Meet Syncopated Architecture: The No-Nonsense Architects Who Get It Done
- Serina Calhoun
- Jun 27
- 3 min read
This week’s Property Atlas Vendor spotlight shines on Syncopated Architecture, a woman-owned, San Francisco architecture firm founded in 2009 by none other than Serina Calhoun—who also founded and runs Property Atlas. Known for strategic thinking, meticulous documentation, and a total lack of B.S., Syncopated Architecture has built its business and grown entirely through word-of-mouth. More than 85% of clients return, often with their most complicated projects in hand.
Specialists in ADUs—And So Much More
Syncopated Architecture is best known for their transformative Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) work. Their team has added 300+ rent-controlled apartments to San Francisco’s housing stock by turning underutilized spaces into revenue-generating homes. Their close collaboration with City Hall, Mayor London Breed’s team, and key policy makers has helped streamline ADU permitting citywide.
But the Syncopated Architecture portfolio goes well beyond ADUs. They’ve successfully led:
Single-family home renovations
Commercial tenant improvements (TIs), including restaurants
Adaptive reuse of existing buildings
Office-to-residential conversions
New construction (single- and multi-family)
Unit legalizations & unit count adjustments
Permit expediting
Violation clean-up
The Syncopated Architecture Team on Site
The Syncopated Secret Sauce: Deep Code Knowledge + Real-World Smarts
Syncopated Architecture is known for creative problem-solving backed by unrivaled code knowledge and hands-on experience with San Francisco’s bureaucratic terrain. They don’t just design buildings—they navigate the maze. “Clients call us with their thorniest challenges because they know we’ll find an innovative path forward—one they simply won’t get from other architects,” says Serina Calhoun.
While most architecture firms outsource permitting, Syncopated Architecture keeps it all in-house. Their reputation with the Planning, Building, and DPW departments means they know the right questions to ask and how to move your project forward—fast.
Serina tells us, "To us, using expediters doesn't make sense. Why ask our clients to pay hundreds of dollars an hour just to have someone wait in line? Members of our team are the only ones who are authorized to alter our drawings, including adding notes, or comments requested by the city. Having an expediter act as the middle man costs our clients more and takes longer than if we do it ourselves."
Serina’s “Sacred Seven” : The Founding Principles Driving Syncopated Architecture
When she founded Syncopated Architecture in 2009, she established seven ironclad guiding principles that they carry to this day:
We only work with people we like
To put the Syncopated Architecture signature stamp on great buildings and high-quality spaces
To build a healthy, respectful work environment
To deliver tight, highly detailed, code-compliant drawings
To conduct thorough quality control before any drawing leaves the office
To know the codes better than anyone (yes, even the officials)
To fight for our clients, always.
Advocacy Is Part of the Mission at Syncopated Architecture
Serina doesn’t just lead projects—she helps shape the policies behind them. “As Syncopated Architecture has grown, and as I’ve worked more and more with San Francisco building and planning department members, I’ve learned the importance of establishing and maintaining excellent relationships with people whose decisions will impact my clients’ outcomes,” said Calhoun.
As Co-Chair of the AIA Public Policy and Advocacy Committee, Serina meets quarterly with heads of the Planning and Building Departments to provide feedback from the trenches. She’s attending hearings, emailing into Supervisors’ inboxes, and on the front lines of housing reform—not as a keyboard warrior, but as a professional who shows up, speaks clearly, and gets things done.
Need a Smart, No-Nonsense Architect?
Whether you’re untangling a code violation, legalizing a unit, or planning your next big development—Syncopated Architecture is the team you want in your corner. “We know the terrain. We’ve got key relationships. And we fight like hell to get your project approved, built, and beautiful,” said Serina Calhoun.
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