Considered by many as one of the best places to live in the country, Pittsburgh is a great city with loads of attractions and welcoming neighborhoods. The city has an expanding economy and a vibrant art community that reflects the thriving residential scene in the place. The top architects that design multifamily housing in Pittsburgh not only consider the needs and comfort of those that will be living in the units, but they also strive to provide all that within a building that integrates well with the location’s rich architectural history.
Below is a list of the best multifamily architects in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This list was created after we considered each studio’s background, the quality and complexity of their projects, and the recognition they have received in the business.
WTW Architects
Timber Court 127 Anderson Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15212
WTW Architects is an award-winning, full-service architectural, planning, and interior design firm that has done great work in designing sustainable buildings in keeping with LEED standards. With 62 years of experience, it’s had a hand in shaping the skyline of Pittsburgh with its stunning multifamily projects. It believes that a home is a form of self-expression and a safe haven, so it strives to provide the best service when it comes to building secure, convenient, and environmentally-friendly residential buildings.
At the helm is President/CEO Larry Payne, an AIA and LEED AP BD+C architect, a certified Parksmart Advisor, and an accredited architect with the NCARB. That kind of highly competent leadership has made WTF Architects a top firm for designing a variety of projects in the city. Much of its work has been featured in The Business Journal, NEXTpittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pittsburgh City Paper, and many more.
The Yards at Three Crossings pictured above is a great example of WTW Architects’ work on multifamily projects. The name of this project was inspired by the site’s previous use as a trucking terminal and rail yard before it became a beautiful 343,000 SF LEED Gold development on a waterfront area. The goal of this project was to encourage sustainable living and with its design; it also promotes an active lifestyle among its residents.
Rothschild Doyno Collaborative
2847 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
An experienced and fully accredited architecture and urban design firm, Rothschild Doyno Collaborative is an award-winning company consisting of talented and passionate individuals known for a collaborative process that leverages each client’s unique assets to create a well-rounded design that reflects their business’ character.
The firm is led by six decorated principals and a highly skilled staff of registered architects, certified planners, LEED-accredited Professionals, Certified Passive House Consultants, a WELL-Accredited Professional, and an EcoDistricts-Accredited Professional. They all work together thanks to a thoughtful design process.
For its wonderful work, several of the Collective’s apartment projects have been recognized with prestigious awards. These include the AIA Pittsburgh Design Award which was given to plenty of its projects, including the Sandstone Quarry Apartments, The Overlook, South Hills Retirement Residence, Penn at 29th, and The Avenue Apartments.
That last is the beautiful project featured above. This complex incorporates the area’s art history into its design as a way to strengthen the connection of this new development with the neighborhood. The team also involved the residents of Braddock to participate in the design and installation of the building’s history and art panels to reflect a genuine and beautiful narrative of the community. Details of the building incorporate the neighborhood’s past iconic details—its mosaic tile floor and outdoor art gallery showcase the rich history of Braddock.
Strada
611 William Penn Place, Suite 700, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Strada is a cross-disciplinary design firm that’s been around for over two decades. Named after the Italian word for “street,” Strada’s design philosophy is inspired by streets that connect buildings, people, and public spaces. Many of its designs for multifamily projects are deeply rooted in the site’s context and the needs of the neighborhood.
Strada is an award-winning firm and a recipient of multiple AIA awards and has been recognized with the American Builders and Contractors of WV Project of the Year in 2016 and the Platinum Award for Development 5 Stories and Over from the NAHB Best in American Living Awards in 2015. On top of that, its work has also graced the pages of The Business Journals, Pittsburgh Magazine, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, NEXT Pittsburgh, and many more.
Featured above is the Windom Hill Place project, a multifamily development that includes a row of townhouses that overlook Downtown Pittsburgh and the South Side Flats. With their site position, each 3,100 to 3,400 SF townhouse enjoys spectacular views of the city all while adapting to the challenges of the site’s constraints. Each unit boasts sustainable features as well, such as insulated concrete form construction, local materials, low-emission finishes, and an abundance of daylight coming in from the north.
Fukui Architects
205 Ross Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
With nearly three decades of experience, Fukui Architects strives to create environments that reflect the aspirations of its clients and are conducive for work, play, thinking, living, studying, making, dining, and planning. Much of its architectural work includes new construction, office renovations, retail, restaurants, higher education, warehouse facilities, and single-family and multifamily residences.
The firm’s design philosophy is anchored on the correct usage of light, sustainable materials, color, texture, size orientation, planning, and building systems—all those elements need to be the right fit for the context of its surroundings. This practice has earned the firm plenty of awards for its design excellence, including the 2018 Master Builders Association Building Excellence Award, the 2014 AIA Certificate of Merit, and the 2006 Associated Builders and Contractors Award.
The Miller Street Apartments featured above shows Fukui Architects’ talent for designing multifamily projects that blend into each neighborhood the firm works in. This development is an all-electric, five-story, 36-unit Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) property in Pittsburgh, designed to have exceptional energy efficiency. As a cherry on top, these apartments are located in a lovely walkable residential neighborhood that has good access to services and transportation.
mossArchitects
5122 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224
mossArchitects is a relatively young firm compared to the other companies on this list. In its 15 years in the business, it has proven itself to be a fantastic architect that develops responsive, artistic, and expressive design solutions that are specifically tailored to the needs of Pittsburgh. With its commitment to its clients’ goals and sustainable practices, its portfolio is filled with projects that not only reflect the heritage of Pittsburgh but respect the city through its healthy design.
