Firm Profile

Partners • Services

Bennett Frank McCarthy Architects, Inc. was established on February 1, 1989. Its predecessor firm, Ralph Bennett Architect, was established in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1972 as Mass Design Architects and Planners. Ralph Bennett moved to the Washington area to open the Silver Spring office in 1977. Larry Frank joined the firm in 1984 followed by the addition of Brian McCarthy in 1986. Together, the principals are registered to practice architecture in a total of four states and the District of Columbia.

The firm's work has been varied but has concentrated in residential projects of many kinds. These have included new homes, custom additions and renovation projects that range from small additions to whole house remodeling. The firm also has experience with various other housing types including low- and mid-rise apartment complex design. In addition, the firm has extensive experience with customized housing for special populations including small (6 person) and larger group homes for the elderly, housing for the deaf and persons with other disabilities. Altogether, the firm has participated in the design and construction of more than 2600 units of housing.

The firm also has experience with institutional and commercial projects including space planning, retail interiors, educational facilities and master planning.

The office has provided a wide variety of architectural services ranging from programming, due diligence inspections and needs assessment through construction contract preparation to construction-phase services and post-construction services including warranty inspection and litigation assistance.

The firm prides itself on the intensity of its commitment to its clients, to the highest quality of design and construction, and to growth and innovation in all of its work.

We believe that architecture and community design work best when all scales of the surrounding construction are taken into account. A good addition reinforces the building of which it is a part and the community to which the house belongs. And its details respect the materials and assemblies of the original construction so the entire fabric is as seamless as possible, considering advances in technology.

We believe that the interests of the client deserve respect and accommodation We organize the design process so that our services can be suited to each client and their project needs and so that the client has useful information at every stage. We encourage active involvement by the client in identifying other projects and places which can better inform us of the clients' preferences. From such involvement we have repeatedly been successful in bringing projects to conclusions which are satisfactory both to us and to the client.

We find the design and construction process to be continually interesting and immensely enjoyable; we look forward to each new project.
Partner Profiles

Ralph Bennett, AIA

Ralph Bennett began practicing architecture in Boston in 1966. In 1977, he opened a Maryland office of a Cambridge firm specializing in assisted multi-family housing, designing several large projects in Maryland and Virginia. In 1989, colleagues Larry Frank and Brian McCarthy joined Ralph to form Bennett Frank McCarthy Architects, Inc. As the firm's president he serves custom residential clients and participates generally in the work of the office. Ralph is professor of Architecture at the University of Maryland and is Commissioner and former Chair of the Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County.

Larry Frank, AIA

Larry Frank was a founding partner of Bennett Frank McCarthy Architects in1989, following five years as a project manager and project architect with Ralph Bennett Architects. In his tenure at Bennett Frank McCarthy, Larry has guided dozens of projects from their inception through construction. His involvement ranges from schematic design, design development to construction documents and construction administration.
The firm has increasingly served the needs of exceptional populations such as the elderly, homeless families, and other groups with disabilities. In 1993 Larry and partner Brian McCarthy were recognized for their work for special needs housing by Progressive Architecture.

In addition to his professional practice responsibilities, Larry has been a regular guest juror over the past 15 years at student reviews at the University of Maryland School of Architecture. He has also served as a teacher and mentor to numerous Maryland architecture students, who have worked at Bennett Frank McCarthy Architects, Inc.

Brian McCarthy

Brian McCarthy was a founding partner of Bennett Frank McCarthy Architects in1989, following two years as a project manager and project architect with Ralph Bennett Architects and three years with residential design firm Gilbert and Foster. As a principal at Bennett Frank McCarthy, Brian has guided dozens of projects from their inception through construction. His involvement ranges from schematic design, design development to construction documents and construction administration.

Brian's focus has been on residential design, ranging from single family homes to assisted living facilities for the elderly. A new custom home in Bethesda, Maryland was recently published in Architectural Digest in April of 2001 and Brian's five assisted living projects have been recognized by a total of 8 national awards. In 1993 Brian and partner Larry Frank were recognized for their work for special needs housing by Progressive Architecture.

Services

Bennett Frank McCarthy and its predecessor firms have been providing a full range of architectural services in Montgomery County, the Washington Metropolitan Area and Maryland since l977. Our services include:

• Building Design and Construction Document Preparation

• Existing Conditions Documentation

• Programming, Clarification of Facilities Needs and Requirements

• Building Feasibility Studies

• Due Diligence Inspections

• Facilities and Construction Planning

• Commercial Space Planning

• Urban Design / Site and Community Planning

• Construction Observation Services

• Litigation Preparation and Expert Testimony

Building types in which we have been involved:

• Housing and Facilities for Populations with Special Needs

• Institutional and Educational

• Commercial Residential, Multi-Family Housing

• Commercial Space Planning

• Retail, Commercial

• Private Residential - new construction, addition and renovation

Our Clients include:

• Montgomery County Maryland

• Calvert County, Maryland

• Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corp.

• The Montgomery County Planning Board

• The University of Maryland Foundation

• The French International School

• The Sunrise Foundation

• The Chesapeake Bay Foundation

• Victory Housing, Inc.

• Springvale Assisted Living, Inc.

• Montgomery Hospice, Inc.

• Southern Maryland Tri-County Community Action, Inc.

• Corum Construction Co.

• Susquehanna Development Corp.

• King Farm Associates

• The Asphalt Institute

• The Oxford Group

• Belmont Equities

• Phoenix Inc.

• Milo's Restaurant

• Tru-Green of Maryland

• Dan-Mar Manufacturing Company

• National Association of Wheat Growers

• Hayes Development Corporation

• Keller Brothers Construction Co.

• Sign-A-Rama Companies

• Prince George's County

• City of Mt. Rainer

• City of Washington Grove

• Church of Christ in Olney, MD

• Sunrise Assisted Living

• Glo-Trem Development

• Numerous Private Residential Clients

We are pleased to provide appropriate references on request