About

Who We Are

Beginning with a foundation of understanding a client’s needs and goals, CCA designs thoughtful, functional, and sustainable places to live, work, and play. Our focus is to foster community by designing toward a sense of place, responding to social need, and improving the quality of the built environment.

A group of four people are in a conference room. One person is standing and writing on a whiteboard, while the others sit at a table with blueprints. A monitor displays an architectural rendering of a house.

Our Team

CCA has a great combination of knowledge, experience, and expertise across a variety of building and construction types. We are collaborative in nature and value providing an outstanding client experience, design excellence, and personalized service. Once we get to know you, we craft an approach uniquely suited to your project.

Carleton Collins

Owner/Principal

Work With Us

Insights

A modern house with large glass windows and a slanted roof, surrounded by greenery and trees. The architecture features clean lines and a mix of concrete and wood materials in a serene natural setting under a clear blue sky.

Minimalist Moxie

Carleton Collins work featured in Carolina Home + Garden Magazine

Many surprises wait at the end of the

Aerial view of Maple Crest, a large residential complex with several multi-story buildings surrounded by green spaces and roads. Parking lots are visible nearby, along with other structures in the surrounding area.

Approach For Creating an Effective Master Plan

As an important part of preliminary design, master planning is vital to gain an understanding of how projects can

Black and white history photo of Asheville, NC from the 1920's showing busy Pack Square filled with people walking and numerous streetcars. Surrounding the square are multi-story brick buildings with shops. The street is bustling with activity, reflecting early 20th-century urban life.

The Great Asheville Hotel Debate

August 2019 By Carleton Collins

Is our hotel building boom of recent years a problem or an opportunity?

Digital rendering of a long building with a green roof and columned facade. It features multiple windows, and a central staircase leading to an entrance. The structure is set on a grassy landscape.

Story – Ledbetter Lodge

LEDBETTER LODGE DINING HALL Camp Daniel Boone, BSA – Canton, NC

I had a great experience growing up

What Our Clients Are Saying

"Helpmate has enjoyed a wonderful experience working with Carleton Collins Architecture to design our emergency shelter for domestic violence survivors. We have found Carleton and his team to be both knowledgeable and patient throughout the process of designing the building. They’ve provided expert guidance and made the contractor selection process a straightforward one for us. Carleton has taken the time to help us understand our options and has worked diligently to balance production of a beautiful and functional design with as many cost-saving measures as possible. We are truly grateful to have been able to work with this amazing team."

April Burgess-Johnson

Executive Director, Helpmate

"A joy to work with, Carleton is a professional on every level, savvy of current materials, products and trends, responsive and respectful to questions and requests, and mindful of budgets. We are ecstatic with our collaboration to expand our new home that he originally designed and cannot recommend him highly enough."

J. Charles Walker & John Buchanan

Owners 48 Spy Pointe Lane

"Working with Carleton on our theatre renovation was a great experience. Carleton is supportive and a good listener, and he was a strong partner in achieving our goals. We were thrilled with the finished product – he helped bring it in on time and on budget."

Susan Harper

Executive Director, Asheville Community Theatre

"Carleton was able to skillfully listen to our residents about their hopes for our redevelopment effort and communicate how their ideas would be translated into project designs. Our master planning process was very complex and involved many stakeholders, both public and private. Carleton was an important asset as we negotiated all their needs and input."

Cindy Weeks

Former VP and Director of Community Investments Mountain Housing Opportunities

"It is certainly a wonderful piece of architecture that makes us all proud. Everyone who sees the building agrees it is definitely one of the most outstanding facilities in the Boy Scouts of America."

J. Steven Taylor

Scout Executive and CEO, Daniel Boone Council BSA

"Carleton is not just an architect; his attention to detail helped transform our pub into an embodiment of charm and character. He was thoughtful and listened to the vision we had and allowed our project to progress in an organic way which is a testament to his ease and adaptability to "oh let’s do this/new ideas'.  He blended contemporary design with the warmth of tradition resulting in a space that captivates our patrons from the moment they step inside. Carleton was a blessing to work with and his attention to detail and commitment to excellence have left an indelible mark on our establishment, creating an atmosphere that is as inviting as it is distinctive. We are grateful for his expertise and passion, which have truly elevated our pub to a place of admiration and delight."

Scot & Makyia Blair

Owners/Purveyors, The Scotsman

"Carleton was always available, responsive, helpful and pleasant to consult with. His expertise in working with people, contractors, inspectors, prison officials and our committee helped us achieve our goal far ahead of schedule and with a minimum of the normal frustration of any major building project."

Rev. George Holley

Clinical Chaplain, NC Department of Corrections

Affiliations

CCA belongs to several organizations that serve the profession, impact society, keep us informed and provide a constant source of engagement around topics we love. Some of these include: