Bates Architects LLC

08/17/2026

We at Bates are honored to have Forrest on our team and representing positive change in the community!

Help us welcome Forrest Popkin to MHA's Board of Directors.

Forrest is Vice President and Partner at Bates Architects, a firm in which he has worked for 9 years since the start of his career. Forrest has worked in Frederick since 2008 and has committed to being involved in his community, living and working in the area. Forrest is passionate about educating youth. He is a frequent volunteer guest at Frederick High School and Lincoln Elementary, bringing architectural education to those eager to learn; he opens his office to all wishing to shadow, often having met after volunteer speaking venues such as ACE or FCC Career Panels.

A teacher, Forrest has instructed Hebrew classes with his synagogue and serves as an adjunct faculty at both Frederick Community College and UMD Shady Grove. Forrest served on the boards for both East Frederick Rising (2016-2018) and Federated Charities (2020-2025), where he was President of the Board for 2 years. In his Board leadership, he used his project management and architectural experience to spearhead the recent Courtyard renovation project for the building at 22 S Market St.

In addition to his professional life, as a husband and father, Forrest has been personally touched by mental illness at a very sensitive time in his life. The Popkin Family has and continues to manage a household where mental illness is a fact of life. From the support required, the resources or lack thereof available, the reaction to those who are in the family, etc. Forrest understands the essential role MHA serves I the community.

Thank you, Forrest, for your commitment to MHA!

08/06/2026

Get out and vote for Frederick's Best of the Best!
Bates is honored to be nominated for Frederick News Post's Best of the Best, Architect/Design Firm. Our office has been in Frederick for over 20 years and we have had more and more impactful jobs through the recent years, then ever in our history. Our clients have included McClintock Distillery, The City of Frederick's Housing and Human Services, Bakehouse, True Standard Distilling, Linganore Town Center, Renn Kirby, Frederick Primary Care, and so many other clients that we are grateful have trusted us with their important projects. From smaller tenant fit outs, adaptive reuse, multi-family to restaurant, we are honored to once again be considered.

It is also fitting that BA is working in the former FNP building, transforming the once Trolley Building into the next iteration of life.

Please check out all the other categories and support your favorites in Frederick!

Get the insider's scoop on the best that Frederick has to offer, as voted in the Best of the Best, with Frederick Hometown Guru.

07/29/2026

Adaptive Reuse of the Historic Trolley Building in Downtown Frederick... check out our article on LinkedIn.
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7467215280356904961/

07/16/2026

We are happy to be working with Bakehouse and Wormald Construction to bring this old building back to life for the Frederick community to enjoy. Looking forward to the next chapter!

We wanted to share an update about our new building and give everyone a glimpse at the future of Bakehouse. We’ve been working hard over the last few months finalizing our plans and we’re happy to announce we’ve received HPC approval. We still have a lot of work to do before we can get started but this is a big milestone to achieve.

We could not be more excited with our plans for the building, especially the outdoor space! We’ll share some interior images in the near future. We hesitate to give an exact timeline for when we’ll be open but we think spring/summer 2027 is a safe estimate. (Fingers crossed we don’t hit any major issues)

As you may know the building has been vacant for years and needs just about everything to updated or upgraded, so these things take time. We’re just taking it day by day and looking forward to the future of Bakehouse!

We’ve had great partners helping navigate what is a very daunting process. So we want to say a big thanks to Bates Architects LLC Wormald Commercial and Fox & Associates for getting us this far in the process.

07/01/2026

The team celebrated a job well done on the Ledo Pizza project at Shops at Lake Linganore, with a family style pizza lunch and some laughs.

06/24/2026

The BA team participated in the 1st annual CANstruction event in Frederick, MD. Check out the article and be sure to visit our website for upcoming photos.

