to the process. If brilliance resonates with you, Sam Rodell is your match. More...

Reviewed on Houzz

Having both a peer professional relationship with Sam, in addition to a working relationship building custom homes together, I can attest to his qualifications.

We are not blessed with too many Architects that can support residential work in our market. Sam is one who managed to continue the tradition as a true design professional & hold the highests standards in the process.

We at "Doric,Inc." look forward to a continued relationship with Sam Rodell, in the future. More...

Reviewed on Houzz

Sam is a true thought leader. His design is rooted in a deep sense of place. He has an affinity towards radical materials and energy efficiency, yet never loses sight of the purpose of the project. Select Sam if you want a dwelling that not only works, but keeps working though the passage of time. More...

Reviewed on Houzz