With a rich agricultural history and diverse culture, Salinas is a bustling town with plenty of commercial spaces and home to the biggest shopping center in Monterey County. The town’s vibrant neighborhood attracts many homeowners and business owners alike. So it’s no surprise that you’ll find a broad range of commercial architects in Salinas and Monterey.
Our editorial team has chosen five of the best commercial architects in Salinas, California. Each firm on this list has a track record of success; each firm on the list was chosen for their expertise, their years of service, and their professional accreditations. These commercial architects have comprehensive industry knowledge and share the same passion for delivering quality designs that benefit the community.
S. Munoz and Associates
230 Capitol Street, Salinas CA 93901
Munoz and Associates is a well-respected architecture firm in Salinas offering complete architectural, design, and planning services for commercial, residential, multi-family units, and mixed-use properties. The firm also provides construction services including historic preservation, interior remodels, and tenant improvements. Since 1992, the design studio has developed numerous high-quality commercial spaces designed to meet both the client’s and end user’s needs. Each design is crafted to deliver functional, practical spaces that enrich users’ quality of life.
Firm owner and founder Salvador F. Munoz has decades of experience when it comes to designing, restoring, rehabilitating, and preserving structures. With his guidance and expertise, the firm has produced many successful design and construction projects in Salinas. Over the years, the company has acquired accreditations from various industry organizations including the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and Salinas Historical Review Board. One of the firm’s noteworthy projects is the Diesel Services Complex in Watsonville.
Kasavan Architects
60 W. Market Street, Suite #300, Salinas, CA 93901
Since 1949, Kasavan Architects has been providing a full scope of architectural and design services across the Monterey Bay Area. For 72 years, the design studio has earned a strong reputation as one of the top architecture firms in Salinas. Having completed many successful projects, the firm has been recognized for delivering high-quality designs and doing so on schedule. The company also offers pre-design, interior design, documentation, budgeting, project management, and construction management solutions. Its expertise in contract documents has led to a high percentage of business from repeat clients.
Principal and owner Peter Kasavan FAIA is an award-winning architect and a recipient of the distinguished Robert Stanton Award. A lot of the firm’s projects are certified by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) including certifications at the Platinum and Gold levels. Kasavan Architects was hired by Carmel High School Performing Arts Center in Carmel to design the courtyard and cafeteria. In 2016, Aceable Co. named the school as one of the 40 Most Beautiful High School Campuses in California.
Belli Architectural Group
235 Monterey Street, Suite B, Salinas, CA 93901
Top architecture firm Belli Architectural Group (BAG) caters to commercial, restaurant, workplace, and institutional clients throughout Salinas Valley. Offering architectural, design, master planning, interior design, and construction documentation, the firm provides a straightforward approach from the initial design consultation to the final product. Collaboration and teamwork play a huge role in the firm’s design process making the experience enjoyable for clients, consultants, and subcontractors.
Owner Lino Belli is an AIA and LEED-certified architect with decades of industry expertise. Together with a team of skilled designers and project managers, the firm provides solutions to structural and construction issues. For 27 years, the company has worked with the leading subcontractors and suppliers in Salinas ensuring all products and services are produced in accordance with the highest standards.
The Food Bank for Monterey County in Salinas commissioned BAG to develop a facility that caters to all the company’s needs in one location. At the same time, the firm created a dedicated space for collecting and storing goods. With Bellini’s solid experience in designing for commercial and industrial clients, the firm designed an efficient space with offices, a kitchen, storage, and a docking area.
Wald Ruhnke & Dost Architects
2340 Garden Road, Suite #100, Monterey, CA 93940
Established in 1963, Wald Ruhnke & Dost Architects (WR&D) is recognized as a leading architecture firm in Monterey County. With a strong commitment to creating environmentally and socially responsible community projects, the firm maintains high standards of excellence in every design. Each design is created with functionality and practicality in mind. Since its inception, the company has developed over 2,000 projects throughout the county. Recognized for its excellent customer service and superior craftsmanship, the firm has built a reputation as a trusted, reliable architecture studio.
The LEED-certified firm is led by principals Christopher Barlow and Henry Ruhnke. Christopher has extensive experience in designing for large-scale community projects; Henry oversees the design and development of the firm’s architectural projects. The Hotel Abrego in Monterey is a great example of the firm’s work. WR&D designed a multi-phase expansion of the hotel including the addition of a new building. The design studio modernized the units, yet maintained the hotel’s original character and its connection to Monterey’s historic downtown.
Glass Architects
200 E Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Santa Rosa-based Glass Architects is a small architecture firm with offices located in Santa Rosa and Nevada. Offering a wide range of architecture services and project types, the firm has worked with clients from various industries including commercial and public projects throughout California. Some of its notable works include fire and police stations, community centers, courthouses, wineries, and institutions. The firm’s design process centers on finding solutions to existing problems. Each design is developed with a logical approach to the surrounding environment; the result is highly functional spaces.
Leading the firm is principal Eric M. Glass, who renamed the company after acquiring Roland/Miller/Associates. The Salinas Municipal Aquatic Center serves as one of the firm’s most prominent projects. For this project, Glass Architects was tasked to design a new indoor facility to replace the existing structure. The new facility now includes a natatorium, a swimming pool, an exterior patio, a lobby, locker rooms, and an office. This project earned the company LEED Gold certification.
