BostonPicks

15 Best Architects in Boston

Choosing among architects in Boston starts with matching the practice to your project, whether you need a custom home, an addition, a renovation, or restaurant design. Look for relevant experience, a clear design process, and dependable coordination.

It is also worth confirming availability, project scope, communication style, and how the team handles older homes or major construction changes.

How this guide is ordered

The selection gives more weight to clearly defined specialties, practical fit for residential or commercial work, local service coverage, and recurring signs of organized, careful project handling. Some eligible businesses may purchase enhanced visibility, which can influence their placement.

Top 3 Ranking Map How to choose

Compare 15 architects in Boston

Design Build Architects #1

Design Build Architects

4.956 reviews
529 Main St Ste P200, Charlestown, MA 02129, United States

Design Build Architects in Boston brings architectural design and construction into one coordinated process. The integrated model supports residential and commercial work from early planning through stamped plans, permitting and construction, reducing the handoffs that can complicate a project.

The team is particularly useful for projects involving city approvals, outdoor restaurant design, renovations and energy-conscious construction. Communication, responsiveness and attention to detail are central to the experience, with an emphasis on practical solutions, durable buildings and occupant comfort.

Longfellow Design Build #2

Longfellow Design Build

520 reviews
549 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02118, United States
Best for
Custom homes and additions

Longfellow Design Build is a Boston architecture firm that keeps architecture, construction and engineering within one team. From the first sketch to the final walkthrough, the process covers custom homes, additions, renovations, kitchens, baths, millwork and fully integrated interiors.

The design-build structure creates a single chain of accountability, while in-house interior design can carry the project through floor plans, lighting, fabrics, finishes and furnishings. Its work is well suited to homeowners seeking a coordinated renovation or custom home process with close attention to budget, schedule and detail.

Sam Kachmar Architects #3

Sam Kachmar Architects

4.822 reviews
357 Huron Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138, United States

Sam Kachmar Architects is a residential architecture firm serving Boston and the wider New England region. The practice brings together design vision, technical knowledge and constructability, with a collaborative process shaped around the character of each home and its setting.

Its portfolio includes dream homes, adaptive renovations and complex residential projects requiring coordination through planning, construction and completion. The team is known for detailed project management, clear answers and steady attention to schedules, budgets and the realities of building.

JtA | Joe the Architect #4
What stands out
  • Architecture, interiors and brand design

JtA | Joe the Architect

4.818 reviews
343 Medford St #4, Somerville, MA 02145, United States
Best for
Restaurant designPersonalized home design

JtA | Joe the Architect creates architecture, interiors and brand design for spaces where people live, work, dine and gather. The Boston practice works closely with clients to translate references, ideas and practical needs into coherent environments, including restaurants, homes and hospitality-oriented spaces.

Its hands-on process can extend from architectural and interior design through permitting, contractor coordination, lighting, color and brand identity. The team’s patient communication and flexibility are valuable for projects where the concept evolves while budget and buildability remain important.

MASS. | Model of Architecture Serving Society #5

MASS. | Model of Architecture Serving Society

4.719 reviews
1 Chandler St, Boston, MA 02116, United States

MASS. | Model of Architecture Serving Society is a Boston architecture firm focused on design as a tool for social, cultural and environmental progress. Its work connects architecture with research, community engagement and a strong sense of place.

Services extend to landscape architecture and exhibit or interpretive design. Projects are shaped around community needs, ecological resilience, cultural meaning and public well-being, creating spaces intended to be functional while contributing to a more just and beautiful future.

PAYETTE #6

PAYETTE

4.913 reviews
290 Congress St, Boston, MA 02210, United States

PAYETTE is a Boston architecture firm with a strong focus on science, healthcare and sustainable design. Its work combines technical thinking for scientific advancement with a distinctive approach to interior and architectural environments.

The practice is a natural fit for complex institutional projects that require specialized planning, durable design and environmental responsibility. Its portfolio also includes recognized work in interior architecture and smaller-scale projects, reflecting a broad design capability.

Flavin Architects #7

Flavin Architects

4.715 reviews
175 Portland St #6, Boston, MA 02114, United States
Best for
Modern sustainable homes and renovations

Flavin Architects designs modern residential spaces in Boston and throughout New England, with a clear emphasis on natural materials, sustainable performance and close connection to landscape. The firm works on new homes and mid-century renovations, including coastal projects shaped for demanding conditions and indoor-outdoor living.

Its collaborative process begins with understanding daily routines and translating them into a home that feels specific to its occupants. Hand-rendered drawings, models, simulations and detailed technical documents help clients understand both the concept and the finished experience. Clean lines, timeless materials and carefully framed views define the studio’s contemporary work, while energy, water and site systems remain integral to the design rather than afterthoughts.

Adolfo Perez Architect #8

Adolfo Perez Architect

4.714 reviews
69 Union St #7, Newton, MA 02459, United States
Best for
Custom contemporary homes and major residential renovations

Adolfo Perez Architect designs custom modern and contemporary homes, renovations, and interiors across Boston and the wider metropolitan area. Its work brings together a strong sense of space, style, proportion, and how each room will be used, with careful attention to the relationship between house, site, views, and surroundings.

Projects are developed with close attention to detail and practical constraints. Adolfo Perez is personally involved, prepares thoroughly for meetings, listens carefully to client priorities, and presents different ways to shape a design while respecting an established budget. The process is organized, attentive, and notably focused on a well-resolved result, from material choices through construction coordination. A thoughtful fit for homeowners planning a substantial renovation, addition, or custom contemporary residence in the Boston area.

Sasaki #9

Sasaki

4.615 reviews
110 Chauncy St Ste 200, Boston, MA 02111, United States

Sasaki is an interdisciplinary Boston design firm working across architecture, planning, landscape, and interior design. Its approach connects buildings with the public realm, the surrounding landscape, and the way people learn, work, gather, and move through a place.

The practice is particularly relevant for complex institutional, civic, campus, workplace, and urban projects that benefit from several design disciplines working together. Its Boston studio is set in a distinctive mill building overlooking the Charles River, with an evident interest in sustainable systems, thoughtful materials, and spaces that support connection and innovation.

Frank Shirley Architects #10
What stands out
  • Historic restoration and preservation

Frank Shirley Architects

4.614 reviews
40 Pearl St, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
Best for
Owners of older homesResidential additions, renovations, and new construction

Frank Shirley Architects is a boutique Boston architecture practice focused on bringing residential projects from early ideas through completion. Its services include new construction, additions and renovations, historic restoration and preservation, interior architecture, and consultations for owners assessing an older home or considering whether to renovate or move.

The firm’s design language balances respect for the past with contemporary living. Finished work is marked by carefully considered details, period-sensitive choices, and restrained touches that give a home a timeless character rather than a passing look. The team’s process is collaborative and attentive, with a strong emphasis on understanding the building before proposing a response.

CBT Architects #11

CBT Architects

59 reviews
One Constitution Wharf, Boston, MA 02129, United States

CBT Architects is a Boston practice working nationally and internationally across architecture, interior design, and urban design. Its portfolio ranges from district master planning and large mixed-use developments to hospitality, multifamily residential, civic, academic, life science, and workplace projects.

The firm is especially equipped for complex urban work requiring careful permitting, coordination across large teams, and continuity from concept through construction. Its leadership combines pragmatic problem-solving with detailed design management, while technical expertise in BIM, energy modeling, and high-performance buildings supports demanding projects from early planning to delivery.

Elkus Manfredi Architects Ltd #12

Elkus Manfredi Architects Ltd

4.612 reviews
25 Drydock Ave, Boston, MA 02210, United States

Elkus Manfredi Architects is a Boston full-service design firm covering architecture, master planning, urban design, interior architecture, historic preservation, space planning, programming, and experiential graphic design. Its work spans environments for living, working, learning, play, and innovation.

The practice is particularly recognized for mixed-use placemaking: creating connected, sustainable settings that strengthen community at scales ranging from workplaces to urban neighborhoods. An open, collaborative design process and broad portfolio make it a strong match for ambitious developments requiring several disciplines to work in concert.

