Last updated on July 4th, 2024 at 06:45 am
The capital of the State of Arkansas, Little Rock is also called home by countless international brands and top-of-the-line flagship stores. The city is rich in cultural offerings, including museums and libraries. Our editorial team decided to showcase eleven of Little Rock’s best and leading commercial architects. Our editorial team chose these firms for their experience in addition to their stellar portfolios and award-winning work.
Polk Stanley Wilcox
801 South Spring Street, Little Rock, AR 72201
Headquartered in Little Rock, Polk Stanley Wilcox is a full-service programming, architectural, planning, and interior design firm that works in both Little Rock and Fayetteville. Its portfolio includes several corporate, commercial, healthcare, and educational projects. Its services encompass everything from master planning to extensive renovations and adaptive reuse details. The firm also incorporates various sustainability practices into its work. The firm is among the first architectural firms in the state to truly embrace sustainable design and helped establish the Arkansas Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council—one of the nation’s first chapters.
Depicted above is one of Palk Stanley Wilcox’s best. Designed for Grit Studios, this project can be found in Bentonville. It is a coworking space for startups and entrepreneurs in Northwest Arkansas. The space spans over 6,800 square feet and features an old World/1920s Art Deco theme. The firm had to rework its open office workstations, private offices, meeting areas, conference rooms, break areas, restrooms, and private phone booths.
Cromwell Architects Engineers, Inc.
1300 E 6th Street, Little Rock, AR 72202
Cromwell Architects Engineers is a full-service architecture, engineering, and building firm that operates out of its headquarters in Little Rock. The firm makes takes a highly hands-on approach, which has resulted in timeless spaces. The firm can take on any project regardless of scale or complexity. The firm is the proud recipient of countless distinctions from the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID). Most recently, the firm was lauded with the Silver Award from the ASID South Central Chapter for its contributions and work on the Arkansas Children’s Chapel. Depicted below is one of the firm’s most impressive commercial spaces.
This project was designed for Democrat Lofts in Little Rock. It spans over 14,500 square feet and was once home to a five-story multi-use structure. The design of this all-new building is heavily influenced by the Craftsman style, which gained popularity in the early 1900s as an alternative to the ornate, Victorian styles.
Taggart Architects
600 Main Street, Suite 300, North Little Rock, AR 72114
Founded in 1974, Taggart Architects specializes in both architecture and planning services and extends its work throughout North Little Rock. Its portfolio includes spaces completed for a wide array of markets, including the healthcare, education, government, civic, recreational, commercial, and sports facility sectors. The firm also employs various sustainability practices in its work, assuring clients of the high efficiency of their new spaces. The firm’s staff is composed of 24 talented professionals, and 13 are licensed architects. Together, they have nearly 300 years of combined experience.
Completed for Moon Distribution, this space spans around 116,900 square feet. The project entailed the warehouse expansion and the training office facility. Some of its best elements include the exterior façade, the tilt-up concrete panels with windows, and LED lighting throughout the entire facility.
Fennell Purifoy Architects
100 River Bluff Drive, Suite 320, Little Rock, AR 72202
Fennell Purifoy Architects is a full-service architectural firm that works out of its office in Little Rock. The firm provides sustainable and stellar solutions for complex projects. Its portfolio is an impressive gallery of commercial and residential spaces. Some of the firm’s best work has been featured in publications like At Home in Arkansas, Soiree Little Rock, Smarter Architecture, and Peacy the Magazine.
The featured project is one of the firm’s best. Designed and completed for Encore Bank, this project serves as its headquarters. It features a stellar contemporary and modern theme. Some of its best features include sleek finishes, unique overhead lighting, and wood-paneled flooring throughout the entire project.
Jackson Brown Palculict Architects
12921 Cantrell Road, Suite. 201, Little Rock, AR 72223
Jackson Brown Palculict Architects draws inspiration from over three decades of industry experience and extends its services throughout Little Rock. The firm has committed itself to the study of classical architecture. The firm is the product of the vision and efforts of its leaders, Brooks Jackson Bunny Brown and Randy Palculict. Jackson serves as the company’s Chairman Emeritus and holds an arts and sciences and architecture degree from the University of Arkansas. Brown is the firm’s president and oversees the firm’s project planning, scheduling, budgeting, design, client relations, and quality assurance. He received his architecture degree from the University of Arkansas. Lastly, Palculict serves as the company’s vice president and is also a founding member and Treasurer of the Architecture and Design Network. He has served as Director and Vice President on the AIA Arkansas Board of Directors.
Designed for the Hot Springs Retail Center, the featured project is a modern take on urban façade design. The firm was asked to work on over 12,974 square feet of retail space. Some other great elements include its modern interiors and minimalist finishes.
