Connolly & Hickey Historical Architects

What Connolly & Hickey Historical Architects does

Connolly & Hickey Historical Architects is a Cranford, New Jersey-based architectural firm founded in 2003 by Thomas B. Connolly, A.I.A., and Margaret M. Hickey, A.I.A., specializing in historic preservation architecture. The firm delivers planning, documentation, restoration, and rehabilitation services for historic properties in conformance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. Its core service offerings are organized into three categories: Historic Preservation Planning (Historic Preservation Plans, Historic Structure Reports, Historic Site Master Plans); Cultural Resource Management (New Jersey National Register Nominations, intensive-level surveys, Historic Preservation Commission consulting, and grant-funding assistance); and Historic Architecture & Design (documentation, design development, contract documents, bidding, and construction administration). Since 2003, the firm has assisted clients in obtaining more than $6.9 million in planning and bricks-and-mortar funding through the Garden State Historic Preservation Trust Fund and various county-sponsored preservation trust funds.

The firm serves four primary client segments: state, county, and local government agencies responsible for historic properties; nonprofit organizations and historical societies; religious institutions with historic buildings; and private homeowners and businesses. Notable projects include Drumthwacket (the official residence of the Governor of New Jersey), the Lake Hopatcong Train Station (with the Lake Hopatcong Foundation), Acorn Hall (with the Morris County Historical Society), Fosterfields Living Historical Farm (with the Morris County Park Commission), and the Hinchliffe Stadium National Historic Landmark Nomination. The 8-person team is led by two principals — Connolly as Principal Architect and Hickey as Principal Historic Preservation Specialist, who brings prior experience as a Program Officer at the New Jersey Historic Trust — supported by historic preservation specialists, architectural designers, and an administrative assistant.

The business operates on a fee-for-service professional services model with project-based, quote-driven pricing; all services are delivered through direct client engagement across New Jersey, with notable concentration in Morris County and surrounding regions. Distribution is sales-led via RFPs, preservation commission consultations, and client referrals, supplemented by a professional website, blog, and organic social presence on Facebook and Instagram. The firm has earned consecutive industry recognition, including a 2021 NJAIA-Newark and Suburban Design Award (Silver, Historic Preservation) and a 2021 New Jersey Historic Preservation Award for the Lake Hopatcong Train Station, and a 2022 NJAIA-Newark and Suburban Design Award (Bronze Medal, Historic Preservation) for the Acorn Hall Carriage House.

Name

Connolly & Hickey Historical Architects

Legal name

Connolly & Hickey Historical Architects

Website

https://chhistoricalarchitects.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Connolly & Hickey Historical Architects is a Cranford, New Jersey-based 8-person architectural firm founded in 2003 that specializes in historic preservation planning, restoration, and National Register nomination services for government agencies, nonprofits, religious institutions, and private owners throughout New Jersey.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Historic Preservation Architecture Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310)

akta.pro primary industry

Historic Preservation & Conservation Planning (BPAHAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA), Historic Home Renovation & Preservation (HSAPAEAG)

Keywords

• Historic preservation architecture
• Historic structure reports
• National register nominations
• Cultural resource management
• Building restoration services

Headquarters

HQ city

Cranford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Professional Architecture and Preservation Services: Fee-for-service professional services including planning, documentation, design development, contract documents, bidding, and contract administration for historic preservation projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Connolly & Hickey Historical Architects is a professional architecture firm specializing in historic preservation, providing planning, stabilization, restoration, and rehabilitation services for historic properties throughout New Jersey. Its core offerings span Historic Preservation Planning (preservation plans, structure reports, site master plans), Cultural Resource Management (National Register nominations, surveys, preservation commission consulting), and Historic Architecture & Design (documentation, design development, contract documents, bidding, and construction administration) for civic, religious, cultural, and residential historic buildings.

