With its abundant sunshine, an array of employment possibilities, and a dynamic lifestyle that has something for everyone, Arizona draws thousands of new residents each year. Anyone who is tired of the cold, gloomy winters or who simply prefers living a healthier way of life outdoors will find its warm and bright climate to be quite appealing. An increasing number of small and medium-sized businesses are located in Arizona. It’s an ideal place to work, whether you’re a recent graduate or well into your career.
Every home or business should have an architectural design, and every design choice should take into account how the space will be used on a daily basis by the people who will live there. Architecture plays a crucial role in any company with a physical presence. Everything from customer satisfaction to worker productivity to the work environment will be shaped by the structure’s architecture. We decided to showcase the best architectural firms in Arizona—these firms have earned numerous awards and recognitions for their designs and are experienced working with diverse groups of clients.
Robinette Architects
1670 East River Road, Suite 112, Tucson, AZ 85718
Robinette Architects, established by Rob Robinette, is an architectural firm focused on designing distinctive and imaginative homes. It strives to create homes that are respectful of the Sonoran Desert and sensitive to the client’s lifestyle. Ron Robinette has over 40 years of expertise and has completed more than 350 projects in Southern Arizona. He established Robinette Architects in 1984 to be a full-service company with specialists in all facets of design and construction, covering interiors and landscape design.
Robinette Architects is a winner of several awards throughout the years. The company won the BUILD Magazine Architecture Awards 2022 Best Boutique Residential Architecture Firm Southwest USA and LuxLife Magazine 2022’s Leading Designer Awards Arizona’s Most Innovative Residential Architecture Practice. Other awards won by Robinette Architects include Architizer A+ Firm Awards Special Mention Best in North America and Acquisition International 2021 Global Excellence Awards Recognized Leader in Architectural and Interior Design Services South West USA. The firm has also been featured in numerous publications such as Arizona Daily Star, Dream Homes of North America, and Biz Tucson.
Urban Design Associates
8150 North 86th Place, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Scottsdale and Phoenix-based Urban Design Associates is a full-service, award-winning architecture practice. For 40 years, it has specialized in making clients’ visions come to reality. The company takes pride in leading customers through a fun, collaborative design process, whether the project is a new luxury house or remodel. The owner and principal architect is Jessica Hutchison-Rough, a recognized member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP). Hutchison-Rough also served as a member of the City of Scottsdale Design Review Board and is currently the Arizona Residential Architects (ARA) Competition Chair.
Since its establishment, Urban Design Associates has been featured in numerous publications. Its designs have been highlighted in Luxe Interiors + Design, Distinctive Magazine, The Wag Magazine, Phoenix Home and Garden, and 101 North to name a few. The firm designed this residence, which is surrounded by a grand golf course and mountain views. The home’s central living spaces have patios with deep covers that provide shade from the desert sun while incorporating views of the desert.
PHX Architecture
15990 N Greenway-Hayden Loop, Suite C-100, Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Award-winning PHX Architecture is a Scottsdale, Arizona-based architectural company. The firm is licensed in seven states and is staffed by a solid team of individuals with an extensive range of skills. PHX Architecture provides a range of architectural services including graphic representations, site planning, and construction management. Custom residential, commercial, golf clubhouse, and leisure design are its primary fields of focus. In 2021, PHX won the Luxe RED Awards Regional Winner for Architecture in Arizona in the category of Contemporary/Modern Architecture. It was also a Luxe Interior + Design Gold List Honoree.
This contemporary hillside residence gives Camelback Canyon a California resort-like feel. This layout was created by some of the best—it fused landscape design and architectural design. The project was designed to be simple, green, and turfed to contrast the rugged mountain the property is located on. The interior has a lot of warm features, such as the wooden ceiling. To give this property a resort-like atmosphere, the team decided to install Ipe decking. There is a distinctive shaded pavilion with a woven cloth canopy over the pool area at the back. It also contains a water feature that looks like rain that flows into the pool. This project was featured in the 2022 Modern Luxury Interiors (Scottsdale) The Kitchen and Bath Issue Volume III.
Kendle Design Collaborative
6115 N Cattle Track Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85250
Kendle Design Collaborative (KDC) is an internationally acclaimed architectural firm. It emphasizes contemporary design with local influences. Established in 2002 by Brent Kendle, AIA, LEED AP, the firm’s designs have won several accolades. Some awards received include the 2018 Phoenix Home and Garden Faces of Modern Luxury Architecture, the 2018 Luxe Interiors + Design Magazine Gold List, and the 2017 Professional Builder Magazine Design Awards Project of the Year. Additionally, it has appeared on the covers of numerous publications, including Luxe, Phoenix Home and Garden, Western Art and Architecture, to name a few. A total of 20 different countries have published books, design journals, and exhibits featuring KDC’s projects.
