Principals
Ravine House
Contractor: Becker Builders
Becker Architects is a full-service, award winning architectural firm, established in New York City in 1983. Becker Architects began as an interiors firm, doing corporate build-outs, medical offices and residential renovations of coops and townhouses, all primarily in Manhattan. Today, we handle a variety of commercial and residential projects, from new construction to rehabilitation and additions. The firm’s expertise is in three specific areas: Residential, Automobile Dealerships and General Commercial.
In the Residential category, we have designed rehabs, additions and new construction for several hundred clients, primarily in the New York and Chicago metropolitan areas. Our residential work has received national and local attention in awards, programs and publications such as The Chicago Tribune, Builder, Remodeling, Chicago Home, Better Homes and Gardens, House Beautiful and Traditional Home. We have been featured in a number of HGTV productions, including the 13-week reality series, Dream House.
In the Automobile Dealership category, we have designed ground-up or rehabbed dealerships for Audi, BMW, Chrysler, GMC Trucks, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Lincoln-Mercury, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Pontiac, Saturn, Toyota, Volvo and Volkswagen.
In the General Commercial arena, we have been involved with a range of clients: Corporate, Law, Accounting, Medical, Advertising, Not-for-Profits, Retail, etc.
Becker Builders, an affiliate of Becker Architects, has developed infill residential properties both in the Chicago and New York areas. In 2009 we will break ground on a New Jersey office building that we are co-developing with a New York partner.
Our firm has been profiled in a number of publications including AIA Small Project Forum, Chicago Magazine Home, Franklin Report and Angie's List. We are licensed in New York, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Illinois and The District of Columbia. We are members of the American Institute of Architects and subscribe to their Canon of Ethics.
Richard Becker AIA has prior experience at Skidmore Owings and Merrill (New York 1979-1981) and Bartos & Rhodes (New York 1981-1983). He and wife Nancy established Becker Architects in New York City in 1983. Richard was raised in Bethesda, Maryland and attended Syracuse University (B.Arch. 1979). Richard is a third-generation architect following his late father Arthur and grandfather Sam, former Deputy Director of the New York City Housing Authority. Richard has extensive public service experience in Highland Park, having served as Vice Chairman of the Preservation Commission (1996-2000) as well on the Zoning Board of Appeals from 2000 until 2008. He currently sits on various Chicago area boards. In addition to the practice of architecture, Richard has also developed real estate in the New York and Chicago metro areas, including a number of "in-fill" homes in East Highland Park constructed by Becker Builders. Richard is a principal of Orange Loft LLC, creator of ArchiOffice, firm and project management software for architects and engineers.
Nancy Becker AIA has prior work experience at Skidmore Owings and Merrill (Chicago 1978) and RBS&D (NYC, 1980-1983). Nancy was raised in Highland Park and majored in French at Bryn Mawr College for two years before beginning her training as an architect at Syracuse University ( B.Arch.1978). She is married to Richard Becker and they have five children. She currently serves as Vice President of Education at North Suburban Synagogue Beth El. Nancy also serves on the Board of The Arts Center of Highland Park.