AXIS Architecture + Design

AXIS Architecture + Design Iconic design for real world challenges. Our Vision: Shape the best in humans to shape the best human experiences.

At AXIS/GFA Architecture + Design, our position as one of America’s leading hospitality, multi-family residential, and affordable housing architectural design firms stems directly from our people-first culture. By fostering an environment where every team member is empowered to fearlessly approach their work with passion, we can design the unforgettable human experiences we’ve come to be renown fo

r. Our Mission: To collaboratively deliver unforgettable architectural design and innovative technical solutions for America’s intrepid multifamily residential, hospitality, and affordable housing development leaders.

AXIS Architecture + Design is proud to share that the firm has been recognized in Building Design+Construction Media’s (...
05/16/2026

AXIS Architecture + Design is proud to share that the firm has been recognized in Building Design+Construction Media’s (BD+C) annual Giants 400 Report, earning a place among the nation’s Top 200 Reconstruction Sector Architecture Firms for 2025. Published late last month as part of BD+C’s Giants 400 Report, the industry’s most widely recognized ranking of leading architecture, engineering, and construction firms, the Top 200 Reconstruction Sector list highlights firms with significant expertise in renovation, repositioning, and adaptive reuse. We are honored to be included among the nation’s most active firms in this specialized discipline.

As hotel brands and owners continue to prioritize renovations, conversions, and adaptive reuse as key investment strategies, AXIS remains committed to delivering design solutions that preserve operational continuity, enhance guest experience, and maximize long-term asset performance.

See BD+C's full list here: https://www.bdcnetwork.com/giants-400/news/55369233/top-200-reconstruction-sector-architecture-firms-for-2025

Also announced in our latest edition of our Praxis newsletter, AXIS is excited to announce the groundbreaking of our new...
04/18/2026

Also announced in our latest edition of our Praxis newsletter, AXIS is excited to announce the groundbreaking of our newest hospitality project now underway in Seattle: the Candlewood Suites hotel on Jefferson Street. AXIS is serving as the Architect of Record and Design Architect on the project on behalf of clients Perfect Wealth Investment LLC. Construction expertise is being provided by Synergy Construction Inc.

Located directly across from the Swedish Hospital Cherry Hill Campus, the seven-story hotel is designed to provide comfortable, extended-stay accommodations in one of Seattle’s most active medical and residential districts. The project will include 37 guestrooms, with some featuring private patios, as well as a rooftop deck with a BBQ station, and a fitness room for guests. Designed by AXIS’ Seattle studio, the hotel will offer convenient access to nearby medical facilities and transit, and will deliver a welcoming and practical long-stay lodging option for visitors to the Cherry Hill neighborhood.

As we proudly announced in our most recent edition of our Praxis newsletter, late last year, one of AXIS’ most recent up...
04/11/2026

As we proudly announced in our most recent edition of our Praxis newsletter, late last year, one of AXIS’ most recent upscale boutique soft-branded hotel conversion and renovation projects, the Martis Valley Lodge, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, quietly celebrated its completion and grand opening. A boutique mountain retreat located in Truckee, California, the project saw AXIS transform a former Hampton Inn into a new 109-room contemporary lodge-style hospitality destination authentically inspired by the natural beauty of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Working in collaboration with interior design firm Atwater Inc. Studio, AXIS served as the architectural design lead on the project, guiding the repositioning of the property from a conventional select service hotel into a distinctive boutique lodge. AXIS’ and Atwater’s collaborative design of the property activates a design language rooted in Truckee’s alpine landscape and outdoor culture. Heavily inspired by the changing seasons of the Sierra Nevada and the sports-focused sensibilities that define the Lake Tahoe region, guest spaces and public areas are designed to reflect the rhythms of mountain life. From winter skiing to summer hiking and lake activities, spaces are pragmatically designed to serve as a basecamp for year-round exploration.

Beyond its design expression, the renovation significantly upgrades the guest experience throughout the property. The refreshed lodge now features redesigned guestrooms with spa-inspired bathrooms and elevated finishes, along with reimagined communal areas that encourage social gathering and relaxation after a day in the mountains. Amenities including the new Trailhead Social bar, an outdoor firepit lounge, modernized pool deck, and updated meeting facilities help position the hotel as both a recreation and event destination in the greater Truckee and Lake Tahoe region.

Recently, NEWH Seattle Chapter (  ) hosted its first BrandED event of the year at 1 Hotel Seattle. The event, which brou...
03/28/2026

Recently, NEWH Seattle Chapter ( ) hosted its first BrandED event of the year at 1 Hotel Seattle. The event, which brought together the Pacific Northwest’s hospitality design community, activated an immersive, case study-driven discussion centered on the luxury hotel’s recent conversion and renovation. Hosted across a number of spaces within the hotel, the program created a unique forum to examine the design and development process in situ, connecting concept to ex*****on within a fully realized guest environment.

Representing AXIS, Principal Architect Rory Carroll joined Christian Schulz of Studio Collective ( ) and Dane Patunoff of KHP Capital Partners for a panel discussion exploring the collaborative relationship between architecture and interior design. The conversation focused on aligning spatial planning, material strategies, and brand positioning to deliver a cohesive, sustainability-driven hospitality experience, all while navigating the inherent constraints and opportunities of a complex hotel renovation.

The event’s program concluded with a guided tour of the property, offering attendees a firsthand look at how design intent was translated into built form, and underscoring the value of interdisciplinary collaboration in shaping high-performing, experience-driven hotel environments.

Our sincere thanks to NEWH for their hosting such an engaging and informative event.

