What ZMM Architects & Engineers does

ZMM Architects & Engineers is a privately held, integrated architectural and engineering firm founded in 1959 and headquartered at 222 Lee Street West, Charleston, West Virginia, with additional offices in Blacksburg, Virginia; Marietta, Ohio; and Martinsburg, West Virginia. The firm provides comprehensive in-house design services spanning architecture, civil/structural/mechanical/electrical engineering, landscape architecture, interior design, and construction administration, marketed to clients as a "single-source" multi-discipline alternative to fragmented A&E procurement. Its portfolio is anchored in education and public-sector work — including K-12 schools, technical centers, county and municipal facilities, civic and convention centers, justice facilities, and 911 centers — with secondary practice areas in healthcare (e.g., CAMC/Vandalia Health), federal installations (e.g., National Weather Service / GSA), recreation and state-park tourism projects under West Virginia's $200M state park initiative, and limited private commercial/light-industrial work. Notable awards include 29 AIA WV design recognitions since 2005 — described by the firm as an unrivaled in-state achievement — LEED certifications on multiple signature projects (Charleston Coliseum, Huntington East Middle School, Wood County Justice Center), and a #26 ranking on Zweig Group's 2025 Hot Firm List of fastest-growing US/Canada AEC firms.

The firm operates on a project-based professional services revenue model with fees negotiated contract by contract; specific pricing is not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is sales-led enterprise field sales targeting government agencies, school boards, healthcare systems, and institutional clients across West Virginia, Virginia, and Ohio, executed through RFP responses, direct outreach, and decades-long relationship management. Marketing channels emphasize community engagement, AIA participation, awards-driven brand visibility, and content on the firm website. ZMM's core "technology" is its integrated multidisciplinary design platform rather than software products; it does not offer APIs, SDKs, or AI features, and its proprietary assets are limited to a custom LEED certification tracking system and established procedures for net-zero design delivery.

In March 2025, Signal Hill Equity Partners invested in ZMM as part of its AEC Services Platform thesis (its second platform investment after CSArch), and in June 2026 ZMM joined Aeterna Group, a new national A&E firm consolidating five established brands (CSArch, ZMM, Kluber, KGD, Omni Associates) with 230+ design professionals, while ZMM retained its regional brand, leadership, and community presence under the Aeterna umbrella with Adam Krason elevated to President and Managing Partner of Signal Hill's A&E Services Platform and David Ferguson appointed CEO of ZMM.

Name

ZMM Architects & Engineers

Legal name

ZMM Architects and Engineers

Website

https://zmm.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

ZMM Architects & Engineers is a West Virginia-based integrated architecture and engineering firm founded in 1959, delivering multi-discipline design — architecture, civil/structural/MEP engineering, interiors, landscape, and construction administration — primarily to public-sector and education clients across West Virginia, Virginia, and Ohio, now operating as a brand within Signal Hill Equity Partners-backed Aeterna Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural and Engineering Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Engineering Services (54133), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainable/Green Building & LEED Consulting (BPAHAKAG), Building Information Modeling (BIM) & Digital Design Services (BPAHAKAK)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Engineering consulting
• Sustainable building design
• LEED certification services
• Construction administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Blacksburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 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 Engineering Professional Services: Project-based fees for comprehensive architecture and engineering design services including master planning, schematic design, design development, construction documents, bidding and negotiation, and construction administration services for educational, governmental, healthcare, and commercial projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ZMM Architects & Engineers is a full-service design firm providing integrated architecture, engineering (civil, structural, mechanical, and electrical), landscape architecture, interior design, and construction administration services in-house. The firm delivers comprehensive building design for education, government, healthcare, private sector, and recreation clients across West Virginia, Virginia, and Ohio, with a particular emphasis on sustainable and LEED-certified design.

Product overview

ZMM Architects & Engineers provides integrated architecture and engineering design services through a unified platform approach. The firm offers comprehensive in-house design capabilities including architecture, engineering (civil, structural, mechanical, and electrical), landscape architecture, interior design, and construction administration. Their services span multiple sectors including education, government, healthcare, private sector, and recreation projects, with a notable emphasis on sustainable/energy-efficient design and LEED certification support. The company operates across four offices in West Virginia, Virginia, and Ohio, and serves as part of the Aeterna Group national platform backed by Signal Hill Equity Partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture Services Full-service architectural design for educational facilities, healthcare buildings, government installations, military facilities, light industrial facilities, commercial office space, and community buildings, delivered as part of ZMM's integrated design approach alongside engineering disciplines.
• Engineering Services In-house civil, structural, mechanical, and electrical engineering services integrated with ZMM's architectural design practice to provide coordinated multi-disciplinary building design under a single contract.
• Sustainable / Energy-Efficient Design Services LEED certification guidance and tracking, net-zero building strategies, daylight harvesting, efficient envelopes, mechanical systems optimization, LED lighting, commissioning, occupant engagement, and on-site renewable energy integration for clients pursuing sustainability outcomes.
• Landscape Architecture Landscape architecture services integrated with ZMM's building design projects to deliver cohesive site and building design outcomes for institutional, civic, and recreation clients.
• Interior Design Interior design services covering space planning, finishes selection, and functional design, delivered as part of ZMM's integrated design approach across education, healthcare, government, and commercial projects.
• Construction Administration In-house construction administration services supporting the bidding/negotiation and construction phases of ZMM-designed projects, providing oversight and quality control through project closeout.

