10 Best Jersey City Architects
The 10 Best Architects Shaping Jersey City's Skyline
🏗 The Visionaries of the Skyline: The 10 Best Architects Shaping Jersey City
Jersey City's dynamic architectural landscape demands firms that can master everything from delicate historic preservation to bold high-density development. This detailed list highlights the top firms, with a focus on their specialties, client relations, awards, and key contact information.
1. Hopkins Clegg Architects (HCA) 🌟
The Historic Preservation and High-Performance Residential Expert
| Category |
Details |
| Best For |
Historic urban townhome renovations, high-performance custom homes (sustainable/energy-efficient design), and navigating the Jersey City Historic Preservation Commission. |
| Key Projects |
"Chiaroscuro" (Historic Renovation), "Toward Net Zero" (Custom Home), and numerous brownstone renovations in the Downtown and Hamilton Park historic districts. |
| Awards & Mentions |
Recognized with an award for Sustainable Preservation from Cornell University. Frequently featured in local publications like Jersey Digs for their sensitive yet modern approach to historic buildings. |
| Customer Feedback |
Exceptional 5.0-star rating. Clients praise Principal Kristin Hopkins-Clegg for her "attention to detail," "knowledge of code," and for successfully navigating complex historic permitting processes. |
| Contact |
Hopkins Clegg Architects | Phone: (201) 616-0523 |
2. Netta Architects
The Large-Scale, Award-Winning Innovator
| Category |
Details |
| Best For |
Large-scale mixed-use developments, institutional buildings (colleges/universities), high-profile commercial projects, and high-rise residential architecture. |
| Key Projects |
Rivet 26 and Rivet 23 (luxury residential towers in Jersey City's University Place), and institutional projects like the ECC West Essex Campus Building. |
| Awards & Mentions |
The firm has won multiple AIA (American Institute of Architects) Awards, NJACI Awards, and the NJBIZ ICON Award for CEO Nicholas Netta Sr. |
| Customer Feedback |
Known for their innovative approach, expertise in navigating complex projects, and commitment to blending functionality with sustainability on a large scale. |
| Contact |
Netta Architects | Phone: (973) 379-0006 |
3. J\_spy Architecture
The Modern Design, High-End Residential Specialist
| Category |
Details |
| Best For |
Modern/contemporary residential and commercial design, high-end gut renovations, and delivering projects with advanced tools like VR walkthroughs. |
| Key Projects |
Residential renovations in Jersey City and Brooklyn, and local commercial projects like the MochiDough/BoberTea design. |
| Awards & Mentions |
Featured in prominent national magazines including Dwell Magazine, Dazeen Magazine, and Frame Magazine, as well as on NBC's Open House NY. Won a prestigious Design Merit Award. |
| Customer Feedback |
Excellent reviews (5 stars on Houzz). Clients commend the team for being "fast and responsive," offering "creative problem solving," and successfully guiding them through difficult permitting processes. |
| Contact |
J\_spy Architecture | Phone: (917) 558-1599 |
4. MVMK Architecture (Minervini Vandermark Melia Kelly, LLC)
The Versatile Urban Development Firm
| Category |
Details |
| Best For |
Large-scale multi-family and mixed-use development, historic conversion/adaptive reuse, and projects in dense urban environments (Jersey City and Hoboken). |
| Key Projects |
Wonder Lofts (Historic conversion of the former Wonder Bread Factory in Hoboken), a 29-story mixed-use tower on Summit Avenue, and the redevelopment of 650 Montgomery Street. |
| Awards & Mentions |
Multiple AIA-NJ Merit Awards for Design, and the ABQ Building Excellence Award for their Jersey City work. |
| Customer Feedback |
Recognized for blending "technical expertise with creative design solutions," producing imaginative and innovative projects that respect the urban context. |
| Contact |
MVMK Architecture | Phone: (201) 386-0637 |
5. Benjamin Andres Architekt
The Luxurious Residential and Interior Design Studio
| Category |
Details |
| Best For |
High-end apartment/brownstone renovations, luxury interiors, and projects requiring a blend of historical appreciation with modern technology. |
| Key Projects |
Apartment renovations in high-profile New York City residential landmarks and custom residences in Greenwich, CT. |
| Awards & Mentions |
Work has been featured in major design publications including Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, and Domino. Multiple winner of the "Best of Houzz - Service" award. |
| Customer Feedback |
Clients praise the firm for their thoroughness, open-minded thinking, and creating designs that are thoughtful, beautiful, functional, and built to last. |
| Contact |
Benjamin Andres Architekt | Phone: (718) 724-3680 |
6. TNB Architecture (The New Black)
The LEED & Passive House Sustainable Designer
| Category |
Details |
| Best For |
Sustainable residential renovations, maximizing space in challenging urban layouts, and clients seeking LEED and Passive House certified design. |
| Key Projects |
Custom residential gut renovations, brownstone overhauls, and apartment space maximization projects in Jersey City and the NYC metro area. |
| Awards & Mentions |
The firm's commitment to sustainability is highlighted by their LEED and Passive House credentials. Highly rated across major home service platforms. |
| Customer Feedback |
Consistently high ratings (5/5 stars on Houzz). Commended for a "strong design sense," being "responsive, professional, and creative," and successfully guiding clients through renovations. |
| Contact |
TNB Architecture | Phone: (917) 575-0038 |
7. Devino Aiello Architects
The Multi-Family and Adaptive Reuse Specialist
| Category |
Details |
| Best For |
Residential condominium development, mixed-use buildings, and large-scale adaptive reuse projects that transform existing structures into modern housing. |
