Over the course of my nearly 50 years as a newsman and journalist in Michigan’s Great Southwest, I have met dozens of people who are deeply dedicated to their life’s work and the drive to exceed expectations, and John Allegretti is decidedly in the very highest percentile when it comes of achieving success with and for his clientele. His story is inspiring.
For John W. Allegretti, the very foundation for his talent developed very early in life. He admits, “I was raised to be an architect.” By way of explanation, John adds, “My father was an architect and he would take me to different projects even when I was a little kid, and I would be sweeping the floor at the office and other sorts of things along the way.”
John took drafting classes in Junior High and tells us that in High School and all the way through, “I had very good mentors. In high school my drafting teacher taught me how to draw and I learned how to create machine drawings. We did all sorts of architectural work and then in my senior year he taught an analytical geometry class, basically working sheet metal layouts. It was fascinating to me that we had the ability to see these forms, having often wondered how they ever could have achieved them from a flat sheet of metal.” John says, “It’s almost like the art of paper folding, Origami, and how you go about creating multi-dimensional things from a flat piece of paper, and so I learned to try that, to think about it, and learned that as you start to catch on, the part of your brain that visualizes in that manner begins to get much stronger, and I like that, because in architecture we have to conceptualize beyond ordinary dimensions. How do you take a flat sheet, and create a sphere or create a triangular funnel or whatever else? That was always very interesting to me. I really enjoyed that many of us students kind of helped one another, and it was a good thing. I realized there was something in all of that, which would ultimately lead me to architecture.”
Today, his firm Allegretti Architects is nationally recognized for the design of socially conscious, affordable and sustainable housing. That philosophy, and the firm’s unwavering devotion to environmentalism, has resulted in the design and construction of an inspiring anthology of what Allegretti calls “organic architecture.”
John’s drive was initially kickstarted when his grandmother retired to Fayetteville, Arkansas, and there was a guy there that they said, ‘You have got to head down there, and see his work.’ That man was Architect E. Fay Jones, who had been an apprentice with Frank Lloyd, Wright. As John tells it, “So when I went to visit in my junior year, my grandparents and I drove all the way from Illinois down to Northwest Arkansas, now the home of Walmart, which is interesting, because when I started, there were only three Walmarts in the entire world. I was impressed by the number of architectural students who were still working on their projects even though they were on spring break.”
The effect was life-changing for Allegretti who gained Jones as a mentor and notes, “As I studied Jones’ work, I saw that his work reflects ‘organic architecture.’ Essentially — and this was a real eye opener — the whole is part of each part and that part is part of the whole. So you see that dichotomy is reflected in each individual area of the concept — the concept is part of the heart and then the overall concept is also part of the way the visual parts. I was fascinated by that.” The influence of Wright on Jones and, in turn, Jones on Allegretti can be found in the striking lines that each bring to the art of architecture.
Jones also ended up designing two homes for the founder of WalMart, Sam Walton, and that home is still owned by the Walton family and the Walton Foundation.
Like his influencers Jones and Wright before him, John Allegretti felt the calling of his lifelong avocation, admitting, “A long time ago I determined that building structures and creating homes and buildings for people was something that was on a higher order, and that I enjoyed doing, and I discovered that I liked the challenge of creating things of beauty that were also utilitarian.”
Allegretti Architect’s work can be found across the nation in a total of 27 states, as well as in Europe. They have received some four dozen American Institute of Architects design awards, and have been featured in a wide array of industry publications including:
- “The New York Times“
- “Architectural Record“
- “Architecture“
- “Progressive Architecture“
- “Residential Architect”
- “Professional Builder“
- Europe’s “American Dream House“
They have also been featured on national television broadcasts, including CBS’ The Morning Show…HGTV’s “Before and After,” and “New Spaces.”
John’s grandfather had gone to the Illinois Institute of Technology, and was an electrical engineer, and John was thinking about going to school in Chicago as well, but adds, “I was glad I didn’t, although my Yankee accent at the time did make it a bit tough in the deep south.” Six years later, he graduated from the University of Arkansas and joined the Peace Corps, where he worked for the public works department, designing various projects throughout Western Samoa.
His work in Western Samoa became fortuitous inasmuch as that was where he met his future wife, Becca, who was teaching a variety of subjects at Samoana High School. When they returned stateside, he worked in Chicago for his dad. It was familiar territory, having previously worked for Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, handling assignments on the Sears Tower and the John Hancock building.
