Gilroy is a city in Santa Clara County located south of Morgan Hill and north of San Benito County. The city is conveniently placed at the southern entryway to Silicon Valley, making it an attractive location for commercial activities. Having gained recognition as the “Garlic Capital of the World” with its annual Gilroy Garlic Festival, the rustic city has slowly blossomed into a dynamic and welcoming city with a population of approximately 56,000 people. Because of its growing population and rising economic activity, start-ups and company entrepreneurs are establishing their businesses in Gilroy.
The commercial architects near the city are assisting these businesses in transforming their brands into powerful and attractive establishments. The best commercial architects in Gilroy, California, have been selected by our editorial staff; we chose these firms for the quality of their work, their industry awards, their years of experience, and relevant projects.
KTGY
1814 Franklin Street, Suite 400, Oakland, CA 94612
For three decades, KTGY has been envisioning a future where style is a blend of sustainability and outstanding design. This business offers top-notch venues for lively communities, with over 850 awards won in the last 30 years, including two Platinum and three Gold awards at the National Association of Home Builders’ Best in American Living Awards in 2022. In and around the California area, the firm’s competence in residential, hotel, mixed-use and community revitalization projects has placed it in high demand. In 2020, KTGY was ranked 35th in Architectural Record’s Top 300 architecture firms, recognizing it as a national, full-service architecture, branding, interiors and planning firm specializing in residential, retail, hospitality and mixed-use environments.
KTGY’s notable projects include the Edes Building in downtown Morgan Hill. The building’s design is inspired by the stunning panoramic views of its neighboring sloping hills, reflecting a distinctive appearance that blends into an eclectic urban setting. The massing utilizes troweled concrete for its entry steps, ramp, planters and architectural plinth. While the ground floor is primarily glass, the second floor is mainly wood siding. Mass timber was chosen for its natural finish and ability to provide larger spans than wood construction. The natural finish of the exterior materials is echoed on the interior. On the first level of the building, you’ll find an expansive art gallery and a café.
HED
417 Montgomery Street, Suite 400, San Francisco, CA 94104
Established in 1908 in Detroit, Michigan, HED has gradually expanded to its current size of over 400 employees working in eight U.S. offices from coast to coast. Known for thinking creatively to overcome challenges and improve real world outcomes, the firm credits its long history and reputation for excellence to its belief that all the facets of its design services, from architecture, consulting, engineering, and planning, must create a positive impact for their clients, the community, and the world through responsive, innovative, and sustainable design solutions. The firm has been featured numerous times in multiple publications, including being named #25 in Building Design+Construction Magazine’s Top 95 Architecture & Engineering Firms. In addition to the size and scale of its operations, HED is committed to principles of sustainability, justice, diversity, and is committed to its employees. HED was an early signee to the AIA 2030 commitment, is an International Living Future Institute certified JUST firm, is committed to Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) principles and success planning, and has been named a Best & Brightest Place to Work in all its metro locations and nationally for the better part of a decade. With a century-long history of experience and a team with a wide range of backgrounds and ideas, HED continues to impact its clientele and communities through efficient, unique, and sustainable design solutions.
HED has steadily built this reputation by delivering design excellence and building long-lasting relationships with its clients. A notable example is the firm’s ongoing sixty-year relationship with Ford Motor Company. Ford’s Research and Innovation Center in Palo Alto, California, is one of the firm’s recent designs for the company. HED renovated two previously unoccupied buildings to expand Ford’s current facility for research and innovation dramatically. The bright, open floorplan removes visual barriers and unifies engineers, designers, researchers, and scientists and doubled Ford’s Palo Alto workforce, creating more than five times the square footage of the original campus.
Studio W Architects
111 North Market Street, Suite 710, San Jose, CA 95113
Studio W Architects is an architectural firm devoted to creating dream projects for clients. The firm visualizes its clients’ ideal establishment, then actualizes it through innovative design solutions and strict work principles. The firm also supervises the architectural process every step of the way to ensure that the best possible outcome is achieved on each project. Its comprehensive solutions work with the history and context of the project, all the while incorporating modern styles and techniques.
