At Pillar & Perch, architecture leads everything we do. From the first sketches to the day you move in, our in-house team of architects, interior designers, and builders work together to bring your custom home to life under one roof with one unified vision. This architecture-led design-build approach means greater cohesion, clearer communication, and a seamless experience from concept to completion. This is what makes us different and sets us apart.
charlottesville, va architects + custom home builders
About Pillar & Perch
Meet the Pillar & Perch team
Our team is what drives the seamless collaboration behind every project we design and build.
Dani is a talented designer who specializes in creating captivating architecture and interior spaces. Dani combines an attentive focus on her client's desires with an intuitive eye for beauty. Dani's inspirations draw from both the contemporary and traditional to create timeless custom homes.
Dani developed her passion for high-end custom design working on projects throughout the Washington, DC area. She attended The Catholic University of America, receiving her Bachelor's of Science in Architecture. When she's not designing, you can find her playing sports with her friends, baking, and traveling.
Dani Harttraft
Ben developed his expertise in the real estate and construction world over twenty years as both the Architect and builder of luxury custom homes. Growing up in nearby Fluvanna county as a huge UVA basketball fan, Ben has always considered Charlottesville his home. Ben's education included a post graduate year at nearby Fork Union Military Academy and dual architectural degrees at the Savannah College of Art and Design.
Ben is energized by the company of people. He excels at making new friends, and enjoys talking shop with local small business owners. He especially loves his family of three children and his wonderful wife Amy, a multi-talented real estate agent and insurance broker.
ben robbins
Architecture & Build Manager
Architecture & Interior Design Manager
Amy Robbins keeps the plates spinning for Pillar & Perch. Having licenses in both Property Insurance and Real Estate and a background in marketing and construction gives Amy keen insight into the management of a dynamic architecture and construction company.
Amy's experience scouting out different pieces of land and preparing new homes to be marketed and sold is invaluable to the company when evaluating the potential of a new land deal or weighing the options of a remodel or new build.
Amy and Ben have a wonderful family together with three kids, three dogs and four cats! They love people and animals!
Amy Robbins
Nick is an Architect, builder, and project manager with over two decades of experience in the profession. Specializing in high-end residential projects, Nick leads teams of owners, consultants, engineers and contractors from project inception to move-in. He is a collaborative process-driven manager and a thoughtful partner in design.
Nick received his Architecture degrees from the Savannah College of Art and Design. Nick lives in Takoma Park, Maryland with his wife Sarah and his two sons. In his free time, he enjoys listening to music, hiking, and learning to play the banjo.
Nick Corcoran
Architecture & Project Manager
Operations Manager
Licensed Architects in Virginia, Kentucky, and Maryland
Credentials / Memberships
Licensed Builders in Virginia and Maryland
American Institute of Architects
National Council of Architectural Registration Boards
United States Green Building Council, LEED AP
National Association of Home Builders
Blue Ridge Home Builders Association
New Home Build client
Pillar and Perch built my family our dream home. They guided us through every stage, from selecting the land to creating the design to executing the build. The renderings they showed us at the very start turned out to be remarkably true to the finished home. What we saw on paper at the beginning of the project is essentially what we live in today. We started literally from scratch, with a site that had no utilities or water running to it, and now we have a home that is both wonderfully livable and architecturally special, with one of the best views in Charlottesville. Nothing about it feels indulgent. Every choice is intentional and tasteful.
Throughout the build, they stayed fluid and responsive, adapting to our needs and welcoming every new idea we brought them. Because of that, my family now has more than a beautiful house. We have a home that will be filled with special memories, on land that will let our kids explore their world.
If you want a team that can take you from purchase to certificate of occupancy with a cohesive vision from start to finish, you cannot pick a better partner.
Corrine K.
Their experience, advice, and recommendations were priceless. Their model allows you to see what your house will look like before you begin construction. The Pillar & Perch architects were outstanding in leading us through their entire process starting with visiting our property to site the potential location of our home, to providing style and design alternatives and floor plan layouts to maximize the mountain views, and ultimately recommending and selecting finishes that are aesthetically appealing and work together to create the look and feel we hoped to capture in this beautiful mountain setting.
Merry Ellen B.
We really loved out experience with Pillar & Perch and are very thankful as they helped us build our forever home. They are very knowledgeable about the building and design process, pay great attention to detail and helped us to get exactly what we wanted. I very much appreciate their flexibility as they dealt with me/my partner's hectic schedules. I am so happy with the final product. Well worth the money, I can't recommend enough!
