It all starts with relationships

From the beginning, we have operated with a single, core belief: that great design starts with the relationships we build through trust and collaboration.

We are passionate about working with our clients to design spaces that authentically reflect their company, their personality, and their goals. That process starts with building strong working relationships. Because they inform how we approach each project, how we create our teams, and how we see the world. For more than 30 years this approach has led us to build unforgettable spaces that help our clients thrive, no matter how they use their space.

Our Approach

Relentless curiosity

Every project starts with a question: how can we give this space a voice?

From there, we dive into every detail of the project. Who you are, your goals, your plans for the future. How you will use the space, and the ways you might use it that you’ve never imagined. We seek to understand the things that drive you, so we can create something that helps you on that road. It’s the result of our relentless curiosity and desire to better understand both the clients we partner with and the world around us.

We always strive for a diversity of viewpoints to inform our work – we believe that the best ideas come from challenging ourselves to see the world in new ways.

We believe…

Every project can make life better.
Strong relationships inspire great work.
We must push boundaries and explore new ideas.
Model the outcomes we aspire to create.
Only together can we give it our all.

History

A legacy of partnership

In 1987, we started with five employees and a few folding tables. Since then, we’ve grown to more than 200 employees nationwide with an international reputation and a portfolio of award-winning work.

But what’s more important than what we’ve done is what we’ll do next. We hope you’ll be a part of that.

We are a woman-owned firm certified with WBENC (Women’s Business Enterprise National Council).

Services

No detail too small, no idea too big

We offer a full range of architectural, strategic, and design services to help your space find its voice. But these services aren’t separate; with our comprehensive, relationship-based approach to design, we look at every aspect of your space and how it is used – partnering with you to find the best way to bring it to life.

Sustainability

Designing for a healthier earth and happier people

At Vocon, we see built space within a greater context and recognize its impact on people, immediate surroundings, and the environment. Our staff includes LEED, Fitwel, and WELL accredited professionals. Our portfolio includes more than 50 projects that achieved project sustainability certifications. See the dropdown below for details on those projects.

Vocon is committed to the future of the planet. Our team has worked thoughtfully and thoroughly to understand our carbon footprint and plan the path to reduce our impact. The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has verified our net-zero science-based target by 2030.

Goals Reached:
40% reduction in Scope 01 & 02 emissions

Goals In-Progress:
100% reduction in Scope 01 & 02 emissions by 2025
Net Zero Carbon by 2030

