Intelligently designed brick-and-mortar stores attract customers and offer a personalized shopping experience that they will want to repeat. Creating that experience requires a seasoned architect that understands how to create customer-friendly environments, renovate underperforming properties, and craft distinctive spaces.
To help you choose the right designer equipped to handle your specific building requirements, our team has listed the best retail architects in Scottsdale, Arizona. These firms were selected for their accreditations, certifications, and professional affiliations. We also considered the recognition each firm has received in the form of industry awards, client reviews, and press features. We have laid out the range of services the firms offer, their specializations, and the length of time they have been in the industry.
Cawley Architects, Inc.
730 North 52nd St. Suite 203, Phoenix, AZ 85008
Accredited by the National Association of Office and Industrial Properties (NAIOP), Cawley Architects applies its collaborative approach to project management in order to create commercial buildings of superior form, function, and value. The design-build firm is knowledgeable in the specialized architectural requirements, technologies, and trends of many building types. These include Industrial, Manufacturing, Distribution, Healthcare, Bioscience, Retail, Restaurant, Entertainment, Office, Automotive, Aerospace, and Multifamily properties.
After perfecting his craft in a small design studio for 13 years, Sherman Cawley founded Cawley Architects in 1994. He has practiced architecture in Phoenix for 40 years, primarily in the design-build commercial arena as a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR). Paul Devers, Jr., Vice President of Cawley Architects, is a member of the National Council of Registration Board (NCARB) and has provided architectural services for office, retail, industrial, corporate, hospitality, and medical projects.
With visionary leadership from Sherman and Paul, the firm completed the Ashley Furniture Homestore in Tempe, Arizona. The design intent was to create a central entrance with a prominent tower and clerestory, the most important feature of the building. This feature is visible from the adjacent I-10 freeway and serves as a beacon for the store during the day as well as at night.
Nelsen Partners
15210 N. Scottsdale Rd. #300, Scottsdale, AZ 85254
A service-focused architecture and planning firm, Nelsen Partners is committed to creating high-quality spaces and communities throughout the world. Nelsen Partners’s success is rooted in its ability to listen, understand the design problem, and skillfully create a sound architectural solution. Each project is considered under its distinct set of criteria, using sound design principles as the foundation of each design solution. The company’s highly collaborative design methodology begins with the firm’s understanding of the project objectives, market position, and client’s goals. The overall process is executed with a structured project management system to guide the project from inception to completion. Nelsen Partners balances its expertise with creativity in providing solutions and services to its clients. Brad Nelsen, the President and founder, is a member of the AIA. For nearly 40 years, he has been designing mixed-use, retail, office, multifamily, hospitality, and custom residential projects throughout the United States, as well as in Australia, the Middle East, and North Africa. Brad continues to play a guiding role in all aspects of the firm’s work, as he did with the development of the Scottsdale Quarter.
This mixed-use development includes retail, restaurant, cinema, and entertainment uses, together with office and residential spaces and a 200-room hotel. The heart of the project is a date palm-shaded urban plaza with cafés and shops overlooking a dramatic, interactive water feature.
Butler Design Group
5017 E. Washington St. Suite 107, Phoenix, AZ 85034
Butler Design Group (BDG) has been granted the City of Chandler Architectural Excellence Award and the Architect of the Year award multiple times by NAIOP for its office, medical office, industrial, retail, and specialty projects. The AIA-accredited firm takes a multidisciplinary and client-centered approach to creating environments that transform the communities in which the users live and work. With staff certified by the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI), the firm is an authority in communication and construction documentation and can walk clients through the entire construction process.
Jeff Cutberth spent eight years as Director of Architecture for Opus, where he gained a wealth of experience in design-build. In his two decades as a partner at BDG, he has put this construction know-how into practice. Jeff is a member of the AIA and is certified by NCARB. His thoughtful design technique can be seen in much of the firm’s highly varied portfolio, including The Marketplace at Lincoln and Scottsdale. The Marketplace’s design is heavily influenced by contemporary urban architecture. The building materials consist of earth-toned masonry, stone elements, tile and Exterior Insulation and Finish System (EIFS). The primary materials are accented by steel awnings and overhangs, wood slat siding, and EIFS fascias/sign bands.
Deutsch Architecture Group
4600 East Indian School Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85018
For over 40 years, Deutsch Architecture Group has delivered exceptional architecture, interior design, and planning services to national and international clients. Its in-house staff supports its capabilities in furniture procurement, material selection, and rendering that meet the standards of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and International Interior Design Association (IIDA). To contribute to protecting and enhancing the environment, Deutsch Architecture Group follows Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) principles and strives to integrate the natural landscape with people’s needs for the benefit of both.
Bernie Deutsch brings over four decades of experience in architecture and engineering to Deutsch Architecture Group’s practice. He holds membership with the AIA and a NCARB certificate. Within the community, he currently serves on the Arizona Manufacturers Council Board of Directors. Bernie runs the firm alongside David Calcaterra. As a member of NAIOP, David upholds the organization’s principles in Deutsch Architecture Group’s design approach. Bernie’s and David’s combined leadership has established a culture of design excellence at the company, as demonstrated by their work on the Treasures Gift Shop in the OdySea Aquarium. The interior echoes the marine and aquatic theme of the Aquarium, using a cool-toned and earthy color palette. Shelving is varied in height and style to encourage children to engage with and reach the products. The pendant lighting is shaped like sea creatures and tinted with bright colors, adding playfulness to the space.
SPS+ Architects LLP
8681 E Vía de Negocio, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
SPS+ Architects is a full-service firm providing architectural and engineering services for education, commercial, multifamily, legacy, and native American design projects. It specializes in design, archaeological studies and clearance, construction administration, code analysis, cost estimation, and construction documents and procurement. Through an inclusive, interactive design process, the company’s work embodies the values and social organizations of the communities it serves. SPS+ extends its dedication to its clients by keeping them in the loop throughout the entirety of the project. As members of the US Green Building Council with four LEED Accredited Professionals (LEED AP) on staff, it implements passive and active green building strategies into the design of each project by way of its Green Initiative.
Partner Mark Davenport is a member of the AIA, the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) and a LEED AP for Building Design and Construction. Under his leadership, SPS+ Architects actively participates on committees and boards in the Arizona Association of School Business Officials (AASBO) and the Arizona School Board Association (ASBA/ASA). The firm has received recognition from AIA Arizona and the Hong Kong Institute of Architects.
SPS+ is responsible for the design of Maduro’s Fine Cigars in Chandler, Arizona. The project showcases one of the largest humidors in the state, fulfilling the owner’s vision of a comprehensive cigar emporium and lounge. Its innovative design ties cigar lockers into the humidor for maximum efficiency and convenience, maintaining optimal temperature and air quality while allowing direct access to the lounge.
McCall & Associates Architects
4307 N. Civic Center Plaza, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
McCall & Associates Architects is rooted in market-responsive industrial and commercial design, manufacturing, and master planning, from phased developments to multinational headquarters. Its team of architects works closely with clients and consultants to understand their needs and to create spaces that successfully address complex programmatic requirements and work well for the end users. The firm consistently delivers innovative and sustainable solutions within strict budget and time constraints through rigorous review of project objectives and quality control.
Collaborative leadership sets McCall & Associates Architects apart, enabling it to be its clients’ strategic partner and an innovator among design firms. Principal Jeff McCall is an exemplar of this leadership model. He has nurtured the firm’s ability to creatively investigate and explore strategic solutions, earning the trust of the AIA. Jeff has built on his firm’s prowess in commercial facilities, resulting in the development of the Ashley Homestore in Phoenix.
The contemporary retail furniture store mirrors the distinguishing design elements of the brand such as its trademark tower and clerestory. The two-in-one Ashley HomeStore houses an outlet and an expanded mattress gallery with warehousing and distribution functions.
RKAA Architects Inc.
2233 East Thomas Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85016
For several years in a row, Kubicek Architects and Associates (RKAA) has been honored with the Best Architectural Services Award by Inside Self-Storage Magazine for its command of commercial architecture. The firm has particular strengths in the areas of site planning, entitlement, interior design, three-dimensional imaging, and construction administration. RKAA also undertakes prototype development for retail tenants and the production of construction documents for multiple locations. Through its work, the company maintains strong ties with the Arizona Institute of Architects and International Council of Shopping Centers.
Founding Partner Robert W. Kubicek draws on 45 years of experience working with prominent brands like JCPenney, Sears, Kroger, and Walgreens, among others. The AIA member and NCARB-certified architect influenced RKAA to adopt a flexible approach to design that allows for future user capabilities of expanding or dividing a building or space. Under his direction, the firm has completed various retail centers; business and medical offices; educational, hospitality, and entertainment projects; and industrial warehouses.
One of RKAA’s most memorable projects is the Scottsdale Starbucks location. The store celebrates simple materials through concrete and tiled floors, wooden stools, and factory-inspired lighting. Large community tables, club chairs, and wooden blinds evoke a turn-of-the-last-century feeling.
HDA Architects, LLC
459 N. Gilbert Rd. Suite C-200, Gilbert, AZ 85234
With expertise in architecture and engineering, HDA Architects partners with clients in shaping budget- and schedule-sensitive commercial, educational, and municipal buildings, and places of worship. The firm develops custom-tailored design solutions and champions personalized service throughout the process, which has garnered accolades from the Arizona Masonry Council. Grounded in collaboration, the HDA team works with the clients’ ideas and takes inspiration from the site characteristics and context of each project.
Pete Barker and Bruce Scott are the driving force of leadership and design within the firm. Pete’s 30-year career has focused on the construction and renovation of numerous K-12 educational projects. He serves on the Tempe/Kyrene Business Advisory Council and aligns HDA’s practice with the council’s ethos of bridging business and education to achieve community goals through the manipulation of the built environment. Bruce has also expanded HDA’s education design specialty to accommodate civic and commercial clients.
An outstanding representative of its long portfolio of commercial projects is the Copenhagen furniture store in Scottsdale. The exterior natural grey masonry stair-stepped columns support the large, standing seam metal roof shading the display windows. The store interior layout creates eight different sales areas, to display different lines and types of furniture accessories. The interior wall system creates intimate settings to resemble residential rooms and was designed to be low in height to enhance views across the store to other display areas.
Architecture & Engineering Solutions, LLC
4020 North 20th St. 308, Phoenix, AZ
Founded in 1996, Architecture & Engineering Solutions brings more than 25 years of experience in architecture, engineering, and construction management. The NCARB-certified firm attends to the development of healthcare, hospitality, industrial, restaurant, and retail projects with an attention to value, authentic material expression, and masterfully crafted details. It combines creative design and technical expertise to create commercial spaces across 13 states.
Martin Flood launched Architecture & Engineering Solutions using a multidisciplinary business model that allowed it to stand out as one of the few architecture and engineering firms of that time. His work has been honored with Excellence in Masonry Design awards by the Arizona Masonry Guild, reinforcing his reputation in building. Martin has cultivated the firm’s experience in retail design and its know-how around the specific challenges of spatial planning for product display and sales.
For the project illustrated here, Architecture & Engineering Solutions customized the Pro’s Ranch Market to fit its location and community. Within the grocery store, shoppers have access to a wide array of departments to help them find what they need, such as a meat department and bakery. Its specialty departments include a tortilleria. The store operates as a one-stop shop for all grocery needs.
