NBBJ Design

What NBBJ Design does

NBBJ is an employee-owned global architecture, planning, and design firm founded in 1943 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington, operating from 12 creative capitals across the US, UK, China, and Singapore. The firm delivers integrated services spanning architecture, interior design, urban design, environmental graphic design, lighting design, workplace strategy, healthcare consulting, and experience design for enterprise clients in healthcare systems, major corporations, universities, and government entities. Its practice is differentiated by an Applied Research program covering neuroscience, human health, planning and program innovation, systems thinking, and building performance, including a decade-long fellowship with molecular biologist Dr. John Medina that translates brain science into design methodology.

The business model is professional services fee-for-engagement, with project scopes ranging from individual buildings (e.g., 60,000 SM mixed-use towers in Singapore) to multi-year, multi-billion-dollar campus and healthcare system programs (e.g., Atrium Health's six-hospital prefabrication initiative with 60% prefab parts and $100M in construction cost savings). The firm pursues go-to-market through direct enterprise relationships, competitive bids on major institutional commissions, and thought leadership anchored by industry recognition (TIME100 Most Influential Company 2025, six-time Fast Company Most Innovative honoree, 1,000+ industry awards, and CarbonNeutral certification). NBBJ's intellectual property is concentrated in proprietary design methodologies—prefabricated healthcare delivery, open-core hospital layouts, Passivhaus laboratory design, double-curtainwall energy systems, and neuroscience-based environmental design—rather than in patentable technology, and revenue is generated through architecture and design fees plus applied research consulting engagements.

Name

NBBJ Design

Legal name

NBBJ LP

Website

https://nbbj.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1943

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

NBBJ is an employee-owned global architecture and design firm founded in 1943, serving healthcare systems, corporations, universities, and government clients across 12 cities from its Seattle headquarters, with applied research in neuroscience, human health, and building performance underpinning its practice.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architecture and Design Services

NAICS

Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413), Interior Design Services (541410), Engineering Services (541330), Graphic Design Services (541430)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable/Green Building & LEED Consulting (BPAHAKAG)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Interior design services
• Urban planning design
• Healthcare facility design
• Workplace strategy consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architecture and Design Services: NBBJ generates revenue through professional architecture and design services for clients including master planning, architecture, interiors, experience design, and related consulting services. Projects range from healthcare facilities and corporate headquarters to educational institutions and public buildings.
2. Applied Research Consulting: NBBJ conducts applied research partnerships and shares knowledge through publications, contributing to industry advancement and reinforcing thought leadership positioning.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

NBBJ delivers professional architecture and design services spanning master planning, architecture, interiors, experience design, environmental graphic design, healthcare consulting, lighting design, urban design, workplace strategy, and design performance for enterprise clients. The firm's offering is supported by an applied research program in neuroscience, human health, planning and program innovation, systems thinking, and building performance that translates scientific insight into evidence-based design solutions for healthcare systems, corporate clients, universities, and civic organizations.

Product overview

NBBJ Design is an architecture and design firm offering a comprehensive suite of services including Architecture Services (core), Interior Design, Environmental Graphic Design, Experience Design, Healthcare Consulting, Lighting Design, Urban Design, Workplace Strategy, Design Performance, and Applied Research. The firm's services span master planning, architecture, interiors, experience design, and applied research, organized around market sectors including healthcare, corporate office, science and technology, and civic/education. The Applied Research Program provides the scientific foundation for the firm's design methodology, while the various design services operate as an integrated practice rather than standalone modules.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture Services Full-service architectural design covering healthcare facilities, corporate offices, education, civic, and research projects, with emphasis on building performance and design quality.
• Interior Design Interior design services for workplace, healthcare, and commercial spaces, focused on human-centered environments.
• Environmental Graphic Design Designs experiences connecting people to place through wayfinding, signage, artwork, and interactive installations at the intersection of communication design and the built environment.
• Experience Design Design of immersive and interactive experiences within architectural spaces, including digital art installations and experiential graphics.
• Healthcare Consulting Consulting services for healthcare facility planning focused on operational efficiency, patient experience, and clinical workflow optimization.
• Lighting Design Architectural lighting design services to enhance building performance, occupant well-being, and aesthetic quality.
• Urban Design Urban planning and design services for districts, campuses, and public spaces, emphasizing community engagement and sustainability.
• Workplace Strategy Strategic consulting for workplace transformation, including change management, real estate strategy, and space optimization.
• Design Performance Services measuring and optimizing building performance metrics including energy efficiency, sustainability, and occupant productivity.
• Applied Research Program Research program spanning neuroscience, human health, planning and program innovation, systems thinking, and building performance, translating scientific insight into design solutions for the firm's projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90%+ carbon reduction in healthcare facilities (Massachusetts General Hospital Ragon Building)
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers22 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Dr. John MedinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNBBJ Fellow and molecular biologist, professor and New York Times bestselling author. Decade-long neuroscience fellowship exploring how brain science can enhance design of schools, hospitals, workplaces. Research partnership on design strategies that lower energy costs while keeping buildings cool.
• Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign partner for Vista Pavilion, a 14-story, 500,000+ SF hospital expansion on OHSU's Marquam Hill campus. Project opened April 2026, adding 128 new patient beds and increasing bed capacity by nearly one-third for advanced oncology treatment.
• SkanskacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeneral contractor for Vista Pavilion at OHSU. Skanska completed construction of the 14-story, 530,000-square-foot hospital expansion representing one of the most complex healthcare builds in Oregon. Project delivered on schedule and under budget.
• Oxford University DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture between Oxford University and Legal & General that delivered the Life and Mind Building. NBBJ served as architect for the 269,000 sq ft facility, one of the largest projects ever undertaken by the University.
• WatesmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction partner for Oxford University Life and Mind Building. Wates constructed the 269,000 sq ft facility that achieved EPC rating of A and sets new benchmark for low-carbon, sustainable design.
• The New York Academy of SciencesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for global survey of scientists about what scientists want in research buildings. NBBJ conducted survey with the Academy to gather insights for enhancing lab environments and research facility design.
• Dr. Jonathan Slutzman (Massachusetts General Hospital)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmergency Department physician and Medical Director of Environmental Sustainability at MGH. Collaborated on video exploring how hospitals can reduce emissions by 90%, featuring Phillip and Susan Ragon Building designed for 100% renewable energy.
• Keppel LandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClient and partner for Keppel South Central, a 60,000 SM mixed-use development in Singapore. Building achieved Green Mark Platinum (Super Low Energy), Singapore's highest sustainability rating, with 40% heat gain reduction below code.
• Atrium HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLargest prefabricated healthcare building initiative in the US, encompassing six new hospitals. Carolinas Medical Center uses 60% prefabricated parts—the most extensive of any large hospital in America. Saved $100 million on first three hospitals.

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Gensler: Gensler is the largest global architecture and design firm, with a comparable multi-vertical practice spanning workplace, healthcare, education, and civic sectors. Most direct competitor to NBBJ by scale, service breadth, and blue-chip enterprise client mix.
• HOK: HOK is a global architecture, engineering, and design firm with strong healthcare, science & technology, and corporate practices. Closely comparable to NBBJ in healthcare design depth and corporate workplace strategy offerings.
• Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM): SOM is a global architecture, engineering, and urban planning firm with comparable enterprise client base and a strong sustainability research practice. Comparable in scale, global footprint, and emphasis on technical/sustainable design innovation.
• Perkins&Will: Perkins&Will is a global architecture firm with deep healthcare and education practices and a well-known research-driven design approach. Closely comparable in healthcare specialization, applied research orientation, and sustainability leadership.
• HKS Architects: HKS is a global architecture firm renowned for healthcare design with growing corporate and education practices. Directly comparable to NBBJ in healthcare specialization and enterprise-scale project delivery.
• ZGF Architects: ZGF is a national architecture firm with strong healthcare, research/lab, and workplace practices. Comparable to NBBJ in research facility design (universities and hospitals) and sustainability leadership.
• Populous: Populous is a global architecture firm specializing in sports venues and large-scale civic/assembly projects. Comparable in scale, global footprint, and marquee-project brand positioning, though narrower in vertical mix.
• CannonDesign: CannonDesign is an integrated architecture, engineering, and design firm with deep healthcare and education practices. Comparable in healthcare specialization and cross-disciplinary service model.
• Foster + Partners: Foster + Partners is a global architecture and integrated design firm with comparable sustainability innovation, large enterprise clients, and applied research orientation. Comparable as a global premium brand competing for marquee international projects.

Broad incumbents

• CallisonRTKL (Arcadis): CallisonRTKL, now part of Arcadis, is a global architecture and design consultancy with strong retail, workplace, and hospitality practices. Comparable as a multi-vertical design firm but operates within a larger, publicly traded parent organization.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nbbjdesign
• Facebookfacebook.com/nbbjdesign
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/12153

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries10 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 NBBJ Design