RKM Architects

We worked with RKM Architects to design our new home and to perform construction administration. This was our first experience building and we immediately felt comfortable with them. What we liked most, next to their exterior and interior material selections, was that every design aspect was presented in 3D including things like laying out the flow of the kitchen, viewing our bathroom in a variety of tiles, various kitchen countertop configurations, and even selecting the right size pendant lighting for our foyer. This really helped make decisions a whole lot easier. RKM also offered help with interior design and accompanied us to select kitchen cabinets, countertops, bathroom vanities, hardwood floors, and also helped select interior paint colors. These decisions can start to overwhelm you, and having RKM's guidance was extremely helpful. They truly went above and beyond our expectations. More overwhelming than selecting finishes was construction itself. RKM was there every step of the way to provide guidance to our GC and coordinate meetings when necessary. We could have forgone having RKM do the construction administration and allowed our GC to execute the plans without RKM's guidance and oversight, but that would have been a colossal mistake. RKM was in our space daily and provided our GC with as much assistance as was needed. There were instances when RKM was onsite and observed construction not being executed correctly - which in the end saved our GC time and money. These are just some of the aspects one would not think to consider when deciding whether or not to have construction admin. It's money well spent. Overall we were very satisfied. We're glad we had the opportunity to work with RKM and we highly recommend them. They made themselves available and took ownership of this project through completion.

I was an intern at RKM Architects while I was completing my Bachelors. I was exposed to the profession, developed my design skill sets, which set a foundation for when I entered the industry upon graduation. Rick and Kim are both very well versed in the in the field- it was a great experience and I would most certainly not be where I am today had I not had the opportunity to work here!

Whether contemporary or traditional, Rick's designs are well thought out and feel like an integrated whole, providing a seamless transition between existing and new construction. Builders typically have a love/hate relationship with architects. I can honestly tell you that every project I have worked on with Rick has been a pleasure from beginning to end. One of the key elements is that it is a collaborative working experience. Rick is very receptive to our construction expertise and is open to suggestions that may enhance a design or make it more cost effective to build, for example. We both share the same goal: a quality product. We look forward to working with Rick in the future.

We hired Rick Miller of RKM to design and project-manage a South Philadelphia rowhouse renovation in 2014. We approached Rick after seeing an article on his Lantern House in The Philadelphia Inquirer in late 2013. We were looking to move from our house in Elkins Park (designed by Louis Kahn in 1942) into the city to downsize and enjoy a walkable urban lifestyle. Although we wanted to downsize, my wife and I both have unusual hobbies (music production, record collecting, quilting, stained glass fabrication, metal and wood working, electronics design and development). We felt that our needs could not be met with a standard developer built house. From the article, we both admired his design sense and style. We set up a meeting with Rick at his home office and received a tour of the Lantern House. It was clear after meeting with Rick, that he would be a great choice for our project. He clearly explained his fees and services along with his design philosophy. To better understand our needs, Rick and one of his interns met with us at our Elkins Park house. He took copious notes on our decorating and living style, along with pictures and measurements of key furniture items that we would be retaining. Initially, we looked for a building lot in the Fishtown area. However nothing seemed to meet our needs and budget. We located a property with an existing house near the Italian Market in South Philadelphia that we thought would be a good match. Rick met with us and our realtor to survey the site and provided us with valuable feedback as to its viability. He helped us determine if renovation of this site could be done within our budget. He was even able to have a potential contractor survey the site to provide more insight into the scope of the project. Having this input gave us confidence that the purchase would be a good choice. Once we purchased the property, Rick went to work and developed full set of drawings keeping in mind our decorating tastes, living needs, and budget. This was no small task given our needs and the constraints imposed by the form factor of a typical row house. His first pass design was right on the mark! We loved the way he provided us with a clean open concept plan on the first floor along with an extremely functional master bedroom/closet/laundry/bath arrangement on the second floor. In keeping with our hobbies, he allocated the remaining two bedrooms to be used in a dual purpose as guest and hobby spaces. His attention to detail was very much appreciated as he really took away a great deal of the stress that can go along with a project of this scope. He was very open to changes and easy to work with. Once we had a quotable set of drawings, Rick was able to suggest some possible builders that he felt would suite the project and bring a level of detail and quality needed to pull the project off. We both felt that this was a key advantage that Rick brings to the table. The builder we selected (Kurt Schlenbacker of Wooden Box LLC) turned out to be a super choice. Both Kurt and Rick worked together to make the project go about as smooth as one could hope for. Rick surveyed the construction site on a monthly basis and provided a written report of the project progress. This was very helpful and prevented any surprises. When issues arose, Rick was able to coordinate with Kurt without any of the typical finger pointing that can arise. As a result, the project completed on time and within budget. The exceptions being some unforeseen structural issues and upgrades we chose to take. At the completion, he developed a hit list of action items the Kurt needed to address. Now that we are in the house, we are amazed at how well it functions and looks! We don’t believe we would have been able to pull this project off if Rick had not been involved. If you need the services of an architect for your project, I can highly recommend Rick. His attention to detail and ability to create a vision that is unique to each project is a key asset. He is easy to work and it seems his goal is to please the client rather than force a solution.

RKM Architects met with us to discuss a Master Bedroom Suite to include a laundry and sewing room. Our century-old house presented challenges that required creativity and vision. RKM had both. They came up with an elegant and interesting design that we love. They reworked the design based on input from us, listening carefully and incorporating changes. They, however, also gave us useful feedback on our ideas based in their experience and perspective. They assisted us in identifying general contractors and provided tile and furniture recommendations. It was a pleasure to work with them.

I've known RKM for twenty-five years, since our first days together at Penn State to study architecture. I've always regarded Rick as one of the most talented designers in our class. He just 'got it'. Then he shored up that native talent with a boat load of experience working for one of the best design firms in the country. He really knows how to put a building together. Meanwhile, Kim's honed her construction management skills to razor sharp, shepherding collossal university projects to successful completion. As a team: top notch. The proof is at their doorstep, literally. Their house is spectacular. Every detail is considered without being fussy, smart without being ostentatious. They aren't chasing trends. They're building smart, solid, thoughtful architecture that enables clients to live with grace and beauty.

Rick Miller was the project architect on several multi-million dollar building projects at major Northeastern Universities that I also worked on. He is an excellent project architect and client manager. Rick listens well and draws beautifully. He carefully keeps program, site assets and constraints, budget and schedule, design opportunities and concepts well organized throughout the schematic and design development process. He integrates structure and building services with the the exterior enclosure, circulation, space and light with construction methods and materials. The program and site with commensurate plans and details are typically well coordinated and clearly executed in any set of contract documents that Rick manages or produces.

The work of RKM Architects is elegantly sublime with an attentiveness to detail which is woven throughout the project design.

I worked alongside Rick professionally. I was impressed by his dedication to designing solutions that are beautiful, appropriate, and exceed expectations. He is a pleasure to work with.

The work of RKM Architects embodies an intelligent approach to making architecture defined by innovative use of materials and systems, coupled with a sensitivity towards crafting stimulating, daylit spaces that respond to the owner’s program and aspiration. Careful attention to craft, and the creative repurposing of materials and spaces is also a recurring theme in their work. Alfred Dragani AIA

The award winning work of RKM Architects is distinguished by its creative use of materials, adaptive reuse of buildings and materials, integration of three dimensional volumes and attention to detail. Their Lantern House embodies all of these attributes. It is a beautiful architectural solution to a complex building program on a small urban lot. I highly recommend RKM Architects.

We hired RKM Architects to design our custom home. At every step of the design process and then the build, RKM exceeded our expectations. They listened to our needs and translated them into a smart and beautiful design. They met every deadline, even when it seemed impossible, and maintained a calm and steady hand when we needed it most. They guided us through the build stage and offered us wise counsel when necessary. We truly credit the smoothness of the design and build of our home to RKM's unflagging attention to the project and advocacy for us as their clients.