WestEast Design Group is a San Antonio–based architecture and planning firm with more than 30 years of experience delivering people-centered, community-focused design. From major civic investments and airport infrastructure to industrial facilities like Bakerly Ranch at Brooks, the firm’s work helps shape spaces where the region lives, works, and grows.
We spoke with Joey Nguyen, Industrial Market Leader at WestEast Design, about the firm’s approach, its roots in San Antonio, and how thoughtful design supports long-term economic vitality.
Tell us about your firm and the type of design work WestEast specializes in.
WestEast Design Group is an architecture and planning firm built on 30 years of dedicated service. The firm was founded by Chris Kimm with a mission to place service to clients and communities at the center of practice. Over time, WestEast has grown into a multidisciplinary team recognized for thoughtful and people-centered design. This commitment has earned us a 90 percent repeat client rate, which reflects the trust and long-term relationships we work to cultivate.
Our work spans civic and cultural facilities, education environments, mixed use districts, healthcare and behavioral health campuses, community plans, supportive and affordable housing, and significant industrial projects. One example is Bakerly Ranch at Brooks, an industrial French bakery facility that demonstrates our ability to integrate efficiency, safety, and innovation in complex industrial environments.
Across every sector, our goal is to design with purpose, clarity, and lasting community impact.
What attracted your firm to San Antonio, and how has the character, culture, and growth of the region influenced your work and creative approach?
WestEast was born in San Antonio, and the city has shaped our identity from the start. Its blend of deep cultural roots, welcoming spirit, and strong sense of community provided the foundation for our practice. As the region has grown, we have grown with it, continually learning from its diversity, resilience, and openness to new ideas.
San Antonio’s unique combination of history and momentum influences how we design. The city’s heritage informs our respect for context, while its continued economic and population growth challenges us to create forward-thinking solutions. This balance of tradition and innovation inspires work that feels authentic to the region and responds to its evolving needs.
How would you describe your design philosophy and the kinds of communities or spaces you most enjoy helping shape?
Our design philosophy centers on people, purpose, and stewardship. We aim to create environments that elevate daily life, reinforce dignity, and support long-term community health.
We are especially drawn to public serving environments such as colleges and universities, community hubs, behavioral health campuses, civic institutions, industrial and economic development projects, and mixed-use districts where people live, learn, work, gather, and heal. These types of places allow design to play a meaningful role in improving quality of life and contributing to long-term regional vitality.
Can you share a project or initiative in San Antonio that reflects your firm’s commitment to strengthening communities, creating meaningful public spaces, or advancing quality of life through design?
One project that reflects this commitment is the Alamo Education Center, which expands public understanding of a historic site while improving accessibility, engagement, and community programming. When it opens next month, it will bring together heritage, education, and public space in a way that deepens cultural connection for both residents and visitors.
We are also working with IKEA USA on an initiative focused on improving permanent supportive housing nationwide. Together, we developed a curriculum now used in IKEA coworker onboarding, designed and built a small home that supports healing and dignity, and are advocating for improved design standards at a national level. The small home was donated to Towne Twin Village in San Antonio and is part of an ongoing research project studying post occupancy human performance.
What motivated your firm to invest in greater:SATX’s mission, and how do you see thoughtful design contributing to the region’s long-term economic growth?
WestEast’s work is centered on community, impact, and long-range thinking. These are values shared by greater SATX. We invested in the organization because its mission aligns with ours, particularly the goals of strengthening regional competitiveness, expanding opportunity, and supporting sustainable and inclusive growth.
Thoughtful design plays a foundational role in economic development. It shapes how companies experience the region, how residents engage with their communities, and how infrastructure supports innovation and industry. From industrial facilities like Bakerly Ranch at Brooks, to major civic investments such as the airport terminals, to community focused campuses and mixed-use districts, design helps create the conditions that allow economic and social ecosystems to thrive.
Is there anything else you would like to share about WestEast’s presence in the Greater San Antonio community?
Four years ago, we launched the WestEast Social Impact Studio, which is a first of its kind practice led not by an architect but by a licensed social worker, Scott Ackerson. His team of researchers, data analysts, policy experts, and programmers focuses on understanding communities at a deeper level. This helps ensure our projects promote equity, well-being, and long-term community health.
This model has taken our team across the country, from Maine to Washington State, while reinforcing San Antonio as our home base and a continuous source of inspiration.
We are also proud to be part of the team selected to renovate Terminals A and B at the San Antonio International Airport. This transformational project will shape the region’s economic gateway for decades to come and reflects our commitment to designing high impact civic infrastructure that serves the entire region and supports future growth.
To learn more about WestEast Design, visit their website.