Carlos Zapata Studio

What Carlos Zapata Studio does

Carlos Zapata Studio (CZS) is a privately held, founder-owned architectural design firm founded by Carlos Zapata in 1992. The firm offers master planning, architectural design, interior design, and furniture design services for enterprise-scale projects, with a portfolio spanning professional sports stadiums (Soldier Field), airport concourses (Miami International Airport Concourse J), commercial skyscrapers (Bitexco Financial Tower in Ho Chi Minh City), luxury hotels (JW Marriott Hanoi, Standard East Hotel), ultra-luxury residential towers (Turnberry Ocean Club, Sculptura Ardmore), retail developments (Aventura Mall expansion, Publix Miami Beach), and mixed-use complexes (High Tech Tower in Luanda, Miami River Mixed Use Complex).

CZS generates revenue through project-based professional services commissions, typically structured as a percentage of construction cost or fixed design fees negotiated against scope, complexity, and construction value. Projects are acquired through design competitions, direct commissions, and client referrals — a relationship-driven enterprise field-sales model. Notable technical differentiators include the lotus-inspired Bitexco Financial Tower with a cantilevered 55th-floor helipad, the fuselage-form Concourse J at Miami International Airport, cantilevered sky pools at Turnberry Ocean Club, a mechanically-actuated glass-fin façade system at Sculptura Ardmore, and an exterior mechanical ramp parking system at Publix Miami Beach. The firm frequently partners with Architects of Record (e.g., Goettsch Partners, Robert M. Swedroe Architects, MGE Architects, JPRA Architects) to execute projects in jurisdictions where it does not hold local stamping authority.

The firm is headquartered in SoHo, New York, operates with 11–50 employees, and maintains an active project portfolio spanning the United States, Vietnam, Singapore, Angola, and Ecuador. It is founder-controlled with no disclosed institutional investors, funding rounds, or parent company, and reports revenue only on a non-public basis. CZS's competitive position rests on Carlos Zapata's individual design reputation (AD 100 honoree; AIA New York Chapter awards in five consecutive years), an award-laden portfolio (including CNN, CTBUH, TripAdvisor, NCSEA, and National AIA recognitions), and international exhibition presence (Venice Biennale 2014, Buenos Aires Bienal 2009).

Name

Carlos Zapata Studio

Legal name

Carlos Zapata Studio

Website

https://cz-studio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Carlos Zapata Studio is a founder-owned architectural design firm offering master planning, architectural, interior, and furniture design services for landmark enterprise projects — stadiums, airports, skyscrapers, hotels, and luxury residences — across the US, Asia, Africa, and South America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Design Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Interior Design Services (54141)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Master planning
• Interior design
• Commercial architecture
• Building design

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: CZS generates revenue through commissions for master planning, architectural design, interior design, and furniture design services on large-scale projects including stadiums, airports, hotels, residential towers, and commercial developments. Revenue is project-based, typically structured as a percentage of construction costs or fixed design fees for large-scale developments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Carlos Zapata Studio is an award-winning architectural design firm that provides master planning, architectural design, interior design, and furniture design services. The firm delivers large-scale projects spanning professional sports arenas, airport concourses, commercial skyscrapers, luxury hotels, ultra-luxury residential towers, and mixed-use developments for enterprise clients globally.

Product overview

Carlos Zapata Studio is an award-winning master planning, architectural design, interior design, and furniture design firm. The firm offers architectural design services as its core product, complemented by individual projects including commercial skyscrapers (Bitexco Financial Tower), airports (Miami International Airport Concourse J), hotels (JW Marriott Hanoi, Standard East Hotel, JW Marriott Addition), luxury residential towers (Turnberry Ocean Club, Sculptura Ardmore, Unique), sports venues (Soldier Field), retail (Aventura Mall Expansion, Publix Miami Beach), and mixed-use developments (High Tech Tower, Miami River Mixed Use Complex). Projects span the globe from the United States to Vietnam, Singapore, Ecuador, and Angola.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Design Services Comprehensive architectural design services including master planning, architectural design, interior design, and furniture design for projects ranging from professional sports arenas to airport concourses to commercial high rises to private residences. Targeted at enterprise clients including real estate developers, property owners, government entities, and sports franchises.
• Aventura Mall Expansion 315,000 square-foot expansion wing designed for Aventura Mall featuring transparency, connectivity, and integration with experiential shopping and dining experiences.
• Bitexco Financial Tower

