About Us | Examples of Our Work
Samuel Sinnott and Company, Architecture and Construction, Incorporated
In business since 1983, Samuel Sinnott & Company has a 25-year history of serving homeowners located within a ten-mile radius of Menlo Park. That includes Menlo Park, Atherton, Palo Alto, Woodside, Portola Valley, Los Altos and Los Altos Hills.
Meet the Founder and President
The company was founded by me, Sam Sinnott, in Menlo Park. After working for a number of architectural and construction firms, I discovered there was a need for a company that performed both services, including preliminary project cost estimates. Architecture firms have the greatest impact on construction costs by determining what is included in construction projects, but do not provide cost estimates. Construction companies determine how a project is built, but typically bid when construction documents are complete, rather than estimate.
I am different from other contractors in the trade because I am licensed in architecture as well as being a general building contractor. Although most contractors sell themselves as design and build, very few have an office staff devoted to the design side of the project. Most are dependent on hiring outside consultants, whom the owner never meets and could have hired themselves.
My favorite aspects of the business are conceptual design and value engineering. Conceptual design generates the initial plan configuration and the artistic look or style of a project. All the project documents and construction are devoted to executing the ideas in the conceptual design so it is fundamental that the conceptual design is right.
Staff Organization
We are currently a company of twelve full time people, five of whom are assigned to design and construction administration. Our projects are mostly residential including additions and remodels, renovations, and new homes. We also work on commercial interiors. Construction work is typically for projects we have designed, but we do build projects designed by others. Those projects often involve a preliminary construction cost estimate to let the owner know how the costs break down. This gives them a tool from which they can make changes in the design to reduce the budget, if necessary.
We also have a carpentry staff of full-time employees, rather than subcontractors. This gives us tremendous flexibility performing all the small tasks necessary to complete projects on time with better quality control over the project finishes.
Our process hinges on good documents produced in the office that support an experienced field superintendent who is assigned full time to a project. That experienced person in the field devotes his full attention to a single project. The superintendent has the most impact on a projects success. Our superintendents are employees of Sinnott and Company with over 20 years experience.
Samuel Sinnott & Company's Design Philosophy
Our company philosophy is that good design is critical for a great construction project. Because design work costs typically less than 15% of a project's budget but determines approximately 95% of its cost, design work should not be cut short.
At Sinnott and Company, we attempt to design structures that age well and promote the client's needs. That includes careful consideration of function, style, construction costs, and operation costs. Green or sustainable design features are an important part of this approach if they meet the other design criteria.
Projects are designed in recognizable styles, but with traditional flaws removed. Contemporary elements, including lighting, are mixed with traditional forms to create fresh interpretations of successful styles. Care is taken not to casually mix elements and confuse architectural themes.
Samuel Sinnott & Company Is a "Design / Build" Firm
Our services include both Architecture & Construction. Are there advantages to working with a company that provides both architecture and construction services?
When the contractor and architect are separate, it is not unusual for the contractor to be at odds with the architect, creating an adversarial environment with negative effects on the project. That does not happen when Sinnott & Company performs both architecture and construction. When problems arise – as they often do – they are solved internally between members of the same company, who know each other and have experience working together. There is much less stress. It's in everyone's best interest (architect, contractor, and client) to solve problems this way.
Another advantage is that because we have been doing both architecture and construction for many years, our construction cost estimates are much more accurate. Most contractors are not equipped to provide detailed preliminary estimates. The client doesn't know what the project will cost until the bids come in. Cost estimation is done before the documents are ready to bid.
Bidding occurs only after construction documents are complete. Sinnott & Company provides all clients with a bid at the end of the design process, and we are often the lowest.
Please see our company website for more information & additional pictures of our projects: http://sinnottandco.com
510156
558 A Santa Cruz Ave, Menlo Park, California, 94025
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