Raleigh has a variety of unique features, which has led to it being dubbed the “Smithsonian of the South,” “The City of Oaks,” and “The Triangle.” While an urbanized and well-developed metropolitan area, this city maintains all the gentle charm of a southern small town. The downtown area can be explored by bike and on foot, giving locals and tourists an easier time to enjoy the sights of Victorian neighborhoods and to visit museums. A short drive can also bring people to places like Pullen Park and William B. Umstead State Park.
For anyone interested in moving to or starting a business in Raleigh, we have created a list of the best interior architects working in the area. These veteran firms consistently produce unique ways to integrate creativity with professionalism, ensuring spaces that are perfectly customized to fit the client.
CJMW Architecture
1838 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh, NC 27608
While officially founded in 1984, CJMW Architecture traces its origins to a 1906-founded company that closed down after its leadership split up. After the split, Tom Calloway, Don Johnson, and Alan Moore established CJMW Architecture using their experience working on residential, commercial, and institutional buildings in the Winston-Salem area. The firm later expanded to Raleigh, North Carolina and Roanoke, Virginia, leading to further specialization in senior living, performing arts, museum, and corporate design. Some of the clients that worked with CJMW Architecture in its early years remain partners today, including UNC-Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School and the Forest at Duke.
Tom Calloway, of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and National Council of Architectural Registration Board (NCARB), and Alan Moore, AIA, continue to lead CJMW Architecture today. Their team includes interior designers, technical staff, and an architect. Calloway’s specialty lies in small and large-scale corporate, mixed-use, and multi-family work. He primarily handles high-profile educational and developmental projects throughout North Carolina. Moore, on the other hand, has a reputation for being a pioneer in deinstitutionalizing senior living. His dedication to improving the quality of life for seniors has been featured in publications like LeadingAge and Advancement of Gerontological Environments (SAGE). Moore also works on designing performance spaces for schools and entertainment venues.
Osterlund Architects
5 W Hargett Street, #310, Raleigh, NC 27601
In providing well-rounded services to its clients, Osterlund Architects encourages its employees to find inspiration in their communities. Being aware of and engaging with the world around them allows the firm’s employees to understand where they are working and how to innovate spaces. Osterlund Architects’ process focuses on listening to clients and surveying the site to ensure its designs are tailored to each project. The firm’s designs promote efficiency and sustainability; it uses natural non-toxic, local, and enduring materials to ensure longevity.
Andrew Osterlund, AIA, Construction Documents Technologist (CDT), LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP), and Kristen Osterlund, AIA, serve as Osterlund Architects’ leaders. Andrew has been part of the architecture industry since 1998, building and drawing for various project types. Their recent work includes city-scale mixed-use developments that balance city, client, tenant, and technical demands. Andrew’s specialty encompasses all facets of architecture, including feasibility studies and LEED certification. Kirsten also began her career in architecture in 1998, obtaining licensure in 2005. She is well-versed in managing public and private projects throughout the design and construction phases. Kristen often looks for new ways to bridge the gap between creativity and technical expertise, particularly when it comes to material selection and building envelope design.
New City Design Group
1304 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27605
With more than half a century of serving clients in the Raleigh area, New City Design Group can complete diverse architecture and design projects. The firm’s approach focuses on three things: innovative and problem-solving design, quality craftsmanship, and client-centric service. These three points guide New City Design Group in creating spaces that are dynamic and tailored to meet unique requirements. The firm also holds open conversations with clients and industry partners to get a better idea of how to handle each project and how to best work with the client.
New City Design Group follows the leadership of Ted Van Dyk, AIA, Corey Bates, AIA, LEED AP, and Jeffrey Rezeli, AIA, LEED AP, who are the firm’s principals. Their guidance allowed the firm to complete various projects, including the Raleigh Beer Garden. The featured project features 10,000 square feet of renovated and expanded space in a small office. New City Design Group’s work allowed the client to convert the office building into a restaurant, a garden, and a bar. After the project was completed, the client contracted the firm to work on a similar concept in Charlotte.
JDavis Architects
510 S Wilmington Street, Raleigh, NC 27601
JDavis Architects works to connect communities through thoughtful design. Its mission is to create relevant spaces and provide sustainable and long-term quality. According to CEO Neil Gray, AIA, LEED AP, it is the responsibility of people to make life easier for those who come after. That belief is the reason why JDavis prioritizes passing on knowledge and experience to both employees and clients, as well as accomplishing value-adding projects. The firm’s efforts have led it to become one of the industry’s leaders in infill developments, walkable neighborhoods, and mixed-use projects.
As the leader of JDavis, Neil Gray guides the firm by leveraging his experience with designing urban projects. His passion for the potential that design has in creating livable and sustainable communities allows him to create diverse and dynamic growth opportunities. Grey maintains his expertise and knowledge through memberships with the AIA, the Urban Land Institute (ULI), and the National Association for Industrial and Office Parks (NAIOP).
Louis Cherry Architecture
222 North Bloodworth St. Raleigh, NC 27601
Louis Cherry Architecture combines the traditions of design and construction with the philosophy of functional and culture-based architecture. Founder Louis Cherry, Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA), takes inspiration from the way architecture and design can create diverse spaces that can act as a place to live and work as well as provide functional solutions to unique issues. Cherry’s years in the industry led him to form the firm’s philosophy: that different human experiences can intersect through great architecture. Through the right design, Cherry believes that the firm can enrich lives and encourage people to interact with the environment.
Dedicated to co-existing with nature, Cherry works to bridge modern living with environmental responsibility. His projects’ defining feature is the incorporation of natural light in areas of activity; electric lighting is typically a complementing detail. As a result, Louis Cherry Architecture prioritizes seamless connections between interior and exterior areas. The Hope Valley Residence in Durham, for example, has several large windows that allow both sunlight and cool air to enter. It also has an open floor plan, widening the area. This project’s cohesive design has details like textured natural materials that help brighten up the rooms during the day.
2SL Design Build
210 E Franklin Street, Raleigh, NC 27604
2SL Design Build offers clients comprehensive and customized services, including design, estimation, construction management, interior design, and site planning. The firm’s wide range of expertise allows clients to contract it for various project types. Its portfolio features both residential and commercial work, and 2SL Design Build has worked with architects, designers, developers, and homeowners on many of these projects. This collaborative approach to projects comes from the firm’s core values: integrity, responsiveness, clarity, and creativity.
Under the leadership of husband-and-wife duo John and Lina Sibert, 2SL Design Build has been in the industry since 1997. They established the firm when John recognized the necessity of design-build services for commercial and residential projects. He felt that this approach would make it easier to bridge the gap between vision and execution. Lina taught design at Meredith College before working full-time at 2SL Design Build. She primarily oversees the firm’s development and creative design process.