Quantifiable outcome

• Bitexco Financial Tower named one of the 20 most iconic skyscrapers in the world by CNN
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Goettsch PartnersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoettsch Partners served as Architect of Record for Soldier Field renovation, with primary responsibility for the master plan and North Burnham Park project while CZS had primary responsibility for architectural design of the stadium. Joint venture completed the landmark Chicago Bears stadium revitalization.
• Robert M. Swedroe ArchitectsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRobert M. Swedroe Architects served as Architect of Record for Turnberry Ocean Club project while CZS provided architectural design services for this 54-story ultra-luxury condominium in Sunny Isles, Florida.
• MGE ArchitectsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMGE Architects served as Architect of Record for Concourse J at Miami International Airport while CZS (formerly Wood + Zapata) was awarded the project in collaboration with MGE Architects.
• JPRA ArchitectsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJPRA Architects served as Architect of Record for Aventura Mall Expansion while CZS provided architectural design for the 315,000 square foot expansion wing.
• SC Global DevelopmentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSC Global Developments is the luxury real estate developer partner for Sculptura Ardmore in Singapore. CZS realized their vision to create an iconic architectural landmark within the prestigious Ardmore Park enclave. This was a collaboration with SC Global to design the 35-apartment sculptural residential tower.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SHoP Architects: New York-based design firm known for innovative, large-scale commercial, residential, and cultural projects. Comparable to CZS in NYC base, design-led approach, and pursuit of signature skyscrapers and mixed-use developments.
• Zaha Hadid Architects: Renowned for sculptural, parametrically complex architecture across cultural, commercial, and residential typologies. Comparable to CZS in pursuit of iconic, design-led landmark buildings and reliance on a singular creative vision translated to global commissions.
• Robert A.M. Stern Architects: New York-based firm specializing in luxury residential, commercial, and institutional architecture with a strong developer client base. Comparable to CZS in the luxury residential and commercial skyscraper market, particularly with US East Coast and global developer clients.
• BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group): Danish-founded, globally operating architecture and design practice known for innovative, sculptural buildings across residential, commercial, and cultural typologies. Comparable to CZS in brand-driven, design-iconic approach and pursuit of headline-making commissions for global developers.
• Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF): Global architecture practice specializing in supertall towers, mixed-use developments, and urban design. Highly comparable to CZS in commercial skyscraper work and global real estate developer client base, with similar pursuit of iconic mixed-use and hospitality commissions in emerging markets.
• Goettsch Partners: Chicago-based architecture firm specializing in tall buildings, commercial developments, and aviation projects globally. Direct comparable to CZS in commercial high-rise and airport concourse work, and has actually partnered with CZS as Architect of Record on the Soldier Field project.
• Foster + Partners: UK-headquartered global architecture and integrated design practice known for iconic, structurally innovative commercial towers, airports, and master plans. Closely comparable to CZS in design philosophy (sculptural forms, structural innovation) and pursuit of large-scale landmark projects worldwide.

Emerging players

• Studio Gang: Chicago-based architecture and urban design practice led by Jeanne Gang with a portfolio of cultural, civic, and residential landmark projects. Comparable to CZS in design-driven, award-winning approach, but with a more civic/institutional tilt and growing commercial skyscraper practice.

Broad incumbents

• Gensler: Largest global architecture and design firm with broad practice across commercial, hospitality, sports, and aviation sectors. Comparable to CZS in client overlap (real estate developers, sports franchises, hospitality brands), though Gensler operates at a vastly larger scale with integrated interior design capabilities.
• Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM): One of the world's largest and most award-winning architecture, engineering, and urban planning firms, with a portfolio of globally recognized skyscrapers and major civic projects. Directly comparable to CZS in pursuing landmark commercial and institutional commissions, but operates at vastly greater scale and offers integrated engineering and planning services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Carlos Zapata Studio