Quantifiable outcome

• 29 AIA WV design awards since 2005 - more than any other West Virginia-based firm
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Aeterna GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Aeterna Group launched in June 2026 as a national architecture and engineering firm backed by Signal Hill Equity Partners, uniting five established brands including ZMM Architects and Engineers, CSArch, Kluber Architects + Engineers, KGD Architecture, and Omni Associates Architects. The new collective brings together more than 230 design professionals across the US. ZMM retains its regional identity and community presence while gaining access to shared resources and expanded expertise.
• WV Division of Natural ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Long-term partnership with WV DNR on multiple projects including Coopers Rock Stargazing Cabins, Tomblin Wildlife Management Area Elk Viewing Tower and Visitor Center, and other state park improvements. Part of West Virginia's $200 million state park improvement initiative.
• WV Division of TourismcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Partnership with WV Tourism on experiential lodging projects including Coopers Rock Stargazing Cabins, supporting the state's tourism and dark sky initiatives.
• Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. (CEC)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Collaboration partner on Coopers Rock Stargazing Cabins project, providing site design services for the project.
• Neighborgall ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOngoing construction partnership on multiple projects including Woody Williams Center for Advanced Learning and Careers, new Meadows Elementary School, and other projects. Represents a key builder partnership in the region.
• Cabell County SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic education sector partnership with multiple ongoing projects including Woody Williams Center, new Meadows Elementary, and various school projects. Funded by school bonds approved by voters.
• Kanawha County Board of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership on school projects including Clendenin Elementary School, Cedar Grove Elementary, new consolidated elementary school (contract valued at $1.65 million), and various other Kanawha County Schools projects.
• TC Energy / Remington Development CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign partnership on state-of-the-art office facility for TC Energy that will bring 450 employees downtown. First US project for Remington Development Corporation.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CSArch: Architecture and engineering firm also owned by Signal Hill Equity Partners and now part of the same Aeterna Group platform as ZMM. Directly comparable as a regional A&E firm pursuing education and public-sector work in the Northeast under the same PE sponsor.
• Kluber Architects + Engineers: Midwest-based integrated A&E firm consolidated into Aeterna Group alongside ZMM. Directly comparable integrated multi-discipline design model and education/public-sector focus, now operating under shared ownership.
• KGD Architecture: Architecture firm operating within the Aeterna Group platform with ZMM. Comparable as a regional design firm pursuing similar institutional and public-sector clients, now co-owned and integrated.
• Omni Associates Architects: Architecture and engineering firm now part of Aeterna Group with ZMM. Comparable regional integrated A&E firm with public-sector and education focus, sharing the same PE-backed platform.
• Moseley Architects: Mid-Atlantic regional A&E firm headquartered in Virginia with deep K-12 and public-sector practice. Direct competitor on Virginia school and government RFPs that ZMM also targets.

Regional players

• Williamson Shriver Architects: West Virginia-based architecture firm competing with ZMM for state, education, and institutional projects across the same Charleston/Kanawha Valley market.
• SFCS Architects: Mid-Atlantic architecture, engineering, and planning firm serving education, senior living, and government clients. Comparable in size, integrated service mix, and client verticals, primarily serving Pennsylvania/Virginia/West Virginia.

Broad incumbents

• CannonDesign: Large national integrated A&E practice with significant higher-education and healthcare portfolios. Competes with ZMM on larger public and institutional RFPs where scale and breadth matter.
• HOK: Global A&E firm with significant K-12, higher-education, and government practices. Competes with ZMM on the largest institutional and federal projects where global scale is required.
• Lord Aeck Sargent (now part of Perkins&Will): Architecture and planning firm with deep higher-education and public-sector expertise, now operating under Perkins&Will. Comparable integrated design approach competing for the same institutional clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ZMM.arch.eng

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 ZMM Architects & Engineers