Here’s the list of top 50 architecture firms/ architects in Chicago for people seeking the best architects in Chicago. Each of the mentioned firms is involved in producing the best architectural projects.
Chicago is known for its innovative yet experimental buildings which have earned the city the phrase ‘Transition in Architecture’. The city has been an open canvas for architects such as Daniel Burnham and Louis Sullivan, who shifted from loading-bearing structures to steel-frame skyscrapers. Though the city was destroyed in the 1871 Chicago fire, it provided a fresh experimental ground for architects like Mies Van DerRohe, Frank Lloyd Wright, and many more.
Chicago has been and will continue to be a unique city whether speaking about the Chicago bungalows or the John Hancock Center. Here, are the top 50 architecture firms/ architects in Chicago, who are following the footsteps of great architects that have left mark on the city with magnificent structures. Cheers!
Becker Architects | Top Architecture Firms/ Architects in Chicago
Scope of services: Construction, rehabilitation, and additions.
Types of Built Projects: Residential, auto dealerships, and commercial.
Locations of Built Projects: Mainly in Chicago Illinois but they’re also licensed in New York, New Jersey, Arizona, and Wisconsin.
Style of work: Versatile and flexible design, with an adaptive reuse approach in renovations and rehabilitations.
Website: beckerarchitects.com
Becker Architects’ residential work has earned national and local awards and recognition in publications such as AIA Chicago Architect. Highland Park’s Historic Preservation Commission has awarded them nine awards since 1991. This puts them among the top architects in Chicago Illinois.
(Residential) Red House Renovation and Addition by Becker Architects. © Becker Architects
bKL Architecture
Scope of services: Architecture & Urban planning.
Types of Built Projects: Residential, Civic, Office, Educational Mixed-use & Interior design.
Locations of Built Projects: Worldwide.
Style of work: Modern & Contemporary Architecture with industrial-looking interiors.
Website: bklarchitecture.com
Blender Architecture
Scope of services: Architectural Design.
Types of Built Projects: Residential, Retail, Office, Community, Educational.
Locations of Built Projects: Almost all of their projects are built in Chicago.
Style of work: Multi-sensory design, the use of materials that sculpt light, build texture, and layer color. They believe that well-designed physical space can support a healthier life, because of how space affects the body.
Website: blenderarchitecture.com
Blender Architecture received the 2012 AIA Small Project Award for the Bucktown Residence design-build. They are one of the top architects in Chicago
Booth Hansen
Scope of services: Architectural and Urban Design.
Types of Built Projects: Commercial, Cultural, Educational, and Residential.
Locations of Built Projects: The majority of their projects are built across various cities in Illinois.
Style of work: Environmentally engaged and free from the constraints of style.
Website: boothhansen.com
Their office is organized into teams that focus on different aspects: Design, Management, Technology, Communications, Research, and Sustainability. They rank among the top Chicago Architects.
Brininstool + Lynch | Architects in Chicago
Scope of services: Architectural and Urban Design.
Types of Built Projects: Office, Cultural, Educational, and Residential.
Locations of Built Projects: The majority of their projects are built across various cities in Illinois.
Style of work: They follow the rigorous modernism of Mies van der Rohe, Frank Lloyd Wright’s marriage of building and landscape, and the pragmatic Chicago tradition.
Website: brininstool-lynch.com
Burns and Beyerl Architects (BBA)
Scope of services: Architectural & Interior Design.
Types of Built Projects: Residence and Villas.
Locations of Built Projects: Chicago, Illinois.
Style of work: Eclectic and Contemporary. BBA tries to balance ideals, program, aesthetics, and budget while keeping an environmentally friendly approach.
Website: bbaworld.com
Most recently, Booth Hansen won the Grand Award Winner for Best Custom Home at the 2016 Gold Nugget Awards. This lands them on the list of top architecture firms in Chicago Illinois.
Cannon Design
Scope of services: Architectural & Interior design, Urban Planning.
Types of Built Projects: Educational, Office, Hotel, Residential, Mixed-use, and Landscape.
Locations of Built Projects: All over the world.
Style of work: Ranges from traditional architecture and engineering to integrated design
Website: cannondesign.com
In 2017 and 2019, Fast Company named them one of the most innovative companies in the world. This secures them a place among top commercial architects in Chicago Illinois.
Chipman Design Architecture
Scope of services: Architecture & Interior design.
Types of Built Projects: Hospitality, Restaurant & Retail.
Locations of Built Projects: Mainly in Illinois.
Style of work: Modern and contemporary Hotel designs with luxurious interiors. Website: chipman-design.co
Collective Design
Scope of services: Architectural & Interior design.
Types of Built Projects: Educational, Office, Residential & Institutional.
Locations of Built Projects: The majority of their projects are built across different cities in the state of Illinois.
Style of work: Modern and contemporary design with industrial-looking interiors using materials like steel and wood. The collective design also has experience in Adaptive reuse.
Website: collectiveoffice.com
Cook Architectural Design Studio
Scope of services: Architectural Design
Types of Built Projects: Commercial and Residential buildings
Locations of Built Projects: Chicago, Illinois but also has projects in California, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Ohio, Texas, and Wisconsin.
Style of work: Green Technology, energy-conserving techniques, and sustainable solutions. They produce a dynamic design with acute attention to detail.
Website: cookarchitectural.com
They received various awards from Historic Preservation to Outstanding New Design. They are among the top commercial architects in Chicago Illinois.
Cordogan, Clark & Associates | Top Architecture Firms/ Architects in Chicago
Scope of services: Architecture, Planning, and Interior Design
Types of Built Projects: Residential, Commercial, Educational, Healthcare, Cultural, Civic, and Master planning.
Locations of Built Projects: The majority of their projects are built across various cities in Illinois with some projects abroad.
Style of work: Eclectic and Contemporary. Energy-efficient and high-tech buildings.
Website: cordoganclark.com
Dirk Denison Architects
Scope of services: Architectural & Interior Design
Types of Built Projects: Residential, Office, Galleries, Educational, and Furniture design.
Locations of Built Projects: The majority of their projects are in Chicago Illinois with a few other projects in New York, Washington DC, and California.
Style of work: Critical design approach with consideration to space, quality, craft, materiality, and landscape. Their projects elicit surprise, revelation, information, poetry, and seduction while fulfilling the basic human desire to shape one’s surroundings.
Website: dirkdenisonarchitects.com
In practice since 1990, Dirk Denison Architects are best known for their award-winning residential work. They have won design awards from the Chicago Architectural Club, the National Association of Home Builders, and the American Institute of Architects.
Epstein & Sons
Scope of services: Architecture, Civil Engineering, and Interior Design.
Types of Built Projects: High rise, Office, Educational, and Industrial.
Locations of Built Projects: Mainly in Chicago Illinois with some projects in New York, Bucharest, and Warsaw.
Style of work: Eclectic and Contemporary with an industrial touch.
Website: epsteinglobal.com
FitzGerald Associates Architecture
Scope of services: Architecture, Interior, and Urban Design.
Types of Built Projects: High rise, Office, Educational, and Industrial.
Locations of Built Projects: Mainly in Chicago Illinois with some projects across the United States.
Style of work: Classic and Modern Architecture with the Chicago school style.
Website: fitzgeraldassociates.net
FitzGerald is the fifth generation of a firm founded in 1919.
Ghafari Associates | Architects in Chicago
Scope of services: Architecture, Engineering & Interior design.
Types of Built Projects: Aviation, Commercial, Education, Industrial.
Locations of Built Projects: Worldwide.
Style of work: Modern & Contemporary.
Website: ghafari.com
Gensler
Scope of services: Architecture, Interior Design, Planning
Types of Built Projects: Office Buildings, Education, Healthcare, Hospitality, Retail, Mixed Use, Multi-family, Residential, Tall Buildings, Masterplanning, Workplace Environments
Locations of Built Projects: Primarily Chicago and the upper Midwest US, and then globally in coordination with 49 offices around the world
Style of work: Research-driven design, deliberately integrated into a diverse network of practice area expertise expressed through local leadership and implementation
Website: gensler.com
Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture
Scope of services: Planning & Interior Design
Types of Built Projects: Residential, Office, Retail, Education, and Athletic complexes.
Locations of Built Projects: Mainly in Chicago Illinois with some projects in Philadelphia and Atlanta.
Style of work: Eclectic and Contemporary with sustainable considerations. They have experience in designing towers and skyscrapers.
Website: hparchitecture.com
Established in 1987, Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture is a Chicago-based award-winning architecture firm, they received the Chicago Commercial Real Estate 2015 Redevelopment of the Year Award.
Hellmuth Obata & Kassabaum (HOK)
Scope of services: Architecture, engineering, and urban planning.
Types of Built Projects: Residential, Office, Retail, Education, Athletic complexes, Cultural, Healthcare, Aviation, and High-rise.
Locations of Built Projects: Worldwide.
Style of work: Contemporary and modern architecture. HOK is also an expert in renovation and restoration.
Website: hok.com
HKS
Scope of services: Architecture, Interior, and urban design.
