What Studio Ma does

Studio Ma is a Phoenix-based architecture, environmental design, and planning firm founded in 2002 and led by co-founder and principal Christiana Moss, FAIA. The firm operates with a 1–10 person team and delivers architecture, master planning, renovation, and sustainability consulting services to institutional clients, primarily higher education institutions (Princeton, Arizona State University, UC Berkeley, DePauw, University of New Mexico, Washington University in St. Louis) and cultural institutions (Scottsdale's Museum of the West, Heard Museum, Phoenix Art Museum, Desert Caballeros Western Museum, NAU Native American Cultural Center). Its core technical differentiator is a bioclimatic, regenerative design methodology that emphasizes passive design strategies, energy modeling, and facade optimization; the firm beta-tests building performance simulation software in partnership with MIT's Building Technology Group, with documented outcomes including a 17% energy use intensity reduction via ClimateStudio, a 70% EUI reduction at ASU Sun Devil Fitness Complex, and triple-net-zero performance at the firm's own Xero Studio office.

The firm generates revenue exclusively through professional services fees on custom architecture and planning engagements, with no standardized pricing or product distribution. Projects are typically multi-year contracts won via competitive RFQ/RFP processes, design competitions, and direct appointments — credential- and portfolio-driven rather than price-driven sales. The firm is an AIA 2030 Commitment signatory and pursues LEED Gold/Platinum outcomes as a baseline; its portfolio emphasizes cost-effective construction (tilt-up, prefabrication) alongside sustainability targets, with notable cost outcomes including ASU Fusion on First at 57% below campus average cost and Scottsdale's Museum of the West at roughly one-third typical museum construction cost. Studio Ma is privately held with no disclosed funding, M&A, or external ownership; operating geography spans Arizona, New Jersey, California, New Mexico, Missouri, and Indiana through individual project commissions.

Name

Studio Ma

Legal name

Studio Ma

Website

https://studioma.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Studio Ma is a Phoenix-based architecture and environmental design firm (1–10 employees) delivering bioclimatic, net-zero design and master planning services to higher education institutions and cultural institutions, with demonstrated cost and energy performance outcomes on projects such as ASU, Princeton, and UC Berkeley.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architecture and Environmental Design Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Residential Remodelers (236118)

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520)

akta.pro primary industry

Building Information Modeling (BIM) & Digital Design Services (BPAHAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainable/Green Building & LEED Consulting (BPAHAKAG), Urban Planning & Master Planning (BPAHAKAD), Residential Green / High-Performance Home Construction (Net-Zero, Passive House) (IMAFABAH)

Keywords

• Architecture services
• Environmental design
• Sustainable design
• Master planning
• Net-zero buildings

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architecture and Design Services: Professional services revenue from architecture, environmental design, and planning commissions. Projects include new construction, renovation, master planning, and design services for institutional clients including universities, museums, and civic organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Studio Ma provides comprehensive architecture, environmental design, and planning services focused on sustainable, socially equitable, and ecologically regenerative design solutions. The firm delivers new construction, renovation, master planning, and design services for institutional clients including universities, museums, and cultural organizations. Its signature approach emphasizes passive bioclimatic design, net-zero energy and water outcomes, and adaptive reuse of existing buildings.

Product overview

Studio Ma is an architecture, environmental design, and planning firm offering a unified suite of services centered on sustainable, socially equitable, and ecologically regenerative design. The firm's offerings include architecture and environmental design services, sustainability consulting, university and campus planning, cultural and museum design, and net-zero building design. The portfolio spans institutional, civic, cultural, and residential projects, with notable focus on higher education facilities, museums, and sustainable housing. Projects like the Xero Studio (the firm's own office) serve as demonstrations of their sustainable design capabilities. The firm's approach emphasizes 'architecture for everyone' principles, addressing social equity and environmental sustainability as interconnected design priorities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture and Environmental Design Services Comprehensive architecture, environmental design, and planning services focused on sustainable, socially equitable, and ecologically regenerative design solutions for institutional, civic, cultural, and residential projects.
• Sustainability Consulting Environmental design services that aim to achieve net-zero energy and water consumption in buildings, emphasizing passive design features, ecological sensitivity, and partnership with researchers and institutes for sustainable science and technology.
• University and Campus Planning Master planning services for universities including student life master plans, residential community design, and campus sustainability planning to support student success and institutional goals.
• Cultural and Museum Design Design services for museums and cultural institutions, including renovations and new construction that celebrate diverse cultural traditions and histories.
• Net-Zero Building Design Specialized sustainable architecture services achieving triple net-zero (energy, water, waste) outcomes through regenerative bioclimatic design principles, demonstrated in the firm's own Xero Studio office.