All this is anchored on the founder’s 12-year background in designing award-winning projects with Semple Brown Design in Denver. When Andrew Doran Moss moved back to Pittsburgh, he brought his revered design practices that have been recognized by the AIA. The firm’s work has also been recognized with the AIA Pittsburgh 2020 Honor Award for Argo AI Palo Alto Office, the AIA Pittsburgh 2019 Honor Award for Carnegie Residence, the AIA Pittsburgh 2019 Merit Award from The Detective Building, and several others.
When it comes to multifamily housing, the Lola38 Townhomes project above is a striking, eclectic interpretation of the urban row houses that can be found throughout the Lawrenceville neighborhood where it is located. Its modern, durable exterior is evocative of Pittsburgh’s industrial heritage, which includes concrete block, corrugated metal, and fiber cement paneling details.
R3A Architecture
48 South 14th Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203
R3A Architecture is a motivated, experienced, and creative team of architects, interior designers, and project managers that are uniquely qualified to design for the diverse needs of the Pittsburgh scene. Its designs are human-centered and its design process is an openly collaborative process that is empathetic towards the clients’ needs and the comfort of the end-users.
In its 26 years in the business, the firm has won several prestigious awards, including the 2019 AIA Los Angeles COTE Citation Design Award, the WAN Award, recognition as an Excellence in Concrete Finalist, the AIA Pittsburgh Honor Award, the ULI Pittsburgh Transformative Space Award, the ENR MidAtlantic Award of Merit, and many others.
The great work that R3A puts into its multifamily projects shines in The Beacon Condominiums project featured above. It’s an upscale development found in the exclusive Squirrel Hill community. This R3A project is a lovely blend of masonry, metal siding, and custom windows that makes a good addition to the surrounding neighborhood architecture.
Desmone Architects
3400 Butler Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201
With 63 years of experience in the business, Desmone Architects is a highly competent full-service architecture and interior design firm with a proven background in design excellence and good client service. With the help of its LEED accredited personnel, it designs healthy spaces that promote health and wellness—important aspects to consider in any residential project.
For its top-notch service, the firm was named one of the Top Architecture Firms by the Pittsburgh Business Times in 2012 and 2016 and named as one of the 100 Fastest Growing Companies in Pittsburgh in 2014 to 2015. The firm also won the 2016 Circle of Excellence Award from the PSMJ and was named the Best Architecture Firm by Pittsburgh Magazine from 2009 to 2010.
The firm’s attention to detail in design— and the amenities it tailors for its target residents—shines in the project featured above. In the 2500 Smallman, the team at Desmone Architects transformed a previously nondescript 1950s warehouse into a 70,000-square-foot luxury living space in the Strip District neighborhood of Pittsburgh. The design of this project centers around the housing and amenities needs of the project’s target residents, which includes a motor court with a suspended boardwalk, a heated concrete court, stylish move-in-ready units, and blank slates for customization.
Front Studio Architects
357 North Craig Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Since 2001, Front Studio Architects has been providing adventurous design solutions that promote the welfare of each community it works in. The firm believes that architecture should be an interactive and creatively vibrant process with the inhabitants at the forefront of the design. As such, its portfolio is riddled with visually interesting projects that are not only striking but also prioritize the experience of the user and the lasting effect that the building leaves in the surrounding environment.
The firm’s adventurous approach to architecture shines through in The Glass Lofts project which was awarded a Citation of Merit from the AIA Pennsylvania Design Excellence Award 2010. This project was commissioned by the Friendship Development Associates (FDA) as a central player in its community revitalization program. The Glass Lofts consists of 39,000-square-feet of artist workspaces, 18 loft condominiums, retail, and restaurant spaces, FDA offices, and a flexible-use community space —all conveniently and aptly located at the center of the Penn Avenue Arts District.
Perfido Weiskopf Wagstaff + Goettel
408 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Based in Pittsburgh, Perfido Weiskopf Wagstaff + Goettel is an architecture, planning, and urban design firm that’s been in the business for 47 years. Over the decades, the firm has established a solid reputation for its ability to transform clients’ ideas into a cost-effective and buildable project, and it does so on time and within budget. The firm is an integral part of Pittsburgh’s architectural scene thanks to its significant work on commercial projects, higher education, and multifamily housing.
The stunning Eight and Penn project featured above is the rehabilitation of two historic buildings with the addition of two new ones, all in the heart of Pittsburgh’s downtown Cultural District. This 190,000-square-foot development was designed based on Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s “Nine Guiding Principles,” resulting in a beautiful, modern plan based on the rhythm of the existing historic buildings. Its residential units include a mix of micros, studios, one-bedroom units, and two-bedroom units that all have access to an array of attractive amenities, including a fitness center, a club room, and an expansive rooftop garden terrace.
Indovina Associates Architects
3185 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15201
As a multi-disciplined design firm, Indovina Associates Architects has been providing its clients a full range of architectural services since 1978. To date, the firm has completed about twelve hundred projects across different building types, and thanks to its client service, a great number of those projects come from repeat clients that trust in the kind of work that Indovina does. Not only are its multifamily housing projects gorgeous to look at, but they’re also designed to be cost-effective with innovative design solutions.
The Mews on Butler project featured above consists of rows of houses that have modern design features that add a splash of eclectic energy to the neighborhood it is located in. Each building and unit blend well with each other with a uniform general design, but each still stands distinct from one thanks to their individual details.