Types of Built Projects: Residential, Office, Retail, Education, Athletic complexes, Cultural, Healthcare, and Aviation.
Locations of Built Projects: The majority of their projects are in the United States with some projects in Asia.
Style of work: Contemporary and modern architecture based on intensive research. Website: hksinc.com
JGMA
Scope of services: Architecture, engineering, and urban planning.
Types of Built Projects: Education, Athletic complexes, Cultural, Healthcare, Aviation, High-rise, and Master planning.
Locations of Built Projects: The majority of their projects are built in the state of Illinois with other works across the United States.
Style of work: Contemporary and high-tech architecture with a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach.
Website: jgma.com
Jordan Mozer & Associates | Top Architecture Firms/ Architects in Chicago
Scope of services: Architecture, Interior, and Product Design.
Types of Built Projects: Residential, Retail, Office, Exhibit, Graphics, and Art Consulting.
Locations of Built Projects: Worldwide.
Style of work: Artistic and formalist design with very unique interiors.
Website: jordanmozer.com
Kipnis Architecture+Planning
Scope of services: Architecture, & Planning.
Types of Built Projects: Residential, Commercial, Aviation planning, and renovation.
Locations of Built Projects: Licenced in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Chicago. They have also designed a number of homes in Michigan, but have done projects in Florida, West Virginia, Virginia, and in Scotland.
Style of work: Eclectic, Adaptive reuse, and Contemporary.
Website: kipnisarch.com
KOO LLC
Scope of services: Interior Design & Planning.
Types of Built Projects: Transformations, Residential, Commercial, and Institutional.
Locations of Built Projects: Chicago, Illinois.
Style of work: Luxurious & compelling Interior designs.KOO Architects have experience in transformations and adaptive reuse.
Website: kooarchitecture.com
Founded in 2005, KOO transforms residential, commercial, and institutional buildings into gracious, inviting spaces. They’re certified Minority Business Enterprise, Women’s Business Enterprise, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise and a member of the US Green Building Council.
KTGY Architecture + Planning
Scope of services: Architecture design and planning
Types of Built Projects: Residential, Mixed-use, Retail, Healthcare, and Hospitality.
Locations of Built Projects: Worldwide
Style of work: Modern & Contemporary with.
Website: ktgy.com
LEGAT Architects | Architects in Chicago
Scope of services: Interior Design
Types of Built Projects: Commercial, Hospitality, Healthcare, Transportation, and Interior Design.
Locations of Built Projects: Majority of their projects are built across various cities in Illinois with other projects across the United States and abroad.
Style of work: Modern & Contemporary with an environment-friendly approach.
Website: legat.com
Loebl Schlossman & Hackl
Scope of services: Architecture, Planning & Interior Design
Types of Built Projects: Commercial, Educational, Office, Healthcare.
Locations of Built Projects: Worldwide.
Style of work: Varies from Modern to contemporary with a sustainable approach.
Website: lshdesign.com
Morgante-Wilson Architects
Scope of services: Architectural, Interior Design & Urban planning.
Types of Built Projects: Residential, Commercial, and Interior Design.
Locations of Built Projects: Mostly in Chicago, Illinois. They also have clients throughout Michigan, Indiana, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Florida.
Style of work: Ranges from Contemporary to Classic
Website: morgantewilson.com
Morgante Wilson is a multiple AIA Gold Designs Awards Program winner and has four Houzz “Best of” Design Awards.
Moss
Scope of services: Architectural & Interior Design
Types of Built Projects: Restaurant, Retail, Commercial and Residential.
Locations of Built Projects: Majority of their projects are built across various cities in Telangana. A few projects are completed in Bangaluru and Vijaywada.
Style of work: Ecological, Green, Holistic, and Sustainable Architecture. Their design connects to the landscape and green space, create open spaces, and emphasize the use of sustainable materials.
Website: expertise.com
The Chicago Architecture Foundation chose Moss to be part of its 50 Designers, 50 Ideas, 50 Wards Exhibit.
Nia Architects
Scope of services: Architecture & Interior Design
Types of Built Projects: Residential, Commercial, Cultural, and Educational.
Locations of Built Projects: Worldwide.
Style of work: Modern and Contemporary. Industrial-looking facades with the use of red bricks.
Website: niaarch.com
Nicholas Design Collaborative Ltd.
Scope of services: Architecture, Planning, and Interior Design.
Types of Built Projects: Residential and mixed-use.
Locations of Built Projects: The majority of their projects are built across various cities in Illinois with some other works in California.
