Knapp Schmidt Architects

I am always sorry when I have failed to satisfy a client with design services
understand *** *** is unhappy with the services I've provided, but I think she
is mistaken to believe that the services provided have been unprofessional or not
in her own best interest
*** agreed to contract with
Knapp Schmidt Architects because we specialize in
the design of animal care facilities similar to the Spa Paw and Tail in New Berlin
While ***'s business seems to be doing very well, we started our discussion
about her building with OSHA claims that dangerous noise levels in her building
are damaging to the staff who work there*** is in the process of purchasing the
building she has leased for yearsIt was my opinion that improvement work that
may not have been warranted in a leased building, would now make sense in a
building she ownsI agreed to provide her with a series of design proposals for
improvements both interior and exterior, we both recognizing that many of these
ideas would not fit in her current budget, but she would be able to use these in the
future as her business grows
My agreement with *** was a fixed fee of $12,spread over the several
phases of work, including design concept, preliminary design, design
development, and then construction documents, the work to obtain a building
permit with construction work that meets her budgetStopping the services
partway through has meant that we were never in a position to receive the price
quotes that were requested and provide the analysis to evaluate the merits of cost
for each area of constructionThat information has been withheld from me
Knapp Schmidt Architects has forty years of history specializing in animal care
facilities, and has established expertise in addressing the issues unique to these
businessesThe work shown on the drawings was very specific to request cost
information separately for each specific area of work, with the understanding
stated clearly on the drawings that not all that work would be done now, but would
give *** comprehensive cost information that she could use throughout her
future ownership of the buildingThe fee for that service was built into our basic
service agreementBecause she chooses to not utilize some of the preliminary
design concepts, and does not choose to take our advice in what work is
important, does not mean she is not obligated to pay for the service provided
*** did pay a retainer for service, and rather than ending our agreement with a
refund due, we have ended our agreement with an unpaid invoice of $4,in
the Design Development Phase, a fee due that I have no intent to try to collect
I am very sorry I was unable to reach a couple of meetings in a timely fashion I
have a three-hour drive, encountered traffic and road repair congestion, and
called ahead to notify her
I believe *** is very honest and passionate about her businessI am very
concerned that she is not getting good advice from other partiesShe has
significant noise problems associated with the design and execution of the past
kennel improvement constructionShe told me she spent more than $4,
addressing the OSHA claim (more than her dispute with us), and that this work
was ineffectiveOur drawings have shown how to fix those problemsI am
concerned that ***, and inexperienced designers and contractors will ignore our
recommendations, repeat those mistakes in the new construction, and not repair
the problematic work of the past
I wish *** *** the bestShe and her advisors now have comprehensive
design solutions for the planned expansion, and for the problems in her existing
buildingThey will be able to use some of these ideas as they see fit in the current
building project*** will be able to use other of those ideas in future building
improvement projectsI believe the fees paid to date, for services rendered to
date, are very reasonableI have no illusion that my statements will change
***'s opinionI sent a letter to her a few weeks ago with similar statements
Please feel free to contact me again if necessary
Thank you for your efforts to resolve this issue
Sincerly,

Review: I hired Knapp [redacted] Architects on July 1, 2014 to perform Architecture service for the expansion of my current business. I provided ideas to the firm on how I wanted the expansion designed. [redacted]-Architect put his own ideas into the project which included reconstructing the exterior of my building and were extremely costly. I explained to him on July 1, 2014 that I had no intention of proceeding with any exterior modifications. There were other ideas that [redacted] had for my design that I had no intention of using. I made more than 5 attempts to have [redacted] change the drawings to remove his ideas and only include mine. He continued to send multiple copies of drawings with his ideas which led to false quotations and inaccuracy on construction bids for me. [redacted] was 25 minutes late to our 2nd meeting and 1 and 1/2 hours late to the second meeting. He is extremely unprofessional in regards to a client's time. He does not communicate well on paper, emails or phone calls. His architecture drawings were redundant and for the most part useless to contractors. He used mapping codes that weren't even listed on the drawings and left many needed items to the guessing of the contractors. Each time that I spoke to him or saw him for a meeting he was asking me for money in very unprofessional manners. He was asking that I pre pay for services in which I found is not necessary with other professional firms. The experience with [redacted] has been less than desirable and certainly not what he promoted as to the services that he would provide. I have contacted him 3 times to cancel/terminate our arrangement and to refund 1500.00 out of the 4000.00 that I have pre-paid to him. He will not get back to me in regards to these issues so I am writing this complaint in hopes that this will make him behave professionally in this situation.Desired Settlement: I would like 1500.00 refunded out of the 4000.00 that I have pre-paid for very unprofessional services.