  • Ames Family Hospice House – LEED NC Gold
  • Calfee – LEED CI Gold
  • CBRE – LEED CI Silver
  • Citigroup New York – LEED CI Silver
  • Cleveland Botanical Garden – LEED CI Silver
  • Cleveland Sight Center – LEED CI Gold
  • Cleveland Cliffs – LEED CI Certified
  • Cliffs Natural Resources Remodel – LEED CI Gold
  • Convergent – Fitwel One Star
  • Cuyahoga County Juvenile Justice Center – LEED NC Silver
  • Cuyahoga County Administrative Headquarters – LEED NC Gold
  • De Nora Technologies – LEED CI Silver
  • FirstEnergy – LEED NC Gold
  • Goodyear World Headquarters – LEED NC Gold
  • IRS Independence – LEED CI Certified
  • Jewish Community Federation – LEED CI Gold
  • KeyBank Higbee – LEED CI Gold
  • KeyBank (11) Retail Branches – Various Certification Levels
  • KeyBank District Office – LEED CI Silver
  • Morgan Stanley Centerville – LEED CI Certified
  • Morgan Stanley Rochester – LEED CI Certified
  • Morgan Stanley Operations Center New Albany – LEED CI Certified
  • Morgan Stanley Operations Center Salt Lake City – LEED CI Certified
  • Oatey – LEED NC Gold
  • OMNOVA Solutions Headquarters – LEED NC Certified
  • OverDrive – LEED CI Certified
  • PwC Boston – LEED CI Platinum
  • PwC Charlotte – LEED CI Silver
  • PwC Chicago – LEED CI Gold
  • PwC Cleveland – LEED Gold
  • PwC New York – LEED CI Gold
  • PwC Philadelphia – LEED CI Gold
  • PwC San Francisco – LEED CI Platinum + Fitwel
  • The Quarter – LEED for Homes Silver Certified
  • The Quarter Phase II – LEED for Homes Silver Certified
  • Social Security Administration – LEED NC Silver
  • The Weather Channel – LEED NC Gold
  • Tokio Marine Jersey City – LEED CI Gold
  • Vocon Cleveland – LEED CI Gold
  • Westfield – WELL
  • WPP Detroit – LEED Gold
2024
  • The Real Deal NYC’s Most Active Architecture Firms  – Ranked 10th
  • AIA Cleveland Honor Award Interior Architecture – Cleveland Foundation
  • AIA Cleveland Honorable Mention Interior Architecture – Fahrenheit
  • AIA Cleveland Merit Award Architecture – Great Lakes Cheese Company Headquarters
  • AIA Cleveland Presidential Citation – Dave Robar
  • AIA Cleveland Architectural Photography First Place – “Lumen Step Back” by Dave Robar
  • AIA Cleveland Architectural Photography Third Place – “Bridge Look” by Dave Robar
  • IIDA Cleveland Akron Best in the Play Category – Fahrenheit
  • IIDA Cleveland Akron Best in the Innovate Category – Swagelok
  • IIDA Cleveland Akron Best in the Work Category – Small – Confidential Management Consulting Firm Minneapolis
  • IIDA Cleveland Akron Best in the Work Category – Large – Cleveland Foundation
  • IIDA Cleveland Akron Honorable Mention in the Work Category – Large – Infinium Wall Systems
  • IIDA Cleveland Akron Member of the Year – Halle Michalakes
  • The Real Deal NYC’s Top Architects for Alteration Projects – Ranked 04th
  • NAIOP Northern Ohio Chapter Interior Design Project of the Year Award – Great Lakes Cheese Company Headquarters
  • Crain’s Cleveland Business Architectural Firms List – Ranked 02nd
  • Crain’s Cleveland Business Women-Owned Business List – Ranked 10th
  • Crain’s New York Business Best Places to Work – Ranked 59th
  • Huntington National Bank’s Vendor Partner of the Year
  • NorthCoast 99 Honoring 99 Great Workplaces for Top Talent in Northeast Ohio
  • Building Design+Construction’s Top 175 Architecture Firms for 2023 – Ranked 50th
  • Interior Design Top 100 Industry Giants – Ranked 31st
  • Interior Design Sustainability Giants – Ranked 19th
  • AIA Ohio Merit Award Interiors – Doner | Assembly
  • AIA Ohio People’s Choice Award – Confidential Professional Services Firm San Francisco
  • AIA College of Fellows – Jodi van der Wiel, FAIA
  • AIA Cleveland Presidential Citation – Abby Baker
  • AIA Cleveland Architectural Photography 2nd Place – “What’s Up, Taussig?” by Dave Robar
  • Building Excellence & Craftsmanship New Construction Award – Great Lakes Cheese Company Headquarters
  • Cleveland Restoration Society Compatible New Building in a Historic District Award – The Quarter Phase II
  • IIDA Ohio Kentucky Over 25,000 SF Award – Confidential Global Professional Services Firm San Francisco
  • NAIOP Northern Ohio Interior Design of the Year – Marous Brothers Construction Headquarters
  • ACE Cleveland Courtney Behm Exemplary Volunteer Award – Dave Robar
  • Smart Business Smart Culture Awards Honoree
  • Crain’s Cleveland Business Architectural Firms List – Ranked 2nd
  • NorthCoast 99 Honoring 99 Great Workplaces for Top Talent in Northeast Ohio
  • Interior Design Top 100 Industry Giants – Ranked 35th
  • AIA Cleveland Merit Award Interiors – APG
  • AIA Cleveland Merit Award Architecture – Dealer Tire Campus & Garage
  • AIA Ohio Merit Award Additions, Renovations and Restorations – Process Technology
  • AIA Ohio Honorable Mention Newly Completed Buildings – Oatey
  • IIDA Cleveland Akron Large Corporate – Confidential Professional Services Firm Floor 24 New York
  • IIDA Cleveland Akron Small Corporate – Geometry
  • NAIOP Northern Ohio Award of Excellence Architectural Design of the Year – Convergent
  • NAIOP Northern Ohio Award of Excellence Interior Design of the Year – The Schroer Group
  • NorthCoast 99 Honoring 99 Great Workplaces for Top Talent in Northeast Ohio
  • Smart Business Corporate College Smart 50 Awards – Debbie Donley
  • Interior Design Top 100 Industry Giants – Ranked 39th
  • AIA Cleveland Honorable Mention Small Projects – Process Technology
  • AIA Cleveland Honor Award Interiors – Process Technology
  • AIA Cleveland Honor Award Interiors – Geometry
  • AIA Cleveland People’s Choice Award – Process Technology
  • AIA Cleveland Architectural Photography Third Place – “The Hound Never Sleeps” by Dave Robar
  • AIA Cleveland Emerging Professional Award – Crystal Knapik
  • AIA Cleveland Presidential Citation – Abby Baker
  • AIA Ohio Citation Awards for Interiors – Confidential Professional Services Firm Floor 24 New York
  • NAIOP Northern Ohio Award of Excellence Interior Design Traveling Gun – Confidential Professional Services Firm Floor 24 New York
  • NAIOP Northern Ohio Award of Excellence Interior Design Office – Vocon Cleveland
  • NAIOP Northern Ohio Award of Excellence Interior Design Retail – APG
  • NAIOP Northern Ohio Award of Excellence Interior Renovation – Process Technology
  • NorthCoast 99 Honoring 99 Great Workplaces for Top Talent in Northeast Ohio
  • Interior Design Top 100 Industry Giants – Ranked 42nd
  • AIA Cleveland Merit Award Interiors – Vocon Cleveland
  • AIA Cleveland Merit Award Interiors – Floor 24 Confidential Professional Services Firm New York
  • Cleveland Restoration Society Innovative Industrial Rehabilitation Award – The Empire Improvement Building GBX Group
  • IIDA Cleveland Akron Award Small Corporate – Compass New York
  • IIDA Cleveland Akron Award Large Corporate – Floor 21 Confidential Professional Services Firm New York
  • IIDA Cleveland Akron Award Retail, Hospitality, and Restaurants – Saucy Brew Works
  • NAIOP Northern Ohio Office Interior Design of the Year – GBX Group
  • NAIOP Northern Ohio Office Interior Renovation of the Year – GBX Group
  • NAIOP Northern Ohio Office Architectural Project of the Year Multi-Family – The Quarter
  • NorthCoast 99 Honoring 99 Great Workplaces for Top Talent in Northeast Ohio
  • Interior Design Top 100 Industry Giants – Ranked 41st
  • AIA Cleveland Honor Award Interior Architecture – Forest City Enterprises
  • AIA Cleveland Merit Award Interior Architecture – Doner D313
  • AIA Cleveland Merit Award Architecture – GBX Group
  • AIA Cleveland Honorable Mention Architecture – TSG Resources Concept
  • AIA Ohio Honor Award – GBX Group
  • AIA Ohio Honor Award – Forest City Enterprises
  • AIA Ohio Honor Award – Doner D313
  • NAIOP Northern Ohio Office Interior Design of the Year – Compass San Francisco
  • NAIOP Northern Ohio Office Interior Renovation Project of the Year – Dealer Tire
  • Willoughby Western Lake County Chamber of Commerce Showcase Award – Process Technology
  • Northcoast 99 Honoring 99 Great Workplaces for Top Talent in Northeast Ohio
  • Interior Design Top 100 Industry Giants – Ranked 43rd
  • AIA Cleveland Merit Award Interior Architecture – Compass
  • AIA Cleveland Merit Award Interior Architecture – Droga5
  • AIA Cleveland Honor Award Interior Architecture – Dealer Tire
  • AIA Ohio Merit Award for Interior Projects – Dealer Tire
  • NAIOP Northern Ohio Office Architectural Design of the Year – Oatey
  • NAIOP Northern Ohio Athletic Facility Exterior Renovation of the Year – Cleveland Browns
  • Northcoast 99 Honoring 99 Great Workplaces for Top Talent in Northeast Ohio
  • Interior Design Top 100 Industry Giants – Ranked 40th
  • AIA Cleveland People’s Choice Award – Cleveland Browns
  • IIDA Cleveland Akron Small Corporate – Famous Enterprises
  • IIDA Cleveland Akron Large Corporate – PwC Boston
  • Northcoast 99 Honoring 99 Great Workplaces for Top Talent in Northeast Ohio
  • Interior Design Top 100 Industry Giants – Ranked 41st
  • AIACleveland People’s Choice Award – PwC Chicago
  • IIDA Cleveland Akron Interior Design Award Large Corporate – PwC Chicago
  • NAIOP Northern Ohio Architectural Design of the Year – OMNOVA
  • NAIOP Northern Ohio Interior Design of the Year – Zashin & Rich
  • NEO Success Award
  • Northcoast 99 Honoring 99 Great Workplaces for Top Talent in Northeast Ohio
  • Interior Design Top 100 Industry Giants – Ranked 37th
  • AIA Ohio Award of Merit – Goodyear
  • IIDA Cleveland Akron Interior Design Award Small Corporate Office – Zashin
  • IIDA Cleveland Akron Interior Design Award Large Corporate Office – Libbey
  • NAIOP Northern Ohio Interior Design of the Year Traveling Gun Award – Libbey
  • Case Western Reserve University Weatherhead 100 Fastest Growing Companies in Northeast Ohio
  • NEO Success Award
  • Northcoast 99 Honoring 99 Great Workplaces for Top Talent in Northeast Ohio
  • Interior Design Top 100 Industry Giants – Ranked 34th
  • AIA Ohio Design Award – Calfee
  • NAIOP Northern Ohio Interior Design of the Year – Calfee
  • NAIOP Northern Ohio Sustainable Design Award – Cleveland Sight Center
  • NAIOP Northern Ohio Renovation Award – Calfee
  • Case Western Reserve University Weatherhead 100 Fastest Growing Companies in Northeast Ohio
  • NEO Success Award
  • Northcoast 99 Honoring 99 Great Workplaces for Top Talent in Northeast Ohio
  • Interior Design Best of Year Finalist – Goodyear
  • Interior Design Top 100 Industry Giants – Ranked 40th
  • The Cleveland Restoration Society Distinguished Restoration and Rehabilitation Award – Calfee
  • ENR Midwest Best Restoration Project – Calfee
  • Case Western Reserve University Weatherhead 100 Fastest Growing Companies in Northeast Ohio
  • Leading Economic Development through Growth and Entrepreneurship (EDGE) Award
  • NEO Success Award
  • Northcoast 99 Honoring 99 Great Workplaces for Top Talent in Northeast Ohio
  • Interior Design Best of Year Finalist – Calfee
  • Interior Design Top 100 Industry Giants – Ranked 30th
  • AIA Ohio Design Award – KeyBank Higbee
  • NAIOP Northern Ohio Interior Design of the Year – KeyBank Higbee
  • NAIOP Northern Ohio Sustainable Design Award – KeyBank Higbee
  • Case Western Reserve University Weatherhead 100 Fastest Growing Companies in Northeast Ohio
  • Leading Economic Development through Growth and Entrepreneurship (EDGE) Award
  • NEO Success Award
  • Northcoast 99 Honoring 99 Great Workplaces for Top Talent in Northeast Ohio
  • Interior Design Top 100 Industry Giants – Ranked 36th
  • Interior & Sources Top 10 LEED Projects of the Year – KeyBank Higbee Ranked 3rd
  • The Plain Dealer Top Workplaces
  • AIA Ohio Design Award – Dots
  • IIDA Cleveland Akron Award of Merit – KeyBank Higbee
  • IIDA Cleveland Akron Award of Merit – Liggett Stashower
  • IIDA Cleveland Akron Honorable Mention – Fay Sharpe
  • NAIOP Northern Ohio Interior Design of the Year – Dots
  • NAIOP Northern Ohio Sustainable Design Award – Vocon Cleveland
  • Case Western Reserve University Weatherhead 100 Fastest Growing Companies in Northeast Ohio
  • Leading Economic Development through Growth and Entrepreneurship (EDGE) Award
  • NEO Success Award
  • Interior Design Top 100 Industry Giants – Ranked 43rd
  • The Plain Dealer Top Workplaces
  • AIA Cleveland Award of Merit – Dots
  • NAIOP Northern Ohio Architectural Design of the Year – FirstEnergy
  • Case Western Reserve University Weatherhead 100 Fastest Growing Companies in Northeast Ohio
  • Inc. 5000 One of America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies
  • Leading Economic Development through Growth and Entrepreneurship (EDGE) Award
  • Inside Business The Top Performing Companies in Northeast Ohio
  • Interior Design Top 100 Industry Giants – Ranked 48th
  • NAIOP Northern Ohio Interior Design of the Year – Edward Howard
  • CanStruction Competition Cleveland – Juror’s Favorite
  • Case Western Reserve University Weatherhead 100 Fastest Growing Companies in Northeast Ohio
  • Inc. 5000 One of America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies
  • Leading Economic Development through Growth and Entrepreneurship (EDGE) Award
  • Northcoast 99 Honoring 99 Great Workplaces for Top Talent in Northeast Ohio
  • Inside Business The Top Performing Companies in Northeast Ohio
  • Interior Design Top 100 Industry Giants – Ranked 56th
  • Interior Design Fastest Growing Design Firm in the United States
  • AIA Cleveland Merit Award – Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Inc. 5000 One of America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies
  • Northcoast 99 Honoring 99 Great Workplaces for Top Talent in Northeast Ohio
  • Interior Design Top 200 Industry Giants – Ranked 116th
  • IIDA Cleveland Akron Design Award Best of Show – + Space
  • IIDA Cleveland Akron Design Award Sustainable Design Honorable Mention – Vocon Cleveland
  • IIDA Cleveland Akron Design Award Retail Showroom Award of Merit – + Space
  • IIDA Cleveland Akron Design Award Medium Corporate Award of Merit – Vocon
  • IIDA Cleveland Akron Design Award Large Corporate Honorable Mention – Brulant
  • NAIOP Northern Ohio Interior Design of the Year – Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Leading Economic Development through Growth and Entrepreneurship (EDGE) Award
  • Northcoast 99 Honoring 99 Great Workplaces for Top Talent in Northeast Ohio
  • Interior Design Top 200 Industry Giants – Ranked 109th
  • NAIOP Northern Ohio Interior Design of the Year – Vocon Cleveland
  • Northcoast 99 Honoring 99 Great Workplaces for Top Talent in Northeast Ohio
  • Interior Design Top 200 Industry Giants – Ranked 116th
  • IIDA Cleveland Akron Design Award Small Corporate Award of Merit – Cleveland Browns Training Facility
  • NAIOP Northern Ohio Interior Design of the Year – Dix & Eaton
  • Interior Design Top 200 Industry Giants – Ranked 126th
  • Northcoast 99 Honoring 99 Great Workplaces for Top Talent in Northeast Ohio
  • Interior Design Top 200 Industry Giants – Ranked 132nd

Interior Design Top 200 Industry Giants – Ranked 178th

  • IIDA Cleveland Akron Design Award Medium Corporate Award of Merit – Doner
  • IIDA Cleveland Akron Design Award Large Corporate Award of Merit – WKYC
  • Sherwin-Williams Adventure in Excellence Award of Merit – Doner
  • Northcoast 99 – Honoring 99 Great Workplaces for Top Talent in Northeast Ohio
  • Inside Business Best Conference Room – WKYC
  • Interior Design Top 200 Industry Giants – Ranked 185th
  • NAIOP Northern Ohio Interior Design of the Year Winner – Doner
  • NAIOP Northern Ohio Interior Design of the Year Finalist – WKYC
  • Inside Business Best Conference Room – Roetzel & Andress
  • AIA Cleveland Award of Merit – CHIA Consolidated Car Rental Facility
  • AIA Cleveland Award of Merit – Roetzel & Andress
  • Builders Exchange Award of Merit – CHIA Consolidated Car Rental Facility
  • Builders Exchange Award of Merit – O’Neils
  • IIDA Cleveland Akron Honorable Mention Industrial Project – CHIA Consolidated Care Rental Facility