Nature fans love the state of Maryland. You can explore forests, sandy beaches, marshes, bays, and creeks. Maryland is also home to the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Appalachian Mountains. This vibrant city offers something for everyone, stunning vistas as well as plenty of shopping, dining, and retail options.
Get to know some of the best architectural firms in Maryland. If you want to design a custom home, build a commercial space, or improve your present home, you’ll find the right firm for you here. These impressive firms were chosen for their experience, skills, profiles, and awards.
Ziger|Snead Architects
1006 Morton Street, Baltimore, MD 21201
Since its inception in 1984, Ziger|Snead Architects has delivered extensive services and exceptional projects across Maryland and its neighboring areas. It is an architectural firm that has solidified its reputation as an industry leader through its incredible designs and high-quality craftsmanship. Over the years, the firm has remained committed to delivering stunning designs that reflect its client’s needs and personalities and improve the community’s way of living. It takes an integrated, personalized, and hands-on approach to managing each project, ensuring a smooth delivery and an enjoyable experience. The firm’s commitment to a simplified design approach allows the firm to focus on relationships and active community involvement. No matter the project’s size, scope, and complexity, Ziger|Snead takes the time to understand client goals, strategic needs, site context, limits, and countless other factors. The result is simply stunning projects.
One of the firm’s notable projects is The Ivy Hotel. The firm was tasked to restore this historic building to its former beauty and turn it into a unique and modern place that meets today’s highest standards. The new space is functional and efficient while respecting the building’s original character. One notable feature is the large windows, which bring in plenty of light and air.
SM+P Architects
1100 Cathedral Street, Baltimore, MD 21201
With over 41 years in the industry, SM+P Architects has completed a variety of projects, including restaurants, schools, labs, private clubs, and homes. Since its inception in 1982, the firm has remained committed to delivering high-quality projects that look like they were made by hand. The firm’s custom approach has resulted in some of Baltimore’s finest buildings. The firm offers a one-stop-shop solution, and its collaborative approach allows it to handle every part of the project meticulously from start to finish. The firm’s team of expert architects and designers is committed to understanding each client’s vision and turning it into a space that meets their demands. As a result, the firm has earned its well-deserved reputation as an industry leader for its unique designs.
The Maryland Club was founded in 1857—needed renovation after a terrible fire in 1995. While the ornate moldings, fireplaces, and original recessed window shutters were being fixed, SM+P created a marble, wood, and brass-decorated drink bar to serve as the focal point. The new kitchen below, which has more seats and a chef’s table, is connected by a new staircase. The firm also chose and organized all the furniture, decor, and art from the club’s existing collections.
McInturff Architects
4220 Leeward Place, Bethesda, MD 20816
McInturff Architects has been around since 1986, helping its clients complete countless projects across Maryland. With over 40 years of experience, the firm offers comprehensive architecture and interior design services. The firm’s impressive portfolio is a testament to this fact—features many modern, well-made residential, industrial, and commercial projects. The firm’s building and interior design services include close communication with the customer to ensure the end result meets their needs. The firm has won over 320 design awards, including three AIA Institute Honor Awards, two for Interior Architecture and one for Urban Design. It has also gained massive recognition for its quality and professionalism, including several features in prestigious publications like The Washington Post.
The Bethesda Youth Center is right off Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda. The venue has hosted classes, dances, and other social events for teens in the area, including the builder of this makeover. After the youth center closed in 1970, the Writer’s Center started renting out this mid-century modern house, intending to create a place for the literary arts to live independently.
Beatty Harvey Coco Architects
1300 Thames Street, Baltimore, MD 21231
Beatty Harvey Coco Architects is an architectural and design firm that has been helping with mixed-use, multi-family, hotel, and public works projects for 140 years. The firm was founded in 1880 and has continuously grown and expanded to help clients across Maryland and its neighboring areas with their ever-changing needs. As a result, the firm has built an impressive portfolio that showcases its ability to deliver exceptional projects on schedule and within budget. From churches, public and private schools, adaptive reuse, commercial spaces, and public works projects, the firm’s focus on communication and collaboration allows it to understand each client’s vision and turn it into a reality. The firm has a long list of satisfied clients willing to testify to its quality and professionalism.
