Top 10 Architecture Firms in Pennsylvania

Top 10 Architecture Firms in Pennsylvania

1. Bohlin Cywinski Jackson (BCJ)

Located in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Wilkes-Barre, BCJ is famous for its green design that incorporates the use of wooden beams, glass, and steel constructions. One of the top architecture firms, they are the designers of most of the Apple Stores and many other residential and institutional buildings worldwide that have received numerous awards. 

Notable Projects: Apple Stores worldwide, Liberty Bell Center, Lake Tahoe House

Specializations: Civic, cultural, academic, commercial, sustainable design

Contribution: Known for blending technology and nature in human-centered, sustainable architecture.

2. Archer & Buchanan Architecture

Archer & Buchanan is a Chester County firm offering its services in the areas of residential, equestrian, and institutional sectors. This is one of the residential architecture firms that specializes in Pennsylvania traditional-style homes and aims to create bespoke homes with enhanced detailing, historical restoration, as well as historical preservation and new use of older structures. 

Notable Projects: Equestrian Farmhouses in Chester County, Wyndmoor Residence, Springton Manor

Specializations: Residential, historic preservation, adaptive reuse

Contribution: Preserves traditional Pennsylvania styles through refined and context-sensitive residential architecture.

3. Richard Pedranti Architect (RPA)

RPA is one of the top American architecture firms, and their high-performance homes use passive design strategies that are popular with forward-thinking Pennsylvania architects. As the push toward green building grows, companies like RPA are promoting passive and energy-efficient design strategies that help lower the carbon footprint of the built environment.

Notable Projects: Milford Passive House, Ridge House, Catskills Residence

Specializations: Passive house design, high-performance buildings, sustainable architecture

Contribution: Leads in net-zero architecture with a focus on passive building strategies and energy-efficient design.

4. Ralph C. Fey, AIA Architects

Fey’s architectural firm specializes in elegant, sustainable homes and institutions, blending modernity and tradition with local environmental awareness.

Notable Projects: The Solebury School Arts Center, Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve

Specializations: Residential, institutional, commercial, sustainable design

Contribution: Integrates classic aesthetics with modern sustainability in both private and community-driven spaces.

5. Desmone Architects

This commercial architecture firm in Pittsburgh creates impactful wellness, residential, and mixed-use spaces using modern design systems and adaptive reuse.

Notable Projects: The Desmone HQ (Pittsburgh’s first WELL-certified building), The Highline, Historic Strip District developments

Specializations: Commercial, healthcare, wellness design, urban revitalization

Contribution: Revives urban landscapes through adaptive reuse and sustainable commercial architecture.

6. Fisher Architecture

Among the biggest architecture firms, Fisher specializes in designing contemporary home and community structures, sustainably built while embodying the changes in the architectural culture of Pittsburgh. As these Pennsylvania-based sustainable practices have shown, those in Bengaluru’s sustainable architecture firms and across the world are not far behind as they seek to embrace sustainable architecture. 

Notable Projects: The Tree House, Point Breeze Residence, Sustainable mixed-use buildings in Pittsburgh

Specializations: Residential, mixed-use, sustainability, modernist design

Contribution: Reimagines modern living through bold, responsive, and eco-friendly architectural solutions.

7. GBBN

As one of the leading architecture firms, GBBN provides a comfortable healthcare and education environment with the help of powerful and creative designs. Their work is marked by an investment in architecture that is built for the purpose of improving the end-users’ experience. 

Notable Projects: University of Pittsburgh School of Health Sciences, UPMC Children’s Hospital renovations

Specializations: Healthcare, education, civic, commercial

Contribution: Enhances community well-being through people-focused healthcare and educational environments.

8. MCF Architecture

MCF, an architectural design firms that has been in business for several years, specializes in civic, healthcare, and faith-related buildings, but all of it is based on the context of Pennsylvania. New acquisitions, such as the merger with McKinley Architecture and Engineering, help them add more services to what they offer. 

Notable Projects: Heinz History Center expansions, institutional and religious facilities across Western PA

Specializations: Religious, healthcare, civic, education

Contribution: Delivers contextually grounded, enduring spaces for faith-based and public institutions.

9. Metcalfe Architecture & Design

Metcalfe is one of the top ten architecture firms, and they focus on making educational and interactive places that encourage interaction and fun learning.

Notable Projects: The Franklin Institute exhibit spaces, Please Touch Museum, Tyler Arboretum Treehouse

Specializations: Educational, cultural, experiential design, interactive environments

Contribution: Creates immersive, user-centered spaces that inspire curiosity and community engagement.

10. CANNO Design

CANNO Design has gotten good reviews for turning difficult areas into places that work well and look good. They are known for their attention to detail and creative home projects. This Pennsylvania architecture firm changes urban lots with sharp residential and adaptive reuse projects that balance light, space, and function.

Notable Projects: Broad Street Residence, Chestnut Street Duplexes, Philadelphia adaptive reuse projects

Specializations: Residential, adaptive reuse, urban infill

Contribution: Transforms dense urban lots into clean, modern residential spaces with design precision.

How Novatr’s BIM Courses Empower Architects to Work in Top Firms

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is revolutionizing the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. Novatr's BIM Professional Course for Architects equips professionals with the skills required to excel in top architecture firms in the US.

Key Benefits:

• Comprehensive curricula: The program offers a comprehensive knowledge of BIM ideas together with important software tools and their pragmatic use in actual architectural environments. This guarantees ambitious BIM experts have a good basis of knowledge.
  
  
• Industry-relevant projects: Working on projects closely matching the requirements and standards of the design and construction sectors gives students useful, hands-on experience. This immediate contact closes the distance between professional activity and theoretical knowledge.
  
  
• Expert mentorship: Learners gain from the direction and insights of seasoned experts now in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) fields. This mentoring offers insightful, practical viewpoints and career guidance.
  
  
• Career support: Beyond providing technical instruction, the course provides committed help to provide job placements for recent graduates in prestigious architectural firms. Usually, this help consists of portfolio advice, resume creation, and networking prospects.
  
  

Learning BIM not only makes architects more competitive for architecture firm jobs but also opens doors to high-paying architecture roles across design, construction tech, and sustainability sectors.