Top Architecture Firms in Los Angeles

Top 10 Architecture Firms in Los Angeles

The top architecture firms in Los Angeles are known for innovation across residential, civic, healthcare, and landscape design, delivering iconic projects through sustainability, advanced BIM workflows, and design excellence that reflects the city’s cultural and environmental diversity.

This list highlights the biggest architecture firms actively transforming the city’s architecture:

1. Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects (LOHA)

LOHA is a bold and experimental architecture firm in Los Angeles known for elevating everyday urban spaces into iconic statements. The firm’s progressive housing and cultural projects blend art and activism to reflect LA’s diverse identity.  It is one of the first architecture firm names that comes up when you search for one of the best architecture firms in LA.

• Notable Projects: Cloverdale749, SL11024, Mariposa1038, San Vicente 1040, Bellevue 53
• Specializations: Urban infill, mixed-use, cultural, and residential architecture
• Contributions: Elevated housing and social equity through design in underserved LA neighborhoods.

2. SWA

Recognized as one of the best landscape architecture firms Los Angeles, SWA is reshaping cities with sustainability and beauty at their core. SWA’s holistic design process integrates ecology, community, and cutting-edge landscape technology.

• Notable Projects: Playa Vista Parks, 2nd Street Tunnel Streetscape, LA River Master Plan, Hunter's Point South Waterfront Park
• Specializations: Landscape architecture, urban design, and green infrastructure
• Contributions: Defined the landscape with sustainable urban green spaces.

3. Hatch Colasuonno + Relativity Architects (HCRA)

Among the commercial architecture firms Los Angeles, HCRA blends adaptive reuse with bold creativity, making it a standout firm. Their work redefines industrial, entertainment, and mixed-use spaces with layered textures and cultural context. 

• Notable Projects: Western Pacific Building, KTLA Studio Campus, Cumulus District, Penny Lane, North Hills
• Specializations: Adaptive reuse, creative office, hospitality, and mixed-use
• Contributions: Reimagined historical buildings with forward-thinking design for the modern era.

4. Arshia Architects

Arshia Architects is one of the top architecture firms in the US. Their expressive, futuristic homes have gained global recognition. Their sculptural architecture is rooted in minimalism but often surprises with complexity and spatial tension. 

• Notable Projects: MU77, RO54, Nakhshab House
• Specializations: Residential, high-end custom homes, modernist design
• Contributions: Pioneered high-performance and sculptural residential architecture in Los Angeles hillsides.

5. CO Architects

CO Architects leads as one of the top civic and healthcare architecture firms in Los Angeles, known for innovation and purpose-driven design. Their BIM-forward approach helps streamline design for complex hospitals and academic campuses. They combine advanced BIM workflows with human-centred design that shapes public service environments.

• Notable Projects: USC Norris Cancer Hospital, UCLA Geffen Hall, Phoenix Biomedical Campus
• Specializations: Institutional, healthcare, educational
• Contributions: Revolutionized healthcare and education architecture with technology integration and sustainable design.

Also Read: Top 10 BIM Online Certification Courses in the USA for Architects &  Civil Engineers

6. Morphosis Architects

Morphosis Architects, founded by Thom Mayne and others, is one of the best Los Angeles landscape architecture firms. It is an interdisciplinary practice known for its bold, futuristic designs that challenge architectural norms.The firm integrates rigorous research with innovative design to create iconic structures that redefine urban landscapes.

• Notable Projects: Emerson College Los Angeles, Caltrans District 7 Headquarters, San Francisco Federal Building, Korean American National Museum
• Specializations: Cultural, educational, and governmental architecture
• Contributions: Pioneered avant-garde architectural designs that blend form with function, earning numerous accolades, including the Pritzker Architecture Prize for Thom Mayne.

7. XTEN Architecture

XTEN Architecture designs bold and refined homes, often located in the Hollywood Hills and coastal Los Angeles. Known for minimalism and elegance, XTEN Architecture holds a place among the top architectural design firms transforming LA's luxury residential scene. Their architecture emphasizes transparency, openness, and spatial fluidity using glass and concrete. 

• Notable Projects: Openhouse, Sapphire, Beverly Skyline
• Specializations: Residential, cultural, and interior architecture
• Contributions: Delivered award-winning modern homes that fuse light, material, and landscape.

8. WOODS + DANGARAN

Established in 2013 by Brett Woods and Joseph Dangaran, WOODS + DANGARAN is one of the popular architecture firms in Los Angeles, specializing in modernist residential architecture. Their work is characterized by clean lines, natural materials, and a seamless integration of indoor and outdoor spaces.

• Notable Projects: Moore House, Desert Palisades, Gallery View, Twentieth
• Specializations: High-end residential design, restoration of architecturally significant homes
• Contributions: Recognized for crafting modern homes that emphasize simplicity, warmth, and a strong connection to their surroundings.

9. Kevin Daly Architects (kdA)

Kevin Daly Architects (KDA) is one of the top American architecture firms,  known for their commitment to sustainable design and community engagement. Their projects often address urban challenges, providing innovative solutions that serve both the environment and the public.

• Notable Projects: UCLA Mo Ostin Basketball Center, UCSB San Joaquin Housing, Robertson Recreation Center, Gramercy Senior Housing, 50 Hudson Yards Sky Terrace, NYC
• Specializations: Educational facilities, affordable housing, community centers
• Contributions: Advanced sustainable and socially responsive architecture, receiving multiple awards for designs that enhance community well-being.

10. SmithGroup Los Angeles

SmithGroup’s LA studio creates innovative buildings rooted in research, technology, and climate resilience. With a legacy of over 160 years, With over 160 years of experience, SmithGroup stands as one of the top destinations for architecture firm jobs in the U.S., offering professionals the chance to shape impactful, future-ready environments.

• Notable Projects: Port of LA Research Facility, Princeton Plasma Innovation Center, Cal State Long Beach Innovation Hub
• Specializations: Education, science/tech, urban design, landscape
• Contributions: Pioneered net-zero and campus planning frameworks in Southern California.

Also Read: Top BIM Courses With Placements

How Novatr’s BIM Courses Help Architects Land Jobs in Top Firms

Los Angeles architectural landscape is rapidly transforming, fueled by the growing need for sustainable, intelligent, and tech-driven design solutions. Leading firms are actively looking for architects skilled in Building Information Modeling (BIM) to manage and execute complex, interdisciplinary projects. This is where Novatr’s BIM Courses come in. 

Novatr’s BIM courses equip architects with software-driven workflows, real-world project exposure, and industry-aligned skills that top architecture firms in Los Angeles seek, improving employability, portfolio quality, and readiness for complex, multidisciplinary design roles.

It is redefining architectural education by bridging the gap between academia and industry. Novatr’s industry-vetted curriculum is designed by global AEC experts which ensures learners gain real-world experience. With a focus on practical, software-driven learning, it empowers architects to master BIM tools and workflows that top firms demand, making its graduates job-ready from day one. It prepares architects with hands-on, industry-relevant skills, including

• Practical BIM implementation for real-world project challenges
  
  
• Proficiency in tools like Revit, Navisworks, and Dynamo
  
  
• A professional-grade BIM portfolio to impress potential employers
  
  
• Career guidance and job placement support with firms that value BIM expertise

Novatr’s BIM Training is Crucial for Architects, aiming to advance their careers, support sustainable design practices, and boost earning potential through greater efficiency. Novatr stands out for turning traditional upskilling into a transformative career accelerator for architects worldwide.