Our work is rooted in the style and design sensibility of Northern California.

We’re proud to call the Bay Area our home for the past two decades. The people, landscapes, and values of Northern California inform every aspect of our work, from our design philosophy, to our collaborative process, to our value for clear and transparent communication with our clients.

Approach

We are a people-based practice. That makes our design process fundamentally different than the norm. At WDA, everyone participates in design. We engage the expertise of our entire team from the start. We believe that when people feel connected to their work, they care more about their contributions, which in turn pushes design to greater heights.

Design Principles

Architecture is the creative combination of light, material, color, texture, form, and space, into a physical reality. We developed a set of design principles that distill our 20+ years of design output in terms of atmosphere, aesthetic and philosophy. These principles guide our team members and allow us to weave together each individual’s creativity into a cohesive Design Vision.

Big Move

Each design is organized around an assertive gesture, prominent object or ordering principle that permeates the entire project with boldness and confidence.

Human Interaction

A memorable space unfolds and reveals new elements as people move through it and their perspective shifts. We design to enhance the individual’s enjoyment of a space as they interact with it.

Rigor & Refinement

Elegant design feels effortless. But it takes a meticulous and iterative process to arrive at a confident and refined space where every last detail is in sync.

Art & Storytelling

Great buildings, like great paintings or sculptures, are artfully composed. Our work seeks to arrange design elements into a harmonious narrative that celebrates the people, lifestyles and purpose of use.

Sculpting Space

Architecture is the sculpture and formation of space. There should be purpose in the sizing, shaping and placement of elements within and around a space to give definition to the character of the design.

Natural Comfort

Architectural warmth is the quality of a space or a building that evokes a feeling which is welcoming and uplifting. Natural materials, warm textures and attention to light and acoustics are crucial to achieving this.

Immersive Experience

Architecture should engage a broad range of senses, provoking movement, well-being, exploration and a deeper interaction with the built environment.

Restraint

The essence of a design, and the power of its concept, can be accentuated through the limited and strategic number of “moves” within an architectural composition.

Design & Craft

Craft is the care by which architecture is designed and built. Attention to craft help connects a love for the materials with the details of design so that they work together in the final composition.

Discover more with an in-depth look at WDA’s Design Vision.

Culture & Values

We’re working to make the world a better place through innovative, sustainable architecture created in a collaborative, growth-oriented environment.

Our process is designed to foster creativity, listening, honest critique and mutual respect. Whether it’s a client project, strategic planning or a design competition, we encourage broad participation across the studio. We also host discussion forums, building tours and vendor presentations to build our studio’s collective knowledge and continuously improve the way we work.

Generosity and community service are central to our culture. Team members frequently give time and expertise to community-based organizations and charitable events. In recent years, we have donated design time and resources to a range of organizations including the di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art, Young Audiences of Northern California, LEAP, Imagine Bus, PAWS, Children of Shelters, Rebuilding Together and the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank.

Core Values /

Communication

We believe sharing ideas in a respectful, collaborative environment is essential to success.

Creativity

We overcome challenges through unique and innovative solutions.

Transparency

We conduct our work with openness, honesty and integrity.

Excellence

We strive for excellence in all facets of our work.

Growth

We promote the continuous improvement of our firm, projects, processes and people.

Core Commitments /

WDA is committed to… designing distinct and timeless architecture through curiosity, creativity and continuous innovation.

WDA is committed to…infusing sustainability into every aspect of our work to help reduce the carbon and energy footprint of the built environment.

WDA is committed to…fostering diversity, equity and inclusion in our workplace and profession through partnering, hiring, education and outreach.

WDA is committed to…listening to our clients and delivering a curated experience that’s transparent, engaging and rewarding.

WDA is committed to…supporting communities by improving access to good design, enriching social connectivity and empowering individuals to thrive.

WDA is committed to…cultivating a healthy, inspiring and fun work environment that promotes professional development.

Who We Are

Bright, creative and curious — at WDA, our people drive our success.

Services

Architecture

Great spaces tell a story. Materials, texture, color, proportion — all these things work together to create a narrative. We believe every space should express a point of view on what it means to live, work and gather. In each of our studio’s practice areas, we work with clients to express their values through composition, craft and refinement.

Sustainability

40% of annual global CO2 emissions are generated by the built environment. That makes architects essential to efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change. We take that responsibility seriously and are passionate about designing solutions that maximize for sustainability and resilience by taking full advantage of new advances in materials and technology.

Technology

Design communication technology has been a hallmark of our practice since day one. As we’ve grown, we’ve developed processes to source and implement new technologies that help bring ideas to life and continuously improve the way we work together. We intentionally invest in our technological capabilities so we can immerse our clients more deeply in the design process and foster a shared vision for the end product.