WHLC Architecture

What WHLC Architecture does

WHLC Architecture is a privately held architectural services firm founded in 1977 and headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with additional offices in Fairhope, Alabama, and Biloxi, Mississippi. The firm delivers integrated programming, planning, interior design, and project delivery services organized into six practice studios — Healthcare, Science + Education, Multifamily Residential, Sports + Wellness, Planning, and Interiors — supported by a Project Delivery function covering construction administration. Its core technology stack consists of industry-standard architectural design tools and methodologies; there is no disclosed proprietary technology platform, software product, or AI/ML capability.

WHLC serves enterprise and institutional clients in the Gulf South region, primarily healthcare systems (Ochsner Health, North Oaks Health System, Thibodaux Regional, Our Lady of the Lake), public-sector entities (Louisiana State Police, US Department of Justice, Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections, City of Baton Rouge), and educational institutions (Louisiana State University, SOWELA, University of Phoenix). Revenue is generated through custom-quoted, project-based professional services fees, with no public pricing and no disclosed revenue figures. The firm is owned by a seven-partner group that includes original partners Russell Washer, Michael Hill, Rick Lipscomb, and Rex Cabaniss, plus three architects promoted in April 2021 and a Principal promoted in February 2026.

The firm employs between 11 and 50 staff across its three offices and has accumulated a sustained portfolio of AIA, IIDA, and International Downtown Association design awards since 2008, alongside consecutive Best Places to Work in Baton Rouge recognitions in 2024 and 2025. Notable project outcomes include measurable energy and water savings at the Thibodaux Regional Wellness Center and rapid-delivery execution on the 96,000 sq ft North Oaks Clinic Building 3.

Name

WHLC Architecture

Legal name

WHLC Architecture

Website

https://whlcarchitecture.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

WHLC Architecture is a privately held, partner-owned architectural firm founded in 1977 that delivers programming, planning, interior design, and project delivery across healthcare, education, government, multifamily, and sports/wellness sectors to institutional clients in the Gulf South region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Architectural Services (54131), Interior Design Services (541410), Interior Design Services (54141)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Healthcare facility design
• Interior design services
• Master planning services
• Multifamily residential architecture

Headquarters

HQ city

Baton Rouge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Services: WHLC generates revenue through professional architectural and design services including programming, planning, interior design, and project delivery. Services are provided on a project basis to healthcare, educational, commercial, and government clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

WHLC Architecture provides integrated architectural programming, planning, interior design, and project delivery services across six practice studios: Healthcare, Science + Education, Multifamily Residential, Sports + Wellness, Planning, and Corporate/Commercial Interiors. Services are delivered on a project-by-project basis to enterprise clients including hospitals, universities, government agencies, and developers across the Gulf South region. The firm also provides construction administration and technical design management from concept through build completion.

Product overview

WHLC Architecture operates as a unified architectural programming, planning, and design firm offering integrated service modules across multiple practice areas. Rather than discrete software products, the firm delivers architectural services organized into six interconnected practice studios: Healthcare Architecture, Planning Services, Multifamily Residential Architecture, Science + Education Architecture, Sports + Wellness Architecture, and Interior Design, with Project Delivery providing technical design management across all studios. The firm was founded in 1977 and serves clients throughout the Gulf South region from offices in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Fairhope, Alabama; and Biloxi, Mississippi.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Healthcare Architecture Comprehensive architectural design services for healthcare facilities including hospitals, clinics, medical office buildings, and specialty care centers across the Gulf South region.
• Science + Education Architecture Design services for science and educational facilities including research centers, nursing schools, allied health buildings, and modern science classrooms and lab spaces with advanced technical building systems.
• Multifamily Residential Architecture Architectural design for multifamily residential developments including townhouses, apartments, senior living facilities, and high-rise condominiums, with expertise in market positioning and integrated amenity trends.
• Sports + Wellness Architecture Design of destination-quality sports, recreation, and wellness facilities including sports complexes, recreation centers, wellness centers, and fitness venues for universities, healthcare systems, and municipalities.
• Planning Services Strategic planning and urban design services including campus master plans, development codes, design guidelines, health district planning, and community outreach for municipal, institutional, and developer clients.
• Interior Design Interior design services including programming, space planning, workplace systems design, furniture selection, finish specifications, and artwork coordination for commercial and healthcare environments.
• Project Delivery Technical design management and coordination through construction document preparation and construction administration phases, overseeing projects from design through build completion.

Quantifiable outcome

• Thibodaux Regional Wellness Center membership reached over 5,000 members in a city with population of 14,000
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Milton J. WomackminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral contractor for BRAC David E. Roberts Center for Economic Development project. Played integral role in construction execution.
• Warlaw & Lasseigne, LLCminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStructural engineering partner on multiple WHLC projects including BRAC Center and other commercial projects.
• CARBOminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLandscape architecture partner on BRAC David E. Roberts Center project.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• HKS, Inc. Dallas-headquartered national architecture firm with one of the largest healthcare design practices in the U.S., directly competing with WHLC for Gulf South hospital and health system work. Strong overlap in healthcare typologies (patient towers, ambulatory, MOBs).
• WHR Architects: Houston-based architecture firm specializing in healthcare facility planning and design, with comparable size and regional Gulf Coast focus. Direct overlap with WHLC on hospital, clinic, and medical office building projects for regional health systems.
• Cromwell Architects Engineers: Little Rock, Arkansas-based integrated architecture and engineering firm serving healthcare, education, and government clients across the South. Comparable regional scale and institutional client mix to WHLC.
• Eskew+Dumez+Ripple: New Orleans-headquartered architecture and planning firm with strong Gulf South presence across civic, cultural, and institutional projects. Comparable regional design orientation and award-winning portfolio.
• GraceHebert Architects: Baton Rouge-based architecture and interior design firm serving healthcare, education, and commercial clients. Direct local competitor for Gulf South institutional work and overlapping service offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Perkins&Will: National, multi-sector architecture firm with one of the deepest healthcare studio practices in North America. Competes with WHLC for marquee Gulf South healthcare projects while offering global scale and broader service lines.
• CannonDesign: National architecture, engineering, and consulting firm with a major healthcare practice serving large health systems. Competes with WHLC for enterprise healthcare clients but with significantly broader geographic and service reach.
• SmithGroup: National integrated design firm with a significant healthcare and science/education practice. Competes with WHLC for major institutional projects across the Gulf South and beyond, with substantially broader capabilities.

Regional players

• Mathes Brierre Architects: New Orleans architecture firm with a long-standing regional practice in commercial, institutional, and historic projects. Comparable regional design scale and Gulf South market overlap.
• Sizeler Thompson Brown Architects: New Orleans-based architecture firm with deep Gulf South institutional and commercial portfolio. Comparable regional focus and overlapping client types in education, government, and healthcare.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/whlcarch
• YouTubevimeo.com/user13079320
• Facebookfacebook.com/WHLCarchitecture
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/whlc-architecture
• Instagraminstagram.com/whlcarchitecture

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 WHLC Architecture