Brach Design Architecture

Brach Design Architecture is a Salt Lake City-based firm dedicated to designing energy-efficient homes and accessory dwelling units with a deep expertise in passive house principles. Founded in 2005 by Dave Brach and operating as a small, nimble team of licensed architects, the firm has spent over two decades perfecting the craft of sustainable residential design. Their reputation as the leader in energy-efficient homes across Salt Lake City and the Intermountain West reflects years of consistent work on high-performance projects where thermal comfort, indoor air quality, and long-term durability are built into the design from the start.

The firm's specialization in ADU design flows directly from its core philosophy: residential projects, including accessory dwelling units, should meet both the practical needs and the lifestyle wishes of the people who will inhabit them. When clients approach Brach Design with an ADU project, they bring together the architects' expertise in passive house design with a commitment to energy modeling and HVAC system design. The team handles the detailed calculations for building performance, thermal resistance, ventilation, and efficiency in-house rather than outsourcing them. This means the architects are making design decisions informed by energy data at every step, not fitting efficiency onto a finished design. For ADUs, where every square foot needs to work hard, this approach ensures the unit can remain comfortable and affordable to operate year-round.

Dave Brach, the firm's principal architect, holds a Certified Passive House Consultant credential and has led a practice that has completed eight certified and pre-certified passive house projects in Utah. His path to architecture is unconventional: he holds a degree in anthropology, worked as a bicycle mechanic and carpenter before becoming a wine bar manager, and then pursued formal architecture studies through internships at firms in Chicago, San Francisco, and Minneapolis. That unconventional trajectory shows up in the work: the firm designs in modern, traditional, and mountain styles while staying focused on performance. Brach Design works alongside homeowners' contractors and builders during construction, so the design intent survives into the finished building. Because they are designers and not builders themselves, clients have full freedom to choose their own construction team, and the architectural plans and specifications become the bridge between vision and reality.

The range of work the firm undertakes reveals how deeply they engage with sustainability: projects include new construction, residential remodels, and commercial buildings, all with an energy-efficient foundation. Passive house design, an internationally recognized standard for ultra-low-energy buildings, is one of their signature offerings. The passive house approach relies on exceptional insulation, airtight construction, thoughtful window placement, and heat recovery ventilation to maintain comfort with minimal heating or cooling input. For an ADU, which sits on a tight budget both in construction cost and operating expense, the passive house method can translate to lower monthly utility bills and a more livable unit, especially in Utah's variable climate. Beyond passive house certification, the firm offers 3D modeling and energy modeling as standalone services, which means clients can see how design choices affect performance before construction begins.

ADU design through Brach Design starts with a consultation to understand the site constraints, the client's goals, and the regulations in the specific municipality. Salt Lake City and many Intermountain West communities now allow ADUs under state and local rules, and each jurisdiction has its own setback, height, parking, and design guidelines. The architects work within these requirements while advancing the energy-efficiency goals that define the practice. They work with zero-energy and carbon-neutral building as targets, focusing on all-electric homes with clean, filtered indoor air. For an ADU on a residential lot, this might mean a design that maximizes southern exposure for passive solar gain in winter, places bedrooms where they naturally stay cooler, and specifies a heat recovery ventilation system to maintain fresh air without losing conditioned warmth.

Pricing for Brach Design's architectural services is project-specific and not published on a fixed menu. Custom design work for an ADU, including site analysis, multiple design iterations, detailed energy modeling, 3D renderings, and full construction documents, typically involves a consultation to establish the scope and budget. The firm's approach is personal rather than templated, which means small ADUs on straightforward sites cost differently than complex multi-unit designs or projects with significant passive house certification work. Interested clients should contact the firm directly to discuss their specific project, timeline, and budget. The architects' philosophy is that there is no one-size-fits-all answer, and the conversation at the start determines how the firm can best serve each client.

What sets Brach Design apart in the ADU design landscape is the integration of performance engineering from the earliest sketches. Many architecture practices design a unit and then layer efficiency onto it as an afterthought, or delegate energy calculations to a separate consultant who has no say in the design. Here, the certified passive house expertise and energy modeling are central to how the firm designs. A team member with HVAC and mechanical system knowledge is involved from the start, not brought in later. This means ADU designs coming from Brach Design arrive at their builder's door with confidence that the thermal envelope is planned, the ventilation will work, and the client's operating costs are built in, not guessed at. For owners and builders who care about quality and durability, that difference shows up in the finished unit.

Brach Design Architecture suits homeowners and property owners in Utah and the Intermountain West who are planning an ADU and prioritize energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and long-term performance alongside meeting local regulations. The firm is equally well-suited for developers exploring passive house principles for their residential projects. Because the architects do not build themselves, clients retain the freedom to hire any qualified contractor, and the design stands as a complete guide to what needs to be built. With over 25 years of experience, a small team of licensed architects, and a deep specialization in the highest tiers of residential efficiency, Brach Design brings a level of care and expertise to ADU design that goes beyond checking boxes and translates into homes that perform, endure, and remain affordable to inhabit.