AXIS is pleased to announce that Christopher C. Coates, AIA, NCARB, has joined the firm as Associate Principal and Proje...
03/20/2026

AXIS is pleased to announce that Christopher C. Coates, AIA, NCARB, has joined the firm as Associate Principal and Project Director. A recognized expert in California multi-family residential and affordable housing design and development, Christopher brings more than 20 years of experience delivering complex housing projects across Southern California to the team, and includes in his expertise unique experience in navigating the regulatory, financial, and entitlement frameworks that shape housing production in Los Angeles.

In his new role, Christopher will further strengthen AXIS’ growing portfolio of multi-family and affordable housing work, and will support the firm’s continued commitment to advancing high-quality residential design and housing opportunities across Southern California and the Los Angeles region.

Read our full release on our website: https://axisarchitecture.com/news/axis-welcomes-california-multifamily-residential-and-affordable-housing-development-expert-christopher-coates/

As we announced in our most recent edition of our Praxis newsletter, AXIS is excited to introduce our latest multi-famil...
02/22/2026

As we announced in our most recent edition of our Praxis newsletter, AXIS is excited to introduce our latest multi-family residential project now underway in the Pacific Northwest: our Beacon Hill Apartment project. AXIS is serving as both the Architect of Record and Design Architect for the project.

Located in the vibrant Beacon Hill neighborhood of Seattle, this 7-story mixed-use development by Edge Developers, LLC will feature 72 spacious residential units and ground-level commercial space. Designed by our Seattle studio, AXIS’ design includes extensive residential amenities including a rooftop deck, bike parking, 20 car parking spots, lounge and clubroom spaces, leasing offices, and a mail room. With a focus on affordability, this project offers a prime location near markets, restaurants, cafes, parks, and frequent mass transit.

On February 24, AXIS Principal Architect Rory Carroll will join [studio-collective] Partner and Design Director Christia...
02/21/2026

On February 24, AXIS Principal Architect Rory Carroll will join [studio-collective] Partner and Design Director Christian Schulz and KHP Capital Partners SVP of Development Dane Patunoff at 1 Hotel Seattle for NEWH, Inc Seattle Chapter’s BrandED event. As part of the event, the team will sit on a panel and lead a property tour of the recently renovated and converted luxury hotel discussing the unique approaches and challenges activating the design of the property.

In 2025, the 1 Hotel Seattle was nominated as a finalist for a Boutique Design | BDNY Design Gold Key Award in the Best Eco Conscious/Best Socially Conscious Hotel category.

For more on NEWH and its BrandED events, visit https://newh.org/events/newh-branded-event-in-seattle-2-2026/

As we announced in our most recent edition of our Praxis newsletter, AXIS is very pleased to update the construction pro...
02/07/2026

As we announced in our most recent edition of our Praxis newsletter, AXIS is very pleased to update the construction progress being made at our Fairfield Inglewood new-build select service hotel project. As of the turn of the year, the hotel’s cement podium had already been poured and set, with framing on the second and third floors already well underway.

Once complete, the hotel will offer 150 guest rooms over six stories upon an L-shaped footprint. Crowning the hotel’s design, a sixth-floor rooftop wraparound balcony will create a neighborhood-defining hospitality destination of its own. Construction is anticipated to complete later this spring.

Thanks to Western Allied Construction for their expeditious construction expertise.

Earlier this week, members of AXIS’ Los Angeles studio were honored to join project partners celebrating the grand openi...
02/01/2026

Earlier this week, members of AXIS’ Los Angeles studio were honored to join project partners celebrating the grand opening of the Hilton Arcadia Los Angeles hotel. A unique project incorporating both a new-build and an adaptive reuse office conversion component, the project is a notable addition to AXIS’ new-build hotel and adaptive reuse project portfolios.

Later this quarter, AXIS will proudly be showcasing our design of this stunning full-service hotel, but for now, we’re proud to share Hilton’s press release announcing the opening of this destination: https://stories.hilton.com/releases/hilton-arcadia-los-angeles-is-officially-open

Our thanks to clients and project partners AZUL Hospitality for hosting the ceremony. Thanks also to general contracting partners R.D. Olson Construction, Inc. for their project imagery.

Watch our blog and social feeds for new project imagery in the weeks to come.

Late last month, members of AXIS Architecture + Design were proud to attend the NAIOP Pacific Northwest Chapter’s annual...
12/07/2025

Late last month, members of AXIS Architecture + Design were proud to attend the NAIOP Pacific Northwest Chapter’s annual Night of the Stars Gala to celebrate our 1 Hotel Seattle project being named a finalist for Hotel Development/Hotel Renovation of the Year.

A significant lifestyle luxury hotel brand conversion delivering an ambitious nature-driven design, AXIS led the architectural design of the 18-month project which saw the repositioning of the former Pan Pacific Hotel Seattle into the 1 Hotel Seattle. As both Architect of Record and Design Architect, AXIS was delighted to activate the design vision of hospitality interior design visionaries [studio-collective]. The project was on behalf of longstanding industry partners KHP Capital Partners.

The AXIS team, and particularly our Seattle office, would like to thank the NAIOP for hosting such an engaging event. For more on the event and AXIS’ nomination, visit https://naiop-wa.secure-platform.com/a/gallery/rounds/15/details/7342 .

Visit our online project portfolio for additional project imagery of 1 Hotel Seattle's one-of-a-kind nature-inspired luxury destination, and for an in-depth review of AXIS’ program for the property: https://axisarchitecture.com/our-projects/1-hotel-seattle-luxury-hotel-renovation/ .

Address

1000 Brannan Street, Ste 404
San Francisco, CA
94103

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 5:30pm

Telephone

+14153711400

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when AXIS Architecture + Design posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to AXIS Architecture + Design:

Share