MEI Architects
MEI Architects is a San Francisco-based architecture and interior design firm founded in 2003 that delivers healthcare, civic, and mixed-use projects primarily for government, VA, and institutional clients in Northern California.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What MEI Architects does
MEI Architects is a privately held architecture, interior design, and planning firm founded in 2003 and headquartered in San Francisco, California. The firm provides full-service architectural services including new construction, renovation, tenant improvements, core and shell, seismic retrofit, and rehabilitation for healthcare, civic, commercial, retail, residential, mixed-use, institutional, and transportation projects. Its core technology capabilities center on BIM, CAD, evidence-based design practices, LEED-certified sustainable design, and proprietary methodologies including the PACT Space Module Design Guidelines co-developed with CannonDesign for VA nationwide implementation and a Lean Design Consulting practice.
MEI generates revenue through professional service fees structured as hourly rates, percentage of construction cost, or fixed fees depending on project scope. The firm serves government, nonprofit, and private sector clients with deep specialization in technically complex projects, particularly VA healthcare facilities (multiple sites across Northern California), City of San Francisco civic infrastructure (Fire Department, Police Department, SFO, SFPUC, Recreation & Parks), and major institutional clients including Chinese Hospital, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, Kaiser Permanente, UCSF, and Stanford. Notable projects span scales from 24,000 SF (SFFD Fire Station #49) to 657,000 SF (VA Palo Alto Main Hospital).
The firm operates through direct client engagement, RFP responses, and joint venture partnerships with firms including HOK, CannonDesign, Kendall/Heaton Associates, SWA Group, YamaMar Architects, and Jacobs Engineering. It maintains two offices (San Francisco headquarters at 1515 Vallejo Street and Rancho Cordova serving the Sacramento area) and a team of approximately 15-20 professionals including founding principals Mei Mei Chan and Donald Luu, Principal Michael Wang, Healthcare Director Steve Juergens, and CFO Zisen Yi. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed, and the firm is independently owned with no parent company or institutional investment identified.
MEI Architects firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- MEI Architects
- Legal name
- MEI Architects
- Website
- https://meiarchitects.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- MEI Architects is a San Francisco-based architecture and interior design firm founded in 2003 that delivers healthcare, civic, and mixed-use projects primarily for government, VA, and institutional clients in Northern California.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
MEI Architects industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural Services
- NAICS
- Architectural Services (541310), Interior Design Services (54141), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB), Building Information Modeling (BIM) & Digital Design Services (BPAHAKAK), Sustainable/Green Building & LEED Consulting (BPAHAKAG), Construction Engineering & Constructability Consulting (BPAHAIAN)
Keywords
Where MEI Architects is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
MEI Architects 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 Design Services: MEI Architects provides comprehensive architectural services including new construction, renovation, tenant improvements, core and shell, seismic retrofit, and rehabilitation projects. Revenue is generated through professional service fees typically structured as hourly rates, percentage of construction cost, or fixed fees depending on project type and scope.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
MEI Architects product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MEI Architects provides full-service architecture, interior design, and planning services for healthcare, civic, commercial, retail, residential, mixed-use, institutional, and transportation clients. Their work spans new construction, renovation, tenant improvements, core and shell, seismic retrofit, and rehabilitation projects, delivered with evidence-based design practices and LEED-certified sustainable design expertise. The firm operates primarily in Northern and Central California, serving government agencies, healthcare providers, nonprofits, and private sector clients.
Product overview
MEI Architects is an architecture, interior design, and planning firm based in San Francisco, California, established in 2003. The firm operates as a single unified service offering centered on architecture and design, rather than a platform-plus-modules model. Their core offering encompasses architecture and design services for government, nonprofit, and private clients, specializing in healthcare, civic, commercial, retail, residential, mixed-use, institutional, and transportation projects. The firm provides the full project lifecycle including new construction, renovation, tenant improvements, core and shell, seismic retrofit, and rehabilitation services, augmented by evidence-based design practices. Their portfolio demonstrates deep expertise in VA healthcare facilities, public infrastructure, airport terminals, and residential housing projects.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Architecture and Design Services
Quantifiable outcome
- Chinese Hospital Patient Tower built on budget, on time, with no recordable injuries during $180M construction project.
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use MEI Architects
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
MEI Architects technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
MEI Architects partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- SWA GroupflagshipJoint venture partnership for Portsmouth Square Improvement Project - MEI is designer of new community clubhouse and project manager for the team, collaborating with SWA Group to develop the vision for the park above existing garage structure. Led year-long community engagement planning and concept design phase.
- YamaMar ArchitectscoreJoint venture partnership for SFFD Ambulance Deployment Facility (Fire Station #49). YamaMar Architects partnered with MEI to design the new headquarters for San Francisco Fire Department's emergency medical services in Bayview District.
- HOKcoreAssociate architect relationship on multiple projects including SFO Courtyard 3 Connector, SFPD Traffic Company and Forensic Services Division, and VA Palo Alto Polytrauma Wellness Center. MEI provides architecture and design services as associate to HOK's prime architect role.
- Design PartnershipcoreCollaboration on VA Palo Alto Polytrauma Aquatic Therapy Center exterior design. MEI was Architect of Record and interior designer with The Design Partnership collaborating on exterior of building.
- Cannon DesigncoreCollaborated on VA Palo Alto Ambulatory Care Center Replanning (supported by Cannon Design), VA PACT Space Module Design Guidelines, VA San Jose Clinic, and William H. Gourley Joint VA/DOD Health Clinic.
- Fong & Chan ArchitectsminorConsultant to Fong & Chan Architects on Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center (developing and detailing portions of facade and sun shade system) and San Francisco International Airport Terminal 3 Secure Corridor (providing bridging documents).
- Kendall/Heaton AssociatescoreArchitect of Record on Golden State Warriors Chase Center project with MEI as Associate Architect. MEI cooperated with Kendall/Heaton on technical design, documentation, and construction administration for the intricate exterior curtain wall façade.
- Gelfand Partners ArchitectsminorPartnered on 990 Pacific Avenue Apartments (as Architect of Record with MEI as Consulting Architects) and Ping Yuen Housing (as lead architect with MEI).
- MWA ArchitectsminorAssociated with MWA Architects (project executive architect) on SFPUC Biosolids Digester Facilities to develop interior architecture and aesthetic for public tour route spaces.
- GenslerminorAssociate architects on San Francisco General Hospital Urban Roadway Study project with MEI team.
- Nichols Melburg Rossetto (NMR)coreArchitects of Record on William H. Gourley Joint VA/DOD Health Clinic with Cannon Design as Design Architects and MEI providing art program, finish schedules, furniture/equipment planning, and lean consulting.
- Jacobs Engineering GroupcoreDesign Architects on San Francisco Chinese Hospital project with MEI as Architect of Record.
- DPR ConstructioncoreGeneral contractor on San Francisco Chinese Hospital tower project.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights4 records
MEI Architects competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Fong & Chan Architects: Bay Area architecture firm of comparable size that MEI has partnered with on Zuckerberg SF General. Similar healthcare and civic focus, similar small-firm operating model, and shared Asian-American leadership lineage make them the closest direct peer.
- Gelfand Partners Architects: San Francisco-based architecture firm focused on housing, education, and civic projects. MEI has partnered with them on Ping Yuen Housing and 990 Pacific Avenue Apartments, reflecting directly comparable project types and client base.
- MWA Architects: Sacramento-area architecture firm working on civic, healthcare, and infrastructure projects. MEI is associated with MWA on the SFPUC Biosolids Digester Facilities, indicating directly comparable public-infrastructure scope and California geographic overlap.
- EHDD: San Francisco architecture firm with comparable size, deep civic/healthcare/education portfolio, and similar focus on community-minded design. Overlapping Bay Area public-sector client base and project typologies make them a clear direct peer.
- YamaMar Architects: Bay Area architecture firm that joint-ventured with MEI on the SFFD Ambulance Deployment Facility. Similar size and civic/public-sector focus, making them a directly comparable peer for SF municipal work.
- WRNS Studio: Bay Area architecture firm with comparable size and a portfolio spanning civic, education, and housing projects. Similar mid-sized firm positioning, mission-driven ethos, and California public-sector client overlap.
Broad incumbents
- SmithGroup: Large national architecture firm with a deep healthcare and civic practice. They compete for the same VA and hospital modernization RFPs that MEI pursues, but at meaningfully greater scale and geographic reach — a relevant incumbent benchmark.
- HOK: Global architecture and design firm with major healthcare, aviation, and civic practices. MEI has worked as associate architect to HOK on SFO, SFPD, and VA Palo Alto projects — a direct incumbent that both partners with and competes against MEI.
- Perkins&Will: National architecture firm with a particularly strong healthcare practice (including significant VA and OSHPD experience). Comparable project types and public-sector healthcare client base, though at much larger scale.
- CannonDesign: Major architecture firm with deep VA and federal healthcare expertise. Co-developed the PACT Space Module Design Guide with MEI; competes for the same VA modernization work but at significantly larger scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
MEI Architects social profiles
Digital presenceMEI Architects financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
MEI Architects leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
MEI Architects funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
MEI Architects M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about MEI Architects
What does MEI Architects do?
MEI Architects provides full-service architecture, interior design, and planning services for healthcare, civic, commercial, retail, residential, mixed-use, institutional, and transportation clients. Their work spans new construction, renovation, tenant improvements, core and shell, seismic retrofit, and rehabilitation projects, delivered with evidence-based design practices and LEED-certified sustainable design expertise. The firm operates primarily in Northern and Central California, serving government agencies, healthcare providers, nonprofits, and private sector clients.
Is MEI Architects a public or private company?
MEI Architects is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was MEI Architects founded?
MEI Architects was founded in 2003. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is MEI Architects based?
MEI Architects is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does MEI Architects make money?
One revenue line is on record: architecture and Design Services.
Who are MEI Architects's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Fong & Chan Architects, Gelfand Partners Architects, MWA Architects, EHDD, YamaMar Architects and WRNS Studio. Broad incumbents are SmithGroup, HOK, Perkins&Will and CannonDesign.
Does MEI Architects have an API?
No public API is recorded for MEI Architects.
What industry is MEI Architects in?
MEI Architects's product category is Architectural Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAA, Architectural Design Services, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAB, Interior Design Services. Its NAICS code is 541310 and its SIC code is 8700.