The Fells Point Recreation Pier was once a dance hall and a social and educational center in the early 20th century. The firm was tasked to turn this old building into a luxury boutique hotel with 129 rooms. The original head house was fixed up and now serves as the door to the hotel. The main hall, restaurant, and bar are all on the ground floor; the upper floors are used for offices. Most rooms have clear views of the sea.
Muse | Kirwan Architects
7401 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 500, Bethesda, MD 20814
Muse | Kirwan Architects has been in business since 1983. Since then, the firm has earned an impressive portfolio, delivering many residential, institutional, industrial, urban design, interior design, and other projects across Maryland. The firm offers complete services for building tasks of all sizes and an integrated, personalized approach that allows it to handle every detail meticulously from start to finish. Its team of expert architects and designers offers many experiences with sustainable design for all projects. The firm focuses on constant communication and collaboration, building relationships with its clients, stakeholders, contractors, and suppliers to ensure a smooth and seamless project delivery. As a result, the firm has won over 160 design awards and has been featured in over 250 architecture books and magazines.
One of the firm’s notable projects is this stunning custom home, which stands out against the stunning vistas. It has a transitional design with a unique mix of classic and rustic elements. It features natural design materials and earth-toned colors, giving it a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The large windows bring in the natural light and a cool breeze.
GTM Architects
7735 Old Georgetown Road, Suite 700, Bethesda, MD 20814
GTM Architects is an award-winning, full-service architectural firm that offers planning, building, and design services. Since its inception in 1989, the firm has strived for continuous learning and improvement, perfecting its processes to ensure smooth delivery and consistent results. It has kept its attitude of working together and its commitment to quality in both service and design, resulting in an impressive portfolio and a solid track record of satisfied clients. The firm’s team of experts is committed to understanding each client’s ideas and vision and turning that vision into a stunning space that reflects their needs and demands.
This stunning kitchen perfectly exemplifies the firm’s quality and professionalism. It features a transitional design with white walls, wooden cabinetry, and marbled countertops. The unique layout maximizes the available space while offering an efficient workflow and plenty of workspace.
Claude C. Lapp Architects
15400 Calhoun Drive, #350, Rockville, MD 20855
Claude C. Lapp Architects is a well-known, award-winning architecture company that designs and builds unique homes across Maryland and the neighboring area. Since its inception in 1989, the firm has been committed to delivering high-quality projects, successful results, and the best value possible. Its integrated, personalized, and collaborative approach allows it to understand each client’s vision and make each design dream come true via quality craftsmanship, creative techniques, and cost-efficient solutions. Its streamlined processes start by closely working with its clients throughout conceptualization and planning— from the first ideas to the finished result. The firm consistently aims to deliver the best designs for its clients’ lifestyles, plans, and budgets.
This award-winning custom home is one of the firm’s notable projects. It features a transitional design with a unique classic and contemporary elements mix. The cool-toned walls, flooring, and wooden accents create a relaxing atmosphere. It also has a lot of openings that connect the indoors and outdoors while letting in a lot of light and breeze to the space.
Penza Bailey Architects
5521 Research Park Drive, Suite 300, Baltimore, MD 21228
Penza Bailey Architects has solidified its reputation as a reliable and trustworthy firm that has won awards for its architecture design, interior architecture, and planning work for private and public clients. Since its inception in 1981, the firm has established an impressive portfolio that features custom homes, with specialties in new design, additions/transformations, waterfront, and historic renovations. No matter the project’s size, scope, and complexity, the firm is committed to delivering the best value possible by focusing on communication, collaboration, and strong relationships. Its experienced, long-term, and passionate design professionals have a long history of highly successful, widely different project experience. Penza Bailey Architects is proud of its professional accomplishments. The firm has been pleasing clients for 40 years.
The owners of this home in a historic part of Baltimore wanted a much bigger kitchen. The firm added a hall to the back of the house, with a new kitchen on one end to hold it all together. Through a set of French doors, the gallery flows smoothly onto a new terrace, and a domed ceiling with a lot of detail gives the relatively narrow gallery space structure and rhythm. The new space features a mud room, a service kitchen, a bathroom, and a bar.