Frederick Rescue Mission has put on Frederick's first CANstruction event, and Bates Architects was proud to partner with DAVIS Construction and Common Market to design and build "Spires and the Creek," a collage sculpture paying homage to a few of Frederick's landmarks. The team began with auditing

06/22/2026

CANstruction builds are now complete. People's Choice Voting is now open! Please come to Warehouse Cinema in Frederick and see the Bates Architects LLC, DAVIS Construction and Common Market sculpture "Spires and the Creek."

Months of planning and building led up to an action packed build day with 6 other teams using creativity, problem solving, and teamwork to create each sculpture.

Voting is open until July 5th, spread the word and check out the first annual Frederick Canstruction

What can-tastic sculptures can you expect to see during Canstruction? Here's a sneak preview! 📅 Display: June 19th – July 5th 🏨 Warehouse Cinemas Sponsors: Warehouse Cinemas Frederick WLR Automotive, Inc Gladhill Furniture Our Heavenly Cause Octavo Designs Purple Donut Studios Wormald Compan...

06/11/2026

Bates Architects is proudly designing and building a sculpture in this year's inaugural Canstruction for Frederick. We are excited to team with James G. Davis Construction (DAVIS) and The Common Market as we ramp up to the final build, to open to the public Thursday 6/18/26!
If you are interested in being one of the first to see, come to the Ribbon Cutting at 12pm 6/18/26.

06/01/2026

How to Find the Right Architect for Your Custom Home

Designing a custom home is one of the biggest investments a homeowner can make, and choosing the right architect can determine whether the process feels exciting or overwhelming. A great architect does more than create beautiful drawings; they help guide decisions, manage expectations, protect your budget, and bring your vision to life.

Look for an Architect Who Listens
The best residential architects take time to understand how you live, what is missing from your current home, and what matters most to your family. Good design starts with collaboration, not simply handing over a sketch and expecting instant results.
An architect should be able to:
• Listen to your goals and concerns
• Explain the design process clearly
• Help prioritize needs versus wants
• Guide you through budget and schedule expectations
• Offer solutions when challenges arise

Experience Matters
When hiring an architect for a custom home, look for experience in residential design and knowledge of construction methods, zoning requirements, and permitting processes. Strong architects understand how design decisions impact construction costs and timelines.
Simple design strategies, like efficient dimensions and thoughtful plumbing layouts, can create major cost savings without sacrificing quality or style.

Understand the Design Process
One of the biggest misconceptions homeowners have is believing a custom home can be designed quickly with only a rough sketch. In reality, successful projects involve multiple phases, coordination with consultants, detailed construction documents, and ongoing collaboration between the architect, client, and contractor.
A quality architect should provide:
• A clear design schedule
• Defined project phases
• Transparent pricing
• Guidance on decisions required at each stage

Visualization Helps Avoid Costly Changes
Modern architectural tools like photorealistic renderings and BIM modeling allow homeowners to virtually walk through their future home before construction begins. This helps clients better understand spaces, materials, and layouts early in the process, potentially saving thousands of dollars in changes during construction.

Choose an Architect Who Protects Your Investment
The right architect is not there to complicate the process. They are there to help navigate it. From engineering coordination and zoning requirements to construction setbacks and budget concerns, experienced architects help homeowners avoid costly mistakes while creating a home tailored to their lifestyle.
The most successful projects happen when homeowners and architects work together with open communication, realistic expectations, and a shared vision from the start.

Final Thoughts
Finding the right architect is about more than design style. Look for a firm that communicates clearly, understands construction, values collaboration, and helps you make informed decisions throughout the process.
A well-designed custom home takes time, planning, and teamwork. When done correctly, it becomes an investment that lasts for generations.

05/29/2026

Jessica Bowers Fitzgerald of the Bates team honored as Rookie of the year at FCBIA!

Congratulations to BA's Jessica Bowers Fitzgerald on receiving the Frederick County Building Industry Association's Rookie of the Year last night! Jessica thrives on projects where she can see the difference she is making for both the client and the wider community. Despite starting only in 2025, sh...