Quantifiable outcome

• Achieved 17% reduction in energy use intensity using ClimateStudio
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and minor.

• American Campus CommunitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudio Ma partnered with national student housing developer American Campus Communities and a local builder for Princeton Lakeside Graduate Community project.
• Capstone Development PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudio Ma collaborated with Capstone Development Partners as design-build partner for ASU Fusion on First P3 project, delivering at 57% lower cost than campus average.
• DPR ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStudio Ma worked with DPR Construction for ASU Fusion on First, using prefabricated elements and innovative construction methods to reduce costs and accelerate schedule.
• Massachusetts Institute of TechnologykeyTechnology or IntegrationStudio Ma beta-tests building simulation software in partnership with MIT's Building Technology Group. Faculty and senior administration collaborated on ASU Fusion on First project.
• Massachusetts Institute of TechnologykeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founder Christiana Moss presented Studio Ma's research and practice at MIT School of Architecture + Planning. MIT research partnership has shaped firm's bioclimatic sustainability approach.
• Indigenous Design and Planning Institute (Ted Jojola)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudio Ma worked closely with Ted Jojola, director of Indigenous Design and Planning Institute, and landscape architect Brian McCormack for NAU Native American Cultural Center using Indigenous Planning Process.
• SCB (Solomon Cordwell Buenz)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCB served as Associate Architect alongside Studio Ma for ASU Manzanita Hall renovation project.
• SasakiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration between Studio Ma and Sasaki for ASU Sun Devil Fitness Complex renovation and expansion.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• HKS Architects: Major architecture firm with strong higher education, sports/recreation, and healthcare practices. Overlaps Studio Ma in institutional project types (e.g., ASU Sun Devil Fitness Complex territory) and sustainability credentials.
• ZGF Architects: Large, sustainability-leading architecture firm with extensive higher education and cultural institution practices. Overlaps Studio Ma in sustainable institutional design but at significantly larger scale and broader geographic reach.
• Perkins&Will: Global AEC firm with one of the strongest sustainability practices and a major higher education studio. Comparable in delivering LEED/carbon-neutral institutional buildings but operates at much larger scale with full-service capabilities.
• HOK: Large global AEC firm with substantial higher education, science & technology, and cultural practices. Competes for similar institutional commissions but offers integrated engineering and interiors services Studio Ma does not.
• Gensler: Largest global design firm with significant higher education and cultural institution portfolios. Competes for the same institutional clients but operates at fundamentally different scale and breadth.

Direct peers

• Lake|Flato Architects: San Antonio-based architecture firm of comparable size known for climate-responsive, regionally rooted sustainable design. Closely matches Studio Ma in scale (~80 staff), bioclimatic approach, and emphasis on higher education and cultural institution clients.
• BNIM Architects: Kansas City-based architecture firm of similar mid-size scale with deep sustainability and high-performance building expertise, including AIA Committee on the Environment leadership. Directly comparable in mission, building performance rigor, and institutional/civic client mix.
• KieranTimberlake: Philadelphia-based architecture firm combining research-driven design with sustainability technology and a small, focused team. Shares Studio Ma's emphasis on building performance R&D, university clients, and innovation partnerships.
• Snøhetta: Globally recognized architecture firm known for sustainable cultural, educational, and civic buildings with a strong design ethos. Comparable in mission to deliver high-profile cultural and institutional projects with sustainability baked into identity.

Emerging players

• Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG): Design-forward, sustainability-credentialed architecture firm with cultural and institutional work. Comparable in design ambition and brand momentum, though BIG operates at a larger scale and broader geographic footprint than Studio Ma.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/studiomainc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/studio-ma-inc.

Compliance34 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Studio Ma