Locals consider Torrance to be a hidden treasure in this region of California, and it’s the ideal place to visit if you’re searching for some sun. The coastline spans more than a mile of pristine beach. In addition to a laid-back beach attitude and a strong sense of heritage, Torrance is also known for its delectable eateries, cafes, pubs, and live music venues; no matter which part of the city you visit, there is always something to see and do. Visitors to Torrance will also find one of the country’s largest retail malls, the Del Amo Fashion Center.

As Torrance’s economy continues to flourish, our editorial team decided to give you a list of The Best Commercial Architects in Torrance, California, the professionals that help make the city an even more exciting place to be.

Withee Malcolm Architects

2251 W 190th Street Torrance, CA 90504

Withee Malcolm is a multi-awarded company with a team of more than 40 dedicated experts that deliver creative energy and personal integrity to every project. They address planning, architecture, and interior tasks in Southern and Northern California from their Los Angeles South Bay office, in collaboration with BSB Design’s ten other locations nationwide. Clients consistently attest to the firm’s acute attention to detail and ability to come up with tailor-made solutions. Their highly responsive service has enabled them to establish long-term customer and partner connections in urban infill housing, commercial, industrial, and, most recently, culinary and hospitality-focused areas. The firm has numerous certifications that allow them to serve various parts of Los Angeles. Withee Malcolm Architects has won a number of Gold Nugget Awards over the years, including the most recent 2021 Gold Nugget Merit Award for Best on the Boards. 

Withee Malcolm Architects were behind the creative conceptualization of Ganahl Lumber Company, California’s oldest lumber yard. The new 18-acre yard in Torrance contains a retail store, will-call storage and loading space, operations offices, and two mezzanines, as well as 225,000 square feet of new buildings. The enormous yard also accommodates a truck fleet and an on-site mill. The facility’s architecture is an inventive celebration of wood. The wood frame construction—which uses a composite design—supports a concrete slab to enable rooftop parking. This establishment was the recipient of the Grand Award for ProSales Excellence Awards, a Gold Nugget Award, and a Merit Award for the Best Commercial Project category.

Houston / Tyner Architects

2630 Sepulveda Boulevard, Torrance, CA 90505

Houston Tyner’s reputation as a leader in hospitality, commercial, residential, and institutional projects is based on nearly 30 years of great project design and implementation. A glimpse into their portfolio shows how they’ve been the trusted architects for numerous high-end locations for hospitality and commercial use. The firm has won various awards, including the 2019 RED Awards and the 2019 Best Hospitality Project from the Los Angeles Business Council and the Los Angeles Architectural Awards. Their work has often been featured in national publications like the U.S. News & World, Maui Time Magazine, and Forbes.

This 4-star boutique hotel marries East Coast bold with West Coast cool and is conveniently positioned in famed South Bay, close to the beach, companies, and LAX. There is an indoor-outdoor restaurant as well as a nine-hole golf course and a CrossFit-inspired fitness facility on the premises. This 35,000 square feet of versatile indoor and outdoor event space creates the setting for meetings, weddings, and social events.

Reuter & Reuter Inc. 

23001 Hawthorne Boulevard, Suite 204, Torrance, CA 90505

Since 1993, Reuter & Reuter has been a commercial architecture and design firm in Torrance, California. Headed by Dean T. Reuter, he has amassed plenty of experience working in the Torrance bay area since 1990, having had the opportunity to work on numerous projects, big and small. His strong technical talents, deep understanding of the architectural, interior design, and construction processes, building rules and regulations, and a wide range of project management experiences are just a few of the pillars that support the firm’s foundation. The Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce, The Rotary Club of Del Amo Torrance, and The YMCA of Torrance have all certified the firm.

Reuter & Reuter are the creators of the Torrance Family Medical, featured above. The Torrance Family Medical Center is an 8,000-square-foot healthcare institution. When this property was first conceptualized, the goal was to build a six-doctor practice with two operation rooms, an onsite x-ray room, and three multiple-person nurse stations. The project entailed extensive site work for the landlord as well as building enhancements, including new mechanical and shielding facilities.

Obelisk Architects

3800 Pacific Coast Highway, Torrance, CA 90505

Nagy Bakhoum founded Obelisk Architects in 1997 with the intention of creating an architecture business that focuses on open collaboration with its clients to create their ideal space. The firm specializes in ageless architecture founded on historical precedent and one-of-a-kind design ideas. With experience working on a myriad of high-end residential and commercial projects, firm principal Nagy Bakhoum is a recognized professional architect with celebrated works featured in The Los Angeles Times. He was even a co-author of the 4th and 5th editions of the Professional Practice of Architecture text—foundational reading material for future architects.  

Obelisk Architects worked with Belle Bridal to create a shop that provides the ultimate shopping experience for bridesmaids, brides, and grooms.  Founded in 2002, Belle Bridal & Tuxedo is located in Redondo Beach, California. The overall design conveys more than just a women’s clothing store; it was designed in a warm Mediterranean style.

Fore Architects

520 S Grand Avenue, Suite 660, Los Angeles, CA 90071

In the industry for more than 20 years, Fore Architects has a track record of successfully translating all variables into unique architectural solutions that are compelling, cost-effective, functional, and environmentally friendly. Fore Architects learns the character and history of their clients, the project site, and the surrounding neighborhood. The team then uses that knowledge to guide their entire design process. All their projects are informed by innovation and sustainability. 

A great example of the firm’s work is the Buena Park hotel, featured in the photo above. Hotel Stanford is a rapidly expanding boutique hotel business with locations in Seoul, South Korea, Panama City, Panama, Santiago, Chile, New York City, and Tukwila, Washington. The Buena Park facility will feature 150 guest rooms, plenty of meeting and event space, and a rooftop bar. The hotel will be 10-stories tall, making it the tallest structure in Buena Park and providing a unique accommodation experience along the city’s Entertainment Corridor. The hotel will house a number of sleek and refreshing amenities designed to add to the overall allure of the establishment.