Goodman Creations in Chattanooga: Architectural Design for Residential and Light Commercial Work

Goodman Creations is a small architectural firm in Chattanooga that handles residential renovation design, new home planning, and light commercial projects. The practice works directly with homeowners and builders on projects ranging from single-room additions to whole-house redesigns and small commercial buildings, positioning itself as an accessible entry point for clients who need design work but may not require the overhead of a large multi-discipline firm.

What Goodman Creations actually does

The firm offers full architectural services including conceptual design, construction documents, permitting coordination, and construction administration. Most work centers on residential projects: kitchen and bath remodels, home additions, complete renovations, and new custom homes. The firm also takes on small commercial and mixed-use projects. Unlike architecture practices that specialize only in new construction or only in renovation, Goodman Creations handles both, which affects how they scope work and communicate timelines with clients unfamiliar with the design process.

Services and fees

Architectural fees in Chattanooga typically run between 7 and 12 percent of total construction cost for residential work, though some firms charge hourly rates ($85 to $150 per hour) or flat project fees. Goodman Creations charges by project scope rather than a single standard rate, meaning a $50,000 kitchen renovation has a different fee structure than a $300,000 addition. Initial consultation is typically free; once you decide to move forward, the firm establishes a fee for design development and permitting, then a separate fee for construction administration if you want ongoing site oversight. This separates the design phase cost (what you pay upfront) from the supervision phase (what you pay during building), allowing clients to budget each stage independently. Confirm current fee structure and timing directly with the firm, as these numbers shift with project complexity and current workload.

How Goodman Creations compares to other Chattanooga architects

Chattanooga has several architectural practices, each with different focus areas. Larger firms like CECO Architecture & Design handle institutional, commercial, and residential work but typically require projects with budgets over $500,000 and assign less senior staff to smaller residential jobs. Mid-size practices like Sopo Architects focus heavily on commercial and mixed-use downtown projects, leaving residential clients lower in the priority list. Solo practitioners and two-person firms like Goodman Creations typically give hands-on attention to residential work and can move faster on simpler projects because they have fewer approval layers. Choose Goodman Creations if your project is residential, straightforward in scope, under $400,000, and you value direct access to the principal architect. Choose a larger firm if your project is complex, commercial, or requires specialized knowledge (healthcare, industrial, hospitality).

Who Goodman Creations suits and who it does not

This practice works well for homeowners planning a significant kitchen or bathroom renovation, an addition, or a full gut renovation of a smaller home. It suits clients who want to work closely with the architect rather than through a project manager, and who are comfortable with a hands-on, relatively intimate design process. It works for builders looking for competent residential design without the cost overhead of a large firm. It does not suit clients building a custom home over $500,000 who expect a large team, or those pursuing complex projects (healthcare, industrial, specialized commercial) where the architect needs internal staff with niche credentials. It is not a fit if you need sustainability certifications (LEED design), accessibility specialist consultation, or specialized energy modeling built into the process.

What a first visit involves

Initial consultation includes walking through your space or reviewing your site, discussing your goals (budget, timeline, must-haves), and understanding your relationship to the construction side (do you have a contractor lined up, or are you hiring one after design is done). The architect will ask about your aesthetic preferences and practical constraints, and will likely ask whether you need design only or design plus permitting and administration. After the conversation, you receive a proposal outlining scope, fee, and timeline. Typical design phase runs 6 to 10 weeks from contract to final construction documents, depending on project size and revision rounds. You are expected to be responsive to questions and present during key decision points (design direction, material selections, budget trade-offs).

Hours, parking, and logistics

Goodman Creations operates by appointment; you do not drop in. Most meetings happen at the office or at your home/site. Address and hours should be confirmed directly with the firm. If you are in midtown or downtown Chattanooga, travel time to the office is typically 10 to 15 minutes.

Goodman Creations fills a practical gap in Chattanooga's architectural landscape: serious residential design without the institutional overhead, and direct access to the designer. For a homeowner or builder managing a renovation or addition under $400,000, this firm removes the friction of larger practices while maintaining professional credentials and local permitting knowledge.