This article lists the oldest extant architectural practices in the world. Very few architectural practices are still operating whose foundation pre-dates the beginning of the 20th C and it would not be unreasonable to conclude that any practice that was founded in the 18th or 19th C should be listed as amongst the oldest surviving architectural firms around the globe.[1] [2] [3] In order to qualify for the list a practice must:
| Date Founded | Country | Architectural Practice | Founded by (if known) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1853 | USA | Luckett & Farley | Henry Whitestone | The firm began under the name Rogers, Whitestone & Co., Architects, changing its name to Henry Whitestone in 1857, to D.X. Murphy & Brother in 1890, and to Luckett & Farley in 1962. |
| 1853 | USA | SmithGroup | Sheldon Smith | Founded as Sheldon Smith, the firm's name was changed to Field, Hinchman & Smith in 1903; then renamed Smith, Hinchman & Grylls in 1907; in 2000, the firm changed its name to SmithGroup. |
| 1856 | England | Edgington, Spink & Hyne | Thomas Edgington | Founded as Edgington & Son; thence Edgington & Spink from 1907; thence Edgington Spink & Hyne from 1955 |
| 1860 | England | Lovelock Mitchell Architects | T.M. Lockwood | Founded by Thomas Lockwood in 1860, becoming Lockwood & Sons in 1892, then Lockwood Abercrombie & Saxon in 1922, then Saxon Smith & Partners in 1947, then Saxon Smith Lovelock Mitchell in 1972, then Lovelock Mitchell & Partners from 1975. Today operates as Lovelock Mitchell Architects, an employee-owned trust.[5] |
| 1863 | New Zealand | Mason & Wales | William Mason[6] | Founded by William Mason with William Clayton in partnership as Mason & Clayton; thence joined in partnership by Nathaniel Wales by 1871; thence by the latter's son PY Wales and his grandson NYA Wales; and then his great-grandson Niel YA Wales from 1956; thence to Ashley Muir from 1970 and his son, Hamish Muir and his business partner Francis Whitaker, as of today |
| 1868 | USA | King & King | Archimedes Russell | In 1906 it was called Melvin L. King Architects; then in 1932 it changed to Melvin L. & Harry A. King Architects when Harry King became a partner; n 1945, it changed to Melvin L., Harry A. & Curtis King Architects when Curtis King became a partner, and in 1959 Russell King became a partner — changing the firm’s name to King & King Architects. |
| 1884 | England | Caroe & Partners | William Douglas Caröe[7] | |
| 1884 | Australia | Wilson | Alex B Wilson[8] | Founded by Alex B Wilson, later joined by his grandson and his wife Blair & Beth Wilson by 1971; thence run by their son, Hamilton from 1995 |
| 1887 | Singapore | Swan & Maclaren | Archibald Alexander Swan & Alfred Lermit[9] | Founded by Swan & Lermit as surveyors/engineers; thence, joined by James Wadell Boyd Maclaren in 1892 as Swan & Maclaren; Regent Alfred John Bidwell joined as architect partner in 1897 till 1915; thence to successor partners |
| 1892 | England | Tooley Foster | Herbert Tooley | The Practice was founded in 1892 by Herbert Tooley and then later Reginald "Rex" Foster joined as Partner in 1910. The Practice was known as The Tooley & Foster Partnership for over a century and in 2022 changed to just Tooley Foster. The Practice has always been based in Buckhurst Hill, Essex. |
| 1895 | England | Stedman Blower | Arthur Stedman[10] [11] | Founded as AJ Stedman, Architect & Surveyor; thence AJ & LR Stedman Architects from 1940; thence Stedman & Blower Architects from 1964; thence Stedman Blower Architects from 1995 |