18 Years of Design That Connects Us

Eighteen years ago, AE3 Partners began with a simple idea: that architecture could be both purposeful and personal. What started as a small, minority-owned design practice has grown into a firm recognized for shaping impactful public, aviation, and higher education environments.

As we celebrate 18 years in practice, we’re reflecting not only on what we’ve built, but how we’ve built it, through collaboration, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to delivering design excellence that serves communities and connects people.

Built on Collaboration, Elevated by Partnership

AE3’s journey has been marked by bold partnerships that have expanded our reach and deepened our expertise. Through mentor-protégé joint ventures with Gensler and Steinberg Hart, AE3 has taken on complex, large-scale projects that have sharpened our capabilities and opened doors for growth within federal, state, and municipal markets. These relationships have reaffirmed what we’ve always believed: that mentorship, when paired with mutual respect and shared vision, builds more than projects. It builds possibility.

Designing for Connection and Impact

From modernizing terminals at Oakland International Airport to reimagining academic spaces that inspire learning, AE3 has become a trusted partner for aviation, higher education, and public sector clients throughout California. Our team approaches every project with curiosity, technical rigor, and the humility to listen, ensuring that our designs respond to real needs and stand the test of time.

The Power of a Small but Mighty Team

Behind our portfolio is a tight-knit team of architects, designers, and collaborators who thrive on challenge. AE3’s culture is one of shared purpose, creative trust, and inclusion, the kind of environment where everyone’s ideas matter and where big thinking isn’t confined by firm size. As a certified Small and Minority-Owned Business (SBE/MBE), we’ve proven that excellence and scale aren’t synonymous; focus and passion are.

Looking Ahead

As we look toward our 20th anniversary, AE3 remains committed to expanding opportunity for our people, our partners, and the communities we serve. We’ll continue to design with purpose, lead with integrity, and build projects that reflect the values we started with: simplicity, functionality, and human connection.

Eighteen years in, our foundation has never been stronger, and the best is yet to come.