GCC Designs

We interviewed many designers and found Mark was the most informative especially when it comes to environmentally conscious design and advice. My husband and I hired Mark to design our home restroom addition and Mark exceeded all expectations. He knew exactly what to ask to understand our vision and provided valuable advice during the process. As new home owners we truly appreciated the expertise he was able to provide. After design, Mark submitted all plans to the City and they were approved much quicker than expected. Mark is very professional, and responded promptly to every communication. Thank you Mark for making our design experience such a great one!

My wife and I looked long and hard for a designer for the ambitious home addition and remodel we started planning several years ago before we finally found Mark Greenwald and GCC Designs, but we sure are glad we did. Mark was a pleasure to work with at every step along the way. He always brought a great deal of courtesy and professionalism to the process of redesigning our home. He did what he said he would do, had lots of great ideas, and listened carefully to us to make sure he understood our needs. His pricing was always fair, and there were never any nasty surprises. There was a lot of back and forth, which is normal, before we got our new floor plan just right, but we couldn’t be more happy with the way it turned out. Once we locked the plan, Mark sent the drawings to his engineer, and before you knew it we were ready to submit for plan check and permitting. In our case, the plans had to go to the city and then the county. The city permit tech told me he’d never seen better plans for an initial submittal, and he approved them right away. The county asked for some minor tweaks, which Mark took care of quickly, and as soon as we submitted those, they were also approved. Now we’re in the middle of the addition/remodel, and it’s wonderful to see the plan coming to life. We hope to post a follow up when we have before and after photos available, which should be some time in 2024. We highly recommend Mark Greenwald and GCC Designs. You couldn’t be in better hands.

Alchemy Designs Inc recently collaborated on a full remodel project in Huntington Beach with GCC Designs. Mark exemplifies professionalism, integrity, reliability and knowledge in every aspect of his work. From start to finish, his commitment to delivering exceptional service in a timely matter was evident. We truly enjoyed working with him and would highly recommend his services.

Mark led me through a difficult time when I didn’t know where to begin after my home was destroyed by fire and smoke damage. Hey patiently answered all my questions and continues to do so, as rebuilding is nearing completion. I highly recommend Mark I will definitely call him if I ever need architectural services again!

Mark was referred to us by a friend who had used GCC for a garage addition. Mark designed a wonderful ADU that made the best use of our limited space. He was even able to fit in a pantry and full sized appliances. We found Mark to be easy to work with, a good communicator and a pleasant person. We plan on using Mark’s skills for a project in the near future.

Mark was awesome and helped and walked us through everything highly recommended - helped us with every step dealing with permits and the city.

Mark/GCC helped walk us through our first major renovation after being in our home for 17+ years. He patiently listened and made recommendations to ensure the final plans addressed our lifestyle and consistently shared less expensive alternative solutions to mitigate our ultimate costs. We would highly recommend Mark and GCC!

Mark has helped us with 3 projects now; a garage rebuild, remodeling a living area, and adding a second floor to the house. He always has more than one idea for solving the inevitable building issues that come up, which I believe comes from his years of practical experience. He is someone you can trust and rely on.

We found Mark on referral. Great experience. Mark has strong character & integrity. He is an expert at what he does. And Mark's experience really pays off, saving time & money on your project. Do yourself a favor and call Mark.

Very satisfied with GCC! Quality & well thought out work all within a very reasonable timeframe. Will definitely use him again when the need arises.

Mark was incredible when it came to our home design. We had a full renovation plus an addition to our home. Mark was patient and helpful even when we had a major design change from a two story addition to a one story addition. Mark walked us through the design process and the permit process. He also continues to check in on the job while we're in the construction phase. I would highly recommend Mark for your next project.

I've always have used Mark as my contractor and he has transitioned to doing Design / Plans etc. so in my current remodel I used him again to create the detailed plans for use by my new contractor as well as plans required for permits. I know Mark has done a lot of work as a contractor and in the city and he knew exactly what was needed and my plans were approved straight away ... in this time of COVID the last thing you want is for your plans to go back and forth with the city with the known delays. Mark did a great job!!

We hired Mark off a referral from a friend and we’re glad we did. Honest, reliable, helpful, trustworthy and prompt. We had unforeseen circumstances during the pandemic and Mark came in and saved the day. He is there to work for you and make things happen. We are now done with our project for the most part but if we have questions he is always there to help get answers. I would definitely recommend Mark for your next project.

I found Mark through a friend and am glad I did. He was able to draw us an excellent set of plans for submittal to the city. He is responsive and great at listening to what we wanted to do and help us realize it. I would highly recommend Mark to anybody interested in having work done.

We just had our kitchen enlarged and are thrilled. His design was everything I hoped it could be. He listened to what My vision was and made it happen. Mark was there from the start and even though his work was finished he came by to make sure we were happy during and after the project. We would highly recommend him without a doubt! Kathy Wyatt - Long Beach, ca

We didn't hire GCC for our needs, because Mark was kind enough to inform us we didn't need to!! He generously spent a good 20 minutes on the phone with me discussing the design ideas I had for the exterior of our home. He shared his thoughts on the pitfalls and benefits of different design approaches, and helped me identify key points to consider. I didn't want to go through the full remodel only to regret my design decisions at the end. As a result of our conversation, I'm not likely to restucco my home, and spend thousands on other design items that have drawbacks I wasn't aware of. Mark is clearly driven by what's best for the home and the homeowner, and trustworthy. I'll keep him in mind for projects that do require his companies involvement and recommend him to my peers needing the same.

Mark has been wonderful to work with. He is definitely very knowledgeable about the work he does. Guided us in the right direction at every point of our project. He gave us very honest and accurate opinions on the construction process as well as the pricing for the project. Mark is very easy to get along with and extremely trustworthy. I will definitely recommend him to my friends and family.

Mark has completed our blue prints for our home remodel. The project consist of modifying over 1,600 square feet. Mark is very easy to work with and is always very responsive. Mark worked with the structural engineer to make sure all structural engineering details were incorporated into the plans. His design plans our very thorough and have been approved by the county of Orange. Mark is not only a designer but also a builder. This was one of the key reasons we hired him. We wanted someone who not only understood design but also knows exactly what builders need to see in design plans. Mark has also come by to see the building project progress which is following his plans. Looking forward to seeing the end product from the design plans,

I have known & worked with Marked for many many years. I highly recommend him for all your design & consulting works.

Mark at GCC designs was a great find. He has a wealth of knowledge and expertise in design and construction. He was helpful with all aspect of the project from design to permits to construction. He is friendly and always answers your questions with a great attitude. The most important thing that I appreciated about Mark was his honesty.....which is hard to find these days. I would recommend GCC designs to any of my family and friends.

I shopped around quite a bit before I contacted Mark and I sure am glad I hired him. Besides being the most reasonable priced, he really listened to my ideas and together we came up with a well thought out design. I am extremely happy with how smooth and quick the process went for drawing up my plans and will definitely be contacting Mark for future projects on my house.

Mark has a vast knowledge of construction and building codes .He is a pleasure to work with and is always there to help every step of the way .After consulting and drawing up our plans he accompanied me to the city building and planning office To make sure The plans were Submitted correctly .I don’t know of anyone who goes that far to serve his clients. On top of all that he is fun to talk with. We give Mark 10 stars for what he did for us

Mark is great at his craft. Very knowledgeable about the process and makes everything easy for the client. He walked me through each step and explained all things that will and could happen with the city approval process etc. I’m very satisfied with his work. Can’t put a price on quality and knowledge.

Super happy with Mark! This is the second time we have chosen him to work with us. All the neighbors who come in and see the work give a "wow!" (since they all have similar floor plans they can see how the addition made all the difference). Phase II to start soon! Thank you, Mark.

Mark was professional and honest while completing the plans/drawings for our small remodel project. He explained things thoroughly and asked questions to figure out exactly what we wanted. I gave 4 stars because he didn't communicate well via email and needed to call me very frequently. He also made a few changes to the plans we were not aware of that we needed to correct later with the contractor. Overall a good price and good results.

Mark was amazing. Faster than I could have ever imagined and very efficient. I could not imagine working with someone so easy going and efficient on a project like mine. I felt everything was a mess and he made sense of everything. Did I mentioned his turn around time? Well, it still has me floored. I would recommend him to anyone I know and would hire him again in a heartbeat.

Mark designed my addition for kitchen, dining room, bathroom and closet. Fantastic Job. Very professional. He was able to give accurate details and information on the costs for designs and great insight into the construction process. He has a tremendous amount of information and experience that he is willing to share. He always answers the phone and responds to emails in detail. Answered every question with confidence and accuracy. Excellent rates for service. Mark followed through the process to the end and was willing to help advise on construction process also. Thank you Mark!

Mark was great. Very knowledgeable, patient and walked us through everything. He designed for our budget! His industry experience helped us greatly.

Mark was a pleasure to work with. He was ON TIME, Patient, and flexible. His cost was reasonable and as we evolved with our plans and simplified so did the cost. His communication was easy and he always was available when we reached out to him with questions. I would highly recommend Mark and I would use his service again. He knows everything about building and city planning so he is a great person to have on your team.

He is exactly everything we needed. Mark drew the plans for our Long Beach 1921 home remodel and expansion. Our home is tiny and old and actually made out of brick (masonry) so it was a tricky remodel in which my husband and I wanted to make the most of the limited addition (due to city regulations) that we could do to maximize storage and give our house the much over needed upgrade. It took us a total of about 8 months of planning, and redrawing with a couple of set backs form the city. My husband and I were definitely picky about various rooms. After all that, we were able to settle on a whole new floor plan that finally got approved by the city. Through it all, Mark was very responsive and a great communicator via email, text or phone calls. He did everything in a timely manner. We really really came up with Mark. He has more experience than how long my husband and I have been alive. He met w our various contractor bids and helped explain the floor plan. We finally break ground in August and we plan on bringing Mark around to make sure it is all going as planned. Highly recommended to anyone and everyone!

I read many reviews on many people! I found Mark and cautiously met with him. Well, a few months later, construction is underway! Mark was courteous, professional. He understood what I was looking for and gave suggestions. We even ran into some hurdles with the city. Mark worked with me to work with City's restrictions and still get what I was looking for. He was very patient as I was on my own timeline; he was never pushy. He answered all my questions and addressed all my concerns. I'll update review once it's all built! June 01, 2020 update: I changed my rating to 3 stars because between the original plans and the final plans, he ade a few changes I was not aware of. They needed to be corrected later by the contractor. The changes cost me a bit more and it was very disappointing. But Overall, I am happy with my home addition layout.

I collaborated with GCC Designs For You regarding structural drawings and permitting for a kitchen remodel I was contracted to do interior design for located in Downey CA. This project turned out to be one of the most complicated small kitchens I've ever worked on due to the fact we had to re-work load-bearing wall/s in this two-story townhome. Mark assisted with creative solutions AND was able to work magic with the city facilitating the building permit which was estimated to take weeks in plan check but ended up taking just a couple days! Not only was I impressed with Mark and GCC Design's performance but my client was also very impressed! (and she is not easily impressed :D ) -I highly recommend Mark and GCC Designs to any interior designer, general contractor or property owner looking for professional assistance with architectural drawings, permitting and project planning!

I read the reviews and decided to call Mark to do my building plans for an ADU in Torrance. True to what others say, Mark was just a perfect choice. He worked fast and was very personable and knowledgeable about all things to consider. He even graciously offers advice on good sub contractors to hire. A+

I hired Mark to do the designs and drawings to get a permit in Anaheim for my parents and sisters' home. The project included adding a bedroom, a closet in the master, a new bathroom, remodeling the kitchen, window replacement, and a laundry center. His work was timely, he took care of issues, and helped with planning, locating contractors to do the work, and helping me make decisions. I would highly recommend him.”

I hired Mark to design and provide the drawings to get a permit in Long Beach for my home renovation. The project included adding a room and adding an old patio space to the inside of the house. The whole house is going to get worked on with walls moving and all new utilities, new kitchen, roof, bedrooms, a laundry center, etc. Mark helped get the project through the permit office in one day – no corrections. Engineering and Title 24 was included. I would highly recommend him.

My wife and I love working with Mark! He is very knowledgeable and will keep you informed every step of the way.

