What SK+I does

SK+I (legal name SK+I Architecture) is a privately held, multidisciplinary architectural design practice founded in 1999 by Sami Kirkdil, FAIA, and Meral Iskir, FAIA, headquartered at 4600 East-West Highway in Bethesda, Maryland. The firm operates three integrated service lines — Architecture (residential, mixed-use, and adaptive-reuse conversions), Urban Design and master planning, and Interior Design — organized around a domain specialization in contemporary, sustainable, urban residential architecture. The firm has delivered more than 150 mixed-use projects representing over 40,000 residential units and 2 million square feet of retail space, primarily concentrated in the Mid-Atlantic and Washington DC metropolitan area, with incremental extension into New England, the Midwest (e.g., Mellody Farm in Illinois), and the Southeast (e.g., Orlando and Nashville).

The firm's project portfolio emphasizes urban infill, multifamily and mixed-use developments, and conversions/adaptive reuse, and the firm has positioned itself as a leader in LEED-certified and high-performance residential design (LEED Gold on Reverb and Maren, LEED Silver on Garrett at the Collective). SK+I is sales-led, acquiring work through direct developer relationships, repeat-client referrals, business development, and earned reputation from industry awards (PCBC Gold Nugget, NAIOP, NAHB Best in American Living, AIA, Multifamily Executive). The leadership team includes two AIA College of Fellows (both founders), four Principals, a Managing Principal, Associate Principals, Senior Associates, and a Technical Director, with a headcount of 51-100 employees.

The firm generates revenue through project-based professional design fees, typically negotiated as a percentage of construction cost or fixed fees per project phase covering architecture, interior design, and urban planning. Customer segments include Real Estate Developers (primary), Property Owners undertaking adaptive reuse and conversions, Municipal/Government entities for urban design and master planning, and Senior Living developers. Both co-founders are of Turkish origin and education, and the firm maintains brand identity around urban-residential expertise rather than geographic breadth, operating as an independent, founder-controlled practice with no disclosed outside investors, acquisitions, or parent company.

Name

SK+I

Legal name

SK+I Architecture

Website

https://skiarch.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

SK+I is a privately held, Bethesda-based architectural design practice founded in 1999, delivering architecture, interior design, and urban planning services for urban residential, mixed-use, and adaptive-reuse projects primarily across the U.S. Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and Midwest.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bethesda

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Professional architectural design services for residential, mixed-use, and urban design projects including architecture, interior design, and urban planning. Revenue is generated through project-based fees for design services, typically charged as a percentage of construction cost or fixed fee per project phase.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

SK+I is a multidisciplinary architectural design practice that provides architecture, urban design, and interior design services for contemporary, urban, residential, and mixed-use projects. The firm delivers end-to-end design services from conception through construction administration, with a focus on sustainable, community-centered, high-performance buildings. Its clients include real estate developers, property owners, municipal entities, and senior living developers across the U.S. Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Midwest, and New England.

Product overview

SK+I is a multidisciplinary architectural design practice offering three core service areas: Architecture (residential, mixed-use, conversions, and other work), Urban Design, and Interior Design. The firm specializes in contemporary, urban, mixed-use residential architecture with a focus on sustainable design strategies. Founded in 1999, the award-winning studio has delivered over 150 mixed-use projects representing more than 40,000 residential units and two million square feet of retail across the Washington, DC region and beyond.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture Services Design of contemporary, urban, mixed-use residential architecture spanning various scales, residential typologies, conversions, and sustainable design strategies. Delivered for real estate developers, property owners, and government clients.
• Urban Design Services Urban design services focused on city-building objectives, creating walkable neighborhoods, public spaces, and integrated urban fabric for municipalities and developers undertaking master planning and large-scale redevelopment.
• Interior Design Services Timeless, sustainable, responsive interior design with excellence in detail and craftsmanship for residential and amenity spaces within the firm's multifamily and mixed-use projects.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Solomon Cordwell Buenz (SCB): Award-winning architecture, planning, and interiors firm with deep multifamily, mixed-use, and urban design practices focused on dense urban and TOD projects. Comparable to SK+I in emphasis on architecture + urban design + interiors integration, developer client base, and award-pedigree approach to urban residential design.
• KTGY Architecture + Planning: National architecture firm with deep multifamily and mixed-use housing specialization across the U.S., directly comparable to SK+I in client base (developers), service mix (architecture, planning, interiors), and project typology (urban residential, mixed-use, podium/wrap). KTGY serves as a benchmark for SK+I's growth trajectory given its similar origin in the West Coast and expansion across multiple U.S. markets.
• BKV Group: Mid-sized architecture, engineering, and interior design firm with a notable multifamily and mixed-use housing practice serving developers across the Midwest and East Coast. Comparable to SK+I in size, multi-state developer client base, and integrated architecture + interiors service model.
• Antunovich Associates: Chicago-based architecture firm with substantial multifamily and mixed-use portfolio serving private developers in the Midwest and nationally. Comparable to SK+I in residential typology focus, developer-driven project mix, and award-winning urban residential design.
• Powers Brown Architecture: Houston-based architecture firm with strong multifamily, student housing, and mixed-use practices across the Sun Belt. Comparable to SK+I in mid- to high-rise residential specialization, developer-focused go-to-market, and active presence in growing Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic markets.
• Niles Bolton Associates: Mid-to-large architecture firm with strong multifamily, mixed-use, and student housing practices serving real estate developers across the Eastern U.S. Comparable to SK+I in project typology (mid- and high-rise residential, mixed-use), customer type, and design-led positioning around urban residential product.
• Shalom Baranes Associates: Boutique DC-based architecture firm renowned for high-rise residential and mixed-use design. Comparable to SK+I in Mid-Atlantic developer client base, residential high-rise specialization, and award-driven positioning around urban architecture quality.
• Torti Gallas + Partners: Architecture and urban design firm specializing in urban mixed-use, transit-oriented development, and multifamily housing for public and private developers. Directly comparable to SK+I in the integration of urban design and architecture, focus on walkable mixed-use neighborhoods, and developer-driven project pipeline.
• Humphreys & Partners Architects: One of the largest U.S.-based multifamily and mixed-use architecture practices, focused on urban infill, high-density residential, and amenity-rich rental product. Highly comparable to SK+I in service offering, customer base (private developers), and emphasis on urban residential design excellence and award recognition.
• WDG Architecture: Washington DC-based architecture, planning, and interiors firm with a multifamily and mixed-use practice serving Mid-Atlantic developers. Particularly close geographic and competitive overlap with SK+I given shared DC base, similar size band, and shared emphasis on urban residential and amenity design.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/skiarchitecture

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles26 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 SK+I