Stuart Cohen & Julie Hacker Architects LLC

Stuart and Julie designed and oversaw the renovation and construction of our master bath and bedroom in our Evanston home. From the beginning of the project, they presented several design options and helped us select the plan that maximized the use of the space, fit the historic nature of our home and provided all the modern amenities we requested. They recommended a terrific and conscientious construction team and monitored the progress of the project. They are so responsive and pleasant to work with. We are enjoying our new bathroom/bedroom and highly recommend Stuart and Julie.

Great people to work with. Always all about collaborating and finding a way to accomplish their vision of a job they have drawn. Great follow up never does anything fall thru the crack. They have very high standards which always make the team get the job done right. i would always recommend them.

I’ve enjoyed my collaboration with Stuart Cohen and Julie Hacker for well over two decades. I’m always honored to be invited to join their team and look forward to the stimulating collaboration with open minded individuals who are keen listeners focused on their clients goals and visions. They’re unusually creative thinkers, recognized as leaders in their profession, and have both been elected to Fellowship in the American Institute of Architects. Stuart was a professor of architecture at U I C, and author of several books on Historical Houses of Chicago. I always look forward to working with them, it’s like taking a master class! Their background provides a wealth of knowledge and insight to every project. One of my favorite quotes about Julie and Stuart, that so typifies their work, is from Residential Architect Magazine, “The firm’s houses quietly enrich streetscapes, neighborhoods, and the lives of those lucky enough to inhabit them.” Their designs are timeless, creative, precise and beautifully, invitingly livable.

Renovation and 3000+ square foot addition to a 1920s English country home. Great working with Stuart, Julie and the rest of the team on the project. Keen sense of space and proportion along with high level of attention to details and finish. Six years later, still thrilled with the home and always look forward to returning after traveling. Highly recommended

In 2006, after interviewing other prominent Chicago architects, we hired Stuart Cohen and Julie Hacker to design a new home for us on a very narrow lot in a Chicago suburb. We wanted the house to be very "green" in terms of size, construction and energy efficiency, while being very comfortable and attractive. We could not have had a more satisfactory or enjoyable relationship. They worked very well with both the energy consultant and general contractor whom we engaged but with whom they had not previously worked; and they were very appreciative of the input from both the consultant and the contractor. In addition to splendid architectural design and great attention to detail, they provided great interior design recommendations (wallpaper, tiles, lighting fixtures) for which we otherwise would have had to pay a great deal to an interior designer.

Stuart and Julie not only designed my personal residence but also the new Pella Crafted Luxury showroom in Chicago's Merchandise Mart. They are an extremely creative and talented team. When you work with Stuart and Julie you get the work of the principals -- and pretty much 24/7 as they are a husband and wife team that will live and breath your project. They are passionate about great architecture. I'd highly recommend them. They have always hit a homerun for me.

I have worked with Cohen & Hacker Architects on several projects and have enjoyed the process tremendously. Julie and Stuart are a creative and collaborative team and bring that sensibility to every interaction- whether it's a design review with a client, a site meeting with a contractor or a brainstorming session with a fellow designer. They care about every detail of the project and work tirelessly to meet their clients expectations and communicate clearly and consistently with all members of a project team. As a landscape architect, I love working with them because they inspire and challenge me to be my very best and the end result is very satisfying; a beautiful project and happy clients.

Stuart Cohen and Julie Hacker just finished a lovely reconstruction of the kitchen in our Evanston home. 10 years ago they had designed a beautiful restoration of much of the remainder of our 100 year old Georgian house. Many of the renovated interiors of older Evanston homes we've looked at look use nice materials and look attractive, but Hacker Cohen differentiated themselves by maintaining the historical feeling of our home while at the same time making our house feel light and open. They have extensive experience restoring landmarked buildings, and our finally completed home feels very warm and traditional, yet at the same time convenient and modern. Much more than most residential architects, their plans address fine detail, and they select only contractors who can execute the work with a high degree of craftsmanship. They carefully supervised the work and insisted the contractor fix imperfections. And last but not least, they worked with us to design a project that fit within our budget; the cost estimates they gave us at the start turned out to be right on target. We think Hacker Cohen's work is two cuts above the work of most residential architects and we highly recommend them.

When we embarked on a gut rehab on a Victorian house in a historical district in Evanston, we knew that we wanted architects who knew the area and who had extensive experience working with old homes. We also wanted the experience to be creative, fun and as stress-free as possible. Julie and Stuart were a perfect choice. We can say without any equivocation that Julie and Stuart have exceeded our expectations from the beginning. They consistently anticipate and address our thoughts and concerns before we have the opportunity to ask any questions. In addition to their astounding architectural talents, Julie and Stuart have made the process of working with them incredibly fun. They make a concerted effort to check in with us to make sure that we not only enjoy the process but also feel comfortable with all of the choices that we make. They are our advocates and have ensured that all of our decisions align with our best interests. In doing the rehab work of our house, we have decided to reconfigure the floor plan in certain areas of the house. Julie and Stuart have presented a range of imaginative, thoughtful, practical and beautiful ideas, and have supported all of our decisions without ever imposing their view on what we should or should not do. We look forward to our continued work with Julie and Stuart and know that living in the house that they have designed for us to meet our needs and desires will be wonderful.

We have worked with Cohen & Hacker Architects on numerous construction projects and can't say enough good things about them. Julie, Stuart and their team truly care about every detail of the project and the end result reflects this; stunning homes, happy clients and published work. As interior designers we love being part of the team and our respect for Julie and Stuart only grows with each finished home. For us, they are clearly are the bar for which we judge other architect's design process and body of work. Are only frustration is we wish Cohen & Hacker could work with us on every project!

