What Y.A. studio does

Y.A. studio is a privately held, San Francisco-based architectural and interior design firm founded in 2004 by Yakuh Askew, now co-led by Askew and Principal Martine Paquin, who also serves as Director of Interiors. The practice employs approximately 15 architects, designers, and a 3D visualiser, and is licensed to practice architecture in California and Nevada. It is a Certified Minority-Owned San Francisco Local Business Enterprise (LBE) and Micro Business Enterprise (MBE), and a member of the California Green Business Network.

The firm delivers full architectural and interior design services from conception to completion, with three primary specializations: affordable multi-family housing (a 72-unit building at Potrero Block X and a 127-unit building at Casa Adelante / 2060 Folsom), custom single-family residential (Noe Valley, Green Street), and commercial/hospitality work (Fritz Cafe, the 20,000 sq ft Crystal Jade restaurant at Embarcadero 4). Its revenue is generated through project-based, quote-driven professional services engagements, primarily through direct relationships with community development corporations (Chinatown CDC, MEDA, TNDC), institutional developers (Related California), and private clients. On large institutional projects the firm frequently serves as SBE/associate architect alongside lead design firms such as OMA, Mithun, HKS, and Fougeron Architecture.

The go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven, with no published pricing, no software or technology product, and no disclosed external funding. Marketing is conducted through a portfolio website and published project photography, with a stated mission of designing for both under-served and affluent communities, mentoring emerging designers, and pursuing high-performance, sustainable design.

Name

Y.A. studio

Legal name

Y.A. studio

Website

https://ya-studio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Y.A. studio is a privately held, ~15-person San Francisco architectural and interior design firm specializing in affordable multi-family housing, custom residential, and commercial projects across California and Nevada. It serves CDCs, institutional developers, and private clients as both lead architect and SBE associate architect.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

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

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders (IMAFABAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Residential Interior Fit-Out (Multi-Family & High-End) (IMAFANAE)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Interior design services
• Affordable housing design
• Custom residential architecture
• Commercial hospitality design

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Architectural Services: Full architectural services from conception to completion for residential, commercial, and multi-family projects
2. Interior Design Services: Tailored custom residential interior design services, with referral to Director of Interiors Martine Paquin for specialized interior-focused projects

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Y.A. studio provides full architectural and interior design services from conception to completion for clients in California and Nevada. The practice specializes in three areas: affordable multi-family housing (often delivered with community development corporations), custom single-family residential design, and commercial & hospitality projects such as restaurants, cafes, and offices. Engagements are project-based and quote-driven, supported by 3D visualization and a collaborative multi-disciplinary consultant network.

Product overview

Y.A. studio is a forward-thinking architectural design firm offering a unified suite of services centered around architectural and interior design. The core offering encompasses full architectural design services from conception to completion, complemented by interior design services including tailored custom residential experiences. The firm specializes in three key areas: affordable housing (multi-family developments with community amenities), custom residential (single-family homes), and commercial & hospitality (restaurants, cafes, retail spaces). All services are delivered as integrated design offerings rather than modular products, with the same team providing end-to-end design solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Design Services Full architectural design services from conception to completion for residential, commercial, and multi-family projects throughout California and Nevada, serving developers, community organizations, and private clients.
• Interior Design Services Full interior design services from conception to completion, including tailored custom residential interior design experiences led by Director of Interiors Martine Paquin.
• Affordable Housing Design Design services for multi-family affordable housing developments, including community support facilities, childcare centers, and public engagement, often delivered with community development corporations.
• Custom Residential Design Architectural and interior design services for single-family custom homes with innovative, modern design and thoughtful detailing.
• Commercial & Hospitality Design Design services for commercial spaces and hospitality venues, including restaurants, cafes, and office environments.

