Seattle’s Architecture Story, Told Through 10 Distinct Studios

Seattle’s design scene is at its best when it blends ambition with empathy—high performance with high craft, bold ideas with careful listening. The following ten studios offer a vivid cross-section of that spirit, from boutique residential experts to global firms reshaping the built environment. Together, they hint at how the region’s next chapter will be designed: sustainable, human-centered, and deeply collaborative.

Climate-forward design, from the inside out

If there’s a North Star in Seattle’s sustainability movement, it’s the commitment to healthier, lower-energy buildings. [bundle] design studio brings that ethos to life as Passive House designers. Their work spans small renovations to larger new construction, but the throughline is clear: high-performing, low energy–consuming, healthy buildings rooted in care for clients, community, and a carbon neutral future. Even details like how the team commutes reflect a holistic approach to design.

The personal touch, scaled to your vision

Part of what makes this region unique is how many firms keep the process intimate—without sacrificing capability. Wolter Design Group Architects LLC, a full-service firm established 32 years ago, exemplifies that balance. Clients are closely supported as WDG specializes in helping them visualize projects and solve problems in creative ways. Their view of architecture as both art and science—“for the enrichment of life”—comes through in spaces that feel both thoughtful and alive.

For homeowners seeking a deeply personalized residential path, Shuler Architecture is “small by design,” committed to distinctive, highly crafted work. They begin by listening—adopting client needs and hopes as their own—and then respond with imagination and attention to detail. The result: timeless design paired with efficient engineering and sound economic discipline.

Design that bridges disciplines and geographies

Some studios thrive at the intersection of architecture, interiors, and landscape. Garret Cord Werner Architects & Interior Designers offers complete design services—from architecture to interiors and hard landscape integration—across residential, commercial, and hospitality projects. Their portfolio stretches across various countries, and they’re a registered architectural firm in Washington State and a member of AIA Seattle, welcoming conversations about projects of all scales.

Two firms with broad, multi-disciplinary reach anchor the region’s institutional and commercial landscape. HKS | Architects & Designers is a global practice of architects, designers, planners, and advisors—1,600 people in 29 offices—united by the belief that an environmental, social, and governance approach achieves design excellence. They became a carbon neutral firm in 2023 and emphasize honesty, diversity, inclusion, and creative thinking in partnership with clients.

Likewise, CannonDesign (SRG + CannonDesign) partners with changemakers across the Pacific Northwest, offering architecture, engineering, interior design, planning, and more. Formerly SRG Partnership, the firm merged with CannonDesign in early 2024, broadening capabilities and resources to set new standards for transformative design—solutions that touch lives and shape the future for the better.

Award-winning craft and pragmatic elegance

Quality, service, and performance define several standout studios. Ehm Architecture Inc is an award-winning, internationally published firm known for dynamic architecture and a strong emphasis on professional service—qualities that have earned them a reputation for exemplary performance and a high rate of client satisfaction.

When economy and clarity matter just as much as aesthetics, Erik Bjork Architect - Architecture and Planning focuses on the best utilitarian design with an appropriate visual statement. The firm’s decision-making process prioritizes economical concerns and the innovative use of materials and systems. As a small practice, they offer personal attention and custom design—with a low-pressure phone interview to explore how they can help.

Experience you can feel in the final walkthrough

Seattle’s residential legacy is full of designers who pour decades of experience into homes that feel effortless. Designs Unlimited Inc. is led by Vern Rockwell, who’s been designing homes for over 50 years. From early days on construction sites (to understand how homes are built) to running one of the largest residential firms in the country, his passion now shines in one-on-one work with homeowners—guiding the process and celebrating the moment a home truly fits a life.

And with hundreds of completed residential projects, Peter D Swindley Architects brings a comprehensive network and a clear, end-to-end process. Designing homes since 1976, the firm handles remodels and new construction, with capabilities that span design team assembly, contractor selection, contracts, permits, materials, and design details. It’s a seasoned approach designed to translate a vision from concept to reality.

Choosing your Seattle design partner

Whether you’re seeking a Passive House renovation, a highly crafted custom home, or a multidisciplinary team for a complex project, Seattle’s architectural community has a fit. Consider what matters most—energy performance, visualization support, global resources, or boutique attention—and match that to a firm’s core strengths. From [bundle] design studio’s sustainability-first DNA to the transformative, multi-service reach of CannonDesign and HKS | Architects & Designers, from the finely tuned residential focus of Shuler Architecture, Designs Unlimited Inc., and Peter D Swindley Architects to the cross-disciplinary offerings of Garret Cord Werner Architects & Interior Designers, Wolter Design Group Architects LLC, and Ehm Architecture Inc—the region’s studios are ready to meet you where you are.

In short: Seattle’s design future is in good hands. These ten firms showcase how the city builds—carefully, creatively, and with purpose.