Sanders Pace Architecture
Sanders Pace Architecture is a Knoxville, Tennessee-based architecture firm founded in 2002 by John Sanders and Brandon Pace, providing planning and design services in residential, commercial, civic, and institutional sectors with specialization in historic preservation and adaptive reuse across the Southeast United States.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersKnoxville, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Sanders Pace Architecture does
Sanders Pace Architecture is a privately held architecture and planning firm founded in 2002 by John L. Sanders and Brandon F. Pace, headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee. The firm provides building planning and design services across residential, commercial, civic, institutional, and cultural sectors, with particular specialization in historic preservation, adaptive reuse, sustainable design, and site-sensitive regional modernism. Its practice encompasses master planning, new construction, renovation, and landscape integration, and is documented across an award-winning portfolio of more than 100 design recognitions, including AIA National Architecture Awards, Docomomo Modernism in America citations, and a Forbes Top 200 Residential Architects listing.
The firm operates as a professional services practice on a project-based commission model. Revenue is generated through direct engagements with government agencies, universities, nonprofits and foundations, private developers, and individual residential clients across the Southeast United States, including Tennessee, Arkansas, Florida, North Carolina, Alabama, and South Carolina. Public-sector work is obtained through formal procurement and competitive bidding, while private and institutional work flows from referrals, repeat-client relationships, and direct negotiation. Pricing is quote-based and project-specific, with multi-year contract cadences typical for civic and institutional engagements.
The firm's competitive positioning is anchored on principal-level design talent, national brand recognition from press coverage and awards, and deep institutional relationships, particularly with the Aslan Foundation, the University of Tennessee, and the City of Knoxville. The practice remains independently owned by its two founding principals with no external investment, parent company, or disclosed M&A activity, and operates with a lean staff of 18 employees.
Sanders Pace Architecture firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sanders Pace Architecture
- Legal name
- Sanders Pace Architecture
- Website
- https://sanderspace.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Sanders Pace Architecture is a Knoxville, Tennessee-based architecture firm founded in 2002 by John Sanders and Brandon Pace, providing planning and design services in residential, commercial, civic, and institutional sectors with specialization in historic preservation and adaptive reuse across the Southeast United States.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sanders Pace Architecture industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architecture Services
- NAICS
- Architectural Services (54131), Landscape Architectural Services (541320)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Historic Preservation & Conservation Planning (BPAHAKAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Urban Planning & Master Planning (BPAHAKAD), Sustainable/Green Building & LEED Consulting (BPAHAKAG), Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC)
Keywords
Where Sanders Pace Architecture is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Knoxville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Sanders Pace Architecture business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Architectural Design Services: Professional architecture services including master planning, historic preservation, adaptive reuse, and new construction design for civic, institutional, commercial, and residential projects. Revenue generated through project-based commissions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Project-based architectural commissions |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Sanders Pace Architecture product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sanders Pace Architecture provides professional architectural design and planning services for civic, institutional, commercial, and residential clients. Its core offerings include master planning, historic preservation, adaptive reuse of existing structures, new construction design, and site-sensitive architecture delivered through project-based commissions. The firm is recognized for sustainable, regional modernism and preservation-led design across East Tennessee and the broader Southeast United States.
Product overview
Sanders Pace Architecture is an architecture and planning firm offering comprehensive architectural design services organized around several core practice areas: residential architecture (custom homes, rowhouses, multi-family housing), commercial architecture (corporate offices, breweries, restaurants, adaptive reuse), historic preservation and restoration, urban planning and masterplanning, institutional architecture (university facilities, theaters), and public/civic architecture (parks, pavilions, community centers). The firm also provides specialized services in modernist architecture preservation and arts/cultural space design. Projects range from private residences and small-scale installations to large urban planning initiatives and institutional buildings, with a focus on East Tennessee and the broader Southeast region.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Residential Architecture Services Custom architectural design for single-family residences, rowhouses, and multi-family housing with focus on sustainable materials and site-responsive design, serving affluent private homeowners and families.
- Commercial Architecture Services Design of corporate headquarters, office buildings, breweries, restaurants, and retail spaces with emphasis on adaptive reuse and urban context integration, serving commercial enterprises and corporate clients.
- Historic Preservation and Restoration Restoration and adaptive reuse of historic structures including mid-century modern, Victorian-era, and industrial landmark buildings, serving institutional, nonprofit, and private owners of historic properties.
- Urban Planning and Masterplanning Comprehensive planning services for urban districts, waterfronts, wilderness corridors, and community development projects, serving municipal governments and development authorities.
- Institutional Architecture Design of university and institutional facilities including theaters, academic buildings, student housing, teaching facilities, and campus master planning, serving universities and educational institutions.
- Public and Civic Architecture Design of public pavilions, parks, community centers, and recreational facilities serving municipal clients and public development authorities.
- Housing Initiative Planning Planning studies and design for workforce housing initiatives, missing middle housing, and affordable housing developments, serving development corporations, foundations, and government entities.
- Modernist Architecture Preservation Specialized restoration and preservation of mid-century modern and International Style residences including the Clauss Houses at Little Switzerland, serving private property owners and preservation organizations.
- Gallery and Arts Space Design Adaptive reuse of historic buildings for arts organizations including gallery spaces, artist residencies, and cultural venues, serving nonprofit arts foundations and cultural institutions.
Quantifiable outcome
- Award-winning portfolio recognized with over 100 local, regional, and national design awards
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Sanders Pace Architecture
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Sanders Pace Architecture technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Sanders Pace Architecture partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- LMN ArchitectsminorDesign partner for University of Tennessee Jenny Boyd Theatre project. LMN Architects served as design partner while SPA led the project.
- Aslan FoundationcoreOngoing strategic partnership for preservation and adaptive reuse projects. Aslan Foundation has commissioned multiple projects including Loghaven Artist Residency, Eugenia Williams House, and Candoro Marble Building. Foundation is a major client funding historic preservation work.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves2 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Sanders Pace Architecture competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- SmithGroup: Large national integrated design firm with strong architectural practice across civic, institutional, and preservation work. Competes for similar civic and institutional commissions at scale; relevant as a broader incumbent entering Southeast markets.
- Robert A.M. Stern Architects: NYC-based broad-architecture firm with residential, civic, and institutional practice emphasizing contextual design. Relevant as a larger design-led competitor in residential and institutional commissