Employees and staff are a business’s most valuable resources, so it is important that they are provided with quality working conditions that cultivate inspiration and productivity. In order to create an environment that will make them feel like valued team members, you need the help of a professional who will take the time to understand how they work and explore ways to better connect them to the larger goals of their company through the physical elements of the workspace.
We’ve listed the best office architects in Raleigh, North Carolina. These firms were selected for their accreditations, certifications, and professional affiliations. We looked at each firm’s industry awards, client reviews, and press features. Our team also discussed the range of services the firms offer, their specializations, and the length of time they have been in the industry.
Cline Design Associates
125 N Harrington Street, Raleigh, NC 27603
Founded in 1989 with a vision for improving communities by combining architecture, planning, landscape architecture, and interior design, Cline Design Associates has long been a prominent architectural firm. President Gary Cline understands that the firm’s success is based not only on outstanding design but also on the good experiences clients have had working with the firm. By combining services, the firm effectively finds, creates, and implements design ideas that celebrate each project’s uniqueness. For 32 years, the firm has offered varied, dynamic, and high-quality spaces that inspire people to connect to a warm community. These designs have won the firm several awards since its establishment, including the 2021 Space Award Top Mixed-Use Development and the Space Award Top Multifamily Development in 2020.
Throughout the southeast and beyond, Cline Design Associates has developed hundreds of multi-family, mixed-use, retail, office, and hotel buildings. One of its completed projects is Crisp Agency’s office space. Cline Design Associates provided stadium seating for meetings, glass offices, and movable workspaces to facilitate impromptu meetings and collaboration. The workplace houses a living room, a bar, and a secret lounge hidden by a bookshelf. The exposed concrete floors and ceilings—complemented by high contrast and muted colors—were incorporated to inspire creativity.
LS3P
434 Fayetteville Street, Suite 1700, Raleigh, NC 27601
LS3P Associates or LS3P was founded in 1963, committed to bringing modern design, technology, and all the experience of a solid regional business closer to local clients. LS3P is a multidisciplinary business that provides architectural, interior design, and planning services to a wide range of clients around the country. Principal Allen Taylor is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP). He plays an active role in defining and shaping the values and objectives of the firm. LS3P’s devotion to unifying language between its team and its clients has resulted in excellent designs. These designs have been recognized by numerous awards, including the AIA Greenville Honor Award in 2017.
The firm prides itself on its comprehensive design skills from site selection through occupancy while also emphasizing personal attention to each client. Building Q in the SAS Institute Campus in Cary, North Carolina is a product of that approach. The new LEED Gold-certified office building has three principal volumes: two office wings and a central core. Aligned to maximize exposure to sunlight, the office wings are curtain wall-clad masses with transparent stair towers, while the central core provides a visual break from the curtain wall language, using a combination of punched openings in the conference rooms and shaded expanses of glass in the collaboration areas.
Gontram Architecture
5100 Unicon Drive, Suite 103, Wake Forest, NC 27587
Since its inception in 1998, Gontram Architecture has been providing clients with a more flexible approach to architectural services by focusing on cost management, contract administration, and design excellence. Gontram Architecture offers services that adhere to deadlines and keep projects within budget. The firm’s founder, Edmund J. Gontram III, makes sure he understands the client’s goals and makes them his own. Aside from being a licensed architect and a member of the AIA, Edmund is also a registered general contractor. In 2007, he was certified as a LEED Accredited Professional by the US Green Building Council (USGBC). Since then, Gontram Architecture has sought to incorporate sustainable design into traditional projects, giving insights on the benefits of green building and attempting to decrease waste in the built environment.
Gontram Architecture has extensive experience in a wide range of architectural designs and is responsible for the renovation of the North Carolina Retail Merchants Association’s headquarters. The team removed the 30-year old cultured marble cladding and installed a new cast stone and brick veneer system. Apart from replacing the outdated, inefficient fenestrations with new storefront windows, an outdoor courtyard in the basement was converted into a two-story multi-use space for all tenants to use.
Alliance Architecture
208 Rigsbee Avenue, Durham, NC 27701
Alliance Architecture provides commercial architectural and interior design, project management, and adaptive reuse services that meet the standards of the AIA. Private developers, public enterprises, federal agencies, and state institutions, are among its clientele. John Warasila, the founding principal, pioneered the firm’s service-oriented approach—“High-Value Design.” He specializes in interior architecture, having spent 20 years heading the development of small- and large-scale projects. He is adept in implementing design concepts that adhere to rigorous budget and schedule constraints. John has led Alliance Architecture in producing well-crafted workplaces.
The Citrix office is a great example. What was once 187,000 square feet of abandoned steel fabrication warehouse is now a stunning example of the new-generation tech workspace. Along with strategically preserving and repurposing original materials and manufacturing gear, Alliance filled the building with green features, including automated window shades, LED lighting and a 55-foot, two-story ‘living wall’ suspended from a repurposed crane.
New City Design Group
1304 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27605
New City Design Group has over a quarter century of success delivering first class office design to a variety of markets and users. From innovative interiors to smart, efficient buildings, New City delivers the right design for each assignment.
Notable projects include the John J. Kirlin headquarters and North State Bank headquarters. Some of their newer work includes The Rogers Building, a 55,000 square foot mixed use building under construction in Downtown Cary, along with a new 30,000 square foot building for North State Bank on Blue Ridge Road in Raleigh.
New City’s 15 person staff includes seven registered architects – Principals Ted Van Dyk, AIA, Corey Bates, AIA, and Jeff Rezeli, AIA have decades of experience working together. New City also boasts two talented associates; Adam Harker, AIA, who leads many of the firm’s design efforts, and Shannon Laska, NCIDQ, who heads the firm’s interiors department.
New City offers a full range of services, from concept development through construction administration to ensure delivery of projects that enhance both the community and client success.
Duda|Paine Architects
333 Liggett Street, Durham, NC 27701
Recognized with awards from the AIA and Engineering News-Record, Duda|Paine Architects shapes places that respond to how people and their communities live. Its design process is centered around the constant flow of ideas across project types and markets, taking inspiration from similarities in building functions. Founding principal and AIA Fellow Turan Duda leads an integrated team in exploring solutions that address modern problems and adapt to changing trends. They work closely with local communities in applying sustainability principles to every project. Duda’s thoughtful and methodical leadership style fosters trust among team members and consultants and strengthens Duda|Paine’s relationship with the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA).
Duda|Paine Architects’s proven ability to prioritize clients’ current, short-term, and long-term needs is demonstrated in the completion of One North Hills. The ten-story office tower is built from interlocking forms that balance the use of glass with textured materials. The intricate façade of flared, sculptural, patterned window panels sets light and airy elements against earthen components on both the interior and exterior of the building. One North Hills contains retail space, a two-story lobby connected to a lounge and multipurpose event space, a grand terrace, ground-floor conference space, and 266,000 square feet of office space.
O’Brien Atkins Associates
5001 S Miami Boulevard, Durham, NC 27703
In the span of four decades, O’Brien Atkins Associates has become a leading expert in the design and planning of science and technology, custom corporate environments, academic research, and civic projects. The firm’s work has earned over 90 awards from the AIA, ASLA, and the Institute of Business Designers, including the AIA North Carolina Firm of the Year award. The firm exercises its strength in architecture, interior design, engineering, landscape architecture, and master planning to meet clients’ specific needs and goals. These objectives are accomplished through an investigative process pioneered by chairman and CEO John Atkins—a process rooted in purpose, continuity of expression, and accountability.
Atkins is a LEED Accredited Professional and certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). Atkins was elevated to the prestigious College of Fellows for his significant contributions to the profession. His efforts continue to create value for O’Brien Atkins’s clients and facilities.
The Infosys Technology and Innovation Hub is a great example of what the firm is capable of. Planning for flexibility with furniture and electrical systems, mobility, and collaboration were all key to the design. For agile workers, “neighborhoods,” or zones, provide options for heads-down work, collaborative teaming areas, and multi-functional meeting spaces, with each room outfitted with writable surfaces to help staff capture ideas in the moment. Openness, natural light, and exterior views are available throughout the space. A town hall-style café/kitchen, an open theater in the round, and a full-size chessboard spark creativity and interaction.
Maurer Architecture
115 1/2 East Hargett Street, Raleigh, NC 27601
Founded in 1993 by AIA member and LEED AP David Maurer, Maurer Architecture is an award-winning business based in Raleigh’s historic East Hargett Street in the center of downtown. David has since been committed to offering high-quality, personalized services by purposefully keeping the firm small so that it can devote its full attention to each project and client. The firm became known for its honesty and excellence within the design community. It has since been featured in publications like SALT Magazine and Walter Magazine.
Maurer’s architecture respects originality, transparency, and effectiveness. Its comprehensive portfolio is full of fine projects built on time and within budget. The Raleigh Founded Capital Club headquarters is a great example. Situated in downtown Raleigh’s historic Capital Club Building, the project consists of leasable office suites and meeting spaces from the 8th to 11th floor. The 12th floor has a 4,000 square-foot ballroom used for private events and weddings. The Maurer team removed old carpet and low acoustic tile ceilings. The new space has bright glass front offices and exposed original plaster detailing.
310 Architecture + Interiors
302 Jefferson Street, Suite 250, Raleigh, NC 27605
310 Architecture + Interiors is a Raleigh-based interdisciplinary design business. For 11 years, the firm has provided architecture, interior design, branding, and planning. As a multi-disciplinary firm, 310 Architecture + Interiors is able to handle a project’s demands from a variety of perspectives at the same time, thus offering more comprehensive solutions for its clients. Principal David Bradford—an AIA member and LEED Accredited Professional—ensures that the firm continues to grow by tackling new challenges. This practice led the firm to win the Sir Walter Raleigh Award in 2017.