Quantifiable outcome

• 127 families housed through Casa Adelante / 2060 Folsom project
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• MithuncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerServed as Associate Architect on Casa Adelante / 2060 Folsom project; Mithun was the lead Architect and Landscape Architect. The project provided 127 units of affordable housing with ground floor childcare facility and community support services.
• Chinatown CDCcoreOthersCommunity development corporation client for the 2060 Folsom affordable housing project providing housing for 127 families
• MEDA (Mission Economic Development Agency)coreOthersCommunity development corporation co-client for the 2060 Folsom affordable housing project
• Integral GroupsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMEP & Lighting engineering partner for 2060 Folsom project
• Structus Inc.supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerStructural engineering partner for 2060 Folsom project
• Charles M. Salter AssociatessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcoustical engineering consultant for 2060 Folsom project
• AEA (Architectural Ecology Associates)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainability consulting partner for 2060 Folsom project
• Luk & AssociatessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCivil engineering partner for 2060 Folsom project
• OMA (Office for Metropolitan Architecture)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead Design Architect for The Avery / Transbay Block 8 project; Y.A. Studio served as SBE Associate Architect
• HKS ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExecutive Architect for The Avery / Transbay Block 8 high-rise residential project
• Fougeron ArchitecturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPodium Design Architect for The Avery / Transbay Block 8 project
• Related CaliforniacoreOthersOwner/Developer for The Avery / Transbay Block 8 mixed-use high-rise project
• TNDC (Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation)coreOthersAffordable Developer partner for The Avery / Transbay Block 8 project
• Magnusson Klemencic AssociatessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerStructural engineering partner for The Avery / Transbay Block 8 project
• Cliff Lowe AssociatessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture partner for The Avery / Transbay Block 8 project
• TS StudiosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBE Landscape Architect for The Avery / Transbay Block 8 project
• Urban Design Consulting EngineerssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCivil engineering partner for The Avery / Transbay Block 8 project

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• David Baker Architects: San Francisco-based architecture practice similarly focused on affordable multi-family housing, mixed-use community development, and sustainable multifamily infill — directly comparable in size, service mix, and client base (community development corporations, mission-driven developers).
• Fougeron Architecture: Anne Fougeron's San Francisco studio specializes in residential and mixed-use architecture; Y.A. studio partnered with this firm on The Avery / Transbay Block 8, indicating directly overlapping capabilities in mid-rise and residential design for the Bay Area.
• Aidlin Darling Design: Award-winning San Francisco-based architecture and design studio with a comparable portfolio of high-end residential, adaptive reuse, and small commercial projects; similar size and integrated architecture-plus-interiors model to Y.A. studio.
• Mithun: Integrated architecture, landscape, and urban design firm with deep affordable-housing and community-development practice. Served as lead architect on Casa Adelante / 2060 Folsom alongside Y.A. studio as Associate Architect — directly comparable in mission, segment, and project type.
• Paul Murdoch Architects: Los Angeles-based residential and small commercial architecture firm with parallel attention to custom single-family and urban infill — comparable boutique practice serving high-end private clients in California.
• BCV Architecture + Interiors: San Francisco-based architecture practice with combined architecture and interior design offerings for residential, hospitality, and commercial clients; similar integrated services model and Bay Area footprint to Y.A. studio.
• Siegel & Strain Architects: Bay Area architecture practice recognized for sustainability-focused residential, civic, and educational work; comparable small-firm scale and mission alignment to Y.A. studio's high-performance design positioning.

Broad incumbents

• OMA: Global architecture firm led by Rem Koolhaas; served as Lead Design Architect on The Avery / Transbay Block 8 with Y.A. studio as SBE Associate. Operates at much larger scale but overlaps on multi-family residential and mixed-use project delivery.
• HKS: Large international architecture practice; served as Executive Architect on The Avery / Transbay Block 8 alongside Y.A. studio. Provides a relevant comparison point for high-rise multi-family scope and the firm's growth ceiling into larger typologies.
• Gensler: Largest global architecture and design firm with major San Francisco presence. Comparable on commercial, hospitality, and interiors work (including restaurants and office buildouts like Crystal Jade and Fritz Cafe-typology projects), and illustrates the larger competitor set Y.A. studio faces as it scales.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Y.A. studio