Reviews of JEFF JORDAN ARCHITECTS LLC (Architect)

Helena Chen

Jeff Jordan came to me via a referral from a contractor that I planned to hire for a full renovation of my townhome in Jersey City. Although that contractor never came through for my project, Jeff Jordan did and did so capably, artistically and professionally. My home renovation project was a complete gut job—nothing stood but the facade and the viable joists after the demolition. The original build was from the late 1880’s with subsequent renovations over the years which left the building a disjointed, dilapidated multi-family apartment building. Jeff’s recommendations went further than skin deep from the start. He recommended lighting, HVAC, plumbing and electrical layouts that works with the building’s characteristics and in concert with the neighboring buildings. Based on what little I knew then and my budget, I chose to opt out of certain features. Here’s why Jeff Jordan was worth his fee—his recommendations were better for my home as far as comfort, layout and appearance than what I could ever imagine. I know now that I should’ve gone more with his recommendations than my own ideas, even if it meant additional budgeting. A skilled architect on a major home renovation is a no brainer. But it’s more nuanced than that. Jeff is about nuances. He’s detailed. Artistic. And most importantly, more inclined to thinking like an engineer. That’s key. Revitalizing turn of the century homes like mine takes vision and creative thinking. I’m very happy with my home and I’d recommend Jeff to friends and family.

Gail Houck

As a first time home renovation/restoration client, we are so glad we used Jeff Jordan Architects. Jeff and his team came up with a fabulous plan. Jeff made sure that we knew what we were getting into as well as the problems/issues that might come up during the kitchen extension part of the project. It was no surprise when we had a structural issue requiring underpinning. Jeff was on site the next day and brought in a structural engineer to resolve the issue. During the planning stage Jeff estimated what the cost might be if we did have a structural issue and his estimate was spot-on. Jeff and his team were always available for any questions we had and even though our project wasn’t the biggest we were always treated as if we were the most important client ever!

plmtow in

I had come across JJA over eight years ago after a vast internet search for a competent architect. The task at hand was a passion project where the right firm would be both flexable and with a down to earth approachable demeanor. After interviewing many and disappointed with over zealous personalities I finally interviewed with Jeff. Immediately we connected, great chemistry from the start. Jeff is focused, detailed oriented and most importantly he listens to the point of completely understanding ones vision. The first project exceeded my expectations and was published in trade journals and magazines. The collaboration of all the trades, vendors, and manufactures of components to achieve the final results required dilligence and concentration. No single firm or individual can be responsible for it all, there has to be a bit of magic and luck for it all to work out flawlessly. This project had that fortune and in my opinion was largely due to the careful and strategic planning that was ongoing. Jeff was there all the way through and always delivered upon any concern or question. I decided to hire Jeff extra for the guidance and it had really paid off. Eight years after comepletion the project still looks as good as new. The project has matured well and has since undergone additions that Jeff also drew the plans for. Spoiled by the success and good fortune of the first project the second addition I decided to use Jeff in a more limited capacity, only to draw the plans and not for onsite visits and oversight. I have to say that the project progressed vastly different workout Jeff than from my first experience. Not taking advantage of Jeff’s onsite construction support and trying to handle things on my own in an attempt to save some money really created a bit of confusion and expanded the entire projects construction time line. The final results were again exceptional but I certainly burdened myself by not electing Jeff to provide further guidance the way I had used him during our first introduction.

Alex Saneski

Jeff Jordan Architects designed my gelato and sorbet store in Bloomfield, NJ. I couldn’t be happier with the results. They are experts at modernizing older Jersey buildings like ours from an old pizza shop with outdated colors and designs to an updated minimalist interior. They were also easy to work with. I highly recommend them for any homeowner looking to update their home or for businesses looking to refresh their stores.

Peter Gliatto

My wife and I worked with Jeff on an extensive renovation and extension of our 1870's row house in Jersey City a few years ago. Jeff was a great partner--he really tried to understand our needs for the space and our aesthetic, and made some great recommendations about how to maximize our small space. He worked incredibly well with our contractor, who was also excellent. Jeff was very attentive and listened to us, but was also not afraid to make suggestions or push us on what we could do with the space. We have been back in our house now for over 3 years and have been very happy with the results.

Bridge Walker

We hired Jeff and team to design a new home for our family of four. Can't say enough positive things about our decision. They are professional, knowledgeable, easy to work with, responsive, etc., etc., etc. Most importantly, they are a full-service architectural firm. I did not appreciate the importance of this at the onset but now can’t stress enough how invaluable their continued support proved to be throughout the bidding phase and entire build process. It has been a little over two years since we’ve moved in and we couldn’t be happier! Our home still turns heads. Strangers still approach us with questions about materials and design. And the compliments keep coming – they range from “you can tell it’s very well thought out” to “it’s smart and sexy”. Thanks Jeff!! And if we hit the lottery, they’ll be designing us a home in the southwest :)

Francois DEBRIGNAC

Jeff and his Team are very professional and have dine a great job for us. Jeff has gone beyond the scope of his role to help us deal with the city and has been helpful all along our project. jeff is very accessible and a great communicator. We highly recommend Jeff and his team !

The Peccary Baristas Assemble!

Our company—a specialty coffee bar—first approached Jeff when we came across published images of his beautiful work. His aesthetic was aligned with ours, but we REALLY hired him because of his open honesty and genuine desire to bring our vision to reality. Make no mistake: in order to work with an architect of his caliber, we knew we had to have bring our “A-game” as well; this is a partnership, not simply a paid service. From concept to final architectural drawings, Jeff and his team showed an attentiveness in every detail, at every stage. Jeff explored a spectrum of space layouts and backed each one up with well-considered reasoning; the balance between natural and artificial light; the individual and collective experiences of the customers and baristas. He strove to create a space that, above all, told our brand story and that people would intuitively feel. In turn, as clients, we provided tangible feedback, clarity in our decision-making, and an openness to explore—because knowing why we DIDN'T choose a particular option was often just as important as why we DID choose another. In short, the “human" element of Jeff’s approach to design is the key, and we couldn’t be happier nor more honored to have worked with him.

Judah Hamer

Jeff Jordan's work for the Library has been an outstanding. He has taken a thoughtful and detailed approach to our institution's project and goals, considering from multiple angles the best possible solutions. Mr. Jordan demonstrates a sensitivity to the need to value-engineer projects, presenting multiple options for achieving a vision that is aesthetically and functionally optimal. He and his team clearly have strong expertise on building code and regulations that matter in any project, public or private. His design approach evidences a sensitivity to the existing structure, since he takes a holistic approach that results in integrated concepts for changes/additions to a structure. Enhancing all of this is Mr. Jordan's easygoing, friendly and approachable personality. It is clear he has patience for questions and attends to all concerns about project planning and implementation. Highly recommend.

Dan O.

I had a generally very positive experience with Jeff Jordan and his firm. My family and I were rebuilding our home after it took some severe damage during a fire. Considering the nature of the situation, our insurance company was involved at multiple steps in the process and Jeff was always prompt in his follow up with any of their requests. We recently moved back in and the house is great. So much has been done with our home and the existing foundation remained completely untouched. The design is open and modern, but even the orientation of rooms calls back to the original house, which makes this place feel like home. Also, this was the first time Jeff's firm worked with the contractor who was on the job. From my perspective as a client, it was evident that this was a complex process with multiple moving parts and the only way to avoid unexpected hiccups is to make sure everyone is on the same page, which is easier said than done. Communication is key between all three parties. Both the contractor and Jeff's firm did a great job of tackling unexpected problems from design to realization. I couldn't be happier with their coordinated efforts to make this home what it is today.