| Key Projects |
Cast Iron Lofts, The Cliffs, The Sugar House, and the Lafayette House (a converted Jersey City Church into residences). |
| Awards & Mentions |
Frequently covered by local development news outlets like Jersey Digs and CityRealty for their transformative work, particularly in growing neighborhoods like Bergen-Lafayette and Journal Square. |
| Customer Feedback |
Sought after for their high proficiencies in multi-family and mixed-use projects, delivering a blend of creativity and practicality. |
| Contact |
Devino Aiello Architects | Phone: (201) 360-0569 |
8. Hampton Hill Architecture (HHA)
The Community-Focused Urban Architect
| Category |
Details |
| Best For |
Community-inspired design, mid-to-large-scale multi-residential development, and neighborhood revitalization projects. |
| Key Projects |
Harmony House (44-unit mixed-use/affordable housing in Jackson Hill), transforming the Communipaw Avenue Gateway, and various mixed-use projects in Journal Square. |
| Awards & Mentions |
Recognized by CityRealty and frequently featured on Jersey Digs for their contribution to the revitalization of inland Jersey City neighborhoods. |
| Customer Feedback |
The firm’s approach emphasizes collaboration and community context, ensuring that designs promote cohesive neighborhoods while meeting local regulatory requirements. |
| Contact |
Hampton Hill Architecture | Phone: (201) 516-4293 |
9. Klaber Design + Architecture (K—DA NYC)
The Detail-Oriented, Transparent Design Firm
| Category |
Details |
| Best For |
High-quality, complex residential renovations, specifically townhouses and apartments, requiring spatial clarity and precision in historic districts. |
| Key Projects |
Sophisticated urban gut-renovations like the "K+J Apartment" and "BERGEN TOWNHOUSE" which balance contemporary aesthetics with historic detail. |
| Awards & Mentions |
Winner of an Architecture Award in 2021 from Build-Review. Featured in publications like Fublis Magazine. |
| Customer Feedback |
Highly rated (4.8/5 on Houzz). Praised for being "extremely detail oriented, organized, and thoughtful." Clients appreciate their transparent approach and meticulous construction drawings. |
| Contact |
K—DA NYC | Phone: (646) 450-8545 |
10. Gesture Ink Architecture
The Contemporary, Mission-Driven Design Studio
| Category |
Details |
| Best For |
Innovative contemporary architecture, educational facilities, community hubs, and industrial-to-residential adaptive reuse projects. |
| Key Projects |
Design of the Prototype Lab (NY Hall of Science), the Christ Tabernacle Christian Fellowship revitalization project, and loft-style artist work/live spaces in Jersey City. |
| Awards & Mentions |
Recognized as an innovative design firm for its commitment to creating spaces that enhance the user experience and connect people to their environment, especially in the community and educational sectors. |
| Customer Feedback |
Known for their modern aesthetic and their philosophy rooted in creating "meaningful connections" between people and their environments. |
| Contact |
Gesture Ink Architecture | Phone: (718) 806-7871 |
💰 Selecting an Architect and Understanding Fees
Best Approach for Selecting an Architect 🤝
- Define Your Needs and Budget: Clearly establish the scope of work and a realistic construction budget.
- Research and Portfolio Review: Look for firms that specialize in your project type (e.g., historic, multi-family, modern residential). Review their completed work to ensure their style aligns with your vision.
- Interview and Chemistry: Meet with 3-5 prospective architects. Focus on their process, communication style, and project management approach. Chemistry is important—you'll be working closely with them for a long time.
- Check References: Speak to at least two past clients (one recently completed, one completed several years ago) to gauge client satisfaction, adherence to budget, and effectiveness during construction.
- Compare Fee Proposals: Once you have a well-defined scope, ask the final two or three firms for detailed proposals, ensuring you are comparing "apples to apples" on included services.
Typical Architect Payment Arrangements and Charges
Architects generally use one of three main fee structures, often combining them at different project phases:
| Fee Structure |
How They Charge |
Typical Cost Range |
Client Perspective |
| 1. Percentage of Construction Cost |
The fee is a set percentage of the final construction cost. |
8% to 15% of the construction cost (higher for smaller, complex, or highly custom residential projects). |
Pros: Fee scales automatically if the project scope/cost increases. Cons: May incentivize the architect to design a more expensive project. |
| 2. Fixed Fee (Lump Sum) |
A single, set amount is charged for a defined scope of work, regardless of the time spent. |
Varies widely based on project scope and firm reputation. |
Pros: Budget certainty; you know the cost upfront. Cons: Scope changes result in formal, expensive change orders; best used when the scope is very well-defined. |
| 3. Hourly Rate |
The client is billed for the actual time spent by the firm's staff (principal, project architect, drafter, etc.) at pre-agreed hourly rates. |
$80 to $200+ per hour (lower for drafting, higher for principals). |
Pros: Fair for projects with an ill-defined scope (e.g., early feasibility studies). Cons: No cost ceiling unless a "Not-to-Exceed" clause is added; costs can be unpredictable. |
Typical Payment Schedule Breakdown
Architects typically bill in stages corresponding to the major phases of work (often based on a Percentage of Construction Cost fee structure):
- **Schematic Design (SD):** 10-15%
- **Design Development (DD):** 15-20%
- **Construction Documents (CD):** 40-50% (The largest phase, providing finalized blueprints)
- **Bidding/Negotiation (B/N):** 5%
- **Construction Administration (CA):** 15-20% (Paid monthly throughout the construction phase)
