The Best Residential Architects in Richmond, Virginia

Last updated on October 9th, 2024 at 10:54 pm

Building a home in Richmond, Virginia, offers many benefits, from its rich history and vibrant culture to its charming neighborhoods and strong sense of community. Selecting the right residential architect is crucial to fully capitalize on these advantages. A skilled architect can bring your vision to life, ensuring that your new home is beautiful, functional, and suited to your lifestyle. With average project costs ranging from $200,000 to $250,000 and potentially reaching up to $300,000, making an informed choice in an architect is vital to staying within budget and achieving the desired results.

Richmond, home to 229,395 residents and boasting a median home value of $358,188, is a city where architectural diversity thrives. The city offers a broad spectrum of architectural styles, from historic homes to modern designs. The selection process can be overwhelming, with 205 relevant contractors in the area. However, finding the right architect can make a significant difference in navigating the complexities of home building, ensuring your project is completed efficiently and to the highest standards.

This article will highlight some of the best residential architects in Richmond, VA. These professionals are known for their expertise, creativity, and proven track records. Whether you’re looking to design a contemporary urban dwelling or a classic suburban home, these architects can make your dream home a reality. Choosing the right residential architect ensures that your home-building experience in Richmond is smooth, enjoyable, and successful.

Overview: The Best Residential Architects in Richmond, Virginia

See Ranking Methodology at the bottom of this article to learn more.

Hays + Ewing Design Studio

1900 Chesapeake St., Charlottesville, VA 22902 

Winner of the Award of Honor from the Virginia Society of the AIA and named one of the top ten energy-efficient homes in the state by EarthCraft, this modern take on the dogtrot is composed of two wings and a breezeway with a dark-stained poplar façade. Seasonally textured, this comfort-centric residence allows the owners to enjoy time away from the city with relaxing al fresco dining from spring to late fall. The kitchen and main living spaces are in the east wing. In contrast, the ground level of the west wing offers a studio office and master bedroom, with three other bedrooms partially embedded into the hillside in the lower level. The building employs a passive solar design, from natural ventilation to operable windows, and offers a geothermal system of radiant floors throughout.

Hays + Ewing Design Studio is the team behind this exceptional home. Firm partners Christopher Hays, AIA, LEED AP, and Allison Ewing, FAIA, LEED AP, each hold a master’s in architecture from Yale and bring over 30 years of industry experience. One of the renowned architects in Richmond, VA, its works have been featured in Residential Design Magazine.

SMS Architects has been designing across the state for nearly two decades, blending historical charm with forward-thinking flow. The group’s Tonbridge remodel, featured here, is a striking example of the team’s ability to modernize an existing home. This 1940s Tudor-style residence has been updated with a dynamic layout now brightened by natural light. Classic finishes weave seamlessly with distinct modern accents and art pieces within the charming brick façade. The great room, which sits beneath coffered ceilings, connects to the outdoors through French doors and picture windows, and a stone fireplace, flanked by built-in cabinets, anchors the living room, which leads to a six-seat dining area and luxe kitchen that holds an enormous L-shaped island at its center. The warm touches continue upstairs to the fully refreshed bedrooms, including the relaxing master bath, now highlighted by a window-side freestanding tub and curbless shower.

This residence is only one of the many gems in the SMS portfolio. Driving the company’s depth is founder Scott Stephens, a Chesapeake Bay native who holds multiple degrees in architecture, including a master’s from Virginia Tech. Scott and his team of globally experienced designers ensure that clients will appreciate their creative, personalized solutions for decades.

Mark Spangler Architecture

1727 West Grace St., Richmond, Virginia 23220 

Mark Spangler Architecture has built some of the most impressively sized homes across the region, leveraging team insight into the challenges of immense structures. At the same time, founder Mark Spangler prides himself on maximizing the use of space and building with budget in mind. A licensed architect with a degree in interior design, he began his career as a draftsman before launching his agency. 

Marrying historical architectural styles with contemporary solutions, the firm designed the Powhatan home below to blend neoclassical Italian architecture with a San Francisco rowhouse style, including intricately molded balusters accentuating the red-brick exterior. The classical trim continues in the interior, where multiple built-in arched bookcases line the spacious living room, and trimmed arch openings lead to the kitchen, which features a wainscoted range hood and cabinets that are a stylish backdrop for the tiered center island. The Victorian dining room can seat up to ten, and lounge areas abound inside and out. The high-caliber craftsmanship shines here and throughout the Spangler portfolio.

510 Architects LLC

3330 W Leigh St., Suite A, Richmond, VA 23230 

Both launching their careers via the Virginia Tech Master of Architecture program, Heather Grutzius, LEED AP, and John White founded 510 Architects after garnering experience with other firms in the state. They bring a deep understanding of materials, means, and methods to the design process, maintaining a wholly focused vision from concept to realization for the many residential and commercial projects they complete throughout the city. 

The team performed an extensive renovation for this 3,000-square-foot, three-story rowhouse in the historic Fan District. The cool gray and white exterior opens to warmth indoors, with light-wood finishes accents across the main living spaces. Touches of orange fill the family room and the adjacent kitchen, where a brick wall serves as a backsplash, and a wooden waterfall-edge island is a riveting centerpiece. The master bedroom features a raised bed with a traditional wood-mantel headboard and matching bookshelves, leading to a stunning en suite bath outfitted with a rain-head shower that hangs above pebble flooring. The leisure continues outdoors in a backyard oasis that includes a patio, grill, and fire pit. As 510 Architects notes in its philosophies, beauty is in the details — and so is innovation.

Josh McCullar Architects LLC

3802 Fauquier Ave., Richmond, VA 23227 

Josh McCullar Architects has been serving Richmond for almost a decade. A native of the Piedmont region, founder Josh McCullar, AIA, NCARB, earned his bachelor’s in environmental design and architecture from North Carolina State University and his master’s in architecture from UVA. He is one of the best residential architects in Richmond, VA, and he spent 19 years with other firms, gaining experience in both public and private projects before starting his practice.

The stylish family home shown here represents the firm’s rich vision for its clients. Dark manganese iron spot brick, whitewashed red brick, cedar, and reclaimed Virginia-sourced white oak make up the textured façade of this River Road beauty. A corner sunroom provides a venue to admire the picturesque scenery in its location close to James River, with a covered porch bordering the perimeter for a closer view. Large windows lining the home’s interior bring ample light into the already-bright white-walled spaces, which lead toward a glass-railed staircase. Soft neutral tones appear in the furniture and cabinetry, creating a mix of modern design and traditional rural architecture characteristic of the Piedmont region. This sublime blend is accentuated throughout the kitchen and dining areas, where rustic pieces meet minimalism, from the center island’s drop lamps to the window-side breakfast nook.

Johannas Design Group

1901 W. Cary St., Richmond, VA 23220 

As founder of his namesake firm, Dave Johannes, AIA, NCARB, brings over 25 years of experience. Scott Corwin, Associate AIA, is joining him as a partner, and he earned his construction chops before pursuing a master’s in architecture from Virginia Tech. 

The Johannas Design Group has won multiple awards from ACORN and the Greater Richmond Association of Commercial Real Estate throughout the past two decades for the outstanding craftsmanship the team infuses into every project, including the Park Avenue home shown here. Within the solid-brick façade is a flowing white and wood interior. Built-in cabinets highlight the living room fireplace and classic white pillars lead to the kitchen, which features an eat-in center island and multiple prep spaces. The dining area offers inviting views of the front courtyard, which is lined with flagstone and features an easy-reach vegetable patch near the entryway. Neighborhood revitalization is evident wherever the Johannas Design Group leaves its innovative print.

Patrick Farley Architect

3412 W. Leigh St., #4442, Richmond, VA 23230 

With over 30 years of industry experience, Patrick Farley, AIA, LEED BD+C, wields depth in multiple arenas. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s of architecture from UVA and has led over $10 million worth of design-build construction projects, allowing him to bring builder insight into his architectural process. Among the best architects in Richmond, VA, Farley has been recognized by organizations such as AIA Richmond, the Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods (ACORN), and the Better Housing Coalition. 

Patrick Farley, Architect, designed this featured modern farmhouse with an intimate garden courtyard to bring the native landscape indoors. A screened porch oversees this space, its lounge areas winding easily to the backyard patio, and tall windows and glass sliding doors punctuate the remainder of the white-panel exterior, flooding the interior with natural light. A soft-toned fireplace wall warms the vaulted-ceiling living room, which flows to an expansive kitchen, dining room, and sitting room with a half-wall divider. Inviting details continue throughout, including the marble tile that accents the master bath’s recessed tub and alcove shower. Like all of Farley’s projects, nature and aesthetic design weave seamlessly into a unified design.

Ensminger Architecture

503 Ridge Top Rd., Richmond, VA 23229 

Ensminger Architecture has built over 100 homes in and around Richmond, infusing neighborhoods with various styles. Leading the charge is Dan Ensminger, a local who earned his architecture degree from Virginia Tech and founded the company two decades ago. He has since launched long-term relationships with colleagues industry-wide, including in landscape, lighting, and mechanical and electronic systems design.

The Westhampton Georgian home highlighted here is a key expression of Ensminger’s talent. From the sprawling backyard’s paver patio and grill to the residence’s bright interior, no detail was left to chance. White wood walls and large windows allow natural light to stream throughout the space, and a tiered black quartz-top island serves as the eye-catching focal point of the spacious kitchen, leading to a sizable dining area and peninsula bar. The master bath is also desirable, with wide dresser space, two gray marble-top vanities, and an immense glass-encased shower.

Among the top Richmond architects, it’sEnsminger’s work is regularly acclaimed in the media and included in the town’s Historic Garden Week tours.

3North

4015 Fitzhugh Ave., Richmond, VA 23230 

Set against a historic Richmond neighborhood backdrop, the brick-walled Tudor Revival home featured blow opens to a bright and classic interior. Tall French doors and extensive windows illuminate the white walls, contrasted by dark wood finishes in the fixtures and furniture. Several sitting rooms extend beyond the grand arched brick foyer and the intricately molded carpeted staircase, with comfy couches warmed by traditional wood fireplaces. A long white quartz-top island is the focus of the modern kitchen, which offers an under-mount sink fronting the range. The formal dining room seats 14, and the elegant, cage-chandelier-lit hallway leads to the bedrooms. The master bath also has a fireplace at the corner of the freestanding tub and a large vanity mirror. 

This sophisticated restoration was executed by 3North, which has been serving Richmond for over 20 years. The 30-strong team of architects, landscape leads, interior designers, and graphic designers is led by founder and managing principal John Adam (“Jay”) Hugo, a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects and the American Society of Interior Designers. The team’s other principals include Erin Webb, Morgan Pierce, AIA, ASLA, LEED AP, and Peter Dove. 

The quality of this masterful renovation highlights why 3North has earned such notable honors through the years, including the 2020 AIA Virginia Awards for Excellence in Architecture merit award. It further solidified its position among the top Richmond architects after receiving the AIA 2019 T. David Fitz-Gibbon Firm Award.

Ranking Methodology

To evaluate the performance of architects, our methodology employs a systematic approach that considers various factors contributing to customer experience and satisfaction. We focused on assessing the residential architects in the Richmond, Virginia area. The methodology involves assigning weightings to specific categories based on their significance in determining customer service quality. Here’s the breakdown of the categories and their respective weightings:

• Average Customer Satisfaction (35%): This metric represents the average rating given by customers across the same review platforms as the Average Customer Satisfaction Score. A higher average rating indicates greater overall satisfaction with the service provided.
• Service Rating Score (25%): We analyze the ratio of high (4-5 stars) to low (1-2 stars) ratings for each business across multiple review platforms: Google, Houzz, and Yelp. A higher percentage of positive reviews contributes to a higher score, reflecting better customer satisfaction.
• Complaint Percentage (25%): We analyze the ratio of complaints to total reviews for each business. A lower complaints ratio indicates better service quality and results in a higher score.
• Business Hours and Availability (10%): The operating hours of each business are assessed to gauge accessibility. Companies with extended operating hours are awarded a higher score, as they offer greater convenience to customers.
• License Status (5%): We verify the licensing status of each contractor with their local licensing board to ensure legal compliance. Companies with valid licenses receive a higher score, reflecting professionalism and adherence to regulations.
• Total Score: We determined the overall rating for every contractor by calculating a weighted average, with the category weight determining the amount the subscore contributed to the total score 

Additional Note: Service Rating Score, Average Customer Satisfaction, and Complaint Percentage are calculated with a Bayesian estimate to account for if the contractor has a low number of total reviews. A Bayesian average is a statistical method used to calculate the average of a set of data points while taking into account prior information or beliefs about the distribution of the data. It combines the observed data with a prior distribution to generate a more accurate estimate of the true average.