The Buchholz Architectural Group

John Buchholz and his firm have their feet planted in both the world of architecture and construction,

and the firm’s broad portfolio has brought a new, sustainable edge to the New York Tri-State area.

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northeast | architecture

2 Spring 2011

New York’s Most Comprehensive Small Firm

by Joel Cornell

THE BUCHHOLZ ARCHITECTURAL GROUP OFFERS AN ASTONISHINGLY WIDE ARRAY OF SERVICES, ALL BACKED BY DECADES OF EXPERIENCE IN A PLETHORA OF SPECIALIZED FIELDS.

John Buchholz has his feet firmly planted in both the world of architecture and the world of construction. This puts the founder, owner and principal architect of The Buchholz Architectural Group, P.C. in a unique position for their clients. Buchholz’s wealth of experi-ence and knowledge has made him a favorite amongst local contractors and construction specialists alike. The firm’s broad portfolio, in addition to Buchholz’s talent and dexterity, has brought a new, sustainable edge to the New York Tri-State area.

“My father had a background in design as the director of design and engineering for the New York City Department of Corrections,” Buchholz said. “I grew up around architecture, construction and design from my earliest memories on, and those aesthetics and ideals were instilled in me in ways that would later formulate my career. As a teenager, I spent weekends with my father building additions andrenovating kitchens and bathrooms for houses in our neighborhood. I learned to use my hands very early on.”

With New York’s Tri-State area as the epi-center of culture, knowledge and resource, Buchholz was able to attend a local technical high school that had a focus on design and architecture. After graduating, he paid his own way through studies at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn by working various construction jobs. In working as a laborer, a carpenter’s helper, a plumber’s helper and an electrician’s helper, Buchholz collected a useful assortment of skills.

“Pratt Institute gave me a great foundational education in design,” Buchholz said. “Still, it was severely lacking the education that I

think today’s architects truly need, concerning the construction industry. Once I graduated from Pratt, I immediately went to work for a construction company as a construction supervisor managing two hundred multi-disciplined full time staff.”

Eight years later, the bottom of the economy fell out. Buchholz left the construction com-pany and decided it was time to finally put his architectural background to use and founded The Buchholz Architectural Group in 1996.

Unlike many architecture firms that take years to develop their sense of self, The Buchholz Architectural Group offered a unique array of services from the very start. The most notable difference from their competitors was their involvement in total construction manage-ment services.

“Because of my construction background, the comprehensive array of services that we offer allow clients to enjoy a successful project from beginning to end are never required to seek any necessary services elsewhere,” Buchholz said. “Construction companies and subcontractors we work with really appreciate an architect that actually knows how to put together those elusive and usually unforeseen details that give them the best source material from which they can begin building a project. We always assemble a detailed set of working drawings, particularly in terms of putting a building together, which our clients have come to appreciate.”

The Buchholz Architectural Group’s scope of services truly shines when they get involved on a project in its earliest conceptual stages. Several of the firm’s oldest clients get them

involved in the earlier stages of every project, such as reviewing potential sites based on the client’s desires, their intended use and their needs, as opposed to their wants.

Through the preliminary design and construc-tion phases, Buchholz and his highly qualified staff of five designers, architects and LEED accredited professionals endeavor to bring every detail of a project, from wayfinding signage to interior design and construction management services, under one roof. Many times, however, clients opt to work with another specialist or subcontractor on certain aspects of a project , oftentimes due to past relation-ships. Yet again, Buchholz’s experiences within construction and his relationships with some of the area’s most talented specialists and subcontractors mean that, for the majority of the time, The Buchholz Architectural Group is working in extremely familiar territory.

“Typically, the client type that we find are most frequently attracted to our style of design and project management are in the com-mercial sector,” Buchholz said. “We offer a wider variety of services to accommodate the variety of clients that we receive. We’ve done numerous bank and brokerage offices, so we’re keenly aware of the nuances involved in those sectors. We have been privileged to have worked on many high-end office interior projects, and in the past decade really have come to specialize in retail stores and centers, but that world has been largely downsized over the past few years.

“Sustainable design ideas are always para-

THIS SPREAD: John Buchholz, owner and founder.

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THIS SPREAD: A chic bar and bistro where creamy stone floors and black leather appointments contrast the wood furnishings to

create a harmonious balance.

PHELPS CONSTRUCTION GROUP

Phelps Construction Group adheres to a basic concept that has proven, over time, to be the key to success in the construction industry. Phelps Construction creates and maintains a safe, positive working environment that enables them to deliver the highest quality construction services to clients while building long-term relationships with project owners, architects, engineers, subcontractors and suppliers.

Combining a teamwork approach with quality workmanship, Phelps completes projects on time and on budget to the satisfaction of owners and architects. Phelps Construction Group will provide pre-construction, general contracting and construction management services to meet all of a client’s construction needs from the initial conceptual budget through completion and maintenance of the new facility.

Located in northern New Jersey, Phelps Construction Group is ideally positioned to service New Jersey, southern New York and eastern Pennsylvania along with the entire Northeast. The executive management team is comprised of individuals with extensive experience in all aspects of the construction industry. In addition, Phelps Construction Group has managed all types of construction projects ranging from small renovations to large, complex multimillion dollar projects for some of the most prestigious and demanding clients. For more information, please visit www.phelpsconstructiongroup.com

northeast | architecture

6 Spring 2011

mount to us. In dealing with commercial clients, for whom business comes before all else, we’ve found that many of these clients would like some level of LEED Certification, but they have to consider their budget and what elements of design come first. Trying to get clients to take on the additional cost for LEED Certification has been difficult, but we continually endeavor to educate them on why sustainable design is the best solution at all times, despite the increase in the upfront costs.”

PNC Bank, one of The Buchholz Architectural Group’s many repeat clients, is one who holds the firm to a higher standard, one which Buch-holz regularly surpasses. Every new project that PNC begins, including retail , financial center or advisory building , must be at least LEED Silver. The Bank of New York (Mellon) has also been a frequent repeat client of Buchholz’s, on their banks and financial office centers alike.

Airport Plaza was a 600,000 sq. ft. shopping center located on 92 acres of Long Island, New York. The plaza was located in very close proximity to Republic Airport, the state’s third busiest airport. Not only did the firm have to traverse the usual rigorous landscape of zoning laws and building codes involved in a project of such size, but their proximity to the airport also brought along another large set of regula-tions and requirements to follow. Nonetheless, Buchholz and his firm completed the project

easily within the margins of both schedule and budget. Additionally, a large majority of the retail tenants within the shopping center came to The Buchholz Architectural Group for their interior and exterior design, construction and management skills.

“Our experience in all facets of the concep-tual, design, construction and management phases of a project give our clients peace of mind and the assurance that no problem, no matter how large or small, will impede our efforts,” Buchholz said. “I know how to deal with contractors and specialists because I was one for quite a while. As times become more demanding, so do our clients. Every conflict is an opportunity for a solution, and we know that we’re working with our clients, not against them.” ALT

OPPOSITE PAGE: Bank of New York. 6,200 sq. ft. interior alteration to create a new commercial banking branch. This branch permitted the upgrage and expansion of the facility to attract new customers. Features of this installa-tion include two ATM lobbies, a prefabricated vault, state-of-the-art teller stations and a business banking center.

THIS PAGE: ProActive Therapy clinic, Montclair, N.J. This new 5,000 sq. ft., state-of-the-art facility offers physical and sports therapy, with dedicated spaces for physical rehabilitation, acupuncture, sports training and massage.

Photos courtesy of Buchholz Architects.

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