Business

Response:

I am always sorry when I have failed to satisfy a client with design services.

understand [redacted] is unhappy with the services I've provided, but I think she

is mistaken to believe that the services provided have been unprofessional or not

in her own best interest.

[redacted] agreed to contract with Knapp Schmidt Architects because we specialize in

the design of animal care facilities similar to the Spa Paw and Tail in New Berlin.

While [redacted]'s business seems to be doing very well, we started our discussion

about her building with OSHA claims that dangerous noise levels in her building

are damaging to the staff who work there. [redacted] is in the process of purchasing the

building she has leased for years. It was my opinion that improvement work that

may not have been warranted in a leased building, would now make sense in a

building she owns. I agreed to provide her with a series of design proposals for

improvements both interior and exterior, we both recognizing that many of these

ideas would not fit in her current budget, but she would be able to use these in the

future as her business grows.

My agreement with [redacted] was a fixed fee of $12,000 spread over the several

phases of work, including design concept, preliminary design, design

development, and then construction documents, the work to obtain a building

permit with construction work that meets her budget. Stopping the services

partway through has meant that we were never in a position to receive the price

quotes that were requested and provide the analysis to evaluate the merits of cost

for each area of construction. That information has been withheld from me.

Knapp Schmidt Architects has forty years of history specializing in animal care

facilities, and has established expertise in addressing the issues unique to these

businesses. The work shown on the drawings was very specific to request cost

information separately for each specific area of work, with the understanding

stated clearly on the drawings that not all that work would be done now, but would

give [redacted] comprehensive cost information that she could use throughout her

future ownership of the building. The fee for that service was built into our basic

service agreement. Because she chooses to not utilize some of the preliminary

design concepts, and does not choose to take our advice in what work is

important, does not mean she is not obligated to pay for the service provided.

[redacted] did pay a retainer for service, and rather than ending our agreement with a

refund due, we have ended our agreement with an unpaid invoice of $4,043.30 in

the Design Development Phase, a fee due that I have no intent to try to collect

I am very sorry I was unable to reach a couple of meetings in a timely fashion . I

have a three-hour drive, encountered traffic and road repair congestion, and

called ahead to notify her.

I believe [redacted] is very honest and passionate about her business. I am very

concerned that she is not getting good advice from other parties. She has

significant noise problems associated with the design and execution of the past

kennel improvement construction. She told me she spent more than $4,000

addressing the OSHA claim (more than her dispute with us), and that this work

was ineffective. Our drawings have shown how to fix those problems. I am

concerned that [redacted], and inexperienced designers and contractors will ignore our

recommendations, repeat those mistakes in the new construction, and not repair

the problematic work of the past.

I wish [redacted] the best. She and her advisors now have comprehensive

design solutions for the planned expansion, and for the problems in her existing

building. They will be able to use some of these ideas as they see fit in the current

building project. [redacted] will be able to use other of those ideas in future building

improvement projects. I believe the fees paid to date, for services rendered to

date, are very reasonable. I have no illusion that my statements will change

[redacted]'s opinion. I sent a letter to her a few weeks ago with similar statements.

Please feel free to contact me again if necessary.

Thank you for your efforts to resolve this issue.

Sincerly,