Mark did a great job designing and constructing my ADU in Long Beach. The design maximized the space and gave a feeling of the unit being larger by using 9ft ceilings, pocket doors and skylights. The unit is 800 square feet with 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, master closet, living room, kitchen and laundry room.

Mark did a huge transformation to my home. He did a large addition to my living room, added a 400 square foot raised patio with a wood (trex) deck, built a new covered front porch, changed the entire front façade of my home, installed new windows throughout the home, and installed a new roof. The patio is fully covered with a tie in to the main home structure. It is an open beam ceiling covered with ship lap. The outside of the home is absolutely gorgeous. He worked closely with me in creating an authentic "bungalow" style. The home definitely stands out amongst the other 1950's ranch style tract homes in my neighborhood. I believe Mark is a real craftsman in every sense of the word. He is a master wood worker and his craft is evident in the details I specifically asked for in my home. I hired him because I could see his excitement when I described my vision for the home. I could tell he enjoyed the arts and crafts style. He seemed knowledgeable about early 20th century architecture and he did not disappoint. As I mentioned earlier my home really looks older (in a good way) than it is. He is easy to talk to and has a breadth of knowledge. My project did exceed my original budget but I am happy every time I pull up to the driveway. The home gets tons of compliments and I am proud to call it my home.

We were referred to Mark by a family friend and we couldn't be more satisfied with the professionalism and expertise that he brought to the project. Mark shows knowledge in restoration and renovation of historic homes and provided outstanding design and construction management consulting services throughout our project. Would highly recommend for residential projects big and small.

GCC was there from the start of our room addition. The designs were thorough and practical and their knowledge of the industry made the project smoother with less cost and delays. Highly recommend making GCC your first call.

Mark from GCC Designs was amazing to work with. He was responsive, quick and thoughtful to what we were trying to achieve and our budget. We would highly recommend him for your project.

We have been using GCCdesigns4u for our construction business to do drawings and assist us with getting permits for our jobs. Mark has been a real asset to our business for several reasons: he’s professional and timely in meeting clients and getting the work done. His work is accurate and we’re able to build what gets specified on the drawings. He collaborates with an engineer for structural and Title 24 consultant for energy requirements. Due to his comprehensive evaluation, all of his drawings get approved by the city without any challenges. He offers a great package: his designs mirror what the client expects, he comes up with great solutions for all of our new construction/remodeling challenges, and in the end that makes us shine. I highly recommend Mark to any construction company or property owner looking to get their drawings done and with very reasonable pricing.

Mark Greenwald was wonderful to work with! We are having our kitchen, bathroom and laundry room renovated. He was able to take our "vision" and put it on paper for us, with precise measurements, layouts, etc. He was very efficient and was able to provide excellent suggestions and options for us to consider. It was a great way to get our project started! Thank you Mark!

Mark designed and built a 700 sqft garage. The project included demolition and haul away of the existing garage. The work was top quality, done quickly and very cost effective. He's very easy to work with and attentive to details.

Mark was great to deal with, this wasn't a simple job even tho it was small one.....city wasn't clear on what they needed and Mark stepped up and delivered ...whatever the curveball thrown, he did everything I asked and needed...would and will use him in future!

GCC designed and managed our patio and outdoor kitchen. Mark, GCC, listened to our ideas, submitted to us drawings from our discussion, added ideas from his past experiences, and then finalized the drawings incorperating all thoughts and ideas. These plans were appoved by the City with no changes required. We have nothing but positive things to say about our experience GCC.

Mark built an accessory building and arbor for us which turned out fabulous, better than we even hoped for! I would recommend him to anyone. He is reliable and very pleasant to work with.

Mark has become like family!! He built a second story on my house and an outdoor kitchen! I have never met a more thorough, precise and detailed builder. He has an amazing eye for construction needs and techniques to build the safest, most beautiful and longest lasting designs. He is an outstanding champion for his clients and always protects their interests and needs first. We can’t thank him enough!

I met Mark with GCC while they were on a remodeling project next door at my neighbors house. What a beautiful project that turned out to be. I asked Mark if he would be interested in coming over to take a look at my bathrooms and give me some ideas. In a timely fashion, Mark Presented me with some drawings that exceed my expectations. I couldn't even believe that this was even possible. Mark and his crew took on the job and completed the project in a timely manner. Mark even went above is call of duty and even accompanied me in picking out my vanities, fixtures and tile. I would wholeheartedly recommend GCC for any of your future projects.

