Known as the “Bourbon City,” Louisville is a bustling and lively area in Kentucky best known for its Bourbon Trail, where tourists can have a tasting experience of the state’s best distilleries. If you are looking to establish a business here in this area, this list has the best retail architects that can help you find the best designer that can give you the store and interior that represents your brand. Some of these firms have extensive portfolios and experience in the industry, with award-winning projects that have been featured in notable publications.
EOP Architects
322 E. Main St. Louisville, KY 40202
EOP Architects was established in 1981 and offers a number of services, including architecture, planning, building information model (BIM), and interior design. The firm is well-versed in creating unique designs for multifamily resident designs and a number of industries, including hospitality, retail, and health care.
Serving the Louisville metro area, EOP Architects is led by Rick Ekhoff and Richard Polk, both partners. Richard joined the firm shortly after it’s founding by Rick and Paul and was made partner. Eckhoff is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP) and a member of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). Eckhoff and Polk lead a group of professionals who are dedicated to their craft, creating cost-effective design solutions while upholding sustainability.
Under Eckhoff and Ochenkoski’s leadership, some of EOP Architect’s works were featured in publications like the Sophisticated Living Magazine, the Architect’s Newspaper, the Lane Report, and Building Design + Construction. The firm’s extensive portfolio is also filled with award-winning designs, some of which were recognized by AIA Kentucky and the Blue Grass Trust.
Architectural Investments Inc.
222 S. 1st St. Ste. 206, Louisville, KY 40202
Architectural Investments Inc. (AI) offers a range of services, assisting clients in the process of planning, designing, and construction. These services include master planning, zoning, financial analysis, feasibility studies, construction management, and interior design. With AIA-accredited members including its founder and vice president, Amos Benjamin, AI can handle document processing and conduct construction consultations. The firm works with the client’s ideas and the expertise of industry professionals to produce exceptional designs that will give the clients an engaging experience.
Specializing in commercial spaces, AI’s projects are involved in several industries, including industrial, medical, and retail. The firm has worked with notable companies like Verizon Wireless to create an excellent franchise experience that reflects the brand, the products, and the company itself. The 2,500-square-foot new construction project can be found in Louisville, Kentucky, and features a showroom that displays the services offered by the company.
WorK Architecture + Design
1122 Rogers St. Louisville, KY 40204
A service-focused architecture and planning firm, WorK Architecture + Design (WorK A+D) is committed to creating high-quality spaces throughout Louisville and Covington. WorK A+D’s success is rooted in its client-centered approach, where each idea is analyzed using functional design principles. The company’s highly collaborative design process begins with the consideration of the project objectives and the client’s goals and budget.
Founders Tyler Watkins and Mitchell Kersting, AIA, LEED AP, founded the firm in 2012. Both graduates of the University of Kentucky’s Architecture program, Watkins and Kersting lead the projects with the goal of delivering innovative design solutions to every client regardless of the project difficulty. Under their leadership, WorK A+D completed the design for the Oneness Boutique Store in Louisville, which includes wall-mounted, minimalist racks for the clothing and glass shelves for the sneakers.
Joseph & Joseph Architects
550 S. 4th St. Louisville, KY 40202
Established in 1908, Joseph & Joseph Architects designs distilleries, educational, hospitality, residential, and historic preservation projects. The firm, which is a member of the Greater Louisville Metro Chamber of Commerce, takes a multidisciplinary and client-centered approach to creating public environments and recreational areas that help improve the lives of the people within the communities. With LEED Green Associate (LEED GA) and AIA staff, the firm offers services that can walk the client through the whole design process.
Featured in this article is the Fourth Street Live! Entertainment District in Louisville. Completed in 2014, the commercial and retail center is one of the main attractions in the city’s downtown area. The structure’s most notable feature is the central walkway, which includes a commons area situated under a massive open-air, glass shed roof.
Bayus Design Works
13050 Magisterial Dr. Ste. 102. Louisville, KY 40223
For 40 years, Bayus Design Works has delivered exceptional architecture, interior design, and planning services to national and international clients. Originally Bayus and Associates, Inc., its in-house staff supports pre-construction services such as feasibility studies, conceptual design, construction cost estimating, design development, and construction document preparation. Bayus Design Works is registered in 30 states and currently provides its architectural services to all 50 states.
Tony Bayus is the principal of the firm, which he established in 1981. Bayus has led the firm to grow into a small team of dedicated professionals, completing projects for well-known names such as UPS and Republic Bank. Bayus is also active in the local chapter of the AIA, having served as the chapter president in 1985. He has also served as a board member in various organizations, including the Kentucky Society of Architects and the City of Anchorage Downtown Planning Committee. With LEED GA architects, Bayus Design Works completed the Horizon Retail Center, which is a multi-tenant retail property in Louisville.
Foxworth Architecture PLLC
903 Lydia St. Louisville, KY 40217
Foxworth Architecture PLLC is a full-service firm providing architectural and design services for commercial, residential, urban, and container design projects. Through a collaborative and interactive design process with the client and the firm’s associates, the company’s work embodies the expertise of the professionals and their attention to detail. Led by Mark Foxworth, AIA, LEED AP, Foxworth Architecture has expanded into an award-winning firm, featured in publications such as the Louisville Business First.
Foxworth Architecture was tasked with the remodel and adaptive reuse of the then-Axton warehouse in Louisville. The new space, now called the Logan Street Market, features multiple stalls, with a mezzanine to hold more vendors other than the first floor. Reclaimed barn doors were placed to cover the fresh air hall, while reclaimed and repurposed shipping containers were used to designate spaces within the facility, effectively sectioning the event area, the loading dock, and the primary market space.
Hubbuch & Company
324 West Main St. Louisville, KY 40202
Hubbuch & Company is rooted in residential and commercial design, architecture, and planning, serving Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky. Its team of architects works closely with clients and consultants to address their needs in the new spaces, collaborating with the project owner from planning to execution. Under John Hubbuch, Chairman of the Board, and Tate Hubbuch, the firm’s president and COO, Hubbuch & Company has consistently delivered innovative and economical design solutions within the client’s budget without compromising functionality and beauty.
The Maker’s Mark Gift Gallery used to be an empty space in a whiskey aging warehouse, repurposed and redesigned to accommodate the company’s gift gallery. Taking the brand into consideration, head architect Glenn Hubbuch designed the gallery with stained wood panels for the shelf display and the counters. The existing columns were painted in copper, while red panels line the backing of the wall-mounted lighting, which is similar in color to the wax used in sealing the whiskey bottles after packaging.
Studio A
2330 Frankfort Ave. Louisville, KY 40206
With expertise in full-service architecture, Studio A partners with clients in designing commercial, hospitality, assisted living, and multi-family residential properties. Grounded in collaboration, Studio A works with the clients’ ideas and industry standards, while getting inspiration from the context of each project with respect to the original idea and the environmental impact. Led by Vadim Kaplan as the president of the firm, Studio A is registered in 19 states and manages three satellite offices, namely in Lexington, San Francisco, Panama, and Atlanta.
Featured in this article is the McMahan Plaza designed by Studio A, located in the Hikes Point area of Louisville, which has been a prime real estate area for 50 years. The multi-tenant retail property is anchored by the Kroger Grocery store and has red brick exteriors on the lower half of the outside wall that contrast with the beige paint job on the upper half.
MRP Associates, LLC
2919 White Plains Rd. Louisville, KY 40218
MRP Associates, LLC, caters to health care, commercial, and residential clients with the endorsement of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as a Certified Veteran Owned Small Business. Its core competencies lie in architecture, planning, and design, specializing in renovation and adaptive reuse of healthcare facilities. The firm was founded in 2002 by Michael Ray Pluta, who has three decades of experience in the architectural industry and has credentials under the NCARB.
Under Pluta’s leadership, MRP Associates prioritizes the client’s ideas when planning and executing projects. The firm’s extensive experience in dealing with national and local codes and standards helps with developing designs better. With Pluta as the project manager, the Thorntons Prototype Store was completed with the main concepts of “neighborhood market” and “quick cafe.” With a high-visibility storefront and engineered wood flooring, the store offers an inviting atmosphere that will allow customers to enjoy a brief visit to the area.
