ALA Architects & Planners - Crystal Lake, Illinois

Fr. D. H.

I can’t speak highly enough about our experience with ALA Architects.

My wife and I are in the process of building a custom home in Illinois, and we had the pleasure of working with Chris throughout the design phase. From start to finish, Chris was exceptional. Every design session was thoughtful, efficient, and collaborative. He took the time to understand our vision and even went above and beyond by offering additional sessions to ensure we were completely satisfied with every detail of the design.

Chris also proved to be incredibly resourceful and accommodating when it came to making necessary adjustments to meet our HOA’s requirements. His expertise and professionalism made what could have been a stressful process feel smooth and manageable.

We’re deeply grateful to ALA Architects for their dedication and outstanding service. Without hesitation, we would recommend them to anyone looking to design a custom home.

M F.

The best of the best.

I’ve worked with ALA to have multiple custom house plans drawn.

They do an amazing job. Great attention to detail and they take great care to design the home according to each clients needs.

Kathy A.

You never actually get to talk to the person doing the design work, until after you sign the contract and pay the money. You first talk to Dave, who is the owner and the major sales person, but not the designer. You talk to the person who measures your rooms. Again, he does not do the design work. Once you sign the contract and pay the money, then you get to see what they want to do with your space and how much it will cost. It doesn't really matter what you want, because they are in the business to sell you whatever they want to do with your space, no matter the cost. It's all about the money. And don't be fooled.. Many of the positive reviews are from contractors that Dave sends his customers to.

Andrew B.

They work with homeowners! Not all architectural companies work with homeowners. Tim and the rest of the ALA team were absolutely fantastic to work with. My wife and I already knew what we wanted so he was able to design what was in our mind and put it down on paper. Even through the hiccups of our project he was just a phonecall away and got us answers quickly. I highly recommend ALA to anyone looking for an architect for their next project!

Kim D.

We worked with Nick at ALA to draw up plans for our 2800 sq ft house as well as additional 900 sq ft apartment over our 3-car garage. Nick was amazing to work with throughout this process. He has the perfect blend of people skills and architectural vision that make him one-of-a-kind. Nick carefully listened to our needs (including our budget) and made additional suggestions that were well-thought-through and creative. Such a remarkable, talented man! He worked at a pace that was convenient for us. It was a 6-month process, but that was our choice. I was glad to have the time...I was never made to feel rushed. Just like anywhere you go, you must clearly articulate your goals and communicate your needs directly. Nick at ALA is tops in my book! I highly recommend him!

Dave C.

How do you select an architect? That is a question I asked myself when I began the process of building a house. Not knowing where to start, I began by interviewing several architects, reviewing their portfolios, and talking to their clients, but none seemed to match my style, my timeline, or my desire to learn and actively participate in the architectural process. So next I found homes that I really liked, and asked the builders who the architects were. It soon became clear that ALA Architects were drawing the most beautiful homes in the neighborhood. So I made an appointment, and met with Dave Dolby the owner. The first time I met him, I knew he was the right architect for me. He had so many thoughts and ideas on what we could do, and took the time to thoroughly explain the architectural process. Most importantly, I could tell he was not going to rush me through the process so he could move on to the next project. As a busy professional, I needed an architect that would work to my schedule.

For my part, this was truly a labor of love, as I am building my dream home. I started with my own sketch of what I thought I wanted. Dave and the ALA team took it from there. They came up with unique, but practical ideas to improve what I started with. If I didn’t like something, they did not try to change my mind, rather they came up with several alternatives for me to consider. They also didn’t mind if I studied the drawings for a month or more, changed my mind a few times, sent them my sketches, or needed to take a break due to my hectic work schedule. They were patient and professional. I didn’t realize this at the time, but they had a team of 5 working on my drawings. This allowed for diverse points of view, and plenty of great ideas. I never felt like we hit a brick wall, or ran out of ideas, like what might have happened if I used a solo practitioner, or a smaller firm. The team at ALA is truly phenomenal.

