South Pasadena is a charming town located six miles from the city of Los Angeles. This city is known for its affluent neighborhoods, striking homes, and small businesses. Home to some of the wealthiest families in California, South Pasadena is bursting with vibrant commercial establishments. With a high demand for new businesses, the best commercial architects in South Pasadena are situated in different parts of the city.

When opening a new project in town, whether it be a retail store, restaurant, or remodeling an existing establishment, one of the first steps in choosing a commercial architect should include a thorough background check on the company. Some of the items on your list should include the firm’s past clients, customer experience, specialization, and reputation. On this list, our editorial team rounded up the top commercial architects in South Pasadena to help you select the most suitable firm for the job.

MCG Architecture

15635 Alton Pkwy. Suite #100, Irvine, CA 92618

MCG Architecture is a leading commercial architect in South Pasadena, serving business owners across the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. With offices located all over the country, the firm offers full-scope architectural services with projects located in different parts of the world. The company specializes in designing high-quality commercial establishments, offices, hotels, shopping centers, and mixed-use developments. Since 1927, the architecture firm has developed proven techniques and anticipated new trends to deliver creative and innovative designs.

Under the direction of founder Robert Ainsworth, MCG Architecture began with modest beginnings, catering to residential, industrial, and institutional projects. He is known for designing some of Pasadena’s most striking civic buildings. When Robert McClellan joined MCG, he expanded its services to include commercial and mixed-use clients. 

Eventually, Adolfo R. Cruz and Frederick J. Gaylord joined the company and grew it further by including more diverse projects. With nearly a century of architectural, design, and planning experience, the firm has received numerous awards, such as the 2020 Award of Merit for Office, Retail, and Mixed-Use Developments by ENR Southeast.

TOLO Architecture

1024 Wilde St. Los Angeles, CA 90021

Founded in 1998, Los Angeles-based TOLO Architecture provides complete architectural services throughout Southern California. Since the firm was established, the company has developed a diverse portfolio, including commercial and residential projects, ranging from hotels and restaurants to mixed-use and multifamily housing. The commercial architect also focuses on redeveloping buildings in Old Pasadena’s historic entertainment and shopping district.

For two decades, TOLO Architecture has received numerous recognitions, including several awards from the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and won the Excellence in Design Award in the architecture category from the City of Claremont Architectural Commission. The firm has also been featured in various publications, such as Domus, Architectural Record, The Los Angeles Times, and The New York Times, for its outstanding projects. One of the firm’s most prominent projects is the Saladang Song in Pasadena. TOLO Architecture designed an indoor and patio dining area, a penthouse apartment, and employee areas.

Giisamex, Inc.

220 Monterey Rd. South Pasadena, CA 91030

Giisamex is an experienced commercial and residential company in South Pasadena, serving clients across Pasadena and nearby areas. Offering exceptional design methods and architectural solutions, the firm is recognized for its reliability and quality of service. With a wide scope of architecture, planning, and design services, the design studio has extensive experience in designing high-end homes, multifamily units, flip homes, and garage conversions. Since 2009, the company has produced successful commercial projects, including high-end restaurants, industrial cold storage, and other types of establishments. The firm also provides efficient project management, construction, and documentation services.

Giisamex provides a systemized approach under the guidance of owner Miguel Alvarado, along with a passionate team of architects and engineers. Miguel has accumulated decades of experience in designing commercial and residential properties, including sustainable spaces, ADUs, and hillside homes. The firm is recognized for its technical skill and expertise in providing practical and efficient design solutions to all types of complex designs and layouts.

Workshop Design Collective

1010 Sycamore Ave. Suite #208, South Pasadena, CA 91030

The Workshop Design Collective, located in South Pasadena, offers a broad range of architectural solutions. Established in 2010, the firm provides over a decade of knowledge and experience in architecture and design. The respected commercial architect is recognized for its unique and innovative solutions at a reasonable cost. With a collaborative approach, the company is composed of a highly creative team of architects and designers who are passionate about maintaining high standards regardless of project type.

The Workshop Design Collective is composed of a professional team of design experts led by Dwight Bond, AIA and April Wood Bond including collaborations with Colin Tucker, Mike Ascione, MPA, and Christopher Torres, RLA of Agency Artifact. Their combined skills have led the company to produce numerous successful projects across different industries. Over the years, the design studio has acquired memberships, including the AIA and has partnered with the top subcontractors in the state. The Old Town Junction serves as a noteworthy project for the firm. For this establishment, Workshop Design Collective did an exterior remodel of the existing two story building including the interior remodel for the ground floor restaurant and second floor RE/MAX office space, integrating a personalized and distinctive style that compliments the Old Newhall vibe.

Curtis Su Associates

1414 Fair Oaks Ave. Suite #2A, South Pasadena, CA 91030

Curtis Su Associates, founded in 2017, is a young, vibrant, and dynamic architecture firm, offering superior-quality design solutions for commercial and residential projects. For five years, the firm has accomplished various types of design projects, including renovations, new construction, interior designs, and exterior makeovers. The company is focused on designing for the hospitality sector and custom home projects. As an independent interior architecture company, Curtis Su specializes in customizing designs and creating thoughtful spaces that reflect the client’s personality. Each project is curated with a unique perspective because of the collaboration of the firm’s talented team of professional architects.

Curtis Su Associates has quickly established itself as a reliable architecture firm and is known for its state-of-the-art designs. The Big Dipper Café in Altadena is a notable project of the design studio. Curtis Su Associates crafted a warm and inviting space, incorporating wooden materials and floor-to-ceiling windows into the plan. The new design resulted in a cozy environment while still maintaining a functional layout.

GeorgeArchitecture

845 Mission St. South Pasadena, CA  91030

South Pasadena-based GeorgeArchitecture is a full-service architecture, design, and planning firm offering high-standard architecture, interior design, landscape, and lighting services. Founded in 2004, the design studio has produced a wide range of commercial and residential projects across different types of projects and industries. Most of its residential projects are focused on the kitchen, bath, and outdoor living renovations. Its commercial clients, on the other hand, include office, retail, restaurant, automotive, mixed-use development, and tenant improvement.

Since its inception, GeorgeArchitecture has completed numerous design projects, ranging from additions and remodels to new construction. Having worked with many top brands and companies in the region, the company understands the importance of integrating a full branding design for its clients. The Citrus Valley Association of Realtors (CVAR Plaza) in Glendora is a featured project of the firm. GeorgeArchitecture created a Spanish-style design with a strong reference to Spanish colonial architecture. The concept also complements the historic design of Route 66.

Space Light Structure Design, Inc.

1414 Fair Oaks Ave. Suite #3, South Pasadena, CA 91030

For 28 years, Space Light Structure Design (SLSD) has designed the finest homes and establishments in South Pasadena. Founded in 1994, the dependable architecture firm provides quality designs for commercial and residential clients. Its projects include banks, restaurants, hotels, institutions, high-density housing, and mixed-use developments. Located in Southern California, the design firm offers architectural, planning, and design solutions with extensive experience in different types of projects across various industries.

The firm is composed of a group of professional architects with decades of in-depth experience under the guidance of owner Wing Wing Hung Vincent Tsoi. SLSD is a premier design studio offering pre-design services, space planning, schematic design, design development, construction documentation, and construction observation. With a teamwork approach, the firm works closely with clients, providing customer satisfaction from inception to project completion. Over the years, the company has received positive reviews from clients for its efficient design process.