TRIA #13

TRIA

58 reviews
21 Drydock Ave #330w, Boston, MA 02210, United States

TRIA, now HFA Architecture + Engineering, focuses on science and technology environments where laboratories, offices, and manufacturing spaces need to function as one connected ecosystem. Its work begins with programming and planning, then develops through a transparent, front-loaded process that brings design criteria and disciplines together early.

That structure is useful for research, innovation, and technical workplaces where coordination, momentum, and long-term adaptability matter. The emphasis is on memorable spaces built around the people and activities they support.

Florin Luca Architect #14

Florin Luca Architect

58 reviews
45 Malcolm Rd, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130, United States

Florin Luca Architect is a Boston architecture firm focused on residential and small commercial projects, including new construction, additions, and renovations. Designs respond to each site’s geography, environmental conditions, purpose, budget, and the client’s aspirations, with an emphasis on solutions that are both inventive and functional.

The practice is hands-on and attentive through design and construction. Florin Luca is known for listening carefully, coordinating effectively with contractors, engineers, suppliers, and permitting authorities, and finding practical ways to make demanding spaces work—down to fitting a generous kitchen island or resolving site constraints.

saam architecture #15

saam architecture

4.89 reviews
75 Central St, Boston, MA 02109, United States

saam architecture is a Boston firm known for professional, collaborative work across K–12 education, higher education, corporate workplace, and other sectors. Its organized, attentive approach makes it a natural partner for projects where teamwork, detail, and dependable coordination are central to the design process.

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Map of architects in Boston

Boston’s architecture options cover a broad mix of residential studios, design-build practices, and larger firms. The strongest fit depends less on a generic office category than on whether the team regularly handles your type of project.

Before traveling for a consultation, confirm where meetings take place, whether the firm serves your property area, and how far it is willing to travel during design and construction.

Architecture services to compare

  • Custom homes and additionsCompare firms experienced with new homes, extensions, and design-build coordination from early concepts through construction.
  • Residential renovationsLook for teams handling substantial remodels, new construction, and changes to existing homes rather than only cosmetic updates.
  • Older-home projectsSome practices are a strong match for owners of older homes who need careful planning around existing conditions.
  • Restaurant designChoose a studio with relevant restaurant design experience if layout, guest flow, back-of-house needs, and atmosphere are central.
  • Personalized home designFor a highly individual residence, ask how the architect translates lifestyle, priorities, and long-term use into the design.
  • Sustainable renovationsModern sustainable homes and renovations may suit projects focused on efficiency, durable materials, and contemporary performance.

How to choose an architect

  1. Ask to see projects similar in scale, age, and use to yours.
  2. Confirm whether the architect provides design only or coordinates construction as well.
  3. Request a clear outline of phases, deliverables, approvals, and expected client decisions.
  4. Discuss how the team communicates during revisions and construction.
  5. For an older home, ask how existing conditions and unexpected discoveries are handled.
  6. Confirm current availability before arranging an in-person consultation.

Frequently asked questions

Which Boston architects are suitable for custom homes?

Longfellow Design Build focuses on custom homes and additions, while Flavin Architects is associated with modern sustainable homes and renovations. Adolfo Perez Architect may suit clients seeking custom contemporary homes or major residential renovations.

Ask each practice about comparable projects, construction involvement, timeline, and the degree of personalization included.

Can Boston architects help with restaurant design?

JtA has a specific restaurant design focus alongside personalized home design. That makes it a useful option to investigate when the project involves dining-room flow, service areas, atmosphere, and coordination with specialist consultants.

Confirm experience with your restaurant format and whether the scope includes permitting or construction administration.

What should owners of older Boston homes ask first?

Start by asking how the architect evaluates existing conditions, protects original details, and manages surprises discovered during demolition. Older homes often require more coordination than a straightforward interior refresh.

Request examples of comparable renovations and clarify how design changes affect the schedule, budget, and construction decisions.

Should I choose a design-build architect or a traditional firm?

A design-build practice can simplify coordination between design and construction, while a traditional architecture firm may offer a different structure for bidding and contractor selection. The better choice depends on your preferred level of involvement.

Compare responsibilities, fees, communication, and who remains accountable once construction begins.

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