You might think that this kind of personal attention, and patient attention to detail would cost more. Well it didn’t. ALA was almost half the price of the other architects I spoke with. But don’t let the lower price fool you, they are truly superb architects, and take great care of you as a client.

ALA Architects drew the house of my dreams. I cannot say enough about my experience with them. I highly recommend them for all your architectural needs.

amanda O.

Dave was recommended to us after a horrible experience with another architect firm. Dave is not only knowledgeable and creative but he also walks you through the process as it was new to us. He is a problem solver and has a calming demeanor that makes you feel like he has your back! We renovated
an old ranch and had to use existing foundation and some existing walls to stay on a budget. He created the most beautiful design for our home and was conscience of our budget the whole time. It’s exactly what we imagined in our heads. I would recommend Dave and his firm to anyone that asks!

nancy D.

No creativity or vision here. Dave is about the money and pushes his cabinet line. Doesnt take notes when talking, requests you to follow up changes discussed with email or gets it wrong. Gave me plan 100% over my budget so lacks knowledge of pricing or doesn't care. When needed revision to afford took no responsibility. Charged more money. Had to bring in new design person. Dave then transferred me to Nick. He lacked ability to follow changes without several attempts and redirection. Then 3 reminders for more money before completed. Bad attitude. Also find it disturbing that of the reviews listed one is their employee Nick. One is Pete who they sent me to for a bid, again, employee like. Can only guess the third review is shady too. Started in November, took till April.

Fr. D. H.

I can’t speak highly enough about our experience with ALA Architects.

My wife and I are in the process of building a custom home in Illinois, and we had the pleasure of working with Chris throughout the design phase. From start to finish, Chris was exceptional. Every design session was thoughtful, efficient, and collaborative. He took the time to understand our vision and even went above and beyond by offering additional sessions to ensure we were completely satisfied with every detail of the design.

Chris also proved to be incredibly resourceful and accommodating when it came to making necessary adjustments to meet our HOA’s requirements. His expertise and professionalism made what could have been a stressful process feel smooth and manageable.

We’re deeply grateful to ALA Architects for their dedication and outstanding service. Without hesitation, we would recommend them to anyone looking to design a custom home.

M F.

The best of the best.

I’ve worked with ALA to have multiple custom house plans drawn.

They do an amazing job. Great attention to detail and they take great care to design the home according to each clients needs.

Kathy A.

You never actually get to talk to the person doing the design work, until after you sign the contract and pay the money. You first talk to Dave, who is the owner and the major sales person, but not the designer. You talk to the person who measures your rooms. Again, he does not do the design work. Once you sign the contract and pay the money, then you get to see what they want to do with your space and how much it will cost. It doesn't really matter what you want, because they are in the business to sell you whatever they want to do with your space, no matter the cost. It's all about the money. And don't be fooled.. Many of the positive reviews are from contractors that Dave sends his customers to.

Andrew B.

They work with homeowners! Not all architectural companies work with homeowners. Tim and the rest of the ALA team were absolutely fantastic to work with. My wife and I already knew what we wanted so he was able to design what was in our mind and put it down on paper. Even through the hiccups of our project he was just a phonecall away and got us answers quickly. I highly recommend ALA to anyone looking for an architect for their next project!

Kim D.

We worked with Nick at ALA to draw up plans for our 2800 sq ft house as well as additional 900 sq ft apartment over our 3-car garage. Nick was amazing to work with throughout this process. He has the perfect blend of people skills and architectural vision that make him one-of-a-kind. Nick carefully listened to our needs (including our budget) and made additional suggestions that were well-thought-through and creative. Such a remarkable, talented man! He worked at a pace that was convenient for us. It was a 6-month process, but that was our choice. I was glad to have the time...I was never made to feel rushed. Just like anywhere you go, you must clearly articulate your goals and communicate your needs directly. Nick at ALA is tops in my book! I highly recommend him!