I've personally worked with GCC on a few different projects and have witnessed other projects that he and his crew have created. The integrity of his work and his patience and willingness to get it "Just Right" reaches above any of the competition. Their prices are very reasonable and he's not one of those types that gives a price to get the job, knowing there will be a whole lot of unreasonable "extra's" tagged on later. While it is tempting to keep his skills a secret for my own self, It's only fair to let this "diamond" out to the masses.

We hired GCC to build our garage: Two stalls, a work-shop, and a 1/2 bath. Mark drew up the design, created the city-approved drawings, and obtained the city permits. He saw the project through from start to finish in a timely manner. We couldn’t be more pleased.

My wife and I really enjoy the way our new tiled bathrooms look. Mark helped us tremendously with our design and was open to our many ideas and questions that came up. We enjoyed Mark's company, and we wish Mark great success. Mark is high quality!

Hired Mark originally to do some improvements to our interior living space, he designed a plan to open up the space and improve the heating an cooling in the room. After completing this job I hired him to design an build an addition to the house an move laundry from the garage to inside the house. He did all the drawings for both projects an pulled any necessary permits. The results of both jobs exceeded our expectations an I would not hesitate to hire Mark again.

“Mark was recommended by our contractor. He came out right away. We wanted a back yard deck and patio cover to replace a deck that was small and difficult to negotiate. Mark listened to our ideas and designed a workable space. He provided the drawings and information we needed to get a permit from the city on our own. As the project progresses, we see exactly what we wanted take shape. I recommend Mark as a expert at making your idea a reality.”

Being a designer and a woodworker, you develop an eye for detail, so in 2006 when my wife and I decided to remodel our home, I knew it was going to take a special person. One that had the same meticulous eye and that would pay attention to all of the details like myself when working on our home. After a period of time searching for the right builder, we were pleased to have met Mark Greenwald of GCC Designs and right away we knew he was the perfect person for the job. Mark is a true professional and it was evident that after a short time of seeing him work, he had the knowledge and experience needed for our home and virtually any construction project. He is trustworthy, punctual, clean and most of all managed the project to assure goals were reached and deadlines were met. When the project was done, we were completely thrilled with the results and more than satisfied with the process in which Mark accomplished things. He earned our business then and has continued to provide the same exceptional quality and service on various projects since.

We hired a designer to make plans for our house but the details were just basic concepts. The actual details and modifications came during construction. Mark Greenwald of “GCC” was the inspiration and craftsman when it came to the details. He took the existing layout and expanded it with skylight, moldings, organizers, niches, interior and exterior trim as well as developing a cohesive design theme that we had always liked in craftsman style bungalows. Most people we’ve known have only tales of sacrifices and strife when they speak of their remodel/renovation. We experienced the exact opposite. There are stories that we get to repeat to all who have admired our fully renovated home. I get to tell them that our project, which involved taking the original house down to the studs, was a huge and frightening prospect, but the process was never fraught with the nightmare scenarios that so many people we’ve known experienced. I tell them that working with Mark Greenwald was a pleasure because it was a collaborative process where each of us had input and listened to each other closely every step of the way. I tell them how much I love all the details of my home, from the vaulted skylight to every custom window and door frame, and that ten years later the craftsmanship is so superior everything has held up beautifully. I get to brag that you can closely examine every inch of my home and you will not find one shortcut. And when I tell people that I got all of this and the entire project was finished well over a month ahead of the estimated time line, people can hardly believe it. Mark’s crew was thorough and the process was great to see everything coming together. We had some details in place before construction began, but some of the best features developed spontaneously. When some of the ceilings and roof was exposed, we asked for a look and that’s when he came up with the plan to add a vaulted skylight to our dining room. Not only does it visually open up the space, the skylight provides incredible ventilation and helps reduce cooling costs. The lighting and tile came together and we have been enjoying our home for many years. We highly recommend Mark to anyone thinking of building or remodeling.

Mark Greenwald of GCC designs was our "go to" guy on a house that we recently purchased that needed a lot of remodeling. Mark created the floor plans from our wish list - offering up timely and necessary design ideas to make it happen. We are thoroughly happy with the final outcome. He listens and then executes.