Cohen and Hacker Architects’ work speaks for itself. Anyone who has ever walked into one of their homes immediately feels a sense of joy, coziness, tranquility, order, space – all the emotions that a well-designed home should make us feel. As professional colleagues, it becomes clear why they are able to consistently achieve such stunning results. Their attention to detail and pursuit of perfection is infectious. Over the many projects in which we have worked together, everyone on the design and build team is drawn into their vision: to create a home that both inspires and is a delight in which to live. They are true professionals who are able to get the most out of the teams with whom they work, and we couldn't recommend them more highly.

A flood in the new section of our historic home seemed pretty devastating at first, but it was actually a gift to have the opportunity to work with the brilliant minds behind CHA to put it back together- way better than before. The final product seamlessly marries old and new. Our once-interior kitchen now features windows that open onto the family room, and they look like they were always there. We also have much more storage space, courtesy of several beautiful built-ins. CHA listened carefully to our wants and needs and came up with a well-thought-out plan that was beyond our expectations. We feel very lucky to be living in a CHA-designed home.

My wife and I built a new home using Cohen-Hacker as the architect. Their designs are impeccable, timeless, and livable and Julie, Stuart, Garry Shumaker and their entire team are meticulous in making sure their design is fully implemented by the contractor(s). After interviewing several architects we choose Cohen-Hacker because we were consistently impressed with their use of space and light and knew that they would not allow us (non-architects) to muck it up. (In interviewing other architects were were a little concerned that some appeared too deferential to us). Julie and Stuart started off asking many questions about the way we live (We have a young family), the spaces/rooms we sought, our budget, and our general style. They then studied the parcel of land and designed a home that incredibly blends the home with its surroundings (other homes built in the 1920s and the the natural landscape that surrounds the home). We feel blessed to have worked with such talented architects who have an unwavering commitment to design, preservation, and the surrounding environment. If you want to build a home that is special; that is livable; that stands the test of time; that blends the natural with the man made; and that leaves a lasting positive effect on your neighborhood and community, then we strongly recommend you consider Cohen-Hacker.

Stuart Cohen and Julie Hacker Architects LLC designed a new home for us in 2009. We couldn't have been more pleased with our new home and with our working relationship with Stuart and Julie and their colleague Garry. They listened carefully to my husband's and my vision and melded them to create a home for us that reflected both of our wish lists. We interviewed several architects and felt that it was Julie and Stuart who really "got us". They were attentive to detail every step of the way - from their working drawings to supervising construction. In addition they worked very compatibly with our interior designers. Our home was truly a collaborative effort. Cohen Hacker designed a unique home for us that reflects our taste and fits in beautifully with the historic district in which we live. We receive compliments from passers by on a regular basis. I would not hesitate for a moment to recommend Cohen Hacker. They are a pleasure to work with from start to finish.

Stuart and Julie designed a screen porch and family room addition, and remodeled the kitchen and master bath of our lake house. I cannot recommend them more highly. They are a joy to work with, they listen well, and have the vision to give you more than you even know to ask for. In our case, we used pictures to convey to them what we had in mind. From there, we went through an iterative process first with drawings (Stuart is amazing with a fountain pen), and eventually a model was built to help us picture the finished product. In addition, they went through the process of interviewing builders and helped us in the selection of a builder. The finished product exceeded our expectations, the rooms they designed are amazing and the space feels just right. Trust them, you will not be disappointed.

Stuart Cohen & Julie Hacker are amazingly talented and lovely to work with. We considered numerous architects for our project (a gut a rehab and two story addition on an 1890s Victorian in Chicago) before selecting them and are so grateful we did. The end product is absolutely stunning and so functional. They understood our needs perfectly and seemed as invested in the outcome as we were. They are also perfectionists and insisted on the same level of detail from everyone that touched the project (eg contractor, designer, landscape team, etc). Their plans are so thorough that every detail was pre-specified before we bid the job. As such, there wasn’t anything left up for interpretation during the construction process. On the very rare occasion that there was any construction disagreement, Stuart would bring out the drawings and then mediate a successful resolution. We would hire them again in a heartbeat.

The firm of Cohen & Hacker Architects provide the highest level of professionalism and client services in the industry. They focus on the clients objectives and listen to what they are looking to acheive so that the end result is perfection. There attention to detail is outstanding. I have succesfully collaborated with Stuart & Julie in the past and look forward to partnering with such a outstanding firm again.

We had the honor and privilege to work with Stuart Cohen & Julie Hacker. Our Kitchen and Dining Room, were a challenging job. They created two beautiful spaces that look incredible and still reflect the integrity of our 100 year old home. We were given an estimated time frame for our project and it was accurate. As a team, they are professional, reliable and honest. Their years of experience is what makes the Cohen & Hacker team so special. A very important attribute to Stuart & Julie, is the confidence , respect and admiration , all of their trade professionals have towards them. They're a Top Architectural Firm.

We have had the privilege of working with the visionary team of Stuart Cohen and Julie Hacker Architects on several projects throughout our twenty year relationship. They have the keen ability to listen to our needs and concerns and interpret what we are trying to say. Their design process focuses on communication and involvement while adhering to designing a project that both preserves the old and creates new that is indistinguishable from the old. Stuart and Julie create architectural details that distinguish them as masters in the field of architecture, reflecting their passion for beauty and knowledge of best practices. Our projects have been quite diverse and this team proves to be visionary in every situation, from a renovation of a multimillion dollar city penthouse, to a country home addition and a suburban french style three story total home renovation. Stuart and Julie exhibit a standard of excellence that is uncompromising.