Anderson Building Materials, in the Edgewater District of St. Joseph was his first job here in the area, and he says, “Working for Chuck and Lois Edinger’s steel fabricating company was a dream. They were some of the kindest people, and I learned a lot about details.” Later he worked for a company that was doing work in Iran, and he designed a high school there and various other projects.
Back home in Michigan, John actually started on Main Street in Dave Fister’s old building, renting a 10′ by 10′ room as his first local office, then, as he tells it, “One day, while headed to lunch, I saw a for sale sign in the snow piles out front of the beautiful old building at 500 Main Street, and called the realtors, who confirmed that it was for sale. It was on the market, and couldn’t wait to make an offer. We conducted renovations and move in 1980 on an historic restoration and started business there at about the same time.” He then had the building placed on the state historic registry.
Fast forward to 42 years later, and you will find an architectural and planning firm founded on the principals of service, sustainability and excellence, where love of the natural environment and people shepherd the firm. The team at Allegretti sees their mission as architects and planners as a social responsibility and “strive to bring best environmental practices and client responsive solutions into harmony in each project,” adding, “A passion for quality driven decisions is reflected in our architectural solutions.”
For decades, John Allegretti has been principal architect for more than five-hundred projects. His practice promotes professional excellence of affordable and sustainable residential designs. Additionally, John has designed for Habitat for Humanity, renovated a HUD community center and developed the first private housing development community, Marram Shores, in over 40 years for Benton Harbor.
In the beginning, after having returned from Samoa, John says, “I decided I really liked it here, so we moved and I was doing work finding a few jobs.” He’ll be the first to tell you, “When you get started and you don’t know anybody it can be kind of difficult, but one of our first jobs was the New Buffalo library. It was all wood beams and steel floor joists, but a very sustainable kind of approach that I was taking even back in that day around 1977.”
The owner of Skip’s restaurant at the time, Joe Balsanic, was also the President of the library board. That was one of the first projects that he did in the region. John says, “We also did the original Bridgman library, and an addition to the Watervliet Hospital, among others. Also in the commercial realm we’ve done major renovation projects like the new St. Joe Market at 301 Main down the street from our offices.”
Yet, John’s heart really lies in the residential arena, saying, “I always did like residential design, because you don’t have a committee to work through. That only results in a generic building. You’re talking to the homeowner to determine what it is that they want. You come up with designs that first and foremost have to be beautiful. If you’re going to do architecture, you have to have the ability to make it beautiful. I have been continually surrounded by good people who support me and want to help our designs become reality.”
Allegretti says, “When we do take on a new project, we ask a lot of questions. Of course it really depends on the type of project — when we’re doing a residential project for instance, we realize that people have probably thought about what they would like for a long time. Whether it’s a completely new home or even a major addition to an existing home, where they’ve got something in mind about the outdated designs that aren’t working properly for them anymore, usually, they simply want an updated kitchen or dining area, or even just the desire to give an old house a major refresh. We ask them to break it down into all the separate ideas.” He adds, “Then we’ll flesh things out a little bit as to what they mean with each part of the puzzle, to help narrow down what we can see will work regarding the budget for the project as we address everything from square footage to finish surfaces and such, and add up all the parts and look then at the bottom line. We determine if that bottom line is going to be in relationship to what they want to in relationship to today’s market. One day lumber is available and at this price, and the next day it could be twice as much or not available at all. It can be a tough call, not to mention the supply chain which is letting us all down, because now, if you want anything imported or unusual, you’re going to wait and then we find that due to the waiting, subcontractors have to make additional trips back and forth and that slows them down, too.” Essentially, he suggests, “We can draw project plans all day, but when the supply chains are strangled and workflow is truncated, well costs suffer, and that’s another story.”
John’s practice builds the reputation of architects everywhere. His work has demonstrated that commitment to affordability, sustainability and good planning make for better communities and better quality of life, and his practice shows that architects do it better.
In fact, there are 15 architects who have been selected from firms all across the state for a new initiative. All are Michigan residential architects combined into a single publication venture titled Michigan Residential Architects, the brainchild of an architect from Greece who created four similar publications in Arizona. Michigan has picked up on the concept, and selected 15 architects from across the state, including Allegretti Architects. Along with industry partners who support the publication, it showcases the best in the state, citing them as “Featured architectural firms that have spent years honing their craft and have created award-winning and sustainable projects.” It’s published biannually in January and July, and was launched in the fall of 2019 when John was invited into the fold. The MIRA is a groundbreaking community of design professionals whose purpose is to support and inspire quality design work with the “most influential and talented professionals and industry partners” in Michigan.
