DLR Group
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersOmaha, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What DLR Group does
DLR Group is a 100% employee-owned integrated design firm founded in 1966 in Omaha, Nebraska. The company delivers architecture, engineering, interior design, planning, and 11 specialty services (acoustic design, audiovisual systems design, experiential graphic design, high performance design, landscape architecture, lighting design, preservation, reality capture, renewables, science+technology, and theater planning) to public and private sector clients across 12 market sectors: Civic, Cultural+Performing Arts, Federal, Healthcare, Higher Education, Hospitality, Justice, K-12 Education, Mixed-Use, Sports, Infrastructure, and Workplace. The firm maintains 18+ offices across the Americas, Asia (Shanghai regional HQ established 2012), and Middle East+Africa (Dubai), serving enterprise clients that include Boeing (500+ projects over 50+ years), Cleveland Clinic, Henry Ford Health, Hilton, Marriott, Mall of America (30-year relationship), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and NIST.
The firm's offering is organized around an integrated architecture + engineering delivery model with a stated adaptive reuse methodology that achieves up to 75% carbon reduction and 1.5M+ square feet saved from demolition. Notable technical capabilities include CMMC Level I cybersecurity certification (with Level II in final-stage pursuit) required for federal defense work, a Chief Climate Officer role on the executive team, and a SBA Mentor-Protégé program with Atriax PLLC to access SDVOSB federal set-asides. Since 2021, DLR Group has executed at least eight acquisitions to add sector capabilities and offices, including Wright McGraw Beyer (healthcare/Charlotte), Bowie Gridley (education/D.C.), RossDrulisCusenbery (civic/justice), BraytonHughes (luxury interiors), Tsoi Kobus (healthcare/Boston), and Collins Cooper Carusi (Atlanta).
Revenue is generated primarily through project-based professional services contracts, with pricing tied to scope, complexity, and duration rather than published rate cards; federal work is procured via IDIQ contracts enabling multi-project awards. The firm practices an enterprise field sales motion with sector-specific business development leaders and horizontal segmentation across its 12 sectors. No externally disclosed revenue or ARR figure was found; one internal benchmark indicates the Texas region grew from $17.5M to $67.6M on headcount rising from 72 to 134 between 2022 and 2026.
DLR Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DLR Group
- Legal name
- DLR Group
- Website
- http://www.dlrgroup.com/
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where DLR Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Omaha
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices19 records
Markets served
DLR Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Architecture and Engineering Design Services: Core revenue from integrated architecture, engineering, interior design, and planning services for buildings and infrastructure projects across multiple sectors including civic, healthcare, higher education, hospitality, justice, and federal markets
- Specialty Design Services: Additional revenue from specialized services including acoustic design, lighting design, audiovisual systems design, experiential graphic design, theater planning, landscape architecture, preservation, reality capture, renewables, and science+technology
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Project-based professional services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
DLR Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DLR Group is an integrated design firm providing architecture, engineering, interior design, and planning services for new construction and adaptive reuse projects. The firm also delivers 11 specialty services including acoustic design, audiovisual systems design, experiential graphic design, high performance design, landscape architecture, lighting design, preservation, reality capture, renewables, science+technology, and theater planning, serving clients across 12 market sectors.
Product overview
DLR Group is an integrated design firm offering architecture, engineering, interior design, planning, and 11 specialty services (Acoustic Design, Audiovisual Systems Design, Experiential Graphic Design, High Performance Design, Landscape Architecture, Lighting Design, Preservation, Reality Capture, Renewables, Science+Technology, Theater Planning). The firm organizes its expertise across 12 market sectors: Civic, Cultural+Performing Arts, Federal, Healthcare, Higher Education, Hospitality, Justice, K-12 Education, Mixed-Use, Sports, Infrastructure, and Workplace. The company operates as 100% employee-owned and maintains offices in the Americas, Asia (Shanghai), and Middle East+Africa.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Architecture Full-service architecture covering design, planning, and construction administration for buildings across all sectors served by the firm.
- Engineering Integrated engineering services including structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems design as part of the firm's integrated design practice.
- Interiors Interior design services spanning workplace, hospitality, healthcare, and educational interiors.
- Planning Master planning, campus planning, and urban design services for communities and institutions.
- Acoustic Design Architectural acoustics consulting for performance venues, educational facilities, and commercial spaces.
- Audiovisual Systems Design AV systems design for presentation, communication, and entertainment applications.
- Experiential Graphic Design Wayfinding, signage, and environmental graphic design services.
- High Performance Design Sustainable and high-performance building design focused on energy efficiency and environmental performance.
- Landscape Architecture Site design, landscape planning, and exterior environment design services.
- Lighting Design Architectural lighting design services for interior and exterior applications.
- Preservation Historic preservation, restoration, and rehabilitation of historic structures.
- Reality Capture 3D scanning and reality capture services for existing conditions documentation.
- Renewables Renewable energy systems design including solar and sustainable energy solutions.
- Science+Technology Laboratory and research facility design for science and technology environments.
- Theater Planning Performing arts theater planning, stage engineering, and venue design services.
- Healthcare Sector Design Services Sector-specific design services for hospital, clinic, and healthcare facility clients including Cleveland Clinic, Henry Ford Health, Duke Cancer Center, and Moffitt Cancer Center.
- Higher Education Sector Design Services Sector-specific design services for university campus planning, academic buildings, and student life facilities including Vanderbilt, Florida Polytechnic, and Swarthmore College projects.
- Federal Sector Design Services Sector-specific design services for federal buildings, military facilities, embassies, and government projects with CMMC Level I cybersecurity compliance.
- Cultural+Performing Arts Sector Design Services Sector-specific design services for museums, performing arts centers, theaters, and cultural institutions including Cleveland Museum of Natural History and Ismaili Center Houston.
- Justice Sector Design Services Sector-specific design services for correctional facilities, courthouses, detention centers, fire stations, and emergency operations centers, including the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center.
- Hospitality Sector Design Services Sector-specific design services for hotels, resorts, casinos, private clubs, restaurants, and spas including Hilton, Marriott, Montage International, Fairmont, Four Seasons, and Hyatt projects.
- K-12 Education Sector Design Services Sector-specific design services for elementary and secondary schools, including K-12 facilities for districts such as Compton Unified School District.
- Infrastructure Sector Design Services Sector-specific integrated design, engineering, and planning services for aviation, power generation, transportation, and grid modernization projects under the new Global Infrastructure practice.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 75% carbon reduction in adaptive reuse projects
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use DLR Group
Customer profileNamed customers19 records
Segments12 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
DLR Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
DLR Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Mainspring EnergycorePartnership for linear generator technology as part of DLR Group's new Global Infrastructure practice. The initiative addresses growing demand for resilient infrastructure across aviation, power generation, and transportation markets.
- Regional Power Agencycore10-year contract for grid modernization as part of the new Global Infrastructure practice. Partnership designed to support energy transition and transportation modernization requirements.
- Tsoi Kobus DesigncoreAcquisition of Boston-based Tsoi Kobus Design marking expansion of DLR Group's presence and design capabilities in the Boston market, particularly in healthcare design.
- Atriax PLLCminorMentor-Protégé relationship with Atriax PLLC, a service-disabled veteran-owned small business, as part of SBA Mentor-Protégé Program to help SDVOSB businesses gain experience in public sector design.
- RossDrulisCusenbery (RDC)coreAcquisition of Bay Area-based RDC enhancing DLR Group's civic and justice sector practices. RDC noted for civic and public safety facility design expertise.
- BraytonHughes Design StudioscoreAcquisition of San Francisco-based luxury interiors firm strengthening DLR Group's expertise in luxury hospitality, resort, and residential projects on the West Coast. Key members joined as principals.
- Wright McGraw Beyer Architects (WMBA)coreAcquisition of Charlotte-based healthcare design firm WMBA merging operations to form new 45-person office in Charlotte, enhancing DLR Group's healthcare design capabilities and expanding in the fast-growing Charlotte metropolitan area.
- Bowie Gridley Architects (BGA)coreAcquisition of Washington D.C.-based Bowie Gridley Architects specializing in education and cultural sector projects. Expands DLR Group's expertise in K-12 education design and provides BGA employees with ownership opportunities.
- Boeingcore500+ projects over 50+ years shaping workplaces for Boeing's technical and knowledge workers ecosystem. Long-standing defense partnership covering diverse facility types.
- Collins Cooper Carusi ArchitectscoreAtlanta-based architecture firm acquisition as part of DLR Group's expansion strategy, investing in sustainability-focused design services.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
DLR Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- HOK: Global integrated architecture, engineering, and planning firm of comparable scale (~1,600+ staff) with a multi-sector practice spanning healthcare, education, aviation, sports, and workplace — DLR's closest one-to-one competitor in integrated design and federal work.
- Perkins&Will: Employee-owned (in part) integrated architecture firm with strong healthcare, higher education, and science+technology practices — directly comparable to DLR's healthcare and higher education studios and its integrated design ethos.
- HKS: Integrated architecture and design firm with deep healthcare (HKS is renowned for hospital design) and sports practices, plus federal exposure. Comparable sector mix and project scale to DLR.
- SmithGroup: Integrated design firm combining architecture, engineering, and planning with strong healthcare, higher education, and cultural sector practices — directly comparable integrated delivery model and similar sector emphasis to DLR.
- CannonDesign: Integrated architecture, engineering, and interior design firm with notable healthcare and science practices. Closely comparable in service mix, employee-ownership culture, and project typologies.
- Leo A Daly: Privately held integrated architecture, engineering, and interior design firm with federal, healthcare, and hospitality practices. Closely comparable firm structure, sector mix, and scale to DLR.
Broad incumbents
- Gensler: Largest global architecture and design firm with deep practice in workplace, hospitality, healthcare, and cultural sectors. Overlaps with DLR across multiple sectors but at materially larger scale and broader commercial tilt.
- Stantec: Global publicly traded design and engineering firm with strong infrastructure, water, and buildings practices. Comparable in scale and integrated services, but operates from a publicly traded platform rather than employee-owned.
- Jacobs Solutions: Global publicly traded professional services firm offering architecture, engineering, and program management across infrastructure, federal, and water markets. Overlaps with DLR on federal and infrastructure work at much larger scale.
Emerging players
- WATG: Hospitality-focused architecture and design firm with global presence. Comparable specifically to DLR's hospitality studio and luxury interiors capability (now amplified by BraytonHughes acquisition).
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
DLR Group social profiles
Digital presenceDLR Group compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
DLR Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DLR Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles22 records
DLR Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries6 records
DLR Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DLR Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A9 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about DLR Group
What does DLR Group do?
DLR Group is an integrated design firm providing architecture, engineering, interior design, and planning services for new construction and adaptive reuse projects. The firm also delivers 11 specialty services including acoustic design, audiovisual systems design, experiential graphic design, high performance design, landscape architecture, lighting design, preservation, reality capture, renewables, science+technology, and theater planning, serving clients across 12 market sectors.
Is DLR Group a public or private company?
DLR Group is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was DLR Group founded?
DLR Group was founded in 1996. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is DLR Group based?
DLR Group is headquartered in Omaha, United States, in the North America region.
How does DLR Group make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Architecture and Engineering Design Services are the primary driver. The others are specialty Design Services.
Who are DLR Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are HOK, Perkins&Will, HKS, SmithGroup, CannonDesign and Leo A Daly. Broad incumbents are Gensler, Stantec and Jacobs Solutions. WATG is listed as an emerging player.
Does DLR Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for DLR Group.