KZF Design
KZF Design is a Cincinnati-based multidisciplinary architecture, engineering, interior design, urban planning, and landscape architecture firm founded in 1956, serving government, education, healthcare, and commercial clients primarily in Ohio with national reach.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1956
- HeadquartersCincinnati, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What KZF Design does
KZF Design Inc. is a Cincinnati, Ohio-based multidisciplinary architecture, engineering, and design firm founded on March 1, 1956. The firm employs more than 90 professionals across architecture, civil/electrical/mechanical/plumbing/structural engineering, interior design, urban planning, and landscape architecture, delivering integrated design services from a single LEED Gold and ENERGY STAR certified office in downtown Cincinnati. Its service portfolio includes assessments, BIM, code evaluation, conceptual and design/build delivery, construction administration, renderings/3D imaging, space planning, lighting design, FF&E selection, master planning, GIS mapping, public engagement, transportation planning, and sustainability-focused design.
KZF's go-to-market is relationship-based, direct-to-client engagement targeting federal, state, and local government agencies, higher education institutions, healthcare systems, commercial and industrial corporations, and mixed-use real estate developers — primarily in the greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region with select national work. Named project work spans University of Cincinnati facilities, AtriCure's $15M headquarters expansion, St. Elizabeth's $25M Heart & Vascular Institute, the City of Covington's $50M Central Riverfront Phase 2, Hills Properties' $50M Vantage at Towne Center, a 200,000 SF UGN manufacturing facility, and Volvo Trucks' Customer Experience Center, among others. Revenue is generated through project-based professional fees across the firm's core disciplines; specific rates are not publicly disclosed.
The firm has invested in technology differentiation through integrated BIM workflows and proprietary drone-enabled site survey services (Seymour) for high-resolution photography, thermal imaging, 3D modeling, and topographic mapping. In June 2025, Brightstar Capital Partners acquired KZF Design in a private equity transaction (price undisclosed), with Doug Marsh continuing as President & CEO; the sponsor has signaled an intent to accelerate growth via acquisitions, geographic expansion, and service scaling. The firm celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2026 alongside a series of senior leadership promotions.
KZF Design firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- KZF Design
- Legal name
- KZF Design Inc.
- Website
- https://kzf.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1956
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- KZF Design is a Cincinnati-based multidisciplinary architecture, engineering, interior design, urban planning, and landscape architecture firm founded in 1956, serving government, education, healthcare, and commercial clients primarily in Ohio with national reach.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
KZF Design industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architecture & Engineering Design Services
- NAICS
- Architectural Services (54131), Interior Design Services (54141), Landscape Architectural Services (54132)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Engineering Services (8711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Building Information Modeling (BIM) & Digital Design Services (BPAHAKAK), Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC), Community Engagement & Participatory Planning (BPAHAKAO)
Keywords
Where KZF Design is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cincinnati
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
KZF Design business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Architecture Services: Project-based professional fees for architectural design services including assessments, BIM, code evaluation, conceptual design, construction administration, cost estimates, design/build delivery, renderings, and specifications
- Engineering Services: Civil, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and structural engineering services delivered in-house alongside architecture team
- Interior Design Services: Interior design services including space planning, workplace tuning, signage, branding, furniture selection, and FFE coordination
- Urban Planning & Landscape Architecture: Master planning, feasibility studies, GIS mapping, design guidelines, public engagement, transportation planning, and urban design services
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
KZF Design product offering
Product offeringCore offering
KZF Design is a multidisciplinary architecture, engineering, and planning firm that delivers integrated design services for buildings, sites, and communities. Its services span architecture, civil/electrical/mechanical/plumbing/structural engineering, interior design, urban planning, landscape architecture, and sustainability consulting. The firm serves government, education, healthcare, commercial, and community clients primarily in the greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region with projects nationally.
Product overview
KZF Design is a multidisciplinary architecture, engineering, and planning firm offering integrated design services. The core offerings include Architecture Services (assessments, BIM, design/build delivery, 3D renderings), Engineering Services (civil, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, structural delivered in-house), Interior Design Services (space planning, lighting, FF&E), Urban Planning Services (master planning, GIS, public engagement), Landscape Architecture Services, and Sustainability Services. The firm's integrated approach brings architects, engineers, interior designers, landscape architects and urban planners together under one roof to deliver cohesive, client-centered solutions across diverse markets including commercial, workplace, education, healthcare, industrial, government, and community infrastructure projects.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Architecture Services Full-service architectural design including assessments, Building Information Modeling (BIM), code evaluation, conceptual design studies, construction administration, cost estimates, design/build project delivery, facility security, renderings and 3D imaging, specifications, and tenant fit-up, delivered for public and private sector clients.
- Engineering Services
- Interior Design Services
- Urban Planning Services
- Landscape Architecture Services Landscape architecture services including parks, streetscapes, and outdoor space design, performed by KZF Design Associates, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary.
- Sustainability Services
Quantifiable outcome
- 34+ consecutive years named Interior Design Giant by Interior Design magazine
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use KZF Design
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments9 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
KZF Design technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
KZF Design partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- WSPminorKZF Design collaborated with WSP on the Fort Washington Way Overbuild project, a plan to deck over the freeway and reconnect downtown Cincinnati to the Ohio River. WSP previously worked with KZF on the original Fort Washington Way reconfiguration over 20 years ago.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights2 records
KZF Design competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- WSP: Global professional services firm with major U.S. infrastructure and buildings practices — directly comparable to KZF on engineering integration, and specifically named as KZF's collaborator on the Fort Washington Way Overbuild, signaling both partnership and competitive overlap in the Midwest.
- Moody Nolan: Large Ohio-headquartered (Columbus) architecture firm with broad national reach across sports, education, healthcare, and workplace markets — operates in the same Midwest ecosystem but at meaningfully larger scale and wider geographic footprint than KZF.
- Stantec: Global design and engineering consultancy with significant Midwest presence offering architecture, engineering, and interior design across KZF's same verticals — overlaps as a much larger incumbent that competes (and partners) with KZF on regional mega-projects like Fort Washington Way.
Direct peers
- RATIO Architects: Indianapolis-based integrated design firm of similar size providing architecture, interior design, landscape, and planning services — directly comparable peer with a comparable Midwest geographic center of gravity and horizontal market mix.
- Champlin Architecture: Indiana-headquartered architecture and engineering firm offering integrated design across education, civic, healthcare, and workplace markets — closely comparable to KZF in size, Midwest regional footprint, and multidisciplinary A/E delivery model.
- BHDP: Cincinnati-based architecture, engineering, and interior design firm of comparable scale and full-service multidisciplinary model — directly comparable horizontal A/E peer competing for many of the same institutional clients in KZF's home market.
- TowerPinkster: Michigan-based integrated architecture, engineering, and interior design firm of similar size serving education, government, healthcare, and workplace markets — directly comparable in scale, services mix, and Midwest regional focus.
Regional players
- Kleingers Group: Dayton, Ohio-based multidisciplinary firm providing civil engineering, architecture, landscape architecture, and surveying — comparable in scale and regional Midwest positioning, with adjacent rather than identical service mix (heavier civil/land surveying tilt).
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
KZF Design social profiles
Digital presenceKZF Design compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
KZF Design financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
KZF Design leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
KZF Design subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
KZF Design funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
KZF Design 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 KZF Design
What does KZF Design do?
KZF Design is a multidisciplinary architecture, engineering, and planning firm that delivers integrated design services for buildings, sites, and communities. Its services span architecture, civil/electrical/mechanical/plumbing/structural engineering, interior design, urban planning, landscape architecture, and sustainability consulting. The firm serves government, education, healthcare, commercial, and community clients primarily in the greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region with projects nationally.
Is KZF Design a public or private company?
KZF Design is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was KZF Design founded?
KZF Design was founded in 1956. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is KZF Design based?
KZF Design is headquartered in Cincinnati, United States, in the North America region.
How does KZF Design make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Architecture Services are the primary driver. The others are engineering Services, interior Design Services and urban Planning & Landscape Architecture.
Who are KZF Design's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are WSP, Moody Nolan and Stantec. Direct peers are RATIO Architects, Champlin Architecture, BHDP and TowerPinkster. Kleingers Group is listed as a regional player.
Does KZF Design have an API?
No public API is recorded for KZF Design.
What industry is KZF Design in?
KZF Design's product category is Architecture & Engineering Design Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAA, Architectural Design Services, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAK, Building Information Modeling (BIM) & Digital Design Services. Its NAICS code is 54131 and its SIC code is 8700.