25 Best Architecture Firms in Seattle

Seattle is a city that continually attracts some of the most visionary architectural projects, and these firms are leading the charge.

Architizer Editors

Seattle, also known as the Emerald City — not the one in the Wizard of Oz but rather a nickname that speaks of the city’s breathtaking surrounding greenery — is considered one of the most futuristic cities in the United States. Starting as a humble timber town in the 19th century, post-industrial Seattle was violently destroyed after the 1889 Great Seattle Fire razed much of the downtown area. Following this pivotal event, Seattle underwent a rapid architectural rebirth, adopting innovative materials and designs that set the stage for its future skyline.

Architectural works such as John Graham’s Jr. Space Needle and Frank Gehry’s Museum of Pop Culture mark Seattle’s modern architectural history, playfully introducing forms and materials that pushed the boundaries of technological innovation in architecture. A notable, contemporary example is the Bullitt Center by American architect Robert Hull, whose design was regarded as the world’s first greenest commercial building.

In addition, Seattle is a city that continually attracts some of the most visionary architectural projects, such as the Amazon Spheres — Amazon’s workspace housing an impressive range of plant species — not just through sustainable and technologically driven practices but also through socially invigorating designs. In recent years, the city has become a hotbed for mixed-use developments, seamlessly blending residential, commercial, and recreational spaces to create vibrant, livable communities. The American Emerald City is a place where space is conceived, designed and utilized through a constant cycle of innovation and reinvention.

With so many architecture firms to choose from, it’s challenging for clients to identify the industry leaders that will be an ideal fit for their project needs. Fortunately, Architizer is able to provide guidance on the top design firms in Seattle based on more than a decade of data and industry knowledge.

How are these architecture firms ranked?

The following ranking has been created according to key statistics that demonstrate each firm’s level of architectural excellence. The following metrics have been accumulated to establish each architecture firm’s ranking, in order of priority:

  • The number of A+Awards won (2013 to 2023)
  • The number of A+Awards finalists (2013 to 2023)
  • The number of projects selected as “Project of the Day” (2009 to 2023)
  • The number of projects selected as “Featured Project” (2009 to 2023)
  • The number of projects uploaded to Architizer (2009 to 2023)

Each of these metrics is explained in more detail at the foot of this article. This ranking list will be updated annually, taking into account new achievements of Seattle architecture firms throughout the year.

Without further ado, here are the 35 best architecture firms in Seattle:


25. Sundberg Kennedy Ly-Au Young Architects

© Sundberg Kennedy Ly-Au Young Architects

Sundberg Kennedy Ly-Au Young Architects is an 10-person design firm located in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. Our firm is a tightly-knit and collaborative group of designers and professionals who bring a wide spectrum of skills and expertise to each project. We specialize in the careful crafting of buildings and spaces for civic, academic, environmental and residential use.

Some of Sundberg Kennedy Ly-Au Young Architects’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Sundberg Kennedy Ly-Au Young Architects achieve 25th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Seattle:

Featured Projects 2
Total Projects 5

24. Workshop for Architecture / Design

© Kevin smith

Workshop AD is a Seattle based architecture practice focused on compelling projects across a range of geographies and scales. We believe a workshop is not about a single voice, but a collective effort. We also believe in a workshop’s most honorable commitments to material, craft, and exploration. This model guides our practice and inspires us to pursue design critically, insightfully, and imaginatively. We currently work within a wide range of urban and rural conditions, climate, building types and uses found throughout the West and Alaska.

Some of Workshop for Architecture / Design’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Workshop for Architecture / Design achieve 24th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Seattle:

Featured Projects 2
Total Projects 6

23. FINNE Architects

© FINNE Architects

Raised in the United States and Norway, Nils Finne established FINNE Architects in Seattle in 1994, bringing a Scandinavian understanding of craft and landscape to the Pacific Northwest.  Dedicated to the idea of Crafted Modernism, Nils typically designs custom lighting, furniture, cabinets and hardware for every project. FINNE  has produced more than 80 pieces of custom fabrications, which are also sold as stand-alone items.

At FINNE Architects in Seattle, we have been practicing sustainable design for over fifteen years. We are members of the Cascadia Green Building Council and we are LEED certified. We design every project to conserve resources by using passive heating and cooling, to maximize the use of natural light, and to employ sustainable building materials. Current work also includes active systems such as photovoltaic panels and ground-source heat exchangers.

Some of FINNE Architects’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped FINNE Architects achieve 23rd place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Seattle:

Featured Projects 2
Total Projects 10

22. Floisand Studio Architects

© Floisand Studio Architects

Since 1999, Floisand Studio principals, Richard Floisand and Allison Hogue, have worked with clients to build a diverse body of residential, commercial and municipal projects. With attention to detail, we look to intertwine each project’s program, site, budget and schedule with the exciting possibilities of architecture.

Some of Floisand Studio Architects’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Floisand Studio Architects achieve 22nd place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Seattle:

Featured Projects 2
Total Projects 22

21. Paul Michael Davis Architects

© Paul Michael Davis Architects, PLLC

Before starting his own office, Paul gained several years of experience in leading architecture firms in LA and New York. He has led the design and construction of numerous projects, from creative designs for three children’s libraries on very limited budgets to a major renovation and addition to a landmark townhouse for a hedge fund. While working in Frank Gehry’s Los Angeles office, Paul developed advanced architectural concepts on projects like the Louis Vuitton Foundation museum in Paris. He has also been on a member of the Interior Design faculty of Bellevue College.

Some of Paul Michael Davis Architects, PLLC’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Paul Michael Davis Architects, PLLC achieve 21st place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Seattle:

A+Awards Finalist 1
Featured Projects 2
Total Projects 9

20. Patano Studio Architecture

© Sozinho Imagery

Patano Architecture Studio produces High-Performance, low energy use buildings for public and private clients. We work in a highly collaborative manner to design projects that are direct responses to the local climate. Our approach utilizes the available site resources to create comfortable, healthy spaces that use as little energy as possible. Durable, elegant structures that utilize cutting edge building technologies result from our process. Our integrated team affords our clients great value while simultaneously producing projects that drastically reduce annual operating costs.

Some of Patano Studio Architecture’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Patano Studio Architecture achieve 20th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Seattle:

Featured Projects 3
Total Projects 7

19. Vandeventer + Carlander Architects

© benjamin benschneider

Vandeventer + Carlander Architects is a design-oriented practice providing a full range of architectural services.  Committed to providing exceptional professional service, the firm strives to maximize the creative potential of each project.The firm’s approach to design is founded in appropriateness and as such does not promote an identifiable style.  The firm’s design principles are based on several architectural beliefs.  Each project must be sensitive and appropriate to its site and context. Every project is capable of excellence regardless of budget.  Each project should be a design which reflects the client’s goals and dreams while fully synthesizing design integrity with the realities of program and budget.

Some of Vandeventer + Carlander Architects’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Vandeventer + Carlander Architects achieve 19th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Seattle:

Featured Projects 3
Total Projects 8

18. First Lamp Architecture and Construction

© Tim Bies

Our journey through life produces a story that can manifest itself in the way we build our surroundings. Our stories are spoken through the details, materials, and volumes of the buildings in which we live, learn, and play. These elements, when arranged in a meaningful way with their context, are what help buildings enrich the lives of their inhabitants.
First Lamp is in search of your story.

Our attraction to this way of working has both practical and philosophical roots. Residential architecture is unique from the remainder of the building industry in that it allows those who conceive the plan to build as well, allowing projects to mature through construction with the same creative focus that began their conception.

Some of First Lamp Architecture and Construction’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped First Lamp Architecture and Construction achieve 18th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Seattle:

Featured Projects 3
Total Projects 9

17. GO’C

© GO'C

Founded in the Pacific Northwest and practicing internationally, GO′C is an award-winning architecture studio inspired by the interplay of rational design and artistic expression. From residential to commercial and public spaces, we thrive in the challenges of site-specific work, and find opportunity in constraint.

Founding Partner Jon Gentry grew up in North Carolina, developing an eye for utilitarian structures and an impulse to challenge norms. Founding Partner Aimée O’Carroll grew up in the heart of London and comes from a family of architects that reaches back three generations. Together, our studio is driven by the concepts of practicality and imagination. When thoughtful analysis meets a spirit of exploration, we know we’re in our element.

