Last updated on May 21st, 2024 at 02:44 am

Commercial architecture is complex. It requires extensive knowledge of various fields and balancing the zoning requirements and the client’s expectations. Each space should provide functional elements and modern amenities that enhance people’s retail experience. A building professional is able to deliver quality projects on time and within budget.

The following list highlights the best commercial architects in Virginia Beach, Virginia. These companies stood out for their work quality, accolades, history, and their feedback. Some shared services include architectural and interior design, construction administration, and engineering. Sustainable design is a common practice amongst these experts.


Dills Architects

1432 N Great Neck Road, # 204, Virginia Beach, VA 23454

Dills Architects is well-versed in providing creative solutions for a variety of markets. Projects in the firm’s catalog include civic, commercial, cultural, higher education, industrial, transportation, and K-12 developments. The in-house team fosters a collaborative environment that promotes a seamless project flow from the concept planning phase until the design’s completion.

Owner and design principal Clay Dills is a proponent of sustainable design and works with some of the industry’s top environmental bodies. These green organizations include the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), Green Globes, and Earthcraft.

One of the studio’s notable projects is the Esoteric Craft Beer and Curated Provisions in Virginia Beach. The specialty establishment provides ample room and atmosphere for dining and drinking. Dills Architects improved the structural and aesthetic elements through several renovations and additions.


Covington Hendrix Anderson Architects

360 Southport Circle, Suite 104, Virginia Beach, VA 23452

Covington Hendrix Anderson Architects has been providing design services since 1998. The Virginia Beach firm works on architecture, interior design, and visualization projects for commercial and residential territories. The scope of its commercial operations includes the automotive, hospitality, restaurant, and healthcare markets.

Jonathan W. Covington, Christopher L. Hendrix, Wayne B. Anderson, and Jerry L. Smith serve as co-partners of the practice. The group runs a quality-driven approach to architectural design, one that also upholds client relationships with clients. Their well-rounded process integrates modern and sustainable methods that guarantee long-lasting developments with functionality and aesthetic style.

The featured project is a retail building in New Jersey. The property includes a massage place, a barbershop, and a Quiznos sandwich shop, plus a parking lot. Standard brick and cement sidings make up the exterior sidings.


Ionic DeZign Studios

293 Independence Boulevard, Building 5, Suite 308, Virginia Beach, VA 23462

IONIC DeZign Studios elevates living and working conditions through spaces that provide form and function. The company works on planning, permit and construction documents, administration, and architectural design.

D. Eugene Thompson is the founder, president, and senior architect of the firm. He practices innovative architecture together with like-minded professionals who create modern designs for various markets. Thompson’s in-house roster typically works on offices, restaurants, interior design, retail, worship, and site and planning developments.

The Nationwide Office is a development for Greenbrier Parkway. The 11,800-square-foot project had a 1.2 million construction cost, built with Advantis, Sinclair Pratt Cameron, and Striffler Engineering Association. The office complex features cantilevered curtain walls, an aluminum-sheeted canopy, and dynamic blue glass panels. Decorative lighting is also prevalent in both indoor and outdoor areas. 


Cox, Kliewer & Company, P.C.

2533 Virginia Beach Boulevard, Virginia Beach, VA 23452

Cox, Kliewer, and Company PC is a firm that has been providing quality services in Virginia Beach since 1984. The practice specializes in architecture, consultation coordination, interior design, and financing documentation. Its operation scope involves commercial, multi-family, hospitality, manufacturing, and residential sectors.

Under the leadership of Gerald A. Cox and Lawrence W. Kliewer Jr., the studio has completed over 25 million square feet of projects across the country. Based on their track record, the co-principals uphold project management and client satisfaction in every project. The in-house team fosters a collaborative environment that delivers creative solutions promptly and within cost-effective terms.

The Pembroke Mall, one of the first malls on the Eastern Seaboard, is a retail and interior design project. Its development involved master planning, feasibility studies, and interior and exterior renovations.


