A licensed architecture and design/build studio founded on the belief that great homes start with great values — sustainability, craft, and a design that suits your unique lifestyle.
RESOURCEFUL .
We don’t believe in waste … of time, money, or materials. Resourcefulness means sourcing locally, strictly managing the budget, and knowing when an unconventional or salvaged material will outperform something brand new. New wood is literally not the same as the old stuff!
RESPONSIBLE .
We carry a lot of weight on our shoulders. We are accountable to our clients, our community, and the environment. We design exactly for each client’s unique needs today, but our goal is for those buildings to be cherished for the next 100 years.
DESIGN .
We judge our work by three simple metrics: is it useful, is it durable, and is it beautiful? If it doesn’t check all three boxes, it goes back to the drawing board. Exceptional design isn’t an upgrade—it’s the baseline for every project and every budget.
East Spruce is housed in a renovated 19th-century carriage house in Bethlehem, PA. The building itself is fossil-fuel free, with EV charging, indoor bike storage, smart daylighting, and rooftop solar pushing it toward net-zero.
Most of the materials in the renovation are salvaged or sustainably sourced. The studio is not a showroom — it is proof. Every decision we advocate for our clients, we have already tested on ourselves.
At East Spruce, we believe the most sustainable building is one that’s been used for 100 years – plus, they usually have great character! We love breathing new life into existing spaces. But when we do build from scratch, our goal is simple: create a healthy, beautiful building people will actually want to keep around for the next 100 years.
To us, ‘sustainability’ isn’t a pricey menu add-on; it’s just the smartest way to SAVE time, money, resources, and energy. We implement high and low tech strategies – salvaged materials, smart passive design, high-performance doors and windows – from day one so your building performs beautifully without you having to overthink it.
Resourceful. Responsible. Design.
Driven by an early passion for art, Elliot spent his youth constantly drawing, crafting, and building things with his hands. He refined his craft in drawing and classical design in art school, prior to attending Penn State University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture degree and, soon after, received his license to practice.
“After working for 9 years, I learned that the traditional approach did not align with my childhood desires to actually get my hands in the building process where the design comes to life.”
This is why Elliot started East Spruce design / build – to explore his curiosities, and help others realize theirs!
With extensive commercial architectural design and project management experience, Elliot brings the professionalism you’d expect from a larger firm, with the added curiosity, skills, and knowledge of a builder, artist, and craftsman.
Elliot is a Certified Passive House Consultant through PHIUS (The Passive House Institute of the US) and a lover of the outdoors. At East Spruce, he strives to produce healthy buildings that work with our environment rather than pollute it.
PA & NJ
Certified Passive House Consultant
Sustainable Homes Professional
National Association of Home Builders