Tanya Hannagan

We hired Jeff Jordan to help us with the design of an addition to our home. He and his firm are extremely professional, understanding, and open. My husband and I both come from design backgrounds so it was important to us that we worked with an architect that could offer their perspective and have a willingness to listen and integrate some of our ideas. We are really thrilled with the end result. While Jeff has a more modern approach, he was able to balance the more updated aesthetic with our nearly 100 year old row house. We are excited to start construction in the Spring 2019!

om.life Wellness Spa

I hired Jeff Jordan Architects back in 2016 to make my business buildout vision a reality for om.life Wellness Spa in Jersey City. After seeing the glowing reviews and the beautifully designed concepts they've created, I was convinced they were the right firm for us. I gave Jeff and his team all my guidelines, needs, and overall vision and he created a space that was even more beautiful than we had dreamed of. We had a very irregular layout, and this firm was able to provide us with everything we wanted. It was a very challenging buildout process due to my contractors (whom I chose) not meeting deadlines, but Jeff and his team were there every single step of the way. A commercial buildout in Jersey City is an excruciating process, and I am glad this firm helped us navigate through this process. They over delivered for us, communicated within a few minutes of our inquiries, prepared our plans even before the deadlines and worked diligently through every part of the process. I will be forever grateful to Jeff and his team.

Brinton Brosius

We have worked with Jeff Jordan on projects in Jersey City and Montclair and have always been impressed with his knowledge and experience on the construction site. He works closely with his clients to ensure that what he designs will work within their budget. Jeff and his team are good communicators who are always responsive and accessible to everyone on the team. His designs are contemporary and timeless.

Suzanne Farkas

We can not recommend Jeff more. Four years later we (still) love our home; totally happy with everything about our home remodel. We still get compliments and people are actually “wowed” by our home. Respectful, reliable, extremely knowledgeable, fair, creative, reasonable and a pleasure to collaborate with. We fantasize about our next project with Jeff...

Ben Golden

We engaged Jeff Jordan and his team for the gut renovation of our 1860's single-family row house in Jersey City. When we purchased our home it was frankly a mess. Over it's life, it had been carved into several versions of a multi-family building, resulting in strange, non-functional layouts and overall disrepair. Jeff and his team were excellent partners throughout the design and renovation process. In designing our home, Jeff took on board our initial thoughts for our desired home and developed several well-thought and documented design options, allowing us to really understand potentials option and iterate to our final design. Throughout this process, Jeff was a true partner, both guiding us through the design process, while not mandating a vision for our home. The result was an innovative approach that maximized the limited space we have to create a very functional and very cool design. Jeff also adeptly navigated the notorious Jersey City approvals process, allowing us to minimize delays that often derail renovations. Our strong partnership with Jeff continued through the renovation process. He helped us with the identification and selection of our general contractor. Jeff worked very closely with our our contractor (and Jersey City) throughout the formal renovations to address "in the field" questions & issues of disrepair to ensure that our renovation remained on track. He has always been very responsive and constructive in his approach, providing our contractor and me with the information needed to complete a very successful renovation. Now that we are the finish line of our year-long renovation, we cannot recommend Jeff Jordan and his team highly enough. Jeff has helped guide us through a smooth renovation process to create a "new" home that we absolutely love.

Sam Kopolovich

We worked with Jeff through the design stages of a gut renovation for a brownstone home in Jersey City. Jeff was thoughtful, creative, inspiring, and helpful in guiding or shepherding our thinking through key elements of the project. As an architect, he had a great handle on what "construction asks" could drive outsize impact on our budget and had several creative ideas around how we could implement workarounds, which allowed us to save money on less critical items and invest more significantly in other parts of the renovation where we weren't willing to compromise. As for layout recommendations, Jeff demonstrated a clear understanding of what's desired and viewed as critical along two vectors - from a geographic perspective (for JC) and generational lens (what would a potential future buyer care about). Throughout the process, Jeff and his team were very flexible around our busy schedules and worked with us to accommodate our needs. I can't speak to project execution and design since we ended up terminating the project for reasons that had nothing to do with Jeff and his team. Most importantly, if we're ever looking for an architect in the future, Jeff would be our first call.

