Like a home, the city of Ontario was designed and remodeled for a purpose. At first, it was created to be a model agricultural community for citrus and vineyard cultivation. Today, Ontario is a transformed community—an industrial and manufacturing base in the economic heart of San Bernardino County.
But like any historical house, the present Ontario still has the elements from its past. It is still home to a few Victorian grove houses, mimicking the times of old Spanish dons. Additionally, most of the people living here still have Hispanic roots. By blending the old and the new, the city embraces new opportunities and has been tagged as the “Southern California’s Next Urban Center.”
The design reflects the purpose of your home, and our list shows ten of the best residential architects that can help you. We ranked them based on work history, recent projects, awards, and what clients think about them.
Sautter Architecture
411 Harvard Ave., Claremont, CA 91711
Eric Sautter’s life and career revolves around architecture. He studied architecture, taught architecture, and now earns his living from his own architectural firm, Sautter Architecture. In 1992, Eric established this Claremont-based firm which is the force behind different types of built projects in California, Arizona, Massachusetts, and British Columbia.
Sautter Architecture is a small design studio with big offerings. Aside from architecture, the firm also covers urban design, historic preservation, and interior design services. Since Sautter Architecture can work on many building types, it gets clients in different industries such as banks, museums, and state agencies. To maintain specificity for each project, Sautter Architecture gathers different architects and design professionals to collaborate. The firm believes in the principles of order, integrity, respect, and spirit for each work.
CEDG Architects
401 E. Columbia Ave., Pomona CA 91767
CEDG Architects has completed over a thousand projects since its founding in 1978. With such experience in the industry, the firm has established a mission in every project it makes. For one, the design should be biophilic and vernacular. It must also adhere to site elements on three levels—client programming and site specificity, surrounding community and city, and contemporary culture.
Although established more than 30 years ago, CEDG Architects continue to innovate and evolve with time. Seeing itself as a problem solver, the firm deals with client needs by exploring and being practical, while sustaining the environment. Featured here is the firm’s Via Padova project in Claremont. A minimalist aesthetic is achieved through clean lines and modern contemporary silhouettes. It also includes a whole slate of environmentally sustainable features for a greener home.
Ariza Architect & Associates
211 W. Emporia St., Suite 109, Ontario, CA 91762
With his 20 years of experience in architecture and construction, Ausencio Ariza has gained confidence in dealing with challenging structure and design requests. He enjoys the whole process, from the simplest steps up to the most demanding tasks. Under his leadership, Ariza Architect & Associates became a recipient of a Distinguished Building Citation Award by the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). It also sits among the top 32 percent of more than 336,000 contractors in California.
Ausencio pays particular attention to the aesthetic potential of the building structure, along with the use of durable materials. True enough, his portfolio showcases project images and models with unique structures. One example is a project in Santa Cruz structured from the concept of a birdhouse. The aim is to create a structure that can adjust depending on the season. This is to particularly protect plants so that the inhabitant will keep in touch with nature. The study model shows the transformation from a natural nest to a human shelter while maintaining some features of a birdhouse.
Brian R. Bloom Architect
350 South Milliken Ave., Suite G, Ontario, CA 91761
Brian R. Bloom Architect is a firm dedicated to its clients and customers. With 30 years in architecture and construction, Brian Bloom has gathered a team of professionals as the foundation for this full-service firm. Brian and his team provide excellence in architecture as well as customer service. In fact, 90 percent of its projects come from referrals and repeat businesses with clients.
Because of its affiliations, business years, and team expertise, Brian R. Bloom Architect knows how to deal with construction challenges. It has its own strategies towards construction success, cost-efficiency, and extensive use of technology. The residential projects Brian R. Bloom Architect often features home additions and remodeling. It has projects on historic houses. It also works on different home designs, may it be a ranch style or a Mediterranean house. While these are all additions or remodeling, the firm’s portfolio features different approaches for each home.
Westwood Design LLC
Upland, CA 91786
As its projects get bigger in size and more complex with time, Westwood Design LLC also gets to grow and offer more. Since its establishment in 1985, it has built connections with different firms and city officials. It has gained experience in different building types—whether residential, commercial, or institutional. The firm also gets to use technology, such as renderings and colored plan sheets, to its advantage.
Westwood Design LLC’s portfolio speaks for itself. The firm’s gallery showcases huge and elegant residential homes completed in recent years alone. Clients also commend the firm for knowing what is best for the project. For instance, the firm pushed for an interior entry staircase for a home in Glendora, which impressed an initially hesitant client. Another example is this creatively built hillside home, which was a challenge due to steep grade and various height restrictions.
Xavier Design Group
Xavier Design Group offers convenience to its clients through its “fixed fee approach.” Specializing in residential projects, the firm has ready design options to ease the process of building the home. First, the team will show a 3D exterior model of the design. Then, they will modify the model up to the client’s satisfaction. When the design is final, they will arrange the necessary documents and coordination to start the construction. Finally, the team will help bid the project out to many contractors to take advantage of the competition. All these basic services come with a fixed price, making the process simple. Aside from new construction, Xavier Design Group also specializes in home additions. The firm is particularly into accessory dwelling units (ADU) or garage conversions. Hence, the pre-designed ADU plans.
GB Architects
400 N. Mountain Ave., Suite # 208, Upland, CA, 91786
GB Architects see architecture as the mother of all arts. It gives emphasis on how architecture imbibes different forms of art through its designs. The firm also believes that the designs are what shape this company since 1978. With all those years, GB Architects has proven its standing as an elite architectural design firm. It has worked on more than 600 projects for the past three years alone.
While trends in architecture change, GB Architects stick to good designs that last through time. That is why the firm specializes in Spanish and Queen Anne inspired homes. All residences in its portfolio speak luxury, with grand exteriors and dreamy interiors fit for royalty.
Artoo Design S2dio
6277 Hereford Ln., Eastvale, CA 92880
Artoo Design S2dio’s client reviews highlight pleasant experiences in working with its principal Ramy Artoo. Most of these testimonials center on how approachable and knowledgeable he is. Ramy uses a partnership approach with clients. Many of his clients often have no construction background and they particularly appreciate Ramy’s ability to answer all their questions almost anytime and in any way.
Clients are also impressed by Ramy’s expertise. He has 20 years of experience in residential, mixed-use, multifamily, hospitality, and commercial developments. Before establishing Artoo Design S2dio, Ramy worked in top architectural firms in the U.S. and the Middle East. Aside from homeowners, builders and general contractors also vouch for his abilities. There is one instance where a client’s contractor was impressed by Ramy’s detailed drawings, which he found rare in his 40 years in contracting.
Huitt-Zollars
3990 Concours Suite 330, Ontario, CA 91764-7970
Huitt-Zollars was founded by colleagues Larry Huitt and Robert Zollars. Friends since the 1960s, the duo started the firm in 1975 with the values of people, projects, process, and philosophy. Larry and Robert aim to stand out among other firms by providing a good environment for experts to work on great projects.
Since then, the company has earned its reputation in the U.S. It has completed many projects across the country. These include residential, commercial, institutional, federal, transportation, as well as state and local government projects. Growing bigger and bigger, Huitt-Zollars now operates with 20 offices nationwide and has earned more than 200 awards. One of which is a Project Excellence Award given by the City of Ontario for its Francis Industrial Park.
As for its architectural expertise, Huitt-Zollars can offer full-service services from programming and needs assessment up to construction administration, from site planning up to interior design. The firm also offers LEED planning and handles building code compliance and permitting.
Hartman Baldwin
100 W. Foothill Blvd., Claremont, CA 91711
Hartman Baldwin builds dream houses that blend the clients’ neighborhood style and history. For more than 35 years, it has built homes in San Gabriel Valley, Orange County, and Greater Los Angeles. As seen in its portfolio, these residences are built to luxury. Its solid reputation is backed by recognition and features on some of the industry’s top magazines, including Architectural Digest, Luxe, Qualified Remodeler, and Builder.
To help clients decide on the many possibilities for their homes, Hartman Baldwin offers informative design or build lectures, home tours, receptions, and mid-construction showcases. For instance, the firm took the possibility of remodeling a 1929 Spanish Revival home into contemporary style, while highlighting its original architecture. The 3,560-square foot house now features a bedroom with a fireplace and mahogany doors. The kitchen has new soft-cream cabinets and open kitchen shelving. And the redesigned backyard has a new pool house, yet features gas lanterns and iron details at par with the Spanish Revival architecture.
