"We are a collective family of nimble thinkers and makers who fearlessly approach design using inspiration and the joy of craft to kindle social, environmental and cultural change."

 Our Story

  • Who is RNT?

    Founded in 1980, RNT Architects, (Roesling Nakamura Terada Architects) has embraced their location on the Pacific Rim and the diverse cultures of Japan, China, California and the American West. RNT’s quest is designing meaningful places that support human habitation, culture and a positive quality of life. Our studio culture is about being empathetic and listening to our users and clients’ needs and desires. Our craft is the creation of architectural language and a honest expression of the dreams of each client. Through this process we engage and study the region, place, local culture and site context exploring design solutions that are programmatically functional, socially supportive, and responsive to place.

    The founding partners come from very different settings: California (Beach Cities), Tokyo, Yokohama, and Hong Kong, there are common themes in their design approach that define the firm’s design approach and working values. They combine pragmatic needs and intuitive exploration through various media to balance the needs of human experience and the expressive craft of construction. Their diverse personal credentials resolve in traits of a distinct design philosophy: an ethic of telling a story of the project with great attention to the architect’s craft of building. This studio diversity has grown through the years with the evolution of the RNT staff and their multi-talented credentials with more than 11 languages represented within the firm. Our newer partners carry this critical thinking and cultural diversity forward with a design sensibility that is understated but rooted with authenticity.

    RNT clients are also a very diverse group including public and private institutions with a wide variety of building typologies. This breadth of building design and construction experience has resulted in a high percentage of completed and built projects along with many satisfied repeat clients.

    The work of RNT is rooted in collaboration between the conditions of the project and their internal dialogue. The core values that drive the work evolve from a studio environment in which enthusiastic creativity and discovery thrive alongside expertise and experience. The built work of RNT is the result of the talents of a diverse team and reflects a broad range of sensitivity and awareness of project conditions, design opportunities and sensitivity to durability and operational costs.

    RNT has been recognized with numerous design awards, invited to lectures nationally and internationally, exhibitions and publications including a monograph published in Italy.

  • RNT Ethics

    Since the company’s inception, RNT has held the belief that design that meets the highest functional and aesthetic standards brings long lasting intrinsic value and enrichment to every-day human existence. This pursuit gives us and our clients joy in the craft of making Architecture.

    Our passion is continually aspiring for design excellence in teaching and in practice. We engage our staff and our students in this proposition and promote a culture of teaching and lifelong learning. Our studio culture is about the inspiring participation in the craft of architecture.

    RNT’s relationships with its employees, partners, associated architects, engineers and clients are extremely important and should long lasting, as well as beneficial to all parties involved. Our projects start with a deep understanding the client’s goals and objectives and continues with an expanded collaborative team working towards design solutions. We believe strongly in this collaborative spirit and culture.

    To develop architecture and environments that are durable and poetic, short-lived trends are conceptually resisted. Aesthetic longevity cannot be achieved without, high-quality design and intelligent, budget conscious construction methods.

    We believe in the continuing search for the artful expression of light, material and space that resolves our client’s needs and desires.

    As integral objectives in the overall design process and development, RNT aims to leave the smallest possible ecological footprint and promote healthy and sustainable living conditions for our clients and the general public. We are signatories to the AIA 2030 challenge, which is presented to the public on RNT’s website, for climate action and are actively involved in this important movement.

    These ethics are manifested in the longevity of our buildings that thrive in their settings. With numerous repeat clients, RNT has been recognized with over 100 design awards from the AIA and the building industry.

  • KEY SERVICES

    Architectural Design and Master Planning

    Building Renovation and Rehabilitation

    Redevelopment Planning and Implementation

    Education Specifications

    Coordination with State Funding Sources

    Urban Design

    Feasibility Studies/Site Selection

    Interior Design

    Program Management

    Building Information Modeling (BIM)

    Needs Assessments

    Site Analysis Surveys and Environmental Studies

    Utilities and Infrastructure Analysis

    Master Plans, Studies of Alternative Strategic Plans

    Phasing and CIP Plans

    Economic Analysis and Cost Estimating

    Architecture (all phases)

    Tenant Improvements

    Sustainability Studies

    LEED Certification

    GIS Analysis

Group of diverse principals posing outdoors in front of trees on a sunny day.

Joy Of Craft | Care and Design Integrity | Commitment to Client and Community | Commitment to Environmental Stewardship

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Joy Of Craft | Care and Design Integrity | Commitment to Client and Community | Commitment to Environmental Stewardship |

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