Each member of the firm brings their own set of interests and abilities to the table, resulting in a diverse variety of services it can provide to its clients. The MWH Constructors office stands out among the firm’s comprehensive portfolio of commercial, healthcare, and institutional projects. The project team produced a combination of closed offices and open cubicle space that transcends the traditional office design with unique features like the wood slat wall. The accent wall follows the shape of the mountain range near their Broomfield, Colorado home office and parallels the building’s exposed wind bracing to create a privacy screen between workstations and public spaces. Individual focus without total disconnection is made possible by the glass fronts of the few walled offices. The main conference room has a soaring ceiling and a glass garage door, which promotes collaboration.
MHAWorks Architects
501 Washington Street, Suite G, Durham, NC 27701
With offices in Durham, Greenville, and Asheville, MHAWorks Architects works as a multidisciplinary team to create designs that shape a productive and meaningful built environment. MHAworks specializes in commercial architecture, interior design, and planning, with capabilities in historic renovation, ADA assessment and design, and construction administration. Its in-house LEED-accredited architects and designers develop efficient and cost-effective strategies to reach clients’ sustainability targets, which might range from merely lowering energy expenses to LEED Certification.
Brian A. Maxwell is the president of MHAWorks Architects and is a registered architect. He is known for delivering visionary thinking and creativity to a broad range of healthcare planning and design commissions. Maxwell draws on 20 years of experience in steering the firm towards providing clients with the highest level of responsiveness and service, as they did with Adwerx. MHAworks designed the expansion of the Adwerx office space to accommodate their rapid growth. The project involved the interior upfit of two existing office suites. MHAworks used repurposed barn wood and other natural, rustic materials to embody the company’s branding and culture.
ORA Architecture
510 W Martin Street, Suite 100, Raleigh, NC 27603
The Apollo medical office building’s structural grid, earthy palette of colors, and sleek materials were layered and intertwined to reflect the client’s desire to have an integrated, full-service medical care facility all under one roof. The active and passive environments with which the building interacts have a direct impact on the orientation of each of its components and elevations.
The project was designed by ORA Architecture, a commercial architecture firm established in Raleigh in 2010. ORA is led by AIA members and principals Andrew Latridis, Chris Grimes, and David Renzulli, LEED AP in Building Design and Construction, who each have over 30 years of design experience and degrees in architecture. Taking its name from the Italian word meaning “in the now,” ORA specializes in modern and contemporary design. The firm works on commercial, retail, multifamily, and mixed-use projects in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.
Craig Dean Architecture
412 Woodburn Road, Suite 2, Raleigh, NC 27605
Craig Dean brings over 25 years of experience to the practice he founded in 2000. He continues to direct Craig Dean Architecture’s operations, from managing the design team to overseeing construction contracts. The team caters to the public, commercial, institutional, resort, recreation, food service, industrial, and retail markets. Craig has authored and developed many of the strategies the firm has used to respond to the needs of its clients while staying on top of current trends.
The York Properties office building was materialized by Craig Dean Architecture, enveloped in classic brick on the outside and embellished with industrial qualities inside this boutique and bistro establishment in Raleigh. The interior is engulfed in white, from the cubicles and walls to the ceiling, and it is all framed with exposed steel beams and trusses. The wooden flooring and ambient lighting turn the kitchen into a spot where employees can decompress and relax.
RND Architect
3608 University Drive, Suite 204, Durham, NC 27707
Headed by Charles Nickelson, RND Architects partners with healthcare, educational, governmental, and commercial clients throughout North Carolina. With three decades in business, RND’s mastery over intricate building systems is the foundation of its success and its solid relationship with the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce. Nickelson, the president and principal architect at the firm, ensures that RND Architects’s work adheres to the ideals of the AIA as an active member of the organization. He has spent the majority of his career as a renovation design and planning expert, designing premier renovation and adaptive reuse projects. Nickelson contributes his in-depth knowledge of government procedures and codes to RND’s practice, providing clients with the benefit of expedited review processes and direct cost savings. He builds on the company’s prowess in office design, resulting in the renovation of the Europa Center, a large business and office building in Chapel Hill. RND upgraded all the common areas including the atrium and all the restrooms and corridors. The design brightens up the atmosphere of the common work areas and elevates Europa Center to the forefront of Class A office buildings.
Phillips Architecture
6601 Six Forks Road, Suite 130, Raleigh, NC 27615
Two separate buildings were connected in order to create American Tower Corporation’s workplace. The 42,000-square-foot office space contains a traditional office layout, a large board room, a training room, and a break room connected by a movable partition, as well as a Network Operations Center (NOC). The NOC features a tiered seating area, a wall of ten status monitors, as well as an adjacent conference room and server.
This space was designed by Phillips Architecture, a firm that has been serving Raleigh since 1989. President Jason Byrd leads the team in providing tenant space planning, ground-up construction, additions, and alteration work for clients in the corporate, retail, education, medical, industrial, restaurant, and multifamily industries. The firm has designed projects for Hilton, Microsoft, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Subway.
