Spaces that work
as hard as you do.
We design office buildings, retail centers, civic facilities, and mixed-use commercial projects across the San Francisco Bay Area. From site feasibility through construction administration — architecture that performs for tenants, communities, and investors.
What We Design
Commercial architecture for every sector.
Office, retail, civic, and mixed-use — each building type has distinct code requirements, market expectations, and design opportunities. We bring deep experience across all of them.
Office & Workplace
From tech campuses and corporate headquarters to co-working hubs and creative studios. We design workplaces that attract talent, support productivity, and adapt as organizations grow — with smart daylighting, flexible floor plates, and infrastructure that scales.
Retail & Storefronts
Standalone retail buildings, multi-tenant shopping centers, restaurant pads, and branded flagship stores. We design exteriors that draw foot traffic and interiors that convert it — optimizing storefront glazing, signage zones, and customer circulation for Bay Area retail environments.
Civic & Community Buildings
Libraries, community centers, municipal offices, and public-facing facilities. Civic projects demand durability, universal accessibility, and designs that serve diverse communities for decades. We navigate public procurement processes, community input requirements, and agency review timelines.
Design Considerations
What drives commercial design in the Bay Area.
California's regulatory environment is uniquely demanding. These four factors shape every commercial project we take on — and they need to be addressed from day one, not discovered at plan check.
Title 24 Energy Compliance
California's Title 24 energy code is among the strictest in the nation. Commercial projects must meet prescriptive or performance-based energy budgets covering envelope, HVAC, lighting, and solar-ready requirements. We integrate energy compliance from schematic design — not as a last-minute exercise before permit submittal. For new commercial buildings, this includes mandatory solar photovoltaic and battery storage provisions under the 2025 code cycle.
ADA & Accessibility
The California Building Code (CBC Chapter 11B) exceeds federal ADA standards. Commercial buildings require accessible entrances, paths of travel, restrooms, service counters (34" max), signage, and parking. New construction must be fully compliant from day one — there is no 20% disproportionate-cost exception for new buildings. We design accessibility as a core feature, not an afterthought.
Seismic & Structural
The Bay Area sits on some of the most active fault lines in North America. Commercial buildings must meet current CBC seismic provisions, which can significantly affect structural systems, foundation design, and construction costs. Steel moment frames, concrete shear walls, and base-isolation systems each have cost and design implications we evaluate early in the process.
Sustainability & LEED
Many Bay Area jurisdictions require or incentivize green building certifications. LEED, GreenPoint Rated, and CALGreen mandatory measures all apply to commercial projects. We design for energy efficiency, water conservation, healthy materials, and occupant wellness — whether you are targeting formal certification or simply building responsibly for the long term.
Cost Guide
What does commercial construction cost in the Bay Area?
Bay Area commercial construction is among the most expensive in the country. Labor shortages, seismic requirements, and strict energy codes all contribute. These ranges reflect current market conditions and include architectural fees.
Storefront glazing systems, interior partitions, MEP rough-in, ADA restrooms, basic finishes. Typical for single-tenant retail buildings and multi-tenant shopping center shells with standard landlord delivery.
Structural systems, curtain wall or storefront facade, elevator cores, mechanical systems, fire protection, and base-building infrastructure. Tenant improvement layers add open-plan workstations, private offices, conference rooms, and specialty spaces.
Site work, foundations, structural frame, building envelope, all MEP systems, elevators, parking structures, landscaping, and full interior fit-out. Includes entitlements, environmental review, and utility infrastructure where required.
Ranges reflect Bay Area commercial projects as of 2025 and include design and permit fees. Actual construction costs vary significantly by site conditions, building height, parking requirements, seismic zone, and jurisdiction. TI allowances for commercial leases in San Francisco typically range from $50 to $150/sf for shell spaces — negotiate these before signing your lease. We provide project-specific cost modeling during the feasibility phase.
Featured Projects
Commercial work from our portfolio.
A selection of office, retail, and mixed-use projects that demonstrate our range across building types, scales, and Bay Area jurisdictions.
Market Tower
A multi-story mixed-use tower integrating ground-floor retail with upper-level office and residential. Complex entitlements, seismic design, and urban site constraints.
Lady Bird Boardwalk
A waterfront commercial development with retail pavilions, restaurant pads, and public boardwalk. Site-sensitive design responding to flood plain and environmental constraints.
Hawaii Fluid Art
A branded retail and studio space combining gallery, workshop, and retail functions. Custom storefront design with high-visibility glazing and flexible interior zones.
Let's build something that performs.
Whether you're developing a new office building, repositioning a retail center, or planning a civic facility — we'll start with your site, your budget, and your timeline. Send us your project details and we'll respond within 24 hours.