Testimonials

 

 

If I had to go to war, and I needed to pick an architectural firm to be on my side, I would pick Duncan•Wisniewski  Architecture...

  

Michael Monte

Chief Operating Officer

Champlain Housing Trust

 

 

Duncan Wisniewski has served me for 15 years on numerous projects, almost none of which could be called easy or conventional. The range of their capacity, whether designing a whole neighborhood; adapting an historic building for an altogether new use; or analyzing feasibility, is exceptional.  Duncan Wisniewski has a willingness to understand the client’s perspective, to advise, collaborate, and perform in concert with the client. Their reputation and relationships with contractors, estimators, engineers, permitting agencies and other professionals is excellent. 

 

J  Ladd

Director, Winooski Community Development Department

 

 

Just as the Nobel Prize winning Polish poet Czeslaw Milosz wrote of his field of endeavor:

 

'One clear stanza can take more weight

Than a whole wagon load of elaborate prose.'

 

so, too, just one quiet look at a finished building in place can tell more about the vision and skill of the architect, than a treatise on the intention of design.  Just go out and look at the buildings of these architects! They fit. They define new use and energy in the community they join so well.

 

Governor James Douglas aptly observed, in awarding the Duncan•Wisniewski-designed Stone Hill Housing at 428 Court Street in Middlebury the 2007 Community Achievement Award for Housing from the Vermont Community Development Program:

 

“Beautiful Stone Hill has taken its place in the community and provides great housing

to 50 low-to-moderate-income people. This small piece of in-town hillside

has been transformed into housing the residents can afford and be proud of.”

 

When I have a tough site, when I have a need for real creative thinking about on-the-ground solutions to challenges of space, design, cost, or energy efficiency, or if I am just looking for a beautiful building, I call  Duncan•Wisniewski."

 

Terry McKnight

Executive Director

Addison County Community Trust

"Providing homes for Vermonters."

 

 

J.A. Morrissey, Inc. is a General Contractor located in Williston, Vermont. Over the years, we have had the opportunity and privilege to work with both Bob Duncan and Michael Wisniewski of Duncan Wisniewski Architecture (DWA) on a great number of projects. We have worked together on multiple housing projects including the just recently completed Sylvan Woods Project in Stowe, Vermont, 36 housing units on an extremely challenging site.

 

Within the limits of being human, our experience on each and every DWA project has meant working with documents that are both thorough and thoughtful. They consistently succeed in producing documents that are reflective of an owner’s needs while being cognizant of the building process and the construction marketplace. 

 

In addition to the quality of their work, they make themselves available to answer contractor’s questions both during the bid process and during the construction process.  They are clear, consistent and swift in responding to the many challenges that emerge during the entire construction process.

 

DWA are the most knowledgeable architects we have ever worked with when looking to address code requirements and state regulations. DWA utilizes their collective knowledge and experience to mitigate problems that arise because they know what they are doing. This is not to say they can slay all of the code dragons, because inspectors are human too, but it sure helps a project when you have a high level of confidence in the design team.

 

These are just some of the reasons why, from the perspective of my entire staff, there is no firm we would rather work with. We bid on projects that have been designed by DWA that we would not even consider if designed by someone else.  This is because we know that all project challenges will be addressed with collaborative thought, attention to detail, in a timely manner and in a fair process. The bottom line is we trust them to do their job and take responsibility for their work because they always do.  

 

Bob, Michael and their staff have earned our respect both professionally and personally. We consider any chance to work with them a gift and would give them the highest recommendation possible to any Owner considering their services.

 

Jeanne A. Morrissey, P.E.

President, J.A. Morrissey, Inc.

 

 

Duncan Wisniewski has a solid reputation for a willingness to work with clients who have budget limitations.  That, combined with the creativity witnessed in local projects, drew our church to hire the firm for a renovation project.  We asked Michael to transform a dingy, unusable garage into a side entrance to the church, incorporating handicapped access.  Even the Trustees sometimes questioned how this could be accomplished!

 

Michael attentively listened to our concerns and presented several alternative plans for our consideration.  He addressed each of our questions and followed through with a recommendation for a contractor with whom he had worked and in whom he had confidence.  No project is totally smooth, and this one had its share of structural surprises.  Again, Michael quickly responded with the solutions.

 

Today we bask--and I use that word knowingly--in the warmth exuded by the room.   The entrance ramp provides the necessary access.  The interior features a section of the stone building combined with wood, soft artificial and natural lighting and heated floor.  A built-in wooden bench along one wall invites members to sit while awaiting a ride or to simply feel the sunshine coming through the original windows.  The total effect is the desired one:  welcoming.

 

Kudos and thanks to Duncan Wisniewski,

Radetta Nemcosky for the First United Methodist Church  Board of Trustees

 

 

I've worked with Bob Duncan of Duncan-Wisniewski Architecture on five projects - historic renovations and new construction jobs.  To each project, Bob brings an incredible sense of design, a working knowledge of building codes, proactive construction oversight, and the ability to make decisions in the field. He has a wonderful sense of humor, listens carefully, and weighs options before making decisions.  Bob and the drafts people at DWA create working drawings and specifications that are thorough, detailed, and clear, and coordinate with all engineering plans and specs. The folks at DWA are a pleasure to work with - they're fair and honest, prepare and achieve realistic schedules, and represent the interests of the owner. 

 

Sue Cobb, Project Manager

Housing Vermont

 

 

The firm Duncan-Wisniewski has the rare blend of creative talent, total commitment of body and soul to each project, and the construction smarts to get things built right.

 

Bill Nedde  III

Krebs and Lansing Consulting Engineers

 

 

Bob Duncan did an incredible job designing and overseeing the construction of the addition to The Converse Home. This was a difficult task since The Converse Home needed to continue to serve its frail elderly residents while the project was underway, and The Converse Home is one of the most historical buildings in Burlington and many "parties" were interested in how we planned to change the historic building and add a large addition. Bob was very diligent in overseeing the quality of the construction work, actively made suggestions to overcome obstacles that came up during the design and construction process, and was a pleasure to work with. As we tour the families of potential residents around  The Converse Home, they always comment on what a beautiful building we have, as well as how well it fits into the neighborhood. We invite you to visit.

 

Mary Ellen Spencer, Executive Director

Converse Home

 

 

Duncan-Wisniewski pays close attention to the challenge we face as a municipality, namely to maintain an aging infrastructure on a limited budget. They provide creative solutions that remain true to the historic character of our facilities in a way that is affordable and practical, always keeping the needs of their client in mind. 

 

Carol Duncan (No relation)

City Engineer, Department of Public Works, Burlington, VT

 

 

Sylvan Woods is only the latest of a long line of successful projects that we have worked on over the years with both Michael Wisniewski and Bob Duncan. One of the main reasons J A Morrissey bid on this project was because Michael was the Architect.

 

In my 30 + years of working as a contractor, project manager, supervisor I have not worked with a firm that understands, designs and administers a project any better than Duncan Wisniewski.   Michael’s ability to administer a project allows the contractor to focus all their energy and time directly on the project. The contract documents are clear and as complete a set of drawings as possible. 

 

 John Atherton

 Project Manager, J.A. Morrissey, Inc.