The 2016 Architect 50

Here are the top firms of the year.

ZGF Architects has always ranked high in the Architect 50, but this is the year the Portland, Ore.–based firm finally broke through, wresting the number one spot away from last year’s winner, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture. ZGF was also the top firm in the sustainability category; read a review of the firm’s big year. William Rawn Associates, a mainstay on the list, was number one in the business category. Discover how the firm had such a profitable year. And Marlon Blackwell Architects topped the design category; read more about why the judges loved the firm’s portfolio.

Proving that smaller firms can compete with the multinationals, Hastings Architecture Associates and Brooks + Scarpa Architects both cracked the Top 10 overall.

Discover who else had a banner 2015: Check out the top 50 firms in business, sustainability, and design. Review our refined methodology (we made the most significant changes to the sustainability category). And review some of the key data submitted by the top 50 firms.

The List

Additional Ranks

Rank	Firm	Business	Sustainability	Design
1	ZGF Architects Score: 300.0	52	1	7
2	Westlake Reed Leskosky Score: 297.8	16	5	13
3	SOM Score: 297.7	22	10	6
4	Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture Score: 295.7	4	15	26
5	EYP Score: 285.0	45	2	32
6	William Rawn Associates Score: 282.0	1	30	57
7	WRNS Studio Score: 274.8	30	8	34
8	Hastings Score: 273.3	41	13	25
9	Brooks + Scarpa Score: 272.7	112	17	4
10	Score: 271.9	54	3	37
11	HDR Score: 270.0	18	7	56
12	HKS Score: 266.4	14	40	33
13	Hacker Score: 266.1	56	21	17
14	SmithGroup Score: 264.8	71	9	27
15	Payette Score: 264.0	46	14	42
16	HOK Score: 261.2	50	11	47
17	Score: 259.9	22	33	39
18	Marlene Imirzian & Associates Architects Score: 259.1	15	34	55
19	Annum Architects (formerly Ann Beha Architects) Score: 255.3	8	36	73
20	Gensler Score: 255.0	38	50	21
21	Studios Architecture Score: 254.8	28	16	79
22	Mithun Score: 253.6	68	12	53
23	DLR Group Score: 253.0	20	25	66
24	Richärd+Bauer Architecture Score: 252.0	6	75	12
25	BNIM Score: 250.7	105	4	51
26	NBBJ Score: 248.8	58	53	19
27	Cannon Design Score: 248.7	73	47	16
28	Lake\|Flato Architects Score: 246.4	70	18	61
29	LMN Architects Score: 245.8	49	35	50
30	Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects Score: 243.6	17	63	51
31	Score: 243.5	66	41	35
32	Touloukian Touloukian Inc Score: 242.8	85	42	24
33	Kirksey Score: 241.3	32	21	103
34	NADAAA Score: 240.7	122	57	3
35	Weber Thompson Score: 240.6	78	23	58
36	Ayers Saint Gross Score: 239.2	48	29	87
37	Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects Score: 239.1	108	19	48
38	Page Score: 239.0	43	24	97
39	Studio Gang Architects Score: 237.7	66	82	2
40	ELS Architecture and Urban Design Score: 237.5	18	51	76
41	MSR Design Score: 236.3	57	27	91
42	Goettsch Partners Score: 235.6	39	59	59
43	Hord Coplan Macht Score: 232.8	46	31	102
44	ikon.5 architects Score: 232.3	2	110	23
45	PBK Architects Score: 230.9	21	61	92
46	EskewDumezRipple Score: 229.4	116	58	18
47	ZeroEnergy Design Score: 229.3	32	6	134
48	RMW Architecture & Interiors Score: 226.9	11	73	81
49	Tsoi/Kobus & Associates Score: 226.8	37	32	119
50	CO Architects Score: 226.7	13	80	45