As one of the largest cities in Illinois, Naperville is home to various historical exhibits, outdoor areas, and recreational establishments. The city also has landmark bridges, banks, and rivers that attract residents and visitors to this area. With this in mind, commercial establishments have been drawn to Naperville and the surrounding area. 

For the most quality, timeliness, and efficiency in these commercial establishments, business owners have relied on extensive construction processes and intricate design plans. The best commercial architects have developed methods that minimize the process yet still produce the best builds. These architects work alongside different professionals to bring the client’s vision into reality without being detrimental to the environment and the area. To help you in any business endeavor, we have created this list of the top eleven commercial architects, ranking each firm by their process, experience, portfolio, and accolades. 

Solomon Cordwell Buenz (SCB)

625 N. Michigan Ave. Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60611

Pictured below is a Marriott Hotel in Naperville. The Solomon Cordwell Buenz (SCB) team converted the former Holiday Inn into a full-service Marriott Hotel with renovations throughout the seven-story building. These services led to a reorganized lobby area that provides guests with revamped amenities such as a dining and lounge area, business rooms, ballrooms, meeting rooms, swimming pool, and fitness center. The firm also worked on the 426 guest rooms and suites to improve the overall experience of the hotel. The SCB team delivered the project through a design/build process with an aggressive, fast-tracked schedule. 

These kinds of projects have established SCB as a renowned commercial architectural firm. Since its establishment in 1931, the firm has continued to evolve its services through a progressive vision of applying new methodologies to further enhance its projects. With the amount of years the firm has been in business, the team has four offices throughout the U.S., in Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, and Boston. Some notable accolades the firm has received include the 2015 – Marble Institute of America Pinnacle Award of Merit and the 2015 Hospitality Design Award for Best Public Spaces, Midscale Hotel.

Charles Vincent George Architects

1245 E. Diehl Rd. Suite 101, Naperville, IL 60563 

Charles Vincent George established his firm in 1962. Since that time, the firm has assembled a team of experienced professionals in the business. For over five decades, the firm has completed numerous commercial and residential projects while developing an underlying foundation for an intricate design process. This process involves a thorough collaboration with the client from systematic information gathering, programming, and conceptual design work. Some awards include the 2013 – Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award for Outstanding Advocacy and the 2015 – Excellence in Architecture Award – AIA Northeast Illinois Chapter. In addition, the firm has been featured in the Chicago Magazine, the Naperville Magazine, and the Illinois Banker Magazine.

Pictured above is the Audi Exchange dealership project that improves the establishment’s floor plan to showcase the brand’s image and products. The project includes four buildings with a size of 48,000 square feet. These buildings are adjacent to the Porsche Exchange dealership for easy access to the new, fully automated car wash. A notable detail of this project is the inclusion of an outdoor display plaza that showcases the numerous vehicles.

Aria Group Architects, Inc.

830 North Blvd., Oak Park, IL 60301

Aria Group Architects began providing its services in 1989. Since the firm’s inception, the team has continuously offered their clients high-performance, personality-rich spaces custom-made for their clients. The firm has tackled a bevy of projects for various sectors, including restaurants, hotels, entertainment establishments, retail stores, and office spaces. In addition, it is worth noting that the firm applies sustainable methodologies in its projects that aims to minimize the negative impact construction may have on the environment. 

This kind of approach has led to the completion of the feature project above, the Che Figata restaurant in Naperville. A unique detail of this restaurant is the inclusion of an open kitchen behind a curved bar. This adds a theater element to the restaurant, allowing guests to view the chefs preparing the different dishes. It is also worth mentioning the restaurant includes the Zorba lounge and Lavazza cafe as alternate options for evening and morning dining. As a result, the Interior Design Magazine, the Chicago Sun-Times, and the Chicago Tribune featured the firm for projects like this. 

Cordogan, Clark & Associates

716 North Wells St., Chicago, IL 60654

Pictured below is the Naperville branch of the Oxford Bank & Trust. Its interior layout and amenities include the latest technology that allows them to communicate with its customers and offer them highly personalized services. The building’s structure is on a nine-square structural grid with walls surrounding the building, allowing a lot of natural light to brighten the space. The project’s completed with an intimate floor plan with high-tech features for an efficient banking experience. 

The Cordogan Clark & Associates team has been around for seven decades. Over the years, the team developed into one of the top architectural firms in Illinois, completing over 5,000 projects. With this many projects in its portfolio, the firm has accumulated various methodologies that aim to optimize the performance of each project. As a result, the firm has created many beautiful spaces and has also built many partnerships with other professionals and clients, boosting the firm’s reputation in the city.

