Established in 1906, Ratcliff is an established living and learning Bay Area architecture firm. Ratcliff, based in Emeryville, is one of the longest-continually operating architecture firms in the nation. Founded by Walter H. Ratcliff, Jr., AIA, over a century ago, the firm continues to design meaningful and sustainable healthcare, academic and community architecture for Bay Area clients. Ratcliff was recognized as Firm of the Year by the AIACC for a culture rooted in a core set of values that began with Walter and were carried on by his son, Robert, his grandson, Christopher, and the firm's designers today.
Ratcliff possesses a vibrant vision, a drive for innovation and a commitment to sustainable design. With a legacy in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1906, the firm is a living, evolving architecture firm, dedicated to learning what is important to our clients, community and planet. This results in the design of extraordinary outcomes. Ratcliff's staff of 65+ engage clients share our values and serve as strategic partners in designing sustainable building solutions. Our primary practice areas of academic, healthcare and civic architecture present significant opportunities for a sustainable architecture that is driven not only by place based questions of purpose, design and technology, but by deeper issues of our enhanced contribution to society.