Fentress Architects is a global design firm that pursues the creation of human-centric, inspired public architecture. We are a synergistic group of architects, designers, interior designs, innovators, and believers in architecture’s ability to improve our world (when designed well). The firm has designed more than $43 billion of architectural landmarks worldwide that welcome more than 650 million visitors each year. Our diverse portfolio ranges from expansive public environments such as airports, convention centers, government centers, and educational facilities, to more intimate spaces including chapels. While each building serves a unique purpose, they all provide an enduring commitment to the communities they serve—in form, materiality, practicality, and ambition.
Fentress’ approach begins with the heart of our design philosophy: Design for People. For us, this can be defined as responsible architecture—buildings that are designed by people for people, now, and for generations to come.
This approach is best illustrated by our team’s promise to Listen Closely. We listen to the community’s distinct voice and we translate, using their vocabulary, to design a building unique to its place. The result is a timeless design that invokes community pride and serves as a lasting commitment to the people the architecture serves. Rather than approaching architecture with a signature style, our designs reflect a thorough appreciation for each project’s culture, context and region. Put simply, no two Fentress-designed projects are the same.
By designing buildings that bring people together, we strive to foster diversity and social connection. This commitment to our communities is also invoked through our sustainable design approach. We believe that sustainable design is integral to good design, honed through our expertise in pioneering environmentally conscious design since the early 1990s. To date, our portfolio includes over 41 LEED certified buildings valued at over $7 billion.
We embrace a spirit of curiosity that permeates both our work and our culture. This fervor for experimentation and research forms the basis of our innovations. We encourage our team to change paradigms, discovering technologies and processes that allow us to re-imagine the very essence of public architecture and in turn, enhance the built environment.