About Us
Lance R. Kraemer Associates PC is an award winning architectural firm with 39 years of experience in creating exciting and cost effective solutions for our clients. Our practice is very eclectic and includes single family homes, renovations, luxury apartments, student apartments, senior apartments, restaurants, synagogues and churches, automobile dealerships, medical and professional office buildings and suites, industrial buildings, shopping centers and retail, and institutional work.
How We Got Started
I had my license and, having been laid off by an employer who ran out of work and money, I decided that I could run out of work and money just as easily as they had, so I hung out my shingle. 40 years later my firm is still here!
The products and services we offer
Recommendations Received (37)
"Lance remodeled my medical office over 30 years ago and it has held up as a highly efficient and..."
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"Lance remodeled my medical office over 30 years ago and it has held up as a highly efficient and functional design throughout the years. "
"Lance is a true professional in the work that he does and the outcomes he produces for his..."
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"Lance is a true professional in the work that he does and the outcomes he produces for his clients. From the simplest projects to the complex, he handles it with ease and a smile on his face. Looking for an architect to handle home or business needs, than Lance is who you want."
Products & Services
We can help our clients explore the feasibility of a contemplated project, as well as providing schematic and rendered drawings for financing, zoni...
Lance R Kraemer Associates offers initial meetings at no charge. Based on the project scope and conversation, we can then provide a realistic and r...
Whether you're growing your family or ready for your dream house, Lance R Kraemer Associates can help you design and realize your ideal renovation,...
Gallery
Recommendations Given (53)
"Julio is a sincere, caring professional who offers excellent information and planning for his..."
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"Julio is a sincere, caring professional who offers excellent information and planning for his clients."
"Brian is very professional in his business practices and certainly makes life easier for his..."
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"Brian is very professional in his business practices and certainly makes life easier for his clients. It's a great service."
Recent Activity
We typically don't like to work on an hourly rate or for a percentage of the construction cost. We prefer to meet at no charge with out potential client to look at the basic project, kick around some ideas, and explain to them how the process works. At that point, based on the meeting and 41...
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We typically don't like to work on an hourly rate or for a percentage of the construction cost. We prefer to meet at no charge with out potential client to look at the basic project, kick around some ideas, and explain to them how the process works. At that point, based on the meeting and 41 years of experience, we'll figure out how much time and involvement it will take for us to develop designs and construction documents, including any zoning or planning approval meetings, as well as any needed engineering consultants. We then prepare a proposal that outlines the scope of the work, describes our services, and explains how the fee will be apportioned. We believe that this gives us the most appropriate fee that is fair to both us and our clients.
Interestingly, there really aren't many jokes about architects, other than one about architects and engineers that I can't repeat here. I do, however, remember our structural design professor's advice to us in case we ever had a building fall down. He said that the thing to hope for was to get...
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Interestingly, there really aren't many jokes about architects, other than one about architects and engineers that I can't repeat here. I do, however, remember our structural design professor's advice to us in case we ever had a building fall down. He said that the thing to hope for was to get there in time to crawl under before it hit!
Back in 1978 I was working as a young architect for an employer in Philadelphia. We were plunged into a major recession and my employer suggested that if any of us could find a temporary position until the recession waned, it would be helpful. We had just moved to Elkins Park and my budget was...
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Back in 1978 I was working as a young architect for an employer in Philadelphia. We were plunged into a major recession and my employer suggested that if any of us could find a temporary position until the recession waned, it would be helpful. We had just moved to Elkins Park and my budget was based on a 48 hour work week, which had just been reduced to 32 hours, which clearly didn't work. I did find a temporary position with a firm in Jenkintown. After a week I realized that I had gained 2 hours per day in travel time, and I also wasn't' paying the City wage tax! I asked whether we could make the move permanent and even received a $40 per week raise. Sadly, 6 months later my employer, having just been given a check by our largest client, got angry during the meeting and told him to perform an unnatural act on himself. The check was stopped, as was the project, and there was no money or work. Having been let go a second time, I decided that, having my license, I could run out of work and money as easily as my old employers, and I hung out my shingle. In March it will have been 41 years since that fateful day, and we're still going strong.
We had an interesting discussion here at my office and pretty much agreed that the store we miss the most is Barnes and Noble in Jenkintown. I would go there and browse through all sorts of topical sections, eventually choosing at least one book to bring home. Holiday shopping was always fun,...
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We had an interesting discussion here at my office and pretty much agreed that the store we miss the most is Barnes and Noble in Jenkintown. I would go there and browse through all sorts of topical sections, eventually choosing at least one book to bring home. Holiday shopping was always fun, particularly searching for gifts for my children and clients.
A lot of people probably wouldn't think of architecture as the kind of an endeavor that engenders lots of repeat clients, but since 1978, repeat business and clients have been the life blood of my practice. Individual private clients, contractors, and builders at all levels have been loyal to us...
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A lot of people probably wouldn't think of architecture as the kind of an endeavor that engenders lots of repeat clients, but since 1978, repeat business and clients have been the life blood of my practice. Individual private clients, contractors, and builders at all levels have been loyal to us and keep bringing us work. We go out of our way with every client to listen to their needs, work within their time frame, provide award winning design services, budget conscious construction documents, and guidance in surviving the gauntlet of township committees, zoning boards, and approvals. And, as has already been a running theme - service, service, service!
I am very active in the Eastern Montgomery Chamber of Commerce and BNI. In addition to the items noted above, I enjoy the camaraderie of both old and new members. It's an opportunity to expand my knowledge about other businesses as well as putting my name in front of potential clients and/or...
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I am very active in the Eastern Montgomery Chamber of Commerce and BNI. In addition to the items noted above, I enjoy the camaraderie of both old and new members. It's an opportunity to expand my knowledge about other businesses as well as putting my name in front of potential clients and/or sources of new work.
I would not still have my practice without referrals. It is one of the main avenues through which we obtain new and/or repeat business. I pretty much concur with most of the previously posted responses - you only engender continuing referrals by earning them. It's really an extension of the...
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I would not still have my practice without referrals. It is one of the main avenues through which we obtain new and/or repeat business. I pretty much concur with most of the previously posted responses - you only engender continuing referrals by earning them. It's really an extension of the Golden Rule - treat your clients and those who refer them to you the way you want them to treat you. Pretty simple.
I think the greatest misconceptions are that architects are too expensive and that they don't listen to their clients. In our area we have many fine firms (including mine) that charge fair and appropriate fees for their product, with the understanding that you get what you pay for. Likewise there...
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I think the greatest misconceptions are that architects are too expensive and that they don't listen to their clients. In our area we have many fine firms (including mine) that charge fair and appropriate fees for their product, with the understanding that you get what you pay for. Likewise there are many firms in our area who take the time to find out what the client not only wants, but needs. Good responsive design takes time and should not be cheap, but is a worthwhile investment that will pay off for decades to come.
I have found that choosing the right program of the Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce can be very effective during the networking portion, as there are often people in allied fields to yours and with similar interests. If you attend with friends, make it a point to interact with...
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I have found that choosing the right program of the Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce can be very effective during the networking portion, as there are often people in allied fields to yours and with similar interests. If you attend with friends, make it a point to interact with strangers, not jut the folks that you know.
We don't really do holiday promotions, as we don't sell typical merchandise. Rather, we offer architectural services which aren't actually holiday specific.
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We don't really do holiday promotions, as we don't sell typical merchandise. Rather, we offer architectural services which aren't actually holiday specific.
