Top 15 Best Architects in the San Francisco Bay Area
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Basil D Soufi / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
We know finding the top architects in the San Francisco Bay Area can be difficult, so we put together this detailed list of the best of the best so you can make your decision wisely. Each architect firm offers various specialties, from those with experience in Zero-Net Energy Building Envelope Designs to those who focus on sustainable, high-performance building solutions. This list of amazing architects is ever-changing and expanding, so please check back often. If you find another location that should be listed here - or one that should be removed - please let us know!
1. Ecobuild Architects, 555 12th St 5 Fl, Oakland, CA 94607
About: The company was established in 2017. Ecobuild Architects is a rebranding of Courtney Miller Architects, an award-winning firm with a special emphasis on high-performance green building strategies, founded in 1992 in the Boston Metro area.
Ecobuild Architects is centrally situated in downtown Oakland, in the significant Oakland, Chinatown, and Paramount Theatre landmarks of the African American Museum and Library. Their office is only a few blocks away from the historic area of downtown, which has several century-old buildings and extensive high-end shopping, restaurants, and entertainment venues.
This makes Ecobuild Architects a centrally situated architecture firm specializing in superbly built single and multi-family projects as well as upgrades to commercial tenants (conveniently located on 12th Street). In the East Bay area, including the nearby communities of Emeryville, Lafayette, Danville, Orinda, Dublin, Pleasanton, and Alameda, California, they can be easily found.
Services Offered: programming, drawing design services, a commercial project, construction management, record drawings, schematic design services, project administration, site analysis & selection, construction documentation, interior design services, residential project, and virtual consultations
What Makes them Different: Highly reviewed, accredited and award-winning architecture company in the San Francisco Bay area, known as the premier sustainability designers in the region.
2. Andrew Morrall Architect, 2730 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110
About: Andrew Morrall, a San Francisco architect, graduated from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago with a Professional Bachelors of Architecture degree in 1987. He worked his way through school at prestigious architectural firms such as Howard Alan while at IIT. Following graduation, he worked in Chicago at the renowned architectural firms of Seymour Goldstein and Lucien Lagrange. He has worked for Ehrlich Romminger and Interior Architects in California.
In 1993, he became a licensed architect in the state of Illinois, and in 1996, he became a licensed architect in the state of California. He became a Licensed General Contractor (734309) in 1997 and designed and constructed his own home from the ground up. He founded his own architectural firm in 2003 and has since served hundreds of clients in San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area. In 2016, he finished designing and building his Second Hillside Home, which serves as both his residence and professional studio, from the ground up.
Services Offered: home remodeling, project administration, home building, and drawing design services
What Makes them Different: A multi-awarded company that received the following recognitions; 2011 NARI First Place Design Award - Residential Remodel 500k 2011 NARI Design Merit Award - Residential Remodel 500k 2010 NARI First Place Design Award - Residential Kitchen 80k 2009 NARI First Place Design Award - Residential Addition 250k 2009 NARI First Place Design Award - Residential Remodel 250k 2009 AngiesList.com Super Service Award 2008 and so on.
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3. Winder Gibson Architects, 1898 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94103
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About: Winder Gibson Architects first opened its doors in 1987. John Winder started the firm, and Geoff Gibson joined as a partner in 2002. The entire team has moved offices many times within San Francisco, but they have been in their current location for over four years.
Services Offered: bathroom design, full house design, drawing design services, commercial project, residential project, virtual consultations, renovation consultation, commercial space design, kitchen design, project administration, site analysis & selection, construction documentation, schematic design services, office space design, and space planning & layout
What Makes them Different: Winder Gibson Architects provide innovative contemporary design. They are also detail-oriented and client-focused.
4. Design Everest, 425 1st St UNIT 4904, San Francisco, CA 94105
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About: Design Everest is a leading architectural and engineering firm in California, specializing in new construction as well as remodel/addition/tenant improvements of residential, commercial, and industrial buildings.
They also provide free pre-construction management services to all of their clients, which means that a dedicated Project Manager will oversee the project from start to finish, relieving you of the stress of coordinating various professionals and ensuring that all of your needs are met. Your Project Manager will walk you through each step of the process and keep you informed about the progress.
Services Offered: earthquake retrofit, project administration, site analysis & selection, construction documentation, foundation inspection & assessment, new home structural engineering design, residential project, structural certification, structural engineering inspection, structural remodeling design, virtual consultations, programming, drawing design services, commercial project, construction management, interior design services, record drawings, schematic design services, structural drawing, structural remodeling consultation, and structural repair consultation
What Makes them Different: Their quality engineering & design helps you save time and money during the permit phase due to fewer comments/revisions required by the city.
5. Andre Rothblatt Architecture, 1189 Tennessee St #101, San Francisco, CA 94107
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About: Andre Rothblatt Architecture is a Dogpatch-based award-winning architecture firm. For more than 20 years, Mr. Rothblatt has been actively engaged in professional practice. He opened his office in 1993 after working as a licensed building contractor. He sincerely responds to his clients' needs with a distinctive design that is carefully composed and richly detailed in his current residential and commercial work.
Services Offered: remodels and additions, kitchens, and bathrooms, challenging projects with modest budgets and neighborhood sensitive designs
What Makes them Different: Andre Rothblatt Architecture's work has been featured on HGTV and the Food Network's "Ultimate Kitchens" and has been published in Sunset Magazine, House Beautiful, Fine Homebuilding, the San Francisco Chronicle, and Examiner.
6. Peters Design-Build, 2746 Judah St, San Francisco, CA 94122
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About: Peters Design-Build is a full-service architectural and construction firm focused on unique residential remodels, reconstructions, and new building projects. Our in-house architects and construction teams are fully integrated and skilled in all stages of design and construction.
Services Offered: Peters Design-Build is a full-service architectural and construction firm focused on unique residential remodels, reconstructions, and new building projects.
What Makes them Different: Because they work together on every project, Peters Design-integrated Build's team is quick and effective. The best part about using a design-build company is that you only have to deal with one person who is responsible for the success of every aspect of your project.
7. Red Dot Studio Architecture & Design, Inc., 1045 17th St #202, San Francisco, CA 94107
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About: This business was founded in 2004. Red Dot Studio is a full-service architectural firm based in the Bay Area that specializes in large-scale residential and commercial projects. Their method encourages experimentation and enjoyment, resulting in a synergy between the studio, the client, and the construction team. The built environment, according to Red Dot Studio, should support, improve, uplift, enlighten, and foster good for people and the community. Their projects are narrative, allowing the space to be shaped by the life that takes place within it.
Services Offered: site analysis & selection, residential project, construction documentation, and schematic design services
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What Makes them Different: They absorb the traces of life and transform into locations. The more thoughtful, spontaneous, respected, irreverent, precise, imperfect, and sublime the place, the more sublime it becomes. The company is interested in learning more about what motivates you to create your perfect space.
8. Martinkovic Milford Architects, 101 Montgomery St #650, San Francisco, CA 94104
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About: In 2001, Martinkovic Milford Architects was founded. Martinkovic Design was founded by Justin Martinkovic in 2001 as a multi-disciplinary architectural and interior design company. Justin formed Martinkovic Milford Architects with a friend and Syracuse classmate Brian Milford in 2004 as the practice grew. From offices in San Francisco and New York City, MMA creates high-end, custom solutions for commercial and hospitality clients, healthcare providers, homeowners, and developers.
Services Offered: programming, drawing design services, commercial project, interior design services, residential project, project administration, site analysis & selection, construction documentation, record drawings, and schematic design services
What Makes them Different: MMA creates spaces that allow people to live and work in new and better ways. They are client-focused and creative. One Medical Group, Riaz, Inc., Workshop Café, and Stanford Children's Health are among the company's notable clients.
9. Bittiker Architecture, 8 Landers St #203, San Francisco, CA 94114
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About: Their primary source of inspiration for all of the work is nature. While constructed forms are beautiful in and of themselves, their structures can only serve to enhance a location's natural beauty. A striking structure draws attention to a location's unique characteristics. Simplicity is the objective, and while they follow a rational, minimalist philosophy, they still leave room for the unexpected in each design project.
Services Offered: bathroom design, commercial space design, programming, drawing design services, commercial project, construction management, residential project, space planning & layout, bedroom design, full house design, project administration, site analysis & selection, construction documentation, record drawings, and schematic design services
What Makes them Different: Their goal in creating a craft was to combine craft authenticity with the design process to create a special collaborative approach.
10. DRAMS Architects, 4050 Harlan St, Emeryville, CA 94608
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About: DRAMS Architects is a commercial and residential architectural firm based in Emeryville that serves the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.
They specialize in architectural project management, utilizing extensive California code expertise, a large engineering consulting network, and positive client communication to see your project through to completion.
Services Offered: commercial space design, programming, drawing design services, commercial project, construction management, record drawings, schematic design services, office space design, space planning & layout, full house design, project administration, site analysis & selection, construction documentation, interior design services, residential project, virtual consultations, and renovation consultation
What Makes them Different: DRAMS Architects is highly capable of designing all projects with a perfect blend of aesthetics and safety thanks to their Licensed Architects.
