Louisville has been named one of the best cities in the United States to live in, and one reason is its diverse selection of small, independent businesses and restaurants. Louisville is also home to dozens of companies and institutions that contribute to the city’s economy. Nature is another big part of why it’s a lovely city: there are plenty of places to explore and get in touch with nature just outside of the city.

We’ve listed 15 of Louisville’s best office architects. In making the list, we considered the quality of the firm’s projects, the strength of their reputations, and the recognition they have received for their work.

EOP Architects

322 E Main Street, Louisville, KY 40202

EOP Architects, based in Lexington and Louisville, is a multi-award-winning architecture and interior design firm. Its design-driven ethos is founded on the belief that architecture can inspire and transform while also providing substantial cultural and environmental value. Spaces for the civic, academic, research, health care, mixed-use, hotel, office, recreational, fitness, residential, and food sectors are among its project types.

The firm takes pride in its ability to listen to clients, identify project challenges, and transform those ideas into creative and cost-effective design alternatives. The Lane Report, NBBJ, WTVQ, The Business Journals, and Billboard have all published articles about the firm’s work. EOP has also received multiple regional and national design awards. The concept of design excellence has driven its achievements and success in the industry. The firm’s dedication to working with clients to develop lively, practical, and inviting spaces won the team the AIA Kentucky Firm of the Year Award in 2010.

Luckett & Farley

737 South 3rd Street, Louisville, KY  40202

Luckett & Farley is the largest and oldest continuously operating architecture firm in Kentucky. The employee-owned firm provides design services through a studio model that includes architects, engineers, interior designers, and developers who share industry knowledge to turn clients’ goals into outcomes. The company is based in Louisville and has over 160 years of industry experience.

It provides extensive renovation services. The firm’s portfolio includes hospitality, mixed-use, commercial, and educational structures. It has also worked on numerous projects for the government and in a variety of civic, industrial, and corporate settings.

The AIA awarded Luckett & Farley the 2020 Distinguished Firm Award, the 2020 Frederick Real Estate Dealmakers Awards, and the 2009 MediStar Facility Design Award. Its works have also been featured by publications such as The Lane Report, Louisville Business Journal, Building Kentucky, Bowling Green Daily News, and American City & County.  

Sherman Carter Barnhart Architects

9300 Shelbyville Road, Suite 502, Louisville, KY 40222

Sherman Carter Barnhart Architects is a regional firm that has been serving customers in the P-12 education, higher education, multi-family housing, government, and civic markets since 1979. With offices in Lexington, Louisville, and Paducah, the firm fosters a collaborative environment to provide innovative designs that benefit the communities they serve.

Sherman Carter Barnhart specializes in using design efficiencies to create inviting, sustainable, and productive spaces. Outside-the-box thinking and creation fuel the company’s desire to create one-of-a-kind designs. Mike Smith is the Principal in Charge of the multi-family housing, higher education, and civic studios. Mike was a member of the 2007 Leadership Lexington and 2009 Leadership Kentucky classes. He actively advocates for the American Cancer Society organizations.

Donhoff Kargl Nall Architects

716 East Market Street, Louisville, KY 40202

Donhoff Kargl Nall Architects is a Louisville-based architecture company that has completed projects throughout the state and across North America. The firm has served a wide range of clients since its inception in 1972, including major corporations, private developers, government agencies, educational institutions, and religious organizations.

Robin L. Donhoff, the firm’s CEO, is licensed in 37 states and has decades of experience as a lead designer and principal architect on a variety of projects for public, private, nonprofit institutions, and commercial developers. His architectural expertise and excellent management drive the firm’s success across a wide range of project types, sizes, and objectives. Patrick D. Nall, president of DKN, is a registered architect in four states and the firm’s LEED expert. He supervises the firm’s sustainable design and construction projects through LEED certification.

Tom Kargl, vice president, is licensed in five states and has over two decades of experience leading design teams on various project sizes and scopes. His unique experience-based knowledge of construction methodologies and detailing assists the firm in developing efficient and high-performance design solutions. His design and leadership were responsible for the firm’s headquarters obtaining LEED-certified status in 2007, making it the first of its kind in the city’s business district.

Schmidt Associates, Inc.

620 South 3rd Street, Suite 601, Louisville, KY 40202

In 1976, architect Wayne Schmidt asserted his autonomy by establishing Schmidt Associates in downtown Indianapolis with only himself as an employee. Over the next 44 years, the firm grew to more than 100 employees and expanded its services to include architecture, landscape architecture, interior design, and engineering.

The firm has finished innumerable projects for many of Indiana’s school districts, colleges, and universities, specializing in education design for both K-12 and higher education. Aside from education, the firm has worked on projects that foster life-long learning, community enhancement, and urban renewal.

With decades of experience in the business, Schmidt Associates is honored to be one of ENR‘s List of Top 500 Design Firms and to be named among the Best Places to Work in Indiana 2020 by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. 

JRA Architects

829 East Market Street, Suite B, Louisville, KY 40206

JRA Architects has been designing throughout the Commonwealth since 1946 and was given a Distinguished Firm Award by AIA Kentucky in 2019. It is currently led by President Rob Deal, AIA, LEED AP, a Virginia Tech architecture graduate. Deal, who previously served as project manager and principal, is in charge of the firm’s largest projects and is at the forefront of design and construction trends. His predecessor, Mark Trier, AIA, LEED AP, remains with the firm as a project manager and is currently developing long-term master plans and foundational building programs. JRA’s AIA and LEED AP team leaders serve the civic, commercial, education, healthcare, and industrial sectors.

JRA Architects holds affiliations with the American Institute of Architects, the U.S. Green Building Council, and the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. Their superior work has also earned them coverage in publications, such as ArchDaily, Architect Magazine, WLKY, Lexington Herald-Leader, and The Business Journals.

Potter & Associates Architects

333 East Main Street, Suite 500, Louisville, KY 40202

Potter Architects is a full-service architecture company headquartered in Louisville that provides architectural services, interior design, master planning, and historic preservation. The firm, founded in 1977, offers the highest quality architectural design services through utmost precision, outstanding project management, and a dedication to meeting the needs of its clients.

Potter Architects is committed to environmental responsibility by integrating sustainable measures into its designs and material choices, in addition to architectural integrity and visual appeal. Henry Potter, the company’s founder and president, has vast experience in master planning, architectural design, and project administration for a wide range of project types and sizes. His vision, creativity, and love of architecture continue to drive the firm’s success by delivering exceptional projects and cultivating strong client relationships.

Norman Berry Associates Architects PLLC

815 West Market Street, Suite 502, Louisville, KY 40202

Since 1971, K. Norman Berry Associates Architects PLLC has provided extensive design services to Kentucky and the surrounding areas. KNBA has created a work environment that promotes partnership, uses technology, and broadens its vision for its employees, consultants, and clients.

The firm currently has offices in Louisville and Lexington; it is proud of its long-term commitment, both in the architecture it creates and in the services its firm members provide to the profession and its communities. Leading KNBA is Bob Haffermann, who acquired his Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Kentucky, College of Architecture, and a Master of Architecture degree from Cornell University. Bob holds affiliations with the American Institute of Architects, the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, the Cornell Alumni Ambassador Association Network, and is a Main Street Association Board Member.

KNBA’s superior work has also earned them coverage in publications, including The Construction Specifier, Lane Report, and TechRepublic.

Joseph & Joseph Architects

550 S 4th Street, Louisville, KY 40202

Joseph & Joseph Architects was founded in 1908 and has since served clients in Louisville, Lexington, and northern Kentucky. The company provides distillery and general architecture, interior design, master planning, building assessment, and various other services. 

The key to the business’ success for over a century has been how it embodies the client’s vision and collaborates with them to make that dream come true. The firm addresses the client’s needs and objectives and assists them in assessing future growth and development options, whether they are building a retail store, a distillery, a corporate headquarters, or a multifamily residence.

The firm’s extensive knowledge in a wide range of projects and its diverse panel of professionals in architecture, interior design, and project management ensure that clients’ projects are meticulously planned, crafted—and always handled by experts. The firm balances aesthetic appeal, functionality, efficiency, and versatility in multifamily housing projects.

WorK Architecture + Design

1122 Rogers Street, Louisville, KY 40204

WorK Architecture + Design—established in 2012 by Mitchell Kersting and Tyler Watkins—has completed multiple residential, commercial, and industrial projects. The firm confronts each project with impartial eyes and an enthusiastic spirit toward developing the perfect design solution to inspire meaningful change through architecture. The firm understands that, despite some similarities, each project necessitates different solutions tailored to the needs of each homeowner, business owner, or institution. The firm encourages collaboration throughout the design process so that the clients’ perspectives are mirrored in the design.

WorK Architecture + Design considers the impact of each design on the community, the surroundings, and the architectural landscape, in addition to providing impactful design solutions and developing excellent client relationships. It considers how the design will fit in with the existing built environment and how the local community will react to it.

Bayus-Design Works

1901 Commonwealth Court, Suite A, Louisville, KY 40299

Bayus-Design Works was founded in 1981 as Bayus and Associates, Inc., with offices in Old Louisville and a business affiliation with Badgett Construction. Bayus and Associates merged with Anderson and Associates in 1984 to establish Anderson-Bayus Associated Architects, PSC, the state’s largest minority architectural firm. This organization worked in both the public and private sectors for three years.

Bayus-Evola Architects was founded in 1987 by Nick J. Evola Jr. and Tony Bayus. A 15-year partnership produced numerous remarkable commercial, industrial, governmental, and residential projects before Nick’s death in 2002. Under Tony’s solid leadership, the firm continued as Bayus Evola Architects in the same location in the Eastpoint Business Center until 2006, when it changed its name to Bayus Design Works. Bayus Design Works offers the same high-quality architectural services as before but with an information-age approach to information, services, and communications. 

With over four decades in the industry, Bayus-Design Works has been honored with numerous awards, including the 2013 Business First Commercial Real Estate Award in Retail and Restaurant for The Ice House, the 2001 ABC Award of Merit for the Hurstbourne Country Club, and the 2001 Award of Merit for Doctor’s Eye Institute.

Luckett & Associates

153 Thierman Lane, Louisville, KY 40207

Luckett & Associates is an award-winning full-service architecture company with extensive experience in new construction, renovation, adaptive reuse, and forensic architecture. The firm’s portfolio is diverse, including projects in the commercial, institutional, government, and residential sectors.

At Luckett & Associates, service and personal attention to detail are the greatest priorities. The firm blends cutting-edge design with each client’s unique specifications and provides innovative results that meet expectations, completing projects on time and within budget.

Dade Luckett leads the company as principal, with 40 years in design and construction. He holds degrees and licenses in architecture and engineering and is one of few highly qualified practicing professionals in Kentucky. Mr. Luckett is also a LEED-accredited professional, a certified building inspector, and a plans and specifications inspector for the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Architectural Investments, Inc.

222 S 1st Street, Suite 206, Louisville, KY 40202

Architectural Investments of Louisville, Kentucky, established in 1996, is a full-service architectural firm offering architectural design, design-build, and construction management services. It serves clients in Louisville, Jackson, and Indiana’s hospitality, senior living, multi-family, and commercial industries.

Leading the firm as principal and founding architect is Kevin Burns. He holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree, a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design degree, and a Masters in Business Administration. Kevin is a registered architect in 26 states and has over 25 years of experience in architecture. He has a profound background in architecture that includes corporate office facilities, industrial warehousing, medical facilities, retail centers, churches, and community centers.

Architectural Investments holds affiliations with the American Institute of Architects, the National Association for Industrial and Office Parks, the Chamber of Commerce, and the U.S. Green Building Council. Its superior work has also earned the firm coverage in The Business Journals.

Studio A Architecture

2330 Frankfort Avenue, Louisville, KY 40206

Studio A Architecture is a full-service architectural company headquartered in Louisville supported by offices in Lexington and Cleveland as well as satellite offices in Atlanta, Panama City, San Francisco, and Nashville. The firm currently operates in over 20 states and provides numerous architectural design services studios for multifamily, commercial, senior living, and hospitality design. As it continues to serve the region with quality design work, Studio A is pleased to have clients who helped bring them into the Lexington market years ago.

Studio A Architecture’s superior work has also earned them the “Last Place Award” at the Christian Care Communities 12th Annual Generations on the Green Golf Classic. Their work has been featured in The Business Journals, Inside Indiana Business, WHAS11, and Louisville Business First.

Foxworth Architecture PLLC

903 Lydia St. Louisville, KY 40217  

Foxworth Architecture PLLC is a multifaceted architecture and design firm that offers a full range of services The work investigates the potential and innate opportunities of design at all scales with an emphasis on technology and the technical aspects of architecture.

Mark Foxworth, a registered architect with licenses in Kentucky and Indiana, leads the firm as principal architect. Mark is an AIA member and a LEED-accredited professional with 22 years of architecture and design experience in commercial, healthcare, entertainment, and residential architecture. He holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Cincinnati.

Photo Credit: Karista Hannah

The firm also holds affiliations with the American Institute of Architects, the U.S. Green Building Council, and the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards.