Architecture Firm

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  JCJ Architecture

  Hartford, Connecticut

  JCJ Architecture is a nationally ranked, employee-owned planning, architecture, and interior design firm headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut. Founded in 1936 as S.F. Jeter, Architect by Sherwood Jeter Jr., the firm has grown over nine decades into a multi-office practice with a strong presence in K-12 and higher education, civic, gaming, hospitality, and workplace markets. Today, JCJ operates offices in Boston, Hartford, Las Vegas, New York, Phoenix, San Diego, and Tulsa, and is licensed in more than 40 states. The firm transitioned to a 100% Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) more than a decade ago, reinforcing its commitment to long-term stability and employee ownership. In 2025, JCJ acquired Boston-based Group One Partners, a move that expanded its hospitality and gaming design expertise. The firm is known for an integrated, collaborative design process that emphasizes adaptability, integrity, and respect, and its portfolio includes base-building and corporate headquarters, creative office environments, retail banking, adaptive reuse, and large-scale destination gaming resorts. JCJ also provides pre-design planning and stakeholder engagement to help clients achieve consensus on financial investment and project goals, and maintains an active presence at industry events such as the Global Gaming Expo.

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  FFK.R

  Salt Lake City, Utah, United States

  FFKR Architects is a multi-disciplinary design firm founded in 1976 and headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. With additional offices in St. George, Utah; Tempe, Arizona; and Boise, Idaho, the firm has grown into the largest architecture, planning, landscape architecture, and interior design practice in Utah. FFKR’s talent extends beyond traditional architecture into interior design, landscape architecture, planning, and environmental graphic design, supported by over 170 architects, designers, and support personnel. The firm serves a broad range of sectors including civic, commercial, healthcare, higher education, hospitality, K-12 education, residential living environments, religious, science and technology, and sports and entertainment. FFKR has earned a reputation for design excellence, environmental leadership, and budgetary responsibility, and has been recognized as Western Mountain Region AIA and AIA Utah Firm of the Year. Since 2024, FFKR has also expanded its reach through a collaborative merger with Boise-based erstad, strengthening its regional presence and service capabilities. To empower client decision-making, FFKR employs multiple visualization techniques—from hand sketches and 3D modeling to immersive virtual reality—allowing clients to experience spaces before construction. The firm’s portfolio includes notable projects such as Abravanel Hall, the Jerusalem Center for Near-Eastern Studies, Rice-Eccles Stadium, and the John A. Moran Eye Center.

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  Cuningham Group Architecture

  Minneapolis, Minnesota

  Cuningham is an employee-owned architecture, interior design, urban design, and landscape architecture firm headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Founded in 1968 by John Cuningham, the firm grew from a solo practice into a nationally recognized design partner for organizations investing in complex built environments. With over 300 employees, Cuningham operates offices in Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Denver, San Diego, Phoenix, and previously in Beijing and Doha. The firm serves multiple sectors including education, healthcare, hospitality, gaming, corporate workplaces, and mixed-use developments. Cuningham is known for blending pragmatic creativity with disciplined execution, emphasizing sustainable design and ecological restoration. The firm has received the AIA Minnesota Firm Award, and its founder was awarded the AIA Minnesota Gold Medal in 2018. Under current CEO Nathan Harris and COO Dan Olic, the firm continues to focus on design innovation, project delivery excellence, and a culture of equity and inclusion. Its portfolio includes award-winning projects that integrate beauty, functionality, and environmental responsibility, reflecting its mission to create enduring experiences for a healthy world.