11. ARCHITECTS SF, INC., 1390 Market St #200, San Francisco, CA 94102
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About: The company was founded in 2001. Architect Francisco J. Matos, a registered architect since 2001 (Lic. # C-34078), leads Architects SF, Inc. in San Francisco, California. LEED Accredited Professional Francisco has a BA in Architecture from Syracuse University and an MBA from the University of San Francisco (2010). (1996).
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Francisco has collaborated with award-winning architects such as Andrew Skurman Architects in San Francisco and Alfonso Architects in Tampa, Florida.
Francisco, a former Chapter President, has been acknowledged and honored at the national level by the Construction Specifications Institute CSI for his contributions to the field of construction product specifications through his publications.
Services Offered: full-service architectural design
What Makes them Different: Architects SF is dedicated to making clients' goals and dreams a reality by providing high-quality architectural services. They are a full-service architectural design firm that specializes in a wide range of projects.
12. VANGUARD development SF, 1 Sansome St #3500, San Francisco, CA 94104
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About: The company was founded in 2004. Their business began by providing only residential interior design services but has since evolved into a one-of-a-kind group of interior designers and architects offering a full range of services, including project building design, hospitality design, installation management, and national and international logistics (for projects overseas).
Services Offered: commercial space design, home staging, project administration, commercial project, construction management, residential project, virtual consultations, renovation consultation, full house design, kitchen design, drawing design services. construction documentation, interior design services, schematic design services, office space design, and space planning & layout
What Makes them Different: Their mission is to create life-changing Dream Homes and Businesses! Working with VANGUARD development SF is a simple two step process - Design & Installation.
13. Vadim Podrobinok Architect, 2655 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94109
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About: In 2017, Vadim Podrobinok Architect was founded. They've been assisting people with building design and construction for the past twelve years. They know how to advocate for a client's needs because they have a comprehensive understanding of the design and construction industry. They will assist you with property selection, initial design ideas, qualifying engineers, running permits through the city, passing design review boards, finding contractors, and more, whether you're planning a renovation or building from the ground up on an empty lot.
Services Offered: programming, commercial project, record drawings, drawing design services, construction documentation, and schematic design services
What Makes them Different: In order to promote their philosophy of better life experiences through design, the company focuses on government, healthcare, fitness, and retail projects.
14. Kaplan Architects, 49 Zoe St Suite 10, San Francisco, CA 94107
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About: Kaplan Architects is a San Francisco-based architectural firm that works on projects all over the Bay Area. Edward Kaplan AIA, NCARB is a licensed architect who has worked on a variety of projects including residential, commercial, retail, and public. The American Society of Interior Designers has given the company a national award for the second year in a row (ASID).
Services Offered: full house design, drawing design services, construction documentation, interior design services, residential project, virtual consultations, space planning & layout, project administration, site analysis & selection, construction management, record drawings, schematic design services, and renovation consultation
What Makes them Different: Kaplan Architects' aim is for every client to be fully satisfied with the services it provides. Mr. Kaplan believes that collaboration between the client and the architect will result in buildings that stand the test of time and fashion.
15. Ojanen Chiou Architects, LLP, 1290 Sutter St #210, San Francisco, CA 94109
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About: Ojanen Chiou architects LLP is a San Francisco-based design-oriented, a full-service architectural company that focuses on designing ecologically intelligent design solutions and creating earth-friendly, healthy environments that uplift the spirit and improve the lives of those who live in them.
Services Offered: pre-bid walkthroughs for property assessment and envisioning, conceptual design and feasibility studies, complete home design, renovations and additions, kitchen and bath remodeling, and legalization of non-permitted conditions/notice of violation compliance
What Makes them Different: The company brings a refined design sensibility to each project, as well as excellent management skills and a thorough understanding of building codes and construction methods. They have developed a rigorous project approach ensuring a smooth design and permitting process as well as effective project completion based on their combined 30 years of experience on various residential, commercial, cultural, and institutional projects.
Do You Need an Architect You Can Trust for Your New Project?
Ecobuild Architects are experts in designing Cost-Effective, Sustainable Solutions for any size project. Recognized as the premier designers of Zero-Net Energy Building Envelope Designs, Water Reuse, Healthy Indoor Air Quality, & Fire Resilient and New Home Construction Practices, our staff provides exceptional design and construction administration services for residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects throughout California with an eye towards sustainable, high-performance building solutions. Ready to get started? Schedule a consultation here.