When designing a new building or doing an extensive remodel, the typical process is to hire an architect, and later hire a general contractor to actually build what the architect has drawn up. However, there is a new model of construction that is becoming increasingly popular: design/build firms. Rather than using two separate companies, design/build firms let clients hire one company to take care of the entire project – from the beginning design stages through final construction.

The San Francisco skyline is changing by the month. The buildings that define the city’s built environment are in flux whether directly or indirectly in relationship to the surrounding structures. We looked into the architects that are responsible for building commercial and large-scale residential projects around the city and ranked them. Architects on this list include those from around the world that have designed buildings in San Francisco, and considers projects that have been designed but not constructed.

The fabric of the City is in a constant state of flux; changing preferences and tastes influence how we live, work and play and place new demands on the buildings and open spaces that define the City. The resulting eclectic mix of modern, cutting edge designs and classic Victorian architecture define the essence of the storied “City by the Bay”.