Product overview

Connolly & Hickey Historical Architects is an architecture firm specializing in the restoration and rehabilitation of historic properties throughout New Jersey. Founded in 2003, the firm offers a unified suite of historic preservation services organized around three core offerings: Historic Preservation Planning (including Historic Preservation Plans, Historic Structure Reports, and Historic Site Master Plans), Cultural Resource Management (including National Register Nominations and preservation surveys), and Historic Architecture & Design (covering documentation through construction administration). The firm's services span diverse project types including community projects, institutional buildings, museums and historic sites, public buildings, religious facilities, residential properties, cultural resource nominations, and transportation/infrastructure projects. The firm is co-managed by Thomas B. Connolly (Principal Architect) and Margaret M. Hickey (Principal Historic Preservation Specialist) and has secured over $6.9 million in planning and bricks-and-mortar funding for clients through preservation trust funds since 2003.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Historic Preservation Planning

Quantifiable outcome

• $6.9 million+ in grant funding secured for clients since 2003
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• BoxcarminorOthersCo-tenant relationship at the Cranford Hotel location. Boxcar, a transit company, occupies the second floor while Connolly & Hickey is on the third floor. Both companies moved into the renovated Cranford Hotel space.
• O'Donnell ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction partner on Lake Hopatcong Train Station project. Team member on the 2021 NJAIA award-winning restoration.
• Alden Bailey Restoration Corp.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRestoration contractor on Lake Hopatcong Train Station project. Team member on the 2021 NJAIA award-winning project.
• Lake Hopatcong FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit organization that acquired the Lake Hopatcong Train Station in 2014 and hired Connolly & Hickey for the restoration project. Project won multiple 2021 preservation awards.
• Morris County Historical SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClient for Acorn Hall project. Partnership on 2022 NJAIA award-winning Acorn Hall Carriage House project.
• Lewis-Graham, Inc.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTeam member on 2022 NJAIA award-winning Acorn Hall Carriage House project.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Architectural Resources Group: California-headquartered architecture, planning, and conservation firm focused on historic preservation, adaptive reuse, and cultural resource management. Comparable service offering across planning documents, design, and contract administration for civic, institutional, and cultural clients.
• Building Conservation Associates: NYC-based architecture and planning firm specializing in historic preservation, restoration, and conservation of building envelopes, facades, and interiors. Closely comparable in service mix (planning, documentation, contract administration) and client base (government, nonprofit, religious, institutional) to Connolly & Hickey.
• John Canning & Co. Historic preservation consulting and restoration firm specializing in architectural conservation, decorative finishes, and materials conservation. Comparable specialty expertise and engagement model with preservation architects and conservators on heritage projects.
• Commonwealth Heritage Group: Cultural resource management and historic preservation firm providing National Register nominations, HABS/HAER documentation, preservation planning, and architectural history services. Comparable to Connolly & Hickey in service mix and government/nonprofit client base.
• MacRostie Historic Advisors: Historic preservation consulting firm providing historic structure reports, National Register nominations, and preservation planning for institutional and government clients. Comparable service scope with similar mid-sized firm profile and project-based fee model.

Regional players

• EHT Traceries: Mid-Atlantic historic preservation architecture firm providing HABS/HAER documentation, National Register nominations, preservation plans, and restoration design. Closely comparable in scope and service types, though anchored in DC/Maryland rather than New Jersey.

Broad incumbents

• Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates: National engineering, architecture, and materials science firm with one of the largest historic preservation practices in the US. Competes for preservation planning and restoration contracts at civic and institutional scale, with substantially broader bench depth than Connolly & Hickey.
• Beyer Blinder Belle: Mid-to-large architecture firm with significant historic preservation, adaptive reuse, and civic/cultural portfolio (Grand Central Terminal, Ellis Island). Overlaps with Connolly & Hickey on civic/institutional restoration work but operates nationally and at larger project scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/connollyandhickeyhistoricalarchitects
• Instagraminstagram.com/connolly_hickey
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/connolly-hickey-historical-architects

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Connolly & Hickey Historical Architects