Some of GO’C’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped GO'C achieve 17th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Seattle:

Featured Projects 3
Total Projects 9

16. Stuart Silk Architects

© Silk Cavassa Marchetti

Stuart Silk Architects is an architecture and interiors firm known for the design of bespoke site specific residences and commercial buildings that stand the test of time. Serving clients throughout the Puget Sound region and across the country, we believe in the power of design to positively impact lives and enhance our built environment. For over thirty years we have pursued an approach that adheres to the foundational principles of functionality, proportion, and craft. Partnering with our clients is our passion, purpose, and privilege. We delight in the multi-layered process required to match functionality with design and embrace sustainability as an integral part of the solution.

Some of Stuart Silk Architects’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Stuart Silk Architects achieve 16th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Seattle:

Featured Projects 3
Total Projects 14

15. grouparchitect

© Doug J Scott

Grouparchitect, a Seattle based architecture firm, designs concise architectural solutions for all sizes of residential, multifamily, and mixed-use/commercial projects. Creating great work requires an ongoing process of dialogue and our flexible, collaborative team approach results in beautifully designed and well functioning buildings of all types. Our experience ranges from vacation cabins to urban residences to six-story mixed-use buildings to high-rise towers throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Some of grouparchitect’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped grouparchitect achieve 15th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Seattle:

Featured Projects 2
Total Projects 3

14. Signal Architecture + Research

© Signal Architecture + Research

Focused on connecting people with place, Signal Architecture + Research PLLC works to design inspiring places for humankind, drawing distinct influence of experience through materials, function, light, nature, and sound. Communication, listening, and collaboration – from clients to communities creates the foundation for our approach to integrative design dialog.

Some of Signal Architecture + Research’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Signal Architecture + Research achieve 14th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Seattle:

A+Awards Finalist 1
Featured Projects 4
Total Projects 10

13. Lane Williams Architects

Composite shingle siding and roof.

We are a team of architects devoted to the design of modern, custom, single-family residences. Projects range from new homes and remodels in the greater Seattle area to vacation retreats in the San Juan Islands and Central Washington, plus works in Oregon, California and Connecticut. Our designs have been featured in Metropolitan Home, Trends, Fine Homebuilding, Sunset, Residential Architect, and many regional publications. Principal architect Lane Williams, AIA, has designed over 100 houses and received 20 awards for home design, including three Seattle Times/AIA Home of the Year Awards plus nine additional nominations.

Some of Lane Williams Architects’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Lane Williams Architects achieve 13th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Seattle:

Featured Projects 4
Total Projects 16

12. SHED Architecture & Design – Modern Architects Seattle

© SHED Architecture & Design - Modern Architects Seattle

SHED Architecture & Design, located in Seattle, specializes in modern and sustainable projects including custom homes, remodels, and commercial interiors, as well as landscape, furniture and conceptual designs. SHED’s origins as a design/build firm continue to inspire and inform the design process, as they collaboratively work with clients and partners to seek unique solutions that embody the qualities of economy, beauty and craft.

Some of SHED Architecture & Design – Modern Architects Seattle’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped SHED Architecture & Design - Modern Architects Seattle achieve 12th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Seattle:

Featured Projects 5
Total Projects 11

11. SRG Partnership

© Ben Benschneider

While good design is beautiful, great design has impact. We seek partners, people, and projects whose positive effects reach beyond the building and into our communities. For us, our work isn’t just about architecture — it’s about contributing to broader change and inventing a better future.

Some of SRG Partnership, Inc.’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped SRG Partnership, Inc. achieve 11th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Seattle:

A+Awards Winner 2
Featured Projects 4
Total Projects 13

10. David Coleman / Architecture

© Steve Keating

DAVID COLEMAN / ARCHITECTURE is an award winning design firm focusing on distinguished projects for residential, commercial and institutional clients. Our projects are rooted in sustainability, innovation and vision. We believe that design is much more than the application of style or the simple fulfillment of basic needs. Each design is custom tailored to the sensibilities of our clients and the particularities of the site. Our goal is to create environments that transcend the mundane, inspire the senses and nurture the soul. Three primary themes guide our work: Light, Place and Time.

Some of David Coleman / Architecture’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped David Coleman / Architecture achieve 10th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Seattle:

Featured Projects 6
Total Projects 7

9. mwworks

© mwworks

mwworks llc is a Seattle-based design studio offering architectural and interior design services to residential and commercial clients. Formed in 2007, our offices remain small, focused on compelling, collaborative projects of all scales.

Some of mwworks’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped mwworks achieve 9th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Seattle:

Featured Projects 8
Total Projects 7

8. Best Practice Architecture

© Rafael Soldi

Meaningful design is a balance between content, beauty and function. Inspiration from our client’s real-life needs is used to choreograph intuitive experiences with distinct levels of interaction. Our devotion is to never losing sight of the needs of the people with whom we work. This is our Best Practice.

Some of Best Practice Architecture’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Best Practice Architecture achieve 8th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Seattle:

A+Awards Winner 1
Featured Projects 9
Total Projects 34

7. GRAHAM BABA ARCHITECTS

© GRAHAM BABA ARCHITECTS

GRAHAM BABA ARCHITECTS is a vibrant Seattle architecture firm recognized for the successful place-making of commercial, residential and arts spaces. Whether through the renovation of existing buildings or in new construction, the firm believes authenticity can — and should — be found in every building by use of honest materials such as metals, wood and glass celebrated in their natural state. Through subtle and economical design moves, Graham Baba creates places that tell a story, places that people are drawn to and spaces that encourage social interaction and community. The Graham Baba team is driven by thoughtful creativity and collaboration and works to celebrate the embedded qualities of spaces as well as the potential of a site and program and client vision.

Some of GRAHAM BABA ARCHITECTS’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped GRAHAM BABA ARCHITECTS achieve 7th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Seattle:

A+Awards Winner 4
A+Awards Finalist 1
Featured Projects 5
Total Projects 39

6. SkB Architects

© SkB Architects

SkB Architects was founded in February 1999 by Shannon Gaffney, Kyle Gaffney and Brian Collins-Friedrichs. The firm seeks to create meaningful, sensory-rich environments for individuals, corporate clients, retailers, developers and culturally-connected communities. Based in Seattle and with projects located throughout the United States, the diversity of the firm’s practice allows ideas from different project types to cross-pollinate and influence one another, ultimately leading to more comprehensive and informed design solutions. The firm is driven by the idea that thoughtful, insightful, and creative design has the power to enrich people’s lives.

Some of SkB Architects’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped SkB Architects achieve 6th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Seattle:

A+Awards Winner 3
A+Awards Finalist 2
Featured Projects 9
Total Projects 30

5. Prentiss + Balance + Wickline Architects

© Prentiss + Balance + Wickline Architects

We design with the belief that nothing is impossible, and temper it with good old-fashioned pragmatism, embracing both big ideas and intricate details. Taking into account location, context, and other inherent attributes of a specific project, we strive to create a balanced whole, integrating the structure and the environment. We consider the interplay between inside and outside, light and shadow, aesthetics and utility, carefully selecting materials that harmonize with nature, prioritizing efficiency and sustainability.

Some of Prentiss + Balance + Wickline Architects’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Prentiss + Balance + Wickline Architects achieve 5th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Seattle:

Featured Projects 11
Total Projects 23

4. Robert Hutchison Architecture

© JSa Arquitectura, Robert Hutchison Architecture

Robert Hutchison Architecture (RHA) specializes in the design of contemporary projects that balance beautiful, inspiring spaces with economic, pragmatic solutions. In partnership with clients, consultants, and builders, we seek creative solutions for an architecture that is elegant and efficient. At the core of our work lies an interest in investigating the boundaries of architecture, bala`ncing the permanent with the ephemeral to create works evoking a strong sense of place. Our diverse list of projects includes custom homes and remodels, cabins, art studios, commercial interiors, and institutional and public works. Always striving for a holistic practice, we balance architectural commissions with research, writing and installation projects.

Some of Robert Hutchison Architecture’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Robert Hutchison Architecture achieve 4th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Seattle:

A+Awards Winner 1
A+Awards Finalist 3
Featured Projects 10
Total Projects 21

3. The Miller Hull Partnership

© Jonathan Hillye

Founded in 1977 by David Miller and Robert Hull, partners with a defining background in the Peace Corps, The Miller Hull Partnership is strongly influenced by site and environmental conditions. The heart of our work is understanding the power of natural surroundings. Our legacy of environmentally responsible buildings is inspired by the efficiency and elegance of passive systems and regional materials. We leverage the openness and flexibility of modernist form to celebrate connections inside and out.

We continually explore the boundaries of current thought, pulling from the latest technology, materials and cultural context. Miller Hull is widely recognized for innovative, timeless designs that provide enduring value by harmoniously elevating the ordinary with nature.
Partnership is at the core of our practice.

Some of The Miller Hull Partnership’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped The Miller Hull Partnership achieve 3rd place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Seattle:

A+Awards Winner 2
A+Awards Finalist 8
Featured Projects 13
Total Projects 31

2. LMN Architects

© LMN Architects

LMN Architects specializes in designing convention centers, cultural arts venues, higher education and sports facilities, commercial and mixed-use developments and urban environments that celebrate and enrich communities. Founded in 1979, LMN has earned an international reputation for high quality design, successfully managing complex projects and delivering progressive, sustainable solutions.

Some of LMN Architects’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped LMN Architects achieve 2nd place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Seattle:

A+Awards Winner 3
A+Awards Finalist 4
Featured Projects 11
Total Projects 42

1. Olson Kundig

© Olson Kundig

Olson Kundig is a Seattle-based design practice founded on the ideas that buildings can serve as a bridge between nature, culture and people, and that inspiring surroundings have a positive effect on people’s lives. Led by five owners, the firm’s work can be found across the globe, with projects as wide ranging as huts to high rises, homes—often for art collectors—to academic, cultural and civic projects, museums and exhibition design, places of worship, creative production, urban design and interior design. The firm began its creative existence in 1966 with the architect Jim Olson, whose work at that time centered on explorations of the relationship between dwellings and the landscapes in which they inhabit.

Some of Olson Kundig’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Olson Kundig achieve 1st place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Seattle:

A+Awards Winner 6
A+Awards Finalist 12
Featured Projects 79
Total Projects 107

Why Should I Trust Architizer’s Ranking?

With more than 30,000 architecture firms and over 130,000 projects within its database, Architizer is proud to host the world’s largest online community of architects and building product manufacturers. Its celebrated A+Awards program is also the largest celebration of architecture and building products, with more than 400 jurors and hundreds of thousands of public votes helping to recognize the world’s best architecture each year.

Architizer also powers firm directories for a number of AIA (American Institute of Architects) Chapters nationwide, including the official directory of architecture firms for AIA New York.

An example of a project page on Architizer with Project Award Badges highlighted

A Guide to Project Awards

The blue “+” badge denotes that a project has won a prestigious A+Award as described above. Hovering over the badge reveals details of the award, including award category, year, and whether the project won the jury or popular choice award.

The orange Project of the Day and yellow Featured Project badges are awarded by Architizer’s Editorial team, and are selected based on a number of factors. The following factors increase a project’s likelihood of being featured or awarded Project of the Day status:

  • Project completed within the last 3 years
  • A well written, concise project description of at least 3 paragraphs
  • Architectural design with a high level of both functional and aesthetic value
  • High quality, in focus photographs
  • At least 8 photographs of both the interior and exterior of the building
  • Inclusion of architectural drawings and renderings
  • Inclusion of construction photographs

There are 7 Projects of the Day each week and a further 31 Featured Projects. Each Project of the Day is published on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Stories, while each Featured Project is published on Facebook. Each Project of the Day also features in Architizer’s Weekly Projects Newsletter and shared with 170,000 subscribers.

 


 

We’re constantly look for the world’s best architects to join our community. If you would like to understand more about this ranking list and learn how your firm can achieve a presence on it, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at editorial@architizer.com.

Exit mobile version