Most of our work involves navigating the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC), and with over a hundred Landmarks approvals under our belt, we’ve developed a clear, efficient path for clients who want to expand historic homes with modern, light‑filled additions.

Why Clients Choose Sherman Architects

Our firm specializes in contemporary extensions to landmarked brownstones and townhouses across Brooklyn and Manhattan. For more than 30 years, we’ve guided homeowners through feasibility, design, and approvals—translating complex regulations into elegant, buildable solutions. Modern additions are our bread and butter, and our expertise means fewer surprises, faster approvals, and designs that balance preservation with innovation.

Managing the LPC Approvals Process

If your property is in a landmarked district or in a property that’s an individual landmark, LPC will oversee and approve every proposed change.  Our role is to make the process predictable and strategic.

• Research & Strategy — We confirm your property’s status, review historic tax photos, and identify which approval track applies.
• Design Development — Over roughly two months, we produce plans, elevations, sections, and 3D studies that meet both your goals and LPC expectations.
• Submission & Coordination — We prepare the full LPC package, respond to staff comments, and resolve DOB zoning objections before hearings.
• Public Hearings — For major additions, we handle presentations to Community Boards, neighborhood groups, and the full Commission.
• Final Approvals — Once the LPC issues its “FINAL ACTION” email, we move seamlessly into DOB permitting.

What Makes Our LPC Designs Successful

Our approved projects share a consistent approach shaped by decades of experience:

• Visibility Analysis — We study every vantage point to ensure additions remain non‑visible or minimally visible, since the LPC is most concerned with what’s visible from the street.
• Contextual Sensitivity — We analyze neighboring massing, window alignments, and rear‑yard patterns to anticipate LPC objections.
• Preservation‑Led Thinking — Restoring original details builds trust and strengthens the case for modern interventions.
• Modern but Respectful Additions — LPC often prefers contemporary insertions over imitations. They are surprisingly open to insertions that are clearly modern.
• Detail Accuracy — Elements like brickmold profiles must match originals.  We take pains to identify and document historic precedents.
• Material Quality — We specify durable, historically appropriate materials—wood windows at the front façade, high‑performance cladding at the rear.

A Smoother Path to a Modern, Expanded Home

Adding a contemporary extension to a historic brownstone doesn’t have to be daunting. With our experience, clients gain clarity on feasibility, timeline, and budget from day one. We offer free initial consultations to discuss your property and outline a tailored strategy.

Sherman Architects is recognized as one of New York’s leading experts in modern additions to landmarked homes, combining preservation sensitivity with forward‑looking design.