John is very modest when admitting, “We’ve been fortunate to win a number of competitions. We won the second Home of the Year award last year through Detroit Home magazine, and we have some submitted for this year.” Reality is that his recognition includes:
- The 25-Year Award – AIA Michigan
- 2016 Detroit Home – Sustainable Home
- 2021 AIA Honor Award – Southwest Michigan
- 2016 Southwest Michigan AIA Merit Award for New Construction
- 2016 Detroit Home
- 2015 Awarded in 3 Categories
- Members of the FAIA (Fellow of the American Institute of Architects) -2004
- All in all, more than 50 awards through the years, although one of his most treasured tributes was in 2012 when Allegretti Architects received the State of Michigan “Special Tribute” signed by State Senator John Proos, State Representative Al Pscholka, Congressman Fred Upton and Governor Rick Snyder.
A stellar reputation such as John Allegretti’s doesn’t happen overnight, and doesn’t come without hiccups. John will tell you, “We’ve gone through slow times. and we’ve gone through good times. I don’t know whether to characterize this as a really good time with the pandemic and everything, but business is pretty strong actually. Nevertheless, I can remember in 1982 and then again in 2008-2009, when the bottom dropped out, and you have absolutely nothing to do, except shovel the snow. Granted, there are firms that work largely for municipalities or school districts, and the like were there’s seemingly always something to work on. However, we do a lot of discretionary income projects, and tough times mean lean times.”
As noted earlier, John’s work is global. He promises, “We’re happy to take projects anywhere. In fact, we’re doing one in Corpus Christi, Texas right now because the people had bought a home that we had designed in Indiana which they loved so much that they decided to hire us for their home in Texas,” concluding, “It is nice to be appreciated.”
John notes, too, “My wife has been very, very supportive over the years. She works part time here in the office. When I met her, she had been teaching for about five years. She was the editor of the yearbook and really enjoyed working with the students, especially on that project. We got married in 1973, and it was one of my wisest choices ever.”
We started this whole story telling you that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Well, if you really want to know how beautiful the work of Mr. John W. Allegretti is, look no further than the myriad client reviews that have come his way through the years. Here are many of them, verbatim:
- “John is an excellent architect who excels at listening to what we, his clients, are trying to accomplish, and turning that into reality. Our builder has told us that John’s plans are the best that he has ever used on a project. I also appreciate the fact that John is always available during the construction process to answer any and all questions that arise. Hiring John for our project was the best decision we could have made.”
- “After I purchased a home from Allegretti Architects,Inc. I hired them to do an addition. The design was beautiful, and the implementation was quality work. John Allegretti served as my advocate thru out the process assuring the design vision came to fruition. I was so pleased I hired the firm a few years later for another project.”
- “John is not only a diligent architect but an artist who pays attention to detail and is concerned about his clients wishes. I will definitely work with him again!”
- “I have worked with John on multiple projects over 20 years. I have always been amazed at his attention to detail. His work speaks for itself, but what I find most interesting, is that each home is so uniquely suited to his client, yet feels like it always should have been there. John’s ability to make his work belong; with the Lake, the dunes, the nature of Michigan’s Lakeshore in general, is unmatched.”
- “John and his team realized our dreams for our existing home redesign. Gracious with his time, patient with his listening and extremely knowledgeable with his answers, we were able to finally visualize what was once just a thought. Very happy to have chosen Allegretti Architects!”
- “In 2011 we engaged Allegretti Architects to design and build our home in the historic section of St. Joseph. John’s creative insight, his attention to detail and his ability to listen, understand, and convert our desires into meaningful architectural design led to the creation of an award-winning new home that adds to the quality of the neighborhood. John helped us find and select a builder who clearly cared as much as John to make our home a reality through high quality, well managed work. Under Allegretti Architect’s architectural guidance and the contractor’s management, our home was built ‘on time’, ‘on budget’ and without undue surprises.”
- “We are exceedingly fortunate to have our new home designed by Allegretti Architects. John Allegretti was creative, inspirational and a pleasure to work with. To live in this space that John designed, is to reside inside a work of art. It is utilitarian and beautiful.”
- “John Allegretti’s name, face and, work came up during my search for an architect to re-configure our 1920 era’s Arts and Craft house. His work showed a sensibility to classic proportion and design elements, with a modern twist. His reply to our inquiry was prompt and courteous. His work has been thoughtful and on time. He incorporated the ideas and suggestions we had to create an infused design that both traditionalist and modernist can be satisfied with. We agreed on a price commensurate with his experience and were only asked to pay for some small extras.”