GARC

501 E Main Street, 16th Flr., Norfolk, VA, 23510

GARC is a Norfolk-based practice that excels in architecture, landscape, and interior design. Its work optimizes spaces for living, working, and socializing. The firm’s project flow starts with the vision and schematic design before transitioning to permit/design development drawings and construction documents. Then comes the bid and award phase and, finally, construction administration.

Yang Tian is a seasoned architect with a portfolio that spans China, Southeast Asia, and the US. His design team runs a research-oriented approach that delivers spaces tailor-made for the client. Sustainability also factors into the projects, and the firm makes a conscious effort to create environmentally responsible designs.

The Hilltop Medical Center is a 2019 project for the Tidewater Eye Center. Its development includes renovation and refashioning aspects that include interior and exterior updates and improvements. Large glass windows provide natural light; canopies add depth to the façade.


HBA Architecture & Interior Design, Inc.

One Columbus Center, Suite 1000, Virginia Beach, VA 23462

HBA Architecture and Interior Design is a firm that works on developments in the business and administration, government and civic, health and living, education, retail and entertainment, and industrial sectors. It also works on sustainable projects that provide energy-efficient elements and environmental benefits to people and the site.

The structure showcased is the Stihl USA Headquarters of the German manufacturing company. The facility includes a two-story lobby, a concept store, conference spaces, and an auditorium that seats 300 people.

The project’s elite-level construction won the 2020 Award of Excellence in Best Commercial/Office/Retail Building Category from Hampton Roads Association for Commercial Real Estate (HRACRE) and the 2020 Honorable Mention Award in the Corporate Over 35,000sf Category from the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Virginia and International Interior Design Association (IIDA) Virginia/West Virginia Design Excellence Awards Design Competition.


Dewberry

295 Bendix Road, Suite 100, Virginia Beach, VA 23452

Dewberry has over 60 years of high-quality projects. It provides architecture, planning, design, engineering, and construction services, plus miscellaneous others. The firm has an exemplary track record that won accolades like the 2020 and 2019 Merit Awards from the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) and the 2019 Mountain States Awards from Engineering News-Record (ENR).

The family-owned company delivers value service to its clients and provides community improvements through its work. Donald E. Stone Jr. and his team aim to provide creative solutions with innovative and responsible elements. The group also nurtures long-term relationships with industry partners and clients. 

The River District Tower is a 140,000-square-foot development in Danville: a restoration of a historic structure. The four-story building includes modern office environments for clinics and museums as well as a high-end restaurant.


Clark Nexsen

4525 Main Street, Suite 1400, Virginia Beach, VA 23462

Clark Nexsen has over a hundred years of architectural experience. The firm also has over 400 personnel who strive to uplift people through elite-level projects that elevate the human experience. Its operations are built on the partnership between the in-house professionals and the community, a dynamic that promotes social responsibility and collaborative work. 

The firm’s outstanding projects regularly receive recognition from various organizations. In 2020 alone, the studio won the Design Firm of the Year Award from ENR MidAtlantic, the Interior Design Excellence Award from ASID Virginia and IIDA Virginia/West Virginia, and the Preservation Society of Asheville and Buncombe County Griffing Award – Preservation Category.

The Operation Smile Headquarters is an acclaimed development in Virginia Beach. The 75,000-square-foot facility costs over 25 million dollars and includes medical facilities, conference spaces, and an auditorium. It is LEED Gold-certified for using sustainable features like recycled materials and low-emitting elements.

Author

  • Shahe Demirdjian

    Shahe is an Editor at General Contractors with around four years of experience as a writer and editor in the construction space. Shahe has always had a huge interest in commercial/residential construction and real estate. On top of his experience at General Contractors, he has two years of experience as a Construction Partner Specialist at BuildZoom and six years of experience as a licensed real estate agent. In his work, he takes advantage of his expertise to take complex technical jargon from those realms and transform them into accessible, engaging content, blending his business administration expertise with a degree from Arizona State University with his experiential insights. Expertise: Architecture, Home Design and Build, Home Remodeling Key Highlights: Arizona Real Estate - Licensed Salesperson Education: Arizona State University - Bachelors in Business Administration