Style of work: Contemporary & Sustainable. Nicholas Design Collaborative Ltd designs with an intimate knowledge of materials and construction techniques to ensure that a project will be built the way it was envisioned.
Website: nicholasdc.com
Nicholas Design Collaborative Ltd’s recent recognition and awards include Build Direct Magazine’s 15 Best Architects in Chicago 2015, two ALA 2015 Awards of Merit, and 2013-14 Trends Top 50 American Kitchens.
Norsman Architects, Ltd. | Top Architecture Firms/ Architects in Chicago
Scope of services: Architecture and Urban Design.
Types of Built Projects: Residential, Commercial, Office, and Mixed-use.
Locations of Built Projects: Majority of their projects are built across various cities in Illinois with some projects in New York.
Style of work: Environmentally engaged design and responsive adaptive re-use. Website: norsmanarchitects.com
Norsman Architects work avidly explores and experiments with sustainable design and development believing that a sustainable practice and approach can meet the demands of any project and is simply responsible design.
Northworks Architects
Scope of services: Architectural design, planning, historic preservation, furniture design.
Types of Built Projects: Residential, Restaurants and mixed-use.
Locations of Built Projects: Based in Chicago Illinois but they also have offices in Jackson, WY, San Francisco and Philadelphia.
Style of work: Varies from Contemporary to Classical style. Northworks Architects have also expertise in adaptive reuse and historic preservation.
Website: nwks.com
Northworks is LEED accredited and licensed in Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Houzz has awarded Northworks “Best of” for Design three years in a row.
OKW Architects
Scope of services: Architectural & Interior Design, Landscape & urban planning
Types of Built Projects: Mixed use, Commercial, Residential, Healthcare, Educational.
Locations of Built Projects: Majority of their projects are built across the state of Illinois.
Style of work: Contemporary, Rational and functional design.
Website: okwarchitects.com
Pappageorge Haymes Partners (PHP)
Scope of services: Architectural & Interior Design & urban planning.
Types of Built Projects: Mixed use, Commercial, Retail, Healthcare, Educational and High-rise.
Locations of Built Projects: Worldwide.
Style of work: Modern architecture. Pappageorge Haymes Partners are experts in building towers and high-rise buildings.
Website: pappageorgehaymes.com
Perkins + Will | Architects in Chicago
Scope of services: Architectural, Interior & Urban Design.
Types of Built Projects: Commercial, Office, Healthcare, Educational…
Locations of Built Projects: Worldwide.
Style of work: Contemporary architecture. Advanced technology and sustainable design.
Website: perkinswill.com
Rafael Viñoly Architects
Scope of services: Architecture, Engineering, and Urban design.
Types of Built Projects: Educational, Culture, Infrastructure, Industrial, Interior design & Master planning.
Locations of Built Projects: Worldwide.
Style of work: Modern & Contemporary design. Rafael Viñoly Architects are experts in complex structures.
Website: vinoly.com
Ross barney architects
Scope of services: Architectural & Interior Design, Urban design.
Types of Built Projects: Educational, Culture, Infrastructure & Master planning.
Locations of Built Projects: Mainly in Chicago, Illinois with some projects across the United States.
Style of work: Contemporary and Holistic design with environmental engagement. Ross and Barney architects give huge importance to public space in their projects.
Website: r-barc.com
SCB
Scope of services: Architecture, Interior design, and Planning.
Types of Built Projects: Residential, Retail, Commercial, Aviation, and Mixed use.
Locations of Built Projects: Mainly in Chicago, Illinois with some projects in San Francisco, California, and across the United States.
Style of work: Contemporary, High-tech, and sustainable.
Website: scb.com
Scrafano Architects
Scope of services: Architectural Design.
Types of Built Projects: Residential, Retail, and Commercial.
Locations of Built Projects: Chicago, Illinois, and California.
Style of work: Contemporary and Modern. Scrafano’s design involves everything from architecture and design to landscaping and selection of materials.
Website: scrafano.net
Scrafano Architects received an AIA 2011 Design Award and four Houzz “Best of” awards for design and service.
Searl Lamaster Howe Architects
Scope of services: Architectural Design & Urban planning.
Types of Built Projects: Residential, Commercial, and Institutional.
Locations of Built Projects: Majority of their projects are built across various cities in Illinois.
Style of work: Varies from Contemporary to Modern. Searl Lamaster Howe Architects believe that a project’s aesthetic is informed by a detailed study of program, context, technology, and budget. The studio shares a commitment to creativity, innovation, sustainability, detail, and materiality.
Website: searlarch.com
Searl Lamaster Howe Architects is an award-winning firm and has received multiple AIA awards including Chicago Small Project – Citation of Merit, Distinguished Building Award, and Interior Architecture Award.
Senga Architects | Top Architecture Firms/ Architects in Chicago
Scope of services: Architectural & Interior Design.
Types of Built Projects: Residential, Commercial, Cultural, and Industrial.
Locations of Built Projects: Chicago Illinois.
Style of work: Classic architecture with luxurious interiors.
Website: sengaarch.com
Skidmore, Owings & Merill LLP (SOM)
Scope of services: Architectural & Urban planning, Interior design, and engineering.
Types of Built Projects: Residential, Commercial, Institutional, hospitality, and Health care.
Locations of Built Projects: Worldwide.
Style of work: Modern and Contemporary design. They have designed several of the tallest buildings in the world.
Website: som.com
With a portfolio spanning thousands of projects across 50 countries, SOM is one of the largest architectural firms in the world.
Space Architects + Planners
Scope of services: Architecture, Urban and Interior Design.
Types of Built Projects: Residential, Restaurant, Commercial and Institutional.
Locations of Built Projects: Mainly in Chicago, Illinois.
Style of work: Renovations and adaptive reuse. Light metallic structures and brick facades
Website: spacearchplan.com
Square Root Architecture + Design.
Scope of services: Architecture, Planning, and Interior Design.
Types of Built Projects: Mainly Residential.
Locations of Built Projects: The majority of their projects are in Chicago.
Style of work: Prefabricated homes, high-performance, and sustainable building design.
Website: squarerootarch.com
Root Architecture + Design has two Houzz “Best of” Service Awards.
Studio Concepcion Architects (SCA) | Architects in Chicago
Scope of services: Architecture, Planning, and Design.
Types of Built Projects: Mainly Residential.
Locations of Built Projects: The majority of their projects are in Chicago, Illinois.
Style of work: Modern and Contemporary architecture incorporating cutting edge technology into the designs, often utilizing renewable, green, and sustainable design elements.
Website: concepcionarchitects.com
Studio Concepcion Architects won the Arts International/IIE Prize in Architecture.
Studio Dwell
Scope of services: Architecture, Planning, and Interior Design.
Types of Built Projects: Residential, Commercial, Office, and Educational.
Locations of Built Projects: Mainly in the state of Illinois.
Style of work: Modern architecture with the use of simple forms and light to produce quality designs.
Website: studiodwell.com
The firm recently won the Congress for New Urbanism Grand Prize for its contribution to neighborhood development in Detroit.
Studio Gang
Scope of services: Architecture& Urban Design.
Types of Built Projects: Aviation, Commercial, Office, Cultural, and Educational.
Locations of Built Projects: Mainly in the state of Illinois.
Style of work: Contemporary Architecture, Flexible forms & parametric design.
Website: studiogang.com
Studio Gang has won numerous awards, including the 2016 Architizer A+ Firm of the Year Award and the 2013 National Design Award from the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum.
Vladimir Radutny Architects
Scope of services: Architectural, Interior & Furniture Design.
Types of Built Projects: Residential, Office, Hospitality, and Institutional.
Locations of Built Projects: Most of their projects are in Chicago.
Style of work: Experimental and problem-solving design.
Website: radutny.com
Vladimir Radutny Architects received the 2016 AIA Chicago Small Project Award, Citation of Merit Award Unit 3E.
Von Weise Associates
Scope of services: Interior Design
Types of Built Projects: Residential, Commercial, Institutional, and Office.
Locations of Built Projects: Chicago, Illinois.
Style of work: Luxurious and Industrial design looking interiors with colorful and playful design.
Website: vonweiseassociates.com
von Weise Associates won the 2012 Illinois AIA Mies van der Rohe Citation of Merit Award.
Wheeler Kearns Architects
Scope of services: Architectural & Interior Design, Landscape, and Urban Design.
Types of Built Projects: Residential, Educational, Cultural, and Commercial
Locations of Built Projects: The majority of their projects are built across various cities in the state of Illinois with some other work in Michigan.
Style of work: Very flexible design that varies from Contemporary to Modern.
Website: wkarch.com
AIA Chicago Firm of the Year in 2016, Wheeler and Kearns designs award-winning single-family homes and a wide array of commercial projects and is also well-known for their philanthropic efforts.
White & Company | Top Architecture Firms/ Architects in Chicago
Scope of services: Architectural design, engineering, and construction.
Types of Built Projects: Commercial, Educational, and infrastructure.
Locations of Built Projects: The majority of their projects are built across various cities in Illinois.
Style of work: Eclectic, Contemporary, and high-tech.
Website: wightco.com
