Beth Reader and Chuck Swartz established Reader & Swartz Architects in 1990. Over the course of 30-plus years, their practice has built a portfolio of residential, commercial and institutional projects that reflects a variety of architectural perspectives, ranging from historic to vernacular to modern.

Reader & Swartz works closely with clients to create unique, site-specific buildings that take the homeowners’ needs, wants, life experiences and personalities into account. The firm also carefully considers the building site and its context, views, sun path and topography, making a conscious effort to “listen” to each place and to design architecture that is appropriate to its environment. This approach doesn’t limit possibilities, but rather is a starting point from which to create conceptually driven, situational, provisional architecture not constrained by style.

Reader & Swartz has received more than 80 design awards—from the Virginia, Northern Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, DC, chapters of the American Institute of Architects, as well as many from national magazines. The firm’s work has appeared widely in such publications as The Wall Street Journal, Custom Home, Veranda, Southern Living, Residential Architect, Design Bureau and Washingtonian.