Regarded as one of the United States’ oldest major cities, Richmond houses various American Revolution sites and other tourist destinations, which include breweries, gardens, museums, and amusement parks.

This list showcases ten of Richmond’s best and leading commercial architects, as well as its most noteworthy commercial attractions and spaces. They were selected based on their diverse experiences and stellar portfolios. Several of these companies are also recipients of multiple industry distinctions. 

HKS Architects

2100 E. Cary St, #100 Richmond, VA 2322

HKS Architects provides a comprehensive range of services that specialize in a variety of market types. These include aviation, civic, and commercial projects. Its portfolio also depicts education, government, healthcare, hospitality, life science, mission-critical, and mixed-use residential work. The company utilizes excellent interior design skills and extensive research, as well as outstanding architecture. Its Richmond office is a leading company in the area that has drawn inspiration from nearly three decades of working around the metro. Some of its most impressive projects include the Children’s Hospital of Richmond Pavilion, Virginia, Military Institute’s Indoor Training Facility, and Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.

The firm’s work for the Children’s Hospital of Richmond Pavilion is shown above at the Virginia Commonwealth University. The primary challenge for this project was creating a strong healing and recovery environment for both children and their families. As a solution, the firm designed a ten-story ambulatory pavilion that encompasses the project’s existing pediatric clinics into a new building. It also features educational facilities for medical students, imaging services, and resource centers. This project won the firm multiple distinctions from the American Institute of Architects (AIA). 

Baskervill

1051 East Cary St. Suite 200 Richmond, VA 23219

Baskervill has had the opportunity to work in over forty-four states and offers its clients over a hundred years of industry experience. Its repeat clientele rate is over 90%, and it is regarded for its ability to take on new projects, regardless of size or scale. The firm specializes in commercial spaces and is particularly noted for its hospitality, office, healthcare, education, and community projects. Its stellar interior designs and MEP engineering solutions prove impressive as well. These processes have resulted in incredible spaces, with one of its best works showcased in the photo below.

Completed for the Big Lick Brewing Company, this project sits in the heart of Roanoke. In this project, the firm worked on its architecture and its interior design and engineering. The project is a part of a comprehensive neighborhood revitalization effort that brought various housing and retail options. The Baskervill team worked with a developer to overhaul both the interiors and exteriors of this one-hundred-year-old structure.

3North

4015 Fitzhugh Ave Richmond, VA 23230

3North is a unified design firm that operates out of its office in Richmond. It also has an office in San Francisco and offers its clients unique and innovative solutions to their space, regardless of challenge or complexity. The firm is composed of over thirty talented and experienced professionals. This group includes architects, landscape architects, interior designers, and graphic designers. Together, they utilize a highly collaborative process that enables clients to better incorporate their needs and visions into their new spaces. 3North is also noted for its outstanding historic restorations, allowing it to work with a diverse clientele list. Since the firm’s inception, it has been featured in a multitude of publications. These include Travel & Leisure, The Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, Condé Nast Traveler, and Virginia Living.

The photo above depicts the firm’s work for the Martin Agency, a word-class ad agency. Its team worked on opening up its spaces and giving it a more modern feel. The result was adaptive office spaces, glass-paned rooms, and whiteboard walls. Its use of natural materials and the maximization of natural light proves striking as well. 

Glave & Holmes Architecture

2101 East Main St Richmond, VA 23223

Glave & Holmes is a nationally recognized firm headquartered in the heart of Richmond. It offers a complete and comprehensive range of architecture, interior design, and planning services and has been in business since 1965. Composed of over sixty professionals, the firm credits its success to its excellent and talented team of architects, historic preservationists, and supporting staff. Under their supervision, the firm has been able to work on multiple higher education, commercial, cultural, civic, hospitality, and residential projects. The firm is also noted for its infusion of various sustainability practices into its projects, assuring clients that its spaces are highly efficient and eco-friendly. The photo below is an excellent example of the firm’s expertise.

Located on 9 West Grace Street and in the urban core of Richmond, this project has initially been an appliance showroom. More recently, it was a photography studio before it was transformed into this recording studio. The space now features double-height ceilings, specially made tracking rooms, and a media complex. 

Commonwealth Architects

101 Shockoe Slip, 3rd Flr Richmond, VA 23219

Commonwealth Architects is one of Richmond’s best and leading architecture firms and commits itself to the highest standards. It has been lauded multiple times over the years with various impressive industry distinctions. Its full range of architecture services, as well as its interior design, historic preservation, and planning work, are especially impressive. It also showcases excellent adaptive reuse projects and is manned by a group of service-oriented architects and designers. 

The firm is personally led by its principals, Lee Shadbolt and Thomas Heatwole. Shadbolt is an expert in new construction and rehabilitation of multi-family, residential, retail, office, and mixed-use projects and once served as president of the AIA Richmond Chapter. Heatwole, on the other hand, oversees quality assurance and control. He is a member of the Virginia State Bar and the US Green Building Council. 

RRMM Architects

115 South 15th St, Suite 202 Richmond, VA 23219

RRMM Architects is headquartered in Chesapeake, VA with additional offices in Richmond, Arlington, Roanoke, and Rockville, MD. They are experts in a variety of procurement methods including CM@Risk, Design-Build, and Design-Bid-Build as well as PPEA. The company’s portfolio includes spaces completed for a variety of market sectors, including K-12 Education, Higher Education, Federal, Municipal, Retail, Healthcare, Library, and Community projects. The firm emphasizes the importance of working closely with its clients throughout the process to ensure that their needs and visions are incorporated into their new spaces.

Depicted above is the firm’s recent work for Richard Bland College. Located in Petersburg, the new Academic Innovation Center will enable Richard Bland College to enhance its capacity to offer programming in partnership with an array of institutions and organizations. The teaching and learning spaces are planned to be intentionally flexible to accommodate varied delivery and content creation options including micro-credentials, fast track programs, remediation, and OER-enhanced Online and hybrid programming.

510 Architects

3330 W Leigh St Suite A Richmond, VA 23230

510 Architects specializes in both commercial and residential spaces and is headquartered in Richmond. The firm has established a solid reputation by showcasing a deep understanding for each aspect of the process. It utilizes the best materials, with the latest and most innovative industry techniques. The firm’s work has been featured in a multitude of publications. These include GRID Magazine and New Old House. It has also received various accolades from the AIA.

The project above was completed for Spang TV. Its open floor concept, contemporary feel, and colorful interiors are striking.

Thomas Hamilton & Associates

3021 West Clay St, Richmond, VA 23230

Founded in 1980, Thomas Hamilton & Associates offers a full range of architecture and interior design services. It specializes in commercial projects and maintains a highly hands-on approach. The firm has received numerous distinctions through the years. Its rave reviews and rankings through the years are unparalleled. 

Most recently, it was among the leading companies included as one of Interior Design Magazine’s “Top 100 Hospitality Giants,” Hotel Business Magazine’s “Top Architects and Designers,” and Hotel Management Magazine’s “Top Design Firms.” Since its inception, the firm has had the privilege of working with various noteworthy brands. These include the Marriott/Starwood, IHG, Hyatt, and Hilton.

The project above is located at 3021 West Clay Street. Prior to the firm’s intervention, the space used to house a limousine service before its team transformed it to accommodate a new company. It features refurbished historic details, reclaimed wood accents, and a modern feel. 

PSH+

207 North Foushee St Richmond, VA 23220

Formerly known as Price Simpson Harvey, PSH+ is a full service architecture and interior design firm that operates from its main office in Richmond. It is a trailblazer in the healthcare, aviation, corporate, recreational, mixed-use, and higher education market sectors and provides a unique methodology to its services. Since its establishment, it has curated a solid commercial portfolio and prides itself on designs inspired by their client’s project goals using the highest construction standards. The photo below is an exquisite example of its team’s talent and expertise.

Located in Goochland County, this design-build project was completed for Hardywood West Creek. It entailed working on industrial and mixed-use spaces. For this project, the firm’s team opted for a rustic theme, complemented by its generous use of wood and rustic finishes.