




Ames International Architecture
WHAT WE STAND FOR
Established in 1984 by our Principal Architect Shane Ames in Boca Raton, Florida, Ames International Architecture specializes in luxury designs of memorable single-family homes, multi-family housing projects, and commercial ventures. We offer full services, coordinating all phases of the project from initial design, home layout, and interior specifications up until construction and final completion.
Excellency, prestige, discipline, and dedication have made Ames International Architecture strong and long-lasting over the decades having completed designs in over 30 countries throughout the globe and receiving numerous awards and accolades. Our passion for architecture and design encourages our team to constantly pursue education, research, and develop our skills to keep us sought after and at the forefront of the industry, creating designs that elevate your living experience.
“Best Residential Architecture Firm in North America” – BUILD Home & Garden Awards, 2019
OUR STORY
OUR STORY | WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
Ames International Architecture was established in 1984 by founder Shane Ames, in Boca Raton, Florida, quickly growing through word of mouth and outgrowing our original facility. Starting out, Shane Ames, a multi-talented, creative designer, and licensed architect designed the first models in one of South Florida’s most prestigious and luxurious communities (St. Andrews Country Club in Boca Raton, Florida) in 1985. Working with acclaimed national builders and designers, he produced the most copied designs in the country, setting the national trends, and allowing us to work with many of the Fortune 500 and CEOs of multinational corporations.
By the late 1990s, the company then acquired and transformed, via documented renovation and addition, a house nearly one hundred years old located in the historic Del-Ida Park Professional District in Delray Beach, Florida. This gem became the home of offices in December 1996. Once completed, it was included in the Historic Society Home Tour and being published in the January 2005 calendar as one of the 12 most memorable structures in the Delray Beach Historic District.
The firm has enjoyed tremendous success ever since, contributing to the industry through the design of luxurious and memorable single-family homes, multi-family housing projects, and commercial ventures. Our impact on the architectural beauty of South Florida is evidenced by the several thousands of residential designs in all the leading yacht, golf, and tennis country club communities, as well as oceanfront and Intracoastal areas. With the word spreading, this allowed us to do projects in over 40 states domestically and over 30 countries globally,
being published in dozens of periodicals and books.
OUR FOUNDER | PRINCIPAL ARCHITECT SHANE AMES
Born in Cincinnati, Ohio with European background, Shane at a very early age had the desire and passion to build and design, using Lego, Lincoln Logs, Kenner Girder, and Strut toys, which helped develop the abilities he uses today.
Growing up in South Florida, during the boom years, he chose to go to Cincinnati to attend the number one rated architectural school in the U.S., the University of Cincinnati, for the 6-year Bachelorette Architecture Program. The program was taught in the German Bauhaus model in which design is not limited to buildings, but is well-rounded in all fields of art, graphics, painting, and architecture, this same school program educated and graduated such greats as Michael Graves and Peter Eisenman. Shane received his bachelor’s in architecture, and a minor certificate in historic preservation, which included on-the-job training as part of the curriculum. During school, under a work-study program, he worked in a tract house plan factory doing work in Westinghouse’s suburb, Coral Spring, which then led to designing the new country club communities in Boca Raton and starting his own firm; building the company from scratch with a portable drawing board and a typewriter, getting references via word of mouth from realtors and builders, after seeing the popularity of the designs he produced, led to his unparalleled success.
Being first a designer and artist, he has the unique ability to design in any style or discipline, creating magnificent works from contemporary to period architecture, honing his abilities over the years, and doing it in front of your eyes, while talking with you about your wants and desires.
Clients have described it as “reading our minds”. He works this way for a reason:
“People usually don’t know exactly what they want, but they have pieces and small details in their minds. I take these pieces and pictures and put them together like a large puzzle, cutting each piece separately in front of their eyes; not with my ego getting in the way, but letting my design talent gently guide, I direct and redesign the house of their dreams. Another benefit to this design philosophy is time. Most architects take notes and come back a few weeks later with drawings you hate, losing enthusiasm and time. The one-to-one interaction over every detail creates great projects.”
Moreover, Shane states that:
“Our design process is developed by weaving modern ideas with historical influences with your wants and desires. We start with an axial design approach using line of sight, balance or symmetry, and good taste, to create the rough sketches. A European background and love for extensive worldwide travel and photography, combined with a penchant for the historical details from the Ancient Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Renaissance architectural styles influence our designs. Combined with your ideas and concepts this unique background and approach lead to a hint of elegance that emanates and is not just seen- they just feel good without knowing why. All architectural styles including contemporary can be approached in this fashion to create a timeless and classic piece of architecture.”
Having been the architect for thousands of magnificent homes and estates for an elite and international clientele who demand excellence, Shane enjoys a reputation second to none. He is proud and honored to be the recipient of countless unsolicited pictorials in dozens of leading architectural and design publications. Shane’s custom homes and projects now grace approximately 30 countries and counting.












Our experts
We take pride to select and train our staff, we are honored to count with highly qualify professionals in the architectural field and some of them have more than 10 years in our company. Our company is divided in commercial and residential departments, with a project manager in each department, to assure the quality and professionalism of our product before they are delivered to our clients.
We believe in diversity in our designs, and opportunities for everyone that is capable to show and prove willingness to work and not be afraid of challenges, for this reason our staff of students and graduate architects, from six different countries, have a great propensity to deliver and respond to all questions that arise.
In our office, we hold regular training on design, auto-CAD operation, and others specialties, in order to continue educating our staff.

