Architecture That Shapes How You Live

Architecture That Inspires and Endures

Award-winning design for homes, workplaces, and communities across Colorado. We bring clarity, craft, and purpose to every project we touch.

25+
Years in Practice
340+
Projects Completed
18
Design Awards
4.9
Client Rating
25+
Years in Practice
340+
Projects Completed
18
Design Awards
4.9
Client Rating
About Us

Designing Places That Matter

Our Story

Whitmore & Associates was founded in 2001 by James Whitmore with a simple conviction: architecture should serve the people who use it. Over two decades later, that principle still guides every project we take on.

What began as a two-person studio focused on custom residential work has grown into a 14-person firm with a practice spanning homes, workplaces, cultural buildings, and master plans across Colorado. We have earned 18 design awards, completed over 340 projects, and built lasting relationships with clients, builders, and communities throughout the state.

Our work is grounded in three commitments. First, we listen before we draw. Every project starts with understanding the people who will inhabit the space, the site that will hold the building, and the constraints that will shape the design. Second, we believe that sustainability and great design are inseparable — there is no version of good architecture that ignores its environmental impact. Third, we stay involved from first sketch through final walkthrough, because the details that make a building exceptional are the details that get resolved in the field.

Our team includes licensed architects, interior designers, a LEED Accredited Professional, and a Certified Passive House Consultant. We are members of the AIA Colorado chapter and active participants in Denver's design community. Our office in the Wazee Street corridor is a working studio — clients are always welcome to visit, see work in progress, and meet the team that will be designing their project.

About Whitmore & Associates

Design Excellence

Every project begins with listening and ends with spaces that exceed expectations. We pursue thoughtful design at every scale, from material selections to master plans.

Sustainability

We integrate energy-efficient systems, responsible materials, and passive design strategies into every project because stewardship of resources is a design responsibility.

Client-Centered

Your vision drives the process. We maintain transparent communication, respect your budget and timeline, and treat collaboration as a core part of our methodology.

Innovation

We use advanced modeling, parametric design tools, and emerging construction techniques to deliver buildings that are both forward-looking and built to last.

How We Work

Our Process

We've refined our process to make things easy for you. From first contact to final walkthrough, you'll know exactly what to expect.

Start a Project

Discovery & Programming

We start by listening. Through in-depth conversations and site analysis, we define your goals, budget, timeline, and project requirements in a written brief that guides every decision that follows.

Schematic Design

We develop two to three conceptual approaches — exploring layout, form, and material direction — and refine them through collaborative review until we arrive at a design concept you are excited about.

Design Development

The chosen concept is resolved in detail: structural systems, mechanical coordination, material specifications, and full interior design. Cost estimates are validated against your budget at this stage.

Construction Documents

We produce the detailed drawings and specifications that contractors use to bid and build your project. These documents are submitted for permits and serve as the legal basis for construction.

Construction Administration

We visit the site regularly during construction to review progress, answer contractor questions, approve submittals, and ensure the finished building matches the design intent in every detail.

Reviews

Trusted by Hundreds of Clients

★★★★★

"Whitmore & Associates turned our vague vision into a home that exceeds anything we imagined. The design process was collaborative, transparent, and genuinely enjoyable. Three years in, we still discover details that make us smile."

★★★★★

"We hired Whitmore to design our new office in RiNo and the result transformed how our team works. The space attracts talent, impresses clients, and makes coming to work something people actually look forward to."

★★★★★

"The renovation of our 1905 Victorian was the most complex project we have ever undertaken. Whitmore navigated historic preservation requirements, structural challenges, and our ambitious timeline with skill and calm professionalism."

★★★★★

"Our Passive House project with Whitmore achieved an air-tightness score that even surprised our energy consultant. The attention to building science, combined with genuine design talent, is rare. Our energy bills are a fraction of our old home."

★★★★★

"As a developer, I need architects who understand budgets and schedules as well as they understand design. Whitmore delivers on all three. We have completed four projects together and the relationship keeps getting stronger."

★★★★★

"From the initial consultation through move-in, the Whitmore team was organized, responsive, and full of ideas we never would have considered. They listened to what we needed and delivered a mountain home that belongs in its setting."

★★★★★

"Whitmore & Associates turned our vague vision into a home that exceeds anything we imagined. The design process was collaborative, transparent, and genuinely enjoyable. Three years in, we still discover details that make us smile."

★★★★★

"We hired Whitmore to design our new office in RiNo and the result transformed how our team works. The space attracts talent, impresses clients, and makes coming to work something people actually look forward to."

★★★★★

"The renovation of our 1905 Victorian was the most complex project we have ever undertaken. Whitmore navigated historic preservation requirements, structural challenges, and our ambitious timeline with skill and calm professionalism."

★★★★★

"Our Passive House project with Whitmore achieved an air-tightness score that even surprised our energy consultant. The attention to building science, combined with genuine design talent, is rare. Our energy bills are a fraction of our old home."

★★★★★

"As a developer, I need architects who understand budgets and schedules as well as they understand design. Whitmore delivers on all three. We have completed four projects together and the relationship keeps getting stronger."

★★★★★

"From the initial consultation through move-in, the Whitmore team was organized, responsive, and full of ideas we never would have considered. They listened to what we needed and delivered a mountain home that belongs in its setting."

Take the Next Step

Ready to Work With the Best?

Get in touch today. We'll schedule a consultation at a time that works for you.