OKW Architects

600 W. Jackson Blvd. Ste. 250, Chicago, IL 60661

Pictured below is the Shoppes on Washington project. The property features three interconnected buildings primarily made of white bricks and pitched roofs. An important detail of this project is the cutouts in the corners of the property, which was an important step for the firm to provide clear sightlines throughout the buildings’ floor space. 

With OKW Architects’ six decades of experience, it is not uncommon to see large projects like these in its portfolio. As a result, the firm has thrived in the business, establishing relationships with other professionals while constantly improving. For its works the firm has been praised by many different publications, including Chicago Tribune, Crain’s Chicago Business, and the Daily Herald.

Hirsch MPG LLC

225 W. Hubbard St. Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60654

Since its inception in 1994, Hirsch Associates LLC has implemented a scientific approach to its services. Current principals, all certified by the American institute of Architects, Andrew Myren, Richard Parks and David Genc lead the firm with a compelling architectural process. The culture around Hirsch MPG revolves around a team effort and an office culture that emphasizes responsiveness and technical designs. 

Pictured above is one of the commercial projects the firm completed, the Naperville Retail complex. The project’s scope involves a 7,500 square foot, two-tenant, one-story retail building designed in relation to the street and has a new entrance in the center. Two significant clients using the property include Starbucks and FedEx. Amenities such as the drive-thru is situated at one corner of the property to efficiently use the available land. In addition, it is uniquely capable of housing various clients, all of which are able to retain their specific branding. 

SGW Architecture & Design

444 North Michigan Ave. Suite 1850, Chicago, IL 60611

Pictured below is the SixtyFour Wine Bar project. It involves a 4,750 square foot wine bar that includes 64 different brands of wine, the latest automated equipment, a fully functional kitchen, and a private lounge. Aside from these amenities, a state-of-the-art meeting room and outdoor riverside seating area accentuate the sophisticated atmosphere of the wine bar. A notable characteristic of this project is the use of wooden tabletops and various bar seats that enhance the look and feel of the floor plan. 

SGW Architecture & Design is the mind behind the wine bar. Since 1994, the firm has garnered an extensive portfolio of different industries and businesses. Its objective for all its projects is to reinvigorate its client’s business and branding with tailor-made services specific to its needs. The result is helping businesses to operate in an ideal environment that benefits its employees and its surrounding neighborhoods.

Ethos Workshop

105 Jackson Ave. Suite 1, Naperville, IL 60540

Scott Allman, AIA, and Bret Mitchell, AIA, currently lead Ethos Workshop. Since its establishment in 2001, the firm has developed an approach that focuses on creative, intelligent designs to produce engaging places. For the past two decades, the company has slowly established itself in the city as a rising architectural firm, growing a diverse list of clientele and repeat clients. Another aspect that sets Ethos Workshop apart is its notable nationwide consulting services.

One of the firm’s excellent projects is the picture above, featuring the Van Buren Place. The property is a new 35,000-square-foot mixed-use development that houses various offices, retail stores, and restaurants. With projects like these, the firm has earned accolades such as the 2018 – ULI Chicago Vision Award for Community Impact and features from the LED Magazine.

Torch Architecture

27 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville, IL 60540 

Torch Architecture is a full-service firm that applies a client-centered approach to all of its projects. Its primary objective is to maximize the budget of its clients, resulting in the best value possible. However, the firm does not compromise the level of quality they produce but works hard to be flexible and meet the needs of each commercial sector they serve. 

One example of the firm’s work is this 5,000-square-foot build-out project for Streamline Financial Services. The floor plan consists of diverse furnishings, some having more vibrant colors while others are more neutral. This concept adds a unique, contemporary atmosphere to the office that results in a more lively work environment.

Healy Bender Patton & Been Architects

4040 Helene Ave., Naperville, IL 60564

Healy Bender Patton & Been Architects has a deep understanding of the complex process that construction may impose. Since 1935, the firm has continued to evolve its methodologies to produce better quality builds. Its use of 3D and Revit BIM modeling assists the firm in offering the client ideas during the construction process. Additionally, the firm’s team of architects, managers, and principals all contribute to the project’s finish from scheduling, budgeting, documenting, and everything in between. As a result of this approach, the firm has established a consistent process that delivers quality results from start to finish. An example of one successful build is the Lexus Orland Dealership. The project’s scope involved additions and renovations throughout the establishment to provide a modern, high-tech environment. The firm used a specific floor plan to showcase its vehicles in a sophisticated manner, resulting in a refined contemporary dealership.