History

For over 35 years, The Architecture Company has been creating synergistic spaces between buildings and it’s occupants to help each other flourish. Richard Fe Tom, AIA, as the original founder in 1981, along with his daughter Kegan Tom, AIA , LEED AP, work together in a holistic approach that examines all factors (climate, cultural, historical, ecological, economical, etc.) to make “Healing Spaces, Empowering Places”.

The firm has always utilized leading edge technology and continues this advantage with 3-D Building Information Modeling (BIM) in design and documentation. While technology is embraced, we recognize that improving our world’s social, economic and environmental issues through design is fundamental. We believe it is critical to preserve our heritage and our future. Our role as designers and architects is to facilitate and capture the Vitality, Cultural Identity and Spirit of the people, while addressing environmental concerns and providing a sense of security and community.

As a certified Woman Owned Minority Small Business Enterprise, we are committed to incorporating our knowledge and lessons learned from our diverse portfolio of projects from commercial and hospitality, municipal and government, industrial, educational, historic and cultural to multi-family housing. Services include master planning, site analysis, feasibility studies, due diligence and historic surveys.

Culture and Values

Vision: We create designs to inspire, empower and delight our customers

Mission: We create sustainable architectural environments that foster client success.

Operating Principles:

We treat ourselves and others with care and respect
We encourage innovation and empower decision making
We plan before we execute
We continuously develop clear and systematic processes
We continuously learn and make improvements
Our knowledge database is our uniqueness
We lead with passion and by example
We produce excellent products and services

Awards

Below are a list of some of our recent awards. For additional awards and the latest news about The Architecture Company and our projects, please visit our Blog page.

• 2017 Arizona Preservation Foundation and Governor's Heritage Honor Award: Our Lady’s Chapel

• 2017 Tucson Pima County Historical Commission Heritage Award: Our Lady’s Chapel

• 2016 Tucson Pima County Historical Commission Heritage Award: Lison Cokinos Residence

• 2015 Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation President’s Award: Kegan Tom and Jean-Luc Cuisinier

• 2013 Tucson Pima County Historical Commission: Restoration and Adaptive Reuse of the Historic Ajo Train Depot

• 2013 ENR Southwest Best Projects: Adaptive Reuse of the Historic Ajo Train Depot Award of Merit

• 2012 Department of Homeland Security, Sustainable Practices, Building the Future Award: GSA Customs and Border Protection Ajo Housing

• 2008 National Trust/HUD Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation: Curley School Artisan Lofts

• 2007 Southwest Contractor Arizona’s Best: Curley School Artisan Lofts & Southwest Ambulance Mesa

• 2006 Metropolitan Pima Alliance Common Grounds Award

• 2005 American Institute of Architects Design Citation: National Law Center for Inter-American Free Trade

• 2005 Sonoran Institute Faces of Conservation: Grand Canyon West Visitor’s Center

• 2004 Wells Fargo and the US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce: National Asian Business Leadership Award

• 2004 Tucson Pima County Historical Commission Historic Preservation Certification: Tucson Origins Cultural Heritage Park Master Plan

• 2004 Sonoran Institute Building From the Best of Tucson for Urban Redevelopment / Infill: Lalo Guerrero Barrio Viejo Elderly Housing

• 2004 Southern Arizona Energy, First Place Award: A.C.E., A.S.H.R.A.E., and M.E.C, Tucson House

• 2004 Historic Planning Landmark, Arizona Planning Association: Tucson Origins Cultural Heritage Park

• 2003 Arizona Preservation Foundation, and State Historic Preservation Office, Governor’s Heritage Preservation Honor Award: Clarke House

• 2003 Governor’s Award for Energy Efficiency: Tucson House

• 2001 Sonoran Institute Building From the Best of Tucson: Appropriate Regional Architecture, Nature Conservancy Headquarters

• 2001 Master Plan Award, Arizona Planning Association: Rio Nuevo Master Plan

• 1999 Arizona Small Business Development Center Network and Arizona Friends of Small Business: Arizona State Small Business Success Award

• 1998 Minority Enterprise Development Committee 1998: Minority Service Firm of the Year

• 1985 City of Tucson Historic Review Board Design Competition Winner: El Presidio Townhomes