Business Details
Expert Architectural Design Services in Alexandria, VA
Cole & Denny is a full-service architecture firm dedicated to delivering transformative design solutions that prioritize community engagement, spatial functionality, and contextual awareness. With decades of combined experience, our team specializes in managing projects from initial concept through construction administration, ensuring alignment with client objectives for budget, design, and timelines. Our expertise spans new construction, historic modernization, and interior renovations, supported by NCARB-certified architects licensed across multiple jurisdictions.We emphasize collaborative relationships with clients, consultants, and local communities, integrating technical precision with creative vision. Our principals actively contribute to urban planning initiatives and maintain deep ties to regional professional organizations, reinforcing our commitment to excellence in architectural practice.
Services
Architectural Design
Historic Modernization
Project Management
Space Planning
Construction Administration
Highlights and features
- We offer NCARB-certified architects with regional licensing expertise
- Our team maintains active roles in local urban planning and policy development
- We specialize in historically sensitive building envelope design
- We provide end-to-end project management from concept to completion
- Our principals hold advanced degrees from Virginia Tech and UNC Chapel Hill
Associations and certifications
- NCARB
Services
Architectural Design
Our architectural design services create functional, aesthetically compelling spaces tailored to client needs. We specialize in contextual design that respects historical significance while incorporating modern functionality. Our process includes schematic design, material selection, and 3D modeling to visualize final outcomes. Projects range from educational facilities to adaptive reuse of industrial buildings.
Historic Modernization
We specialize in preserving architectural heritage while implementing modern upgrades. Our team handles historically sensitive projects requiring compliance with preservation standards. Services include structural assessment, material restoration, and integrating contemporary systems into historic buildings. Recent work includes modernization of educational institutions and federal buildings while maintaining historical integrity.
Project Management
We provide comprehensive project management from initial concept through construction completion. Our services include budget oversight, timeline coordination, and quality control. We act as single-point responsibility for multi-disciplinary teams, ensuring alignment with client objectives. Our BIM management capabilities enhance project efficiency and reduce construction conflicts.
Space Planning
Our space planning services optimize building functionality for diverse uses including educational facilities, community spaces, and commercial offices. We analyze spatial relationships, traffic patterns, and usage requirements to create efficient layouts. The process incorporates client feedback at every stage to ensure practical, future-ready solutions for both new and existing structures.
Construction Administration
We provide detailed construction administration services including contract documentation, site visits, and quality assurance. Our team coordinates with contractors to maintain design intent while addressing field conditions. Services include submittal review, change order management, and compliance verification. This ensures final construction meets original design specifications and performance goals.
People
Louis Barbieri, Jr.
Principal Architect
NCARB-certified architect with licenses in Virginia, Maryland, and DC. Specializes in historic preservation and building envelope design. Holds architecture degrees from Virginia Tech and MBA from UNC Chapel Hill. Manages BIM implementation and technical design for complex projects.
Michael Detomo
Principal Architect
Registered architect in Virginia with expertise in local community projects. Served as Alexandria City Commissioner of the Arts and contributed to waterfront planning initiatives. Focuses on project management and construction administration while maintaining active roles in local business associations.
Questions
What architectural services do you specialize in?
We specialize in full-service architectural design, historic modernization, and project management for educational, civic, and commercial buildings across Virginia and Washington D.C.
Do you handle historically sensitive projects?
Yes, our team has extensive experience with historic preservation and modernization projects, including federal buildings and listed properties requiring compliance with preservation standards.
What project delivery methods do you use?
We offer traditional design-bid-build, design-build, and construction management delivery methods tailored to client needs, with integrated BIM coordination for all project types.
Which geographic areas do you serve?
We primarily serve Northern Virginia, Washington D.C., and Maryland, with project experience across academic, governmental, and institutional sectors in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Are your architects licensed in multiple states?
Our principals hold architectural licenses in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C., with NCARB certification enabling efficient reciprocity for multi-jurisdictional projects.