ryan dowling

Highly recommend Jeff Jordan Architects! Our project was a gut renovation of a brownstone. Jeff and his team presented us with multiple options to choose from based on what we were looking for in our house. He and his team were intimately involved every step of the way, including frequent site visits with us and our contractor. The end result is a beautiful and functional home. Given the constraints of geometry (our house is 17 feet wide), he did an amazing job of maximizing space, light, and concealing central HVAC/plumbing/etc. without compromising on space.

Alex G

We hired Jeff Jordan to do the design work for the renovation of a home in Jersey City that we were going to move into. Jeff was easy and a pleasure to work with. He was very clear about what his style is, which is modern, and he gave us a clear set budget for his services and an overview schedule for our renovation project. He designed a beautiful home for us that incorporated our tastes and the needs of our young family into his modern design aesthetic. He also found us a great contractor who was also a pleasure to work with. He was involved and available at each step of the process and took care of a lot of the detail-work that we didn’t have the time or expertise to handle. We encountered one significant surprise in the project involving the home’s HVAC system. The contractor’s HVAC subcontractor proposed a solution that would have worked very well but was expensive relative to our budget. Jeff came up with another solution that was much less expensive and involved. We decided to implement Jeff’s solution and that has worked out great for us, and it didn’t blow up our budget. Overall, we’re thrilled with our new home and we’ve gotten a lot of “wows” from friends and family visiting our home. We highly, highly recommend Jeff Jordan.

Brian Sharrock

We have worked with Jeff on several projects over the past few years. Jeff and his team are excellent architects and advocates for their clients. His plans are detailed, efficient and well thought out. I have also found that Jeff spends a great deal of timing interacting with his clients before project commencement and educating them on the various stages of the construction and approval process. I cannot stress how important and helpful this is a a General Contractor. I would highly recommend Jeff and his team.

Marilyn Sibery

We hired Jeff five years ago to come up with the design for an open floor plan, modern home that functioned well for a family of five. His design sensibility is great, his teams’ attention to detail outstanding. We love our “new” home and still have people comment all the time about how amazing it looks and functions. We feel lucky to have found Jeff Jordan Architects.

kevin grieshaber

Jeff’s designed a 2 level covered deck with screened in porch. His design also included adding french doors, a large slider window and egress to the back garden. Jeff’s concept and plans were imaginative, modern and beautiful. We were especially impressed given the tight space constraints of fitting this all into the tiny footprint of our city lot. Jeff checked with local ordinances regarding setbacks and advised us accordingly. His plans and building material requirements were very clear to our contractors and he stopped in to inspect and advise during construction and inspections. Jeff is a true pleasure to work with. We found his work to be priced fairly and especially appreciate his attention to detail, responsiveness to questions, professional and design aesthetic.

Tony Woods

We hired Jeff Jordan and his team to help us renovate a brownstone in Jersey City. It was a complete gut renovation re-design with many structural and space issues to contend with. We cannot speak highly enough of Jeff (and Feriye) who walked us through the process with professionalism and much-need guidance and empathy! Jeff worked closely with the contractor throughout the process and addressed the many issues that came up along the way. He was particularly helpful in helping us to navigate the permit approval process, identifying a contractor and walking us through the potential issues that may arise during the build. We still had our many problems, delays and heartaches, but not on account of the architect! They did a wonderful job and we are thrilled with the end product. We would highly recommend Jeff and his team!

Andrea F.

Jeff and his team are absolutely wonderful to work with. We completed a major renovation of a 100 year old row house, and Jeff was an integral part of our team. At all times, he was respectful of our budget and worked to incorporate our own aesthetic and opinions into his beautiful design. Jeff was a thoughtful advocate, a helpful sounding board, and incredibly professional throughout our ongoing process. We highly recommend Jeff to any homeowner looking for a creative, genuine, and talented architect.

Jared Heady

My wife and I engaged Jeff and his team in the fall of 2018 for a complete renovation of a row house in Jersey City Heights. From the beginning of our interactions with Jeff, we were incredibly impressed with Jeff's architectural expertise, and blown away by his ability to appreciate our vision and come up with creative ways to get there. Jeff's team was professional and accommodating, and Jeff always kept us informed of his progress every step of the way. Going beyond Jeff's work, the contracting team that he recommended for our project was top-notch. We appreciate everything the team has done for us, will not hesitate to work with Jeff in the future and undoubtedly recommend Jeff and his team for the highest level of quality and service!

Ariel Zurofsky

We had a great working relationship with Jeff as we did a full renovation of our loft in Tribeca, NY. It was a dark white box that Jeff helped us transform into a light filled home that we love. The design elements that he came up with transformed the space. He really paid attention to the details, for example spending hours brainstorming on site with us how to build out a very tricky foyer (should be a piece of cake,but we had to work around fire stairs, elevator). The final product looks great, and is incredibly practical. Even though we completed our project a few years ago, Jeff has remained available for quick consultations when we wanted to add an office nook to the main living space or when we needed a paint color to patch a wall when we recently moved art around. I would absolutely work with Jeff again should we ever renovate again.

Ethan Russell

We’re in the construction phase of a historic home renovation project that Jeff designed, and have been extremely happy with Jeff and his firm. We were introduced to Jeff by several friends and neighbors who have used him for successful full-house renovations, and we’ve recommended him to other friends as well. We chose Jeff first and foremost because of his creativity. He is full of ideas, and can brainstorm and design possibilities along the full spectrum from small improvements to a radical reimagining of a space. He’s been very responsive, flexible with his time, and easy to work with. We also appreciate that Jeff made a point of meeting our design budget despite some additional work we added in along the way. Jeff introduced us to a contractor who we are also very happy with. We’re partway through construction; we appreciate that Jeff has been available to consult about questions that have arisen along the way. We’ll update this review at the end of the project to summarize how things turn out.

AEP Engineering

My company has been working with Jeff and his team for about 5 years now. The working relationship between architects and engineers can be and is often tricky to navigate, however, Jeff and his team have always engaged with us as engineers on projects with a very high degree of professionalism, respect, courtesy, patience, and friendliness. Jeff and his team really know their trade well and it shows in their masterful knowledge, understanding and application of current design standards, nation-wide and local building codes and construction techniques. I do not know of a person with whom I have shared Jeff’s architectural designs, that have not said his work is absolutely beautiful. He is an inspired and dedicated architect with a clear vision of modern design. During collaborations, I am often witness to Jeff’s responsiveness to his clients, his obvious attention and concern and to the quality of his consulting. Personally, and professionally, Jeff has always been direct, honest and fair in all of our professional dealings. Jeff Jordan Architects and our office continue to work together on projects to this day and we always look forward with great anticipation to the next collaboration.

Sandy Lerman

Nothing but the highest of praise for Jeff and his team. After our plans with Jeff were finalized, my husband and I hired a contractor recommended to us by a friend. The contractor ended up being awful. Jeff was patient, going over every detail until the contractor knew what the plans very clearly spelled out. When our designer was involved, Jeff was there to help as well. Would recommend him without hesitation.

Maya Tank

We loved worked with Jeff! Three years after our gut renovation we still are in love with our home and get frequent compliments from passersby. We had a complicated renovation in a historic neighborhood and Jeff held our hand every step of the way. Our house is designed to fit the way we live, down to outlet placement and lighting choices. We would (and do) always recommend Jeff to anyone about to embark on a design project.