5 Best Architects in Seattle (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

By Brad Smith, Home Services Expert · ✓ Data verified August 2026 · 8 min read

Choosing an architect in Seattle is a longer commitment than most home hires, since the relationship can run for months of design before a single wall goes up, and every firm on this page holds at least a 4.4 rating. The busiest by review volume, MG2 and ZGF, are both large firms with decades of institutional and commercial work behind them.

Short answer: GO'C Architecture & Design, Rohleder Borges Architecture, and Atelier Drome all hold a perfect 5.0 among Seattle architects, each with smaller but consistently glowing review bases. ZGF Architects and MG2 are larger firms with deeper commercial and institutional portfolios. Custom home design fees typically run 8 to 15 percent of construction cost in 2026.

Jump to a business

1. GO'C Architecture & De…
2. Rohleder Borges Archit…
3. Atelier Drome | archit…
4. ZGF Architects
5. MG2
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Seattle Architects Compared

#	Business	Rating	Reviews	Best for
1	GO'C Architecture & Design	5.0 ★	16	Award-winning custom homes	View ›
2	Rohleder Borges Architecture	5.0 ★	15	Waterfront & site-specific design	View ›
3	Atelier Drome \| architecture. interior design. branding.	5.0 ★	14	Remodels & first-time renovators	View ›
4	ZGF Architects	4.7 ★	14	Large institutional & healthcare projects	View ›
5	MG2	4.4 ★	16	Commercial & retail design	View ›

Who to call for your project

#1 Overall🕑 Open 5 days/wk

GO'C Architecture & Design

5.016 Google reviews

GO'C Architecture & Design is a Seattle architecture studio known for site-specific custom homes, including a project covered in the New York Times. Reviewers, including a builder who has worked with the firm directly, describe thoughtful, detailed designs that stay flexible through construction while navigating county planning and code compliance. It holds a perfect rating across its review base.

What people praise

Perfect rating across every review on file
Reviewers include both homeowners and a builder who has partnered on projects
Praised for navigating complex planning and code-compliance requirements
National press coverage of at least one completed project

Worth knowing

Smaller review base, though consistently strong
Most reviews on file date back a few years rather than recent projects

Reputation scorecardrank in Seattle

Rating5 / 5

Review volume16 · 95th

Confidenceearly

Recency2 years ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown100% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A strong pick for a genuinely custom, design-forward home, backed by both client and industry-professional reviews and real press recognition.

Website +1206-265-2754 Directions

89 Yesler Wy Ste 401, Seattle, WA 98104

#2🕑 Open 5 days/wk

Rohleder Borges Architecture

5.015 Google reviews

Rohleder Borges Architecture is a Seattle architecture firm working across aviation, residential, commercial, civic, and public art projects. Reviewers, including real estate agents and interior designers who have worked alongside the firm, specifically praise its site-specific residential work, including a floating home on Lake Union. It holds a perfect rating across its review base.

What people praise

Perfect rating across every review on file
Reviewers include real estate professionals and interior designers who worked alongside the firm
Specifically praised for efficient, well-designed spaces suited to the Pacific Northwest
Broad portfolio spanning aviation, residential, and civic projects

Worth knowing

Google listing is unclaimed, so the firm does not respond to reviews directly
Most reviews on file are from several years ago

Reputation scorecardrank in Seattle

Rating5 / 5

Review volume15 · 88th

Confidenceearly

Recency6 years ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown100% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A strong choice for site-specific residential design, especially waterfront or unusual-lot projects, backed by professional reviewers who have collaborated with the firm.

Website +1206-464-7997 Directions

89 Yesler Wy, Seattle, WA 98104

#3🕑 Open 5 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

Atelier Drome | architecture. interior design. branding.

5.014 Google reviews

Atelier Drome is a woman-owned Seattle firm offering architecture, interior design, and branding for residential, hospitality, commercial, and multi-family projects. Reviewers repeatedly describe the firm as a strong fit for first-time renovators, with named designers credited for clear communication about the process and flexibility to work within a tight budget. It holds a perfect rating with the most recent review activity of any firm on this page.

What people praise

Perfect rating across every review on file
Reviewers highlight clear communication for first-time renovation clients
Recent, active reviews within the last few months
Handles both residential remodels and small commercial spaces like restaurants and bakeries

Worth knowing

Smaller review base than the largest institutional firms on this list
Best suited to remodels and smaller builds rather than large-scale commercial projects

Reputation scorecardrank in Seattle

Rating5 / 5

Review volume14 · 80th

Confidenceearly

Recency8 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown100% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The strongest pick for a first-time renovation client, backed by reviewers who specifically credit the firm for translating a vague vision into a workable, budget-conscious plan.

Website +1206-395-4392 Directions

119 South Main St #310, Seattle, WA 98104

#4🕑 Open 5 days/wk

ZGF Architects

4.714 Google reviews

ZGF Architects is an 80-year-old national architecture firm with a Seattle office, known for large-scale institutional work including airports, hospitals, and civic buildings. Reviewers describe the firm as one of the leading practices in the Pacific Northwest, with specific praise for its healthcare design work and progressive technology, including a VR design team. It holds a strong rating across a smaller Google review base relative to its size.

What people praise

Nearly 80 years of institutional design history
Reviewers specifically credit strong healthcare and civic project work
Uses advanced VR and modeling technology in its design process
National reputation with major public infrastructure projects

Worth knowing

Geared toward large institutional and commercial projects, not typical residential remodels
Small Google review base relative to firm size, since most feedback comes through professional channels

Reputation scorecardrank in Seattle

Rating4.7 / 5

Review volume14 · 80th

Confidenceearly

Recency9 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown93% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The right call for large institutional, healthcare, or civic work, not a typical residential remodel. Its scale and reputation are well suited to bigger public and commercial projects.

Website +1206-623-9414 Directions

925 4th Ave Unit 2400, Seattle, WA 98104

#5🕑 Open 5 days/wk

MG2

4.416 Google reviews

MG2 is a global architecture firm headquartered in Seattle, working with major retail, consumer, and commercial brands on store design, data centers, and mixed-use environments. Reviewers, mostly describing the office and working culture, note a professional, creative atmosphere and note the firm's standing as a leading commercial practice in Seattle. It holds a solid rating on an older review base.

What people praise

Global firm with major retail and commercial brand clients
Reviewers describe a professional, creative office culture
Deep experience in retail and consumer environment design
Recently expanded its footprint through a merger with Colliers Engineering & Design

Worth knowing

Reviews are older and mostly reflect the office environment rather than specific project outcomes
Geared toward large commercial and retail clients, not residential design

Reputation scorecardrank in Seattle

Rating4.4 / 5

Review volume16 · 95th

Confidenceearly

Recency8 years ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown63% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: Best suited to a commercial or retail design project rather than a home, given its focus on major brand and consumer environments.

Website +1206-962-6500 Directions

1101 2nd Ave #100, Seattle, WA 98101

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How we score

Every number on this page is computed from public Google data on the date shown, not from opinion or payment. Rating is the business’s live Google star average. Review volume is how many customers have rated them, ranked against other Seattle-area architecture firms. Confidence weighs the rating by that volume, so a 5.0 from over a dozen reviews still carries a moderate weight given the category’s naturally smaller review counts. Recency reflects how recently customers are still leaving reviews. No business can pay to change these numbers.

How much does an architect cost in Seattle? (2026)

Architect fees vary widely by project type and scope, typically calculated as a percentage of total construction cost. General guidance:

Serving the Seattle area

The architects above cover Seattle and the wider metro, including Pioneer Square, downtown Seattle, and the Eastside. Searching for an architect near me? Every listing below shows a live phone number and directions so you can reach the closest option fast.

What to ask before you hire an architect

Is the fee a percentage of construction cost, flat rate, or hourly?
What is included in the design phase versus construction administration?
How much experience does the firm have with projects like mine?
Who handles permitting and code compliance with the county or city?
What is the expected timeline from initial concept to construction drawings?
Can I see completed projects similar in scope to mine?

Frequently asked questions

How did you choose these architects?

We started from every architecture firm in Seattle with a public Google presence, then ranked by rating, review volume, consistency, and recency. See How we score above.

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from the public Google data in the scorecard. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner, which adds a badge and top placement, but that never changes another business’s score or position on the underlying data.

How often is this updated?

The data carries a verified date (August 2026 on this page). We refresh listings periodically so ratings and review counts stay current.

Which firms are best for a home remodel versus a commercial project?

GO’C, Rohleder Borges, and Atelier Drome are the strongest picks for residential and remodel work. ZGF and MG2 are large firms geared toward institutional, healthcare, and commercial projects.

How long does architectural design take before construction starts?

Timelines vary by project complexity and permitting requirements. Ask each firm directly for an estimated timeline based on your specific project scope.

The bottom line

Atelier Drome is the strongest pick for a first-time remodel client, while GO’C and Rohleder Borges suit a genuinely custom, design-forward home. ZGF and MG2 fit large institutional or commercial work, not a typical residential project. Match the firm to your project type before reaching out.

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