Cholla Vista Residence was a transformative ground-up remodel project. The goal of KDC was to build a 5,000-square-foot home that would be extremely livable for a fun-loving couple and their two dogs. There were numerous indoor and outdoor areas for family get-togethers, a guest casita, an extensive art collection, and studio space. Every room in the house was built with the idea of capturing breathtaking views.
Ibarra Rosano Design Architects
2849 E Sylvia Street, Tucson, AZ 85716
Ibarra Rosano Design Architects was established in 1999. The firm has since spread throughout the world and its body of work is studied at numerous architecture schools. The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art hosted an exhibition of Ibarra Rosano Design Architects’ designs and it was highlighted along with designs from six companies situated in the Southwest. It additionally received the 2008 Residential Architect’s Rising Star National Leadership Award. More recently, it was chosen as one of 50 global companies for its “ra50: Short List of Architects We Love” for its overall body of work. Currently, Ibarra Rosano Design Architects is led by its principal architect, Teresa Rosano, and principal designer, Luis Ibarra.
This design project won the Regional Sub-Zero/Wolf Kitchen Design Competition and earned two awards from AIA, the 2013 Design Honor Award and the 2012 Home of the Year Award. The buildable space at Levin Residence was divided by a small drainage way. This gave the architects the idea to build a bridge that connects the parking space to the main house while allowing rainwater and wildlife to pass beneath it. The house was able to run perpendicular to the slope for the best possible solar exposure, cross-ventilation, and view framing thanks to cantilevered concrete slabs. Animals living in the desert can find shaded shelter on the underside.
triARC Architecture & Design
1934 East Camelback Road, Suite 200, Phoenix, AZ 85016
triARC Architecture & Design creates effective, inspiring spaces by balancing form and function. To give clients beautiful and practically effective solutions for their homes, the firm blends technical proficiency and perceptive planning. To date, triARC completed a total of 1,373 project designs for diverse clients. Jill Hamblen, AIA, is the owner of triARC Architecture & Design. Hamblen went on to graduate with a degree in architecture from Drury University in Springfield, Missouri. She started her architectural career undertaking projects such as schools and children’s museums.
The remodeled office building owned by Adakai Holding brings together Phoenix’s past and present. A previous backroom was designed to be converted into a combination of private offices and a central meeting space. For this group of cannabis-related business owners, this area is now equipped with a makeshift bar. Glass wall partitions were added by triARC, and the ceiling’s ductwork was made visible. This made the inside, which was previously dark and congested, into a light, spacious area.
Adaptive Architects, Inc.
1630 S Stapley Drive, #229, Mesa, AZ 85204
The core nature of Adaptive Architects’ designs is adaptation. Education buildings, civic/municipal establishments, and recreational facilities are all included in its present body of work. Additionally, it has created retail, senior care, manufacturing/assembly, and workspace facilities. This variability became an asset and strength for Adaptive Architects, offering a non-formulaic strategy for the change and adaptation of each project. Adaptive Architects was established in 1992 and is currently led by Vince Di Bella, a graduate of Architecture from Arizona State University.
The biggest independently owned chain of health clubs in Arizona, Mountainside Fitness, opened a brand-new location in Paradise Valley in 2020. The new facility was developed by Mountainside Fitness in collaboration with Adaptive Architects. Together, they designed first-rate amenities such as dedicated yoga studios, spin rooms, and places for group fitness classes, to mention a few. A contemporary southwest design is represented on the building’s exterior. It makes use of a color scheme that is reminiscent of the neighboring desert foothills. Along with a bronze lacquered steel shade canopy, the exterior walls include a mixture of brickwork that is integrally pigmented, textured, and accented with stucco. The colors gray, cream, black, and red are used for the interior finishes.
Hayes Inc architecture/interiors
3824 E Campbell Avene, Phoenix, AZ 85018
For more than 25 years, Hayes Architects has shaped interior architecture and design for homes, businesses, and communities while fostering memories through its work. The company holds a national license to practice architecture, everywhere from Hawaii to the East Coast. Although Hayes Architects is perhaps best known for its work in the restaurant and hospitality design industries, it also concentrates on improving the built environment. It accomplishes this by collaborating with clients to repurpose pre-existing commercial structures, designing unique residences and commercial spaces, producing custom furnishings, and developing dynamic workplaces and retail tenant improvements. Its principal works closely with a small group of collaborative qualified architects and design professionals on each project.
Hayes Architects is headquartered in Phoenix and is run by principal and licensed architect Catherine Hayes. She developed resorts, restaurants, and retail projects for Gosnell Development Company for seven years prior to establishing the company in 1992. After spending her first few years of employment in Chicago at Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, and Pappageorge Haymes, Hayes relocated to Phoenix. She was recently named one of Arizona’s most powerful women by the publications AZBusiness and AZRE. Hayes participates actively in AIA-Phoenix Metro and has spoken on AZ Crew panels for restoration and for AIA-Phoenix Metro on sustainable communities.