- “Not a better architect in SW Michigan or NW Indiana regardless of size of project. My go to guy for all things design.”
- “I have worked with Allegretti Architects for many years. I am a contractor and have used John for business and all of my personal projects. John has a vision and understanding of how to incorporate warmth and beauty into every home he designs. Every project gets his full attention to detail from the ground up.”
- “John and his staff are of the finest quality. Their attention to detail and consistency is exceptional. John is so creative and his plan for our project included all of the dreams I had about lighting, decor, and space. I would always recommend Allegretti Architects.”
- “John Allegretti has a keen eye for design. The quality of his work and attention to detail is extraordinary. His top priority is to give his clients an exciting experience while guiding them through the design, decision making, and building process.”
- “John Allegretti is a talented and insightful architect with a very unique touch. He has the passion and spirit that you would look for in a great architect.”
- “One of the best decisions my husband and I made 30 years ago was to have John Allegretti design and build our house on Lake Michigan. He was very ethical, stayed within the range of what we could afford, and had a great crew who showed up every day. The combination of John’s creativity and demand for perfection created a wonderful home. We have come to appreciate the beauty of our very well-built house even more through the years. Our whole family has enjoyed the benefits of John’s talents. John has become more than our architect for our recent restoration and other projects over the years; he has become our good friend too!”
- “I have worked with John at Allegretti Architects for many years. John is very talented and gifted architect. Many of his designs are found on the shores of Lake Michigan and fit perfectly and beautifully on the landscape. I would highly recommend John and his firm. They are great to work with and it was a pleasure to share in their accomplished amazing designs.”
- “My company was contracted to remodel a lake Michigan waterfront home. The homeowner hired John Allegretti Architects also for the design and follow through. It was a complex project that involved working around critical sand dunes limiting our ability to use heavy equipment and transforming this 20 year old home into a modern beachfront residence. We have been building homes for almost 30 years now and I was a little intimidated by the complexity of this project. John was extremely helpful throughout the project with not only a wonderful design but assisting us in building techniques, execution, and budget. John has a great reputation in the southwest Michigan area and now I understand why. I would highly recommend him and his staff.”
- “John Allegretti designed our home 20 years ago, and over the years we have consistently received compliments on the unique and timeless beauty of the design. We routinely hear that our home is gorgeous and that it looks like it was built this year. During the process of designing and building our house, John offered his guidance and we were able to stay within our budget and make timely decisions. John’s insight and aesthetic sense is invaluable, and he has generously offered his expertise to us when we have had questions throughout the years. We feel that John has made a life-long commitment to our home that he has created. We enthusiastically recommend John as a creative and committed architect who is a great person to work with.”
- “I have had John design my home and design work for commercial buildings and have always been blown away by his creativity and dedication to detail in the projects. He listens to your wishes in the design and functionality. I would recommend John and his associates to anyone with a desire to have something unique and special.”
- “John Allegretti designed a boardwalk and deck for our homeowners association on Lake Michigan. The project exceeded our expectations in terms of design, materials used, project management and staying within budget. He listened to our needs and was timely in communications and project completion. The end product was a boardwalk with an infinity deck overlooking Lake Michigan and our beach. Our members cannot stop talking about how beautiful it is. We give John Allegretti an unequivocal 5-star rating on this project.”
- “One of the best parts about working with John is his ability to listen to our ideas and then create spaces that combine his artistry and experience with our lifestyle.”
John’s vision, has talent, and his dedication to his trade are all legendary, and despite the myriad projects he has played a major role in, if you ask him what his favorite project is from the more than 500 jobs he has had a hand in, he’ll respond, “My favorite project is the next one!”
Click this link to see a photographic archive of some of John’s remarkable work:
Allegretti Photo Portfolio
You can find Allegretti Architects located in the historically significant building located at 500 Main Street in downtown St. Joseph where they bring to the table an incredible array of talent in disciplines ranging across the architectural spectrum, including:
- 3D Rendering
- Architectural Design
- Basement Remodeling
- Building Design
- Drafting
- Energy-Efficient Homes
- Floor Plans
- Green Building
- Historic Building Conservation
- Home Additions
- Home Extensions
- Home Remodeling
- House Plans
- Kitchen Design
- Kitchen Remodeling
- New Home Construction
- Site Preparation
- Space Planning
- Sustainable Design
- Universal Design
- Custom Homes
You can reach John and his team by phone at 269-983-1100 and learn more online through their Houzz portal at this link, or drop them a line at the contact form below:
