Architecture | Home Design
Daniel B. Tivenan, RA
New Jersey Licensed Architect
Services
New Homes
Additions
Permitting
Decks/Garages
Commercial
How I can help you? Please fill out the form here or reach out to the email address below. I look forward to working with you!
Daniel B. Tivenan, RA
Principal | Architect
architect@tivenan.com
(908) 251-9694
Telephone
Please call with any questions, I look forward to discussing your project.
Home Owners
• Navigate the approval process
• Understand your property’s potential
• Design a home tailored to your family
• Deal with contractors confidently
Designing or improving your home is a meaningful investment—and the process can often feel overwhelming. My role is to guide you through each step with clarity, so you can make confident, informed decisions along the way.
Together, we’ll bring your ideas to life, shaping a home that is thoughtfully tailored to you and your family.
“A house is a machine for living in.”
Le Corbusier was one of the pioneers of modern architecture, and while I admire the sentiment behind his famous quote and its focus on functional, efficient design, it’s clear that people are not robots—and we don’t want to live in machines. A home goes deeper than utility. In the same way we feel a connection to our ancestry, our homes are part of a long and rich architectural tradition, and in them we see a reflection of ourselves—our values, our history, and the way live.
-Le Corbusier
“Architecture is frozen music.”
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe observed that architecture is frozen music - as a musician myself, I’ve come to appreciate how a finely crafted instrument can stir something deeply human within us through touch, rhythm, and expression—and I believe a home should do the same. It should do more than serve—it should resonate. It should meet our needs in a way that is not only functional, but warm, personal, and alive to the way we actually live.
Therefore with respect to Le Corbusier I would rather say:
“A home is an instrument for one’s life”
Contractors
• Stay on budget and on schedule
• Efficient layouts and designs
• Strength through simplicity
• Clear buildable construction documents
As a building professional, you know exactly what you want from a project—and what you need from your architect. I understand how budget and schedule shape your work, and I make it a priority to align with your processes—delivering high-quality designs while keeping your project moving forward.
Through clear detailing and efficiency in mind, my goal is to produce work that is strong, buildable, and keeps your project on budget and on schedule.
About
Daniel B. Tivenan, RA
Dan is a New Jersey–based licensed architect with over 10 years of experience working in architecture and construction. He graduated from New Jersey Institute of Technology in 2016 and began his career working in New York City on healthcare and ambulatory facilities, gaining a strong foundation in complex, function-driven projects.
Since leaving New York his focus has been working on residential construction, including new homes, additions, and alterations throughout New Jersey. His work is grounded in traditional architecture, with an emphasis on practical solutions that respect budget and schedule. Dan works closely with homeowners and contractors to deliver well-coordinated designs that carry projects smoothly from concept through construction.
Where To Start
The Design Process at Tivenan Architecture
Step 1: Consultation and Agreement
Step 2: Design / Review Phase
Step 3: Construction Documents
Step 4: Submit for Permit
My job is to guide clients through their unique building project.
Every project is different, but most align with this simplified framework - See below for details or call for a free consultation.
To get started please call for a consultation so we can discuss the particulars of your project and how I can best help you accomplish your goals. We will need the following information to get started:
Proposal - After our initial discussion, I will provide a clear proposal outlining the scope of work and fees. Once signed, this becomes our agreement and allows us to begin work.
Site survey - A survey is a legal description and graphic representation of your property prepared by a licensed land surveyor. In most cases, this is obtained at the purchase or the property.
The survey is needed to accurately determine how the property may be developed. If you do not have a survey, you may be able to acquire a copy through contacting the title company, closing attorney, or the local municipality.
(Recommended) - Project Program - A simple outline of your goals for the project, such as desired spaces, approximate sizes, and any ideas or inspiration you may have. If you’re unsure how to put this together, I can help you develop it.
Step 1: Consultation and Agreement
This is where we collaborate to design your house / building. This is the heart of the process and the best opportunity to bring your values and creativity into the work. We will work closely together to design beautiful solutions to the functional requirements of the project.
This phase is a three part cycle: first we discuss strategies and solutions, next I send proposed designs informed by our conversation for your review, you then provide feedback on the design, and then the cycle begins again. We continue this process until you are satisfied that all design requirements have been met.
My recommendation is to begin with an extensive wish-list of items, which can be discussed, incorporated and sorted out according to their priority.
This can mean listing the spatial or budgetary requirements, bringing design pictures for inspiration, or descriptions of design challenges - this can be as detailed or simple as you wish.
Many clients take great pleasure in this part of the process as it is here where we take the idea in your mind and translate it onto the page where it can become reality.
Step 2: Design / Review Phase
Once the design phase has been completed we begin getting your project ready for submission to the building department. Relevant construction information will be added, and the design drawings that we have been developing get transformed into a precise set of construction plans that can be used by contractors and building officials to properly process and interpret your project.
Step 3: Construction Documents Phase
After completion of the construction documents phase, you will receive a signed and sealed set of drawings ready for submission to the building department and use by your contractor.
Approval requirements vary by township and project complexity. During this phase, I will guide you through the process and address any additional requirements needed to secure approval and begin construction.
As construction progresses, questions inevitably arise. I remain available to provide clarification and insight as needed.