We approached Mark to design our whole house remodel and addition in Long Beach (Lakewood Village area). We needed space for us to move in with my mother, in addition to a providing a suite for her. Our concept was to create an upstairs area for my wife and me, while expanding the downstairs for mom. This sprawling ranch house already had an addition and I needed a space for my shop. The plan was to create a new kitchen and new everything for the most part, also including skylight tubes, a separate laundry and bathroom upstairs (in addition to a huge suite for my wife and me and a guest bedroom), a common kitchen space, walk in closets, a guest bedroom down stairs, and 4 bathrooms total. The existing garage was to be remade into a shop and a new 2 car garage. This was not an easy project or concept. We spoke with many contractors and only felt comfortable with Mark; he was the only one who seemed to understand our goals. Mark helped us make decisions, but never forced his ideas on us. He took care of everything on the design side and then, with his crew, built it. The drawings were detailed and to the point. His crew showed up daily and finished it non-stop till it was done. Mark estimated the project would take 10-12 months. We were very pleased when, after a little over eight months, everything was complete and ready for us to move back in. We can’t express how pleased we were with the overall process and with the resulting remodel. We are still very happy with our house almost 10 years later. We have since referred Mark to many of our friends, and they have all been happy with his work. We would highly recommend Mark Greenwald for any design or construction work. Randy T

Mark off GCC has done work on our property several times over the years (since 2008). Our first project was to design and build a large garage with loft storage and a bathroom, plus a covered patio. Our deck was rotting and the garage was original 18 x 18ft. He listened to us and came up with a design that was the maximum size we could build in Long Beach for a detached garage. He also designed a vaulted covered patio with no ceiling joists. The garage loft was massive and covered most of the garage floor space except it's up high. A small electric water heater under the bath sink gave us hot water, plus a mud sink for garden work. Also on the opposite wall was a hose bib to wash the dogs off which we use all the time. We finally re-roofed and placed new gutters. It really looked like it was all there originally - matched the style of our home. We called him back to re-do our front porch entry way. The narrow porch landing and overhang got us wet entering the house in wet weather. He came up with a complimentary design to the rest of the house's style. The vaulted beam style got a nice hanging lantern in the middle which lights up the entry and porch area. We have seen his work throughout our neighborhood and can see why he has continued to keep in business. Great talent in design and in business. He was reasonably priced and always showed up, did the work, and we haven't had any issues for many years.

GCCdesigns4u did my bathroom addition. MArk worked with me to get what I needed on a timely basis. He was prompt, considerate, always answered the phone. Plans were drawn up and submitted for permit with no problems. THe result was Better than I had hoped for. It was a pleasure doing business with him.

Greenwald Construction (GCC) is my go to partner for all my construction needs. I rely on GCC for all my planning/design as well as the actual implementation. Home improvement is stressful enough on its own and that is a key reason why I rely on Mark at GCC. I can be certain that a job will get done, that the work is well above average in quality, I can rest assured that if there is an issue Mark/GCC will ensure that it is resolved to my satisfaction. Pictured is just one of the most recent projects that GCC designed and built for me, a fully covered outdoor patio.

Greenwald Construction Company is owned and operated by Mark Greenwald, a smart, reliable problem-solver and communicator. Mark and his crew have completed three different projects for us with excellent results - a master bathroom remodel, a new roof and a covered outdoor art studio. Mark took all of our concerns and requirements into consideration in the design process. We are absolutely delighted with the outcome with each project. We recommend GCC for any project ... large or small. GCC is our first choice. We have been completely delighted with the quality of the work provided by Mark Greenwald and his crew. In addition to being skilled craftsmen, they show up everyday, are prompt, pleasant and positive. We are so pleased to have found them.

As a real estate broker, property manager and investment property owner for over 15 years I have worked with may designers, contractors and sub contractors (Good and bad) Mark at GCC Designs is at the top of my list of professionals I can trust to do the job right the first time. He shows up on time, articulates the scope of the job in a way that is easily understood and executes on time. The value he provides is right in line with the cost of the job. He is currently working on a major job in my personal home that is moving along just as planned.