WDD Architects
5050 North Shore Lane, North Little Rock, AR 72118
In business since 1919, WDD Architects is one of the oldest firms on this list. The firm has offices in Central and Northwest Arkansas, making it among the largest architecture firms in the state. Its portfolio depicts an excellent range of educational, security, healthcare, corporate, civic, and residential projects. The firm has also taken on multiple cultural, athletic, and historic preservation work. WDD personally selects all of its engineering consultants from its pool of prior partnerships, assuring clients of the high quality of its work. The photo below best depicts one of our favorites from WDD’s portfolio.
This project was completed for ATA International, one of the largest martial arts associations in the world. The building serves as the organization’s official headquarters. The building includes sweeping features that incorporate ATA’s logos and symbolism.
Herron Horton Architects
1219 S. Spring Street, Little Rock, AR 72202
Herron Horton Architects works on both residential and commercial projects, as well as several non-profit projects. At its helm are its lead architects and owners, Jennifer Herron and Jeff Horton. Herron earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Kansas School of Architecture and Urban Design and first gained experience practicing architecture in the San Francisco Bay area and in Little Rock. Horton, on the other hand, is a native of Kansas City, Missouri. He holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Kansas School of Architecture and Urban Design and was also honored with a scholarship to study at the School of Architecture at the University of Dortmund in Dortmund, Germany. During his time there, he delved further into his interest in how buildings are put together.
The project above best showcases the firm’s skill. This photo depicts the firm’s contributions to the Max Milam Library. It entailed an extensive renovation and addition and spans over 5,000 square feet. It now features an all-new and updated circulation area, a staff services area, a Children’s Program, a Teen’s stack area, a community room, an adult stack area, a reading room, study rooms, and new public restrooms.
Roark Perkins Perry Yelvington Architects
713 West 2nd Street, Little Rock, AR 72201
Otherwise known as RPPY, Roark Perkins Perry Yelvington Architects has been in business since 1961 and has worked on over 1,700 projects since its inception. The firm’s portfolio is a gallery of civic, commercial, corporate, and healthcare projects. The firm has also taken on multiple educational and religious spaces. The company credits its success to the talent and experiences of its stellar team and it is proud of the great reviews it has received over the years.
Located in Little Rock, this project was designed for Petit & Keet. This high-end restaurant features a modern theme, and it is designed to accommodate any occasion thanks to an event room, an outdoor patio and bar, multiple dining areas, and the brand’s signature full bar.
Lewis Architects Engineers
11225 Huron Lane, Suite 104, Little Rock, AR 72211
Founded in 1965, Lewis Architects Engineers is a full-service design firm noted for its master planning, architectural, and interior design. It maintains a staff of licensed architects, architectural interns, engineers, CAD draftsmen, field representatives, and a specification quality manager. The company extends its services throughout Little Rock and has created an excellent portfolio for itself. The firm also performs various specialty and handyman services like interior design planning, as well as plumbing, mechanical, and electrical design. Lewis Architects is licensed to practice in Arkansas, Missouri, Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma.
The project above is one of the firm’s best commercial projects. Designed for Blue Sail Coffee in Conway, this space features an excellent open-concept floorplan. For its interiors, the firm opted for large tiles and floor-to-ceiling windows.
Kip A. Moore & Associates, P.A.
109 E C Avenue, North Little Rock, AR 72116
Kip A. Moore & Associates operates out of its headquarters in North Little Rock and specializes in restaurants, residential homes, and commercial spaces. It offers a complete range of architectural services, which includes everything from brainstorming to working on construction documents. The firm’s team works closely with its clients from start to finish. The firm has experience working on everything from ground-up work to tenant finishes and remodels.
The firm often works with various franchisees and has produced construction drawings required for a building permit and construction. It has worked with noted brands like CodeNinjas, Days Inn, and The Party Place. The company’s extensive commercial work also encompasses medical offices and clinics, as well as a number of retail projects: clothes cleaners, liquor stores, and nail salons. The firm has also built churches, office buildings, and banks. It also provides space planning.
H+N Architects, PLLC.
1109 Main Street, Conway, AR 72032
Headquartered in Conway, H+N Architects is led by its founders and principals, Liz Hamilton and Joanna Nabholz. Hamilton offers the firm’s clients over 15 years of experience in the design profession. She is especially well-versed in the intricacies of custom residential design and working on master plans. Nabholz, on the other hand, provides hands-on experience and has extensive knowledge of construction detailing and techniques. Under their leadership, the company has grown into one of the area’s leading firms.
The featured project was designed for the BCBS retail space. The firm provided its interior remodels, flexible spaces, and integrated glass walls. The firm’s team also designed several meeting spaces and work areas.