The firm is led by Brian Whitmore, AIA, LEED AP, and James Moore IV, RA, LEED AP, the two principal architects serving the firm. Together, the two combine their expertise, experience, and leadership to deliver outstanding projects.
Featured is Christopher High School, a comprehensive high school project that was completed in 2011. This spacious, two-story campus occupies 40 acres of land, allowing the provision of multiple areas and spaces to be managed by users. The school is designed around the central quad area which is the social hub of the campus. The firm integrated both modern and classical materials to provide a contemporary institution with a scholarly atmosphere that reflects the original high school in Gilroy, CA. The timeless design earned awards, including the Learning By Design 2007 Architectural Recognition and the C.A.S.H./AIACC Leroy F. Greene Design + Planning Awards 2011 Award of Excellence.
Hochhauser Blatter Associates Architecture & Planning
122 East Arrellaga Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Hochhauser Blatter Associates (HBA) Architecture & Planning is a Santa Barbara-based multi-disciplinary architectural, planning, and development consulting firm. It has also served as one of Santa Barbara’s pioneers in sustainable design and practices for more than three decades. HBA’s distinctive quality stems from its extensive expertise in planning and design. The firm has been featured in several publications in recent years, including Urbanize LA and What Now Los Angeles.
One of the firm’s founding partners, Jan Hochhauser, is a member of the AIA and is certified with LEED AP. As a LEED Accredited Professional, he assures that each project is financially viable, visually exceptional, and sustainable. Jan brings over 32 years of experience to the firm’s team, allowing it to deliver great design solutions and first-rate professional services.
The diverse portfolio of HBA includes a range of modest and large architectural projects in the residential, commercial, and foodservice sectors. One of its projects is the Alexander Station in Gilroy. This project offers one, two, three, and four-bedroom apartments with beautiful amenities, including a communal area with a kitchen, a computer center, a playground, a pool, and a secured entry. The project is also equipped with energy-efficient construction and design.
Weston Miles Architects
17500 Depot Street, #200, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
When it comes to all-around solutions and creative designs, Weston Miles Architects is one of the top architectural firms in the area. The firm can work in multiple market sectors through different services that are not limited to just designing and building—the firm has proven itself as a versatile architect that is more than capable of handling projects for a broad range of clients. During its 36 years of service, it has garnered multiple certifications, including AIA, the Hometown Chamber of Commerce, and the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce.
The firm is led and managed by its two principal architects, Charles Weston, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, and Lesley Miles, AIA, and LEED AP. These two principals have the experience and the credentials, evident in their multiple accomplishments as individual architects. They have both worked on multiple projects, collaborated with professionals and clients alike, and honed their craft in the field of architecture. Their projects consistently exceed expectations.
Granada Theater is a prime example of what the firm can deliver for its clients. This establishment was once a bustling theater, but over a decade ago, it was left vacant. The firm decided to save the building from demolition, seeing that it was a piece of art in the area. The firm managed to restore and renovate the building entirely, transforming it into a theater that has a mix of modern and retro styles. The firm also reshaped the floor plan to emphasize accessibility.
Reid Lerner Architects
7680 Monterey Street, Gilroy, CA 95022
Reid Lerner Architects is a well-known architectural firm that provides meaningful spaces through its wide array of services that include everything from design architecture to land planning. The firm understands that building spaces that can elevate a user’s experiences; the firm’s team is dedicated to delivering nothing but the highest quality in the industry.
Serving as the owner and principal architect of the firm is Reid Lerner, AIA, who has over 30 years of experience. Since he earned his degree in architecture, he has continued to explore different styles and designs, working with a large, international client base. He has expanded his knowledge base and used this as the foundation for establishing his own firm.
Gilroy Express Wash, a commercial car wash establishment for car owners of all classes, is a good example of what the firm can do. The firm was able to design this project to be both inviting and environmentally friendly.
