The city of Charlotte ranks among the nation’s fastest-growing metros. It generated 888,000 new residents between 2004 and 2014—ranking as the third-fastest developing major city in the United States. The Queen City houses iconic infrastructures within its borders.
The historic Charlotte-Douglas International Airport is the seventh busiest airport in the world. The incredible structure features marble walls and terrazzo floors. It has also been revamped and has added expansions over the years. These renovations have modernized its overall appearance while maintaining its historic appeal.
In recent years, Charlotte has displayed considerable innovation in its architecture. The city’s skyline is a prime example of the progression in quantity and the quality of infrastructures. The University of Charlotte has produced genuinely versatile architects. Charlotte has an excellent future in architecture, with both seasoned veterans and newer architects.
The innovations geared toward green building make designing a structure extra challenging, and an architect who can bring cohesion to your vision and create a layout that includes all the technical aspects of construction is difficult to find. The list below consists of some of Charlotte’s finest architects. Their portfolios demonstrate their ability to help clients create masterpieces.
Merriman Schmitt Architects
605 Lexington Ave., Suite 300 Charlotte, NC 28203
Initially known as the local affiliate of Merriman Anderson Architects of Dallas, the firm was established in 1996. Merriman Schmitt Architects is now an architecture and interiors firm that serves the nation. The firm is currently registered in at least thirty-six states and provides an array of design services. Merriman offers architecture, interior architecture, site master planning, and construction administration. It also provides clients with a detailed 3D rendering as a visualization of its designs. The credentials of the firm’s team of experts include affiliations with renowned institutions. Its professionals are affiliated with the American Institute of Architects: an institution dedicated to bringing architects together to culminate innovation through shared expertise. The firm is also registered with the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), which only licenses architects who prove legitimate and possess the necessary credentials.
Steve Schmitt, the president of Merriman Schmitt Architects, co-founded the firm with Jerry Merriman. Schmitt has over thirty-five years of experience in commercial architecture and specializes in design and project management. Schmitt’s hands-on leadership led the development of forty million square feet of office spaces, manufacturing plants, and commercial establishments.
In twenty-five years, Merriman has garnered a long list of notable clients, including Rolls Royce. MSA’s work on the Metrolina Park received two Heavy Hitter Awards in Industrial Development.
WHN Architects
330 West Tenth St., Charlotte, NC 28202
WHN Architects was established in 1990 and has served the Greater Charlotte region for over thirty years. In addition to its nine reputable architects and experienced BIM technicians, the firm operates on its core principle of placing the client at the center of every project.
WHN provides clients with personalized attention. It believes that the architect must listen to the client’s vision to ensure project success. It designs infrastructures to blend with its environment and the surrounding communication. In each collaboration with a new client, WHN brings a service-oriented, hands-on approach. It focuses on delivering functional, sustainable, aesthetic, and ergonomic solutions in its designs. The team is led by James M. Hodges, an NCARB certified architect. Hodges drives the team in fulfilling its environmental responsibilities, embracing the importance of mindful construction. WHN’s LEED-certified professionals coordinate LEED certification for its environmentally-conscious clients.
The meticulous planning the firm dedicates to its clients involves conducting extensive research on the site. This prevents the development from encountering issues with construction, such as improbable details in designs. Its layouts are created on CAD software, allowing WHN to provide clients with accurate pricing.
The WHN team is responsible for designing the Bürkert Fluid Control Systems. It’s designed with insulated precast concrete construction and features a glass curtain wall and insulated metal panel. The structure’s contemporary design combines its German roots with an American style.
SCOPE Architectural Consulting, PLLC
2526 Plantation Center Dr., Suite A, Matthews, NC 28105
Since 2006, SCOPE has provided its design services to clients across the world. Within fifteen years, the firm has amassed hundreds of industrial and manufacturing projects in its portfolio. SCOPE utilizes a sensible approach by dedicating fewer resources to reviewing fundamentals. The firm invests more into understanding the complex aspects of a project. It combines quality with cost-effective solutions in customizing designs for its clients. The firm works toward finding alternatives for challenging budgets. SCOPE considers a project’s longevity and flexibility. Its designs are created to keep the structure open to possible innovations in the future.
Steve Engelhardt, the founder and principal of SCOPE, is the firm’s chief architect. With twenty-years of architectural experience, Engelhardt brings some remarkable credentials. He is affiliated with the AIA, and he is licensed with advanced LEED credentials. Engelhardt boasts a LEED AP BD+C: a certification that is only awarded to professionals who actively participate in green building integration. He brings his extensive knowledge of innovation and sustainability into each project’s development.
Kling Consult of Germany is an architectural masterpiece. Its design features a classic Victorian facade with modern interiors. The formidable nine-story hotel includes an underground parking garage.
DAS Architecture, Inc.
1009 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203
Established in 2002, DAS Architecture, Inc. is an esteemed firm that serves the Carolinas. It is built on the principle that a project’s success depends on the attention paid to each detail. The firm’s leaders have extensive experience, which they utilize as they collaborate in creating a team that caters to clients on a personal level. Dane Suchoza, its founder and President, possesses decades of multifaceted industry experience. Suchoza has been a practicing architect for thirty years and is licensed to practice in nineteen states. He is also well-versed in construction administration. Some of his accreditations include an NCARB and LEED BD+C certification.
DAS Architecture, Inc. is adept at Building Information Modeling platforms. The firm’s Advanced BIM Studio grants clients the benefits of precise visualization. Its clients are provided a virtual build as part of its standard process. DAS possesses a high rate of return clients, with eighty of its business coming from repeat customers or referrals. This demonstrates the strong relationships DAS builds with its clientele.
The CLT Expansion posed a challenge because of the site’s complicated junctions. The development was successful due to the team of experts at DAS. The firm was able to design workarounds to produce this post-modern four-story terminal.
WGM Design, LLP
2907 Providence Rd., Suite 304, Charlotte, NC 28211
Founded in 1988, WGM Design LLP provides its services across the Southeast. The firm was established on the foundation of meticulous planning and connecting infrastructures to its environment. It proves unique is its initiative to help clients monetize their land assets. The benefits of land monetization include capitalizing on idle plots of land while maintaining ownership. This strategy permits them to put land to better use, as well as to generate a revenue stream for clients.
Land monetization leads to developments that accelerate the real-estate prospects in the vicinity. This urbanization boosts tourism and employment, ensuring a better quality of life for the community. WGM prioritizes its clients’ interests, with initiatives that utilize land to improve the surrounding community. This strategy enables the firm to collaborate and provide results that prove beneficial to its clients.
Sean Delapp and Matt Spiva are at the forefront of WGM’s operations. Spiva is a licensed architect and real estate broker. He is vastly experienced in property development management. Their combined approach proves both responsible and responsive.
Among its notable projects is this 16,000 square foot Presbyterian Church. The infrastructure is a distinguished Gothic Revival that resembles the old world.
