Carlsbad has a positive business climate that’s ripe for investment. To drive foot traffic or boost employee productivity, entrepreneurs must make sure that their spaces are conducive for business. We’ve gathered a list of the best commercial architects in Carlsbad, California to help you find the right partner. We included these firms because of their expertise, accomplishments, and design philosophy.
WATG and Wimberly Interiors
300 Spectrum Center Dr. Suite 500, Irvine, CA 92618
What makes a good commercial architect? For WATG and Wimberly Interiors, it’s about creating exceptional design that provides enduring value. This award-winning design firm has completed over 400 projects of varied complexity in over 170 countries and territories. Founded in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1945, it has grown into a 500-strong team of highly creative and well-traveled professionals. WATG specializes in hospitality, destination, and tourism design. Their designs are geared at driving revenue and rejuvenating commercial spaces. The firm is able to accomplish this thanks to its strong leadership team. President and CEO David Moore has more than 30 years of experience in design and operations. Regional Director and WATG Irvine Managing Director Monica Cuervo has over 23 years of experience in hospitality and entertainment destination design.
The Park Hyatt Aviara Renovation is one of the firm’s biggest and most celebrated projects. Valued at $50 million, the project includes the addition of a lobby lounge, several cabanas, and two golf suites with an upscale coastal estate theme. The team also updated all suites and guest rooms in keeping with Park Hyatt’s reputation for luxury.
With designs like these, Wimberly Interiors won the 2019 AHEAD Europe Best Suite Award for their exquisite work on the Belmond Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. They have also been featured in Luxury Travel Magazine, Travel + Leisure, and Condé Nast Traveler.
Gensler
225 Broadway Suite 100, San Diego, CA 91910
Gensler is in the business of reimagining future cities. With a global team spread across 29 locations, the firm is committed to creating a better world through design. They are behind some of the most forward-thinking mixed-used and retail developments in the Carlsbad area. Founded in 1965, Ensler currently serves more than 3,500 clients in various industries thanks to its strong leadership team. Principal and Co-CEO Diane Hoskins, Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA), National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), is also the recipient of the Outstanding Impact Award from the Council of Real Estate Women. Principal and Co-CEO Andy Cohen, FAIA, and member of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) was named one of Los Angeles Business Journal’s Most Influential People. Together, these two principals lead the firm to build many beautiful projects.
Their high-profile projects include Porsche Carlsbad, a modern dealership with a glass and steel exterior that evokes the brand’s fine sports cars. The clean and precise design gives it a museum-like atmosphere that instills an appreciation for the cars on display.
With beautiful projects like these, the firm has received the 2021 European Healthcare Design (EHD) Award in the Future Healthcare Design category, for their work on the National University Hospital Campus Master Plan in Singapore. The firm also topped Architectural Record’s Top 300 Architecture Firms of 2021. Aside from delivering many accredited designs, the firm is also concerned with sustainability in the built environment. Gensler releases annual reports to assess their efforts to eliminate net gas emissions associated with their work.
Ware Malcomb
3911 Sorrento Valley Blvd. Suite 120, San Diego, CA 92121
Ware Malcomb’s success is built on its people. The team benefits from a company-wide mentoring program that provides support and on-going coaching. As a result, they have delivered some of the most memorable retail and hospitality designs in the Carlsbad area. With a long history of top-notch designs, the firm continues to deliver exceptional service and a client-focused approach to commercial architecture. Chairman Lawrence R. Armstrong, LEED AP leads the Board of Directors for Ware Malcomb while Principal Tiffany English, CID, LEED AP is in charge of growth and management of the firm’s San Diego architecture and interior studios.
An industry leader in green building, Ware Malcomb offers sustainable and renewable options for healthier spaces in which individuals can thrive. To meet your green project requirements, the firm provides access to a team of LEED® and WELL™ accredited professionals. Their sustainable design solutions can help clients improve work environments, conserve energy, and reduce operating costs.
One of the firm’s finest projects is the Callaway Golf Performance Center. To enhance the workplace, the team added an outdoor amenity space with comfortable seating, shaded areas, and a driving range. They also did branding and interior design for more than 5,000 square feet of fitting and research and development spaces.
Safdie Rabines Architects
925 Fort Stockton Dr., San Diego, CA 92103
Safdie Rabines Architects believes that commercial interests can be balanced with environmentally sustainable, and socially responsible design. They deliver site-specific architecture and interior design in a variety of contexts and scales. This makes them one of the most versatile and adaptable firms serving the Carlsbad area. The firm specializes in mixed-use developments, educational facilities, and large master plans. Their team delivers exceptional service from conceptualization to project completion and beyond.
Founded in 1993 by the husband-and-wife team of Ricardo Rabines and Taal Safdie, AIA, RA this full-service firm excels in every facet of programming and construction. Through open communication, they provide comfort and confidence to guide clients through the most ambitious projects.
Safdie Rabines Architects features an Interiors Studio led by Michele Arnold-Kush. One of their most notable projects include the Avanti Workplace, a creative work space in a corporate office building. The firm installed a storefront system that allows plenty of natural light to enter while still protecting office privacy. Aside from design, the firm also provided space planning and permit procurement services to ensure the project’s timely completion.
Many projects such as these have earned the firm awards such as the 2020 Design-Build Institute of America for Extended Learning Building and the 2020 California Transportation Foundation Structure Project of the Year for Gilman Bridge. The firm has also been featured in Dwell, San Diego Tribune, and ARCHITECT Magazine.
BGI Architecture
2292 Faraday Ave. #100, Carlsbad, CA 92008
At BGI Architecture, design is in their blood. The firm has two generations of licensed architects on their roster, offering in-depth knowledge of various architectural styles. Specializing in commercial design and tenant improvements, BGI is behind some of the finest retail and office spaces in the Carlsbad area. Founding BGI Architecture in 1985, Principal John S. Beery, AIA has more than 35 years of experience in creating built environments that enhance clients’ lifestyle.
Some of these projects include Carlsbad Optometry, a 1,143-square-foot retail space in Bressi Ranch. For this tenant improvement project, the team sought to create a contemporary but warm interior with custom displays. The space includes the storefront and private eye examination rooms and offices. To give passersby maximum visibility into the store, the team designed a large storefront with glass panels and ample lighting. The result is a bright and airy commercial space that entices window shoppers to come in.
Aside from design development, the firm offers a wide range of services that include site consultation and building inspection and evaluation. They also assist clients with construction documents and as-built documentation for a seamless experience. The firm’s thoughtful process and successful projects have earned the firm features in Coastal Magazine and San Diego Home & Garden. The firm now has offices in California, Arizona, and Hawaii.
