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For nearly six decades, Danielian Associates Architects + Planners has called Orange County home. What began in 1968 has grown into a nationally recognized architecture and planning firm, and nearly 60 years later, we’re proud to say we’re still growing.
This year, Danielian Associates was recognized by two leading Southern California publications for our continued presence in the architecture industry.
The Orange County Business Journal ranked Danielian Associates #14 among Orange County architecture firms, moving us up two spots from the previous year. The annual list ranks firms based on Orange County architectural billings, highlighting the firms helping shape the built environment throughout the region.
Our growth was also recognized on a broader Southern California scale, with the Los Angeles Times naming Danielian Associates among the 30 Largest Architecture Firms in Southern California. The 2026 list ranks firms based on Southern California architectural fee income for 2025, representing firms working throughout one of the country’s largest and most diverse design markets.
For us, these rankings represent more than numbers on a list. They reflect our ability to continue evolving while staying grounded in the relationships and expertise that have shaped Danielian since the beginning.
Over the past year alone, our team has celebrated award-winning residential communities, expanded our work throughout California and across the country, and continued to grow our capabilities across multifamily, build-to-rent, single-family, mixed-use, affordable and age-qualified housing.
In 2026, that evolution took another major step forward with the addition of Irwin Partners Architects, a Danielian Associates Company. Bringing together two longstanding Orange County architecture firms expanded our expertise in senior housing, rehabilitation, adaptive reuse, affordable housing and public agency work while adding decades of additional experience to our team.
Today, Danielian Associates is licensed in 44 states, with a portfolio that reaches across the country and internationally.
Orange County will always be home. It’s where Danielian Associates was founded, where our headquarters remain today and where many of our longest client relationships began.
At the same time, our work has grown far beyond our backyard. From build-to-rent communities in Utah and Texas to senior housing in California and Indiana, mixed-use developments in Tennessee and residential communities throughout the West, our team continues to bring nearly six decades of housing expertise to new markets.
Being recognized among the leading architecture firms in both Orange County and Southern California is an exciting milestone, but it’s also a reminder of what has allowed us to keep moving forward: strong relationships, a reputation built over decades and a willingness to continue evolving.
Nearly six decades in, we’re proud of where we’ve been, excited about where we’re going and, most importantly, still growing.
Prototypes & What’s Possible for Los Angeles Housing
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This past May, we participated in the Small Lots, Big Impacts design competition, hosted by cityLAB UCLA. For us, this was an opportunity to reimagine dense housing on underutilized, city-owned lots in Los Angeles. Our submission was centered around creating replicable housing models that integrate social infrastructure, ecological systems, and regulatory innovation—key ingredients for addressing affordability, resilience, and long-term neighborhood stability.
At Danielian, we view this kind of conceptual work as more than an entry in a design challenge—it’s part of a larger, ongoing commitment to supporting housing needs across Los Angeles. Alongside forward-looking prototypes like this, we’re engaged in projects that respond directly to community needs, including designing rebuilds for residents affected by the Eaton and Palisades fires and creating a modular library of concepts originating from our iDA Lab that fire victims can choose from as part of their rebuilding process.
Our efforts don’t stop there. Through our iDA Lab, we’re designing innovative approaches that leverage SB-9 lot splits and ADU legislation to make the most of Los Angeles’ limited land resources. A couple of these projects are already under construction in the Santa Monica area, pioneering new ways to maximize limited lot sizes while introducing gentle density. Each residence is designed to feel naturally integrated into the neighborhood fabric, proving that efficiency and community connection can go hand in hand.
Whether through competition entries, disaster recovery efforts, or exploring new construction models, we’re committed to contributing solutions that strengthen Los Angeles’ housing ecosystem—solutions that can be adapted, scaled, and built upon to meet the diverse needs of the city’s residents today and in the future.
Turning ideas into impact.
Our unbuilt concepts are more than exercises in design—they’re stepping stones toward housing that’s affordable, resilient, and built for community. If you share our vision for better urban living, let’s explore how we can bring the next project to life together. Connect with us →
Rebuilding With Heart and Purpose: Designing Safe Homes with a Mindful Approach
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As an architectural firm with deep roots in Altadena, Pasadena, and the greater Los Angeles area, our connection to these communities runs far deeper than our work—it’s personal. Our founder, Art Danielian, FAIA, grew up in these foothill neighborhoods, where homes are more than structures; they are the foundation of family, memory, and community.
In recent years, too many of these cherished homes have been lost to devastating fires that have reshaped the very fabric of our neighborhoods. The grief and disruption left in their wake are profound and we want to extend our heartfelt support to all the families navigating the long and emotional path toward recovery.
At Danielian, we believe that rebuilding is more than construction—it’s about healing, resilience, and hope. We’re currently working with homeowners throughout Los Angeles County who are beginning to rebuild after such losses. Many are still processing the enormity of what they’ve endured, and we understand how daunting it can be to even know where to begin. That’s why we’re here: to walk alongside you every step of the way, with care, clarity, and purpose.
As a firm specializing exclusively in residential design, we focus on crafting homes that are not only beautiful and livable but also safe, efficient, and built with foresight. We help families rebuild smarter—integrating the latest in code-compliant, fire-resilient design while honoring the unique stories and needs of each homeowner.
Our work aligns with California’s Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) building codes and goes beyond them. From ignition-resistant materials and enclosed eaves to ember-safe vents and defensible landscaping strategies, we aim to design homes that protect and endure.
This work requires both technical expertise and deep empathy. We are actively collaborating with trusted local builders, consultants, and suppliers to ensure that every design is not only thoughtfully planned but also feasible, affordable, and quickly permitted. For families facing financial constraints, we offer strategic design solutions, cost-effective material alternatives, and phased construction plans to ease the burden.
Above all, we listen to your needs, your vision, and the emotional weight of this moment.
If you or someone you know has been displaced and is beginning the process of rebuilding, we are here. It would be our honor to support you in creating a home that’s not just rebuilt, but reimagined with strength, heart, and hope.
With care and commitment,
The Danielian Associates Team
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Helping in the best way we know how!
The Danielian Associates team is passionate, creative, and committed to the art of designing places and spaces we call home. Our founder, Art Danielian, FAIA, grew up in the close-knit communities of Altadena / Pasadena and was inspired by local architecture to pursue a career in residential design. Our architectural studios are now guided by his son, John Danielian, AIA, as we continue to fulfill his father’s passion: turning ideas into beautiful and functioning homes where people can enrich their lives and thrive. Danielian Associates Architects + Planners has grown into a nationally recognized firm, providing architecture and planning services from our offices in Irvine and Los Angeles.
With many of our team members having roots in both Los Angeles and Orange Counties, we’ve always believed that the spaces we create are more than just buildings—they’re the backdrop to people’s lives. And when the fires swept through the greater Los Angeles area earlier this year, displacing families and uprooting communities, we knew we had to do more than watch from the sidelines.
In the wake of the devastation, our team has come together in a few small ways to support those affected:
It’s in moments like these that community matters most. If you or someone you know needs help reimagining a home lost in the fires, we’re here—with open hands, listening ears, and design solutions grounded in care.
Please reach out to learn more about how we can help with architectural support and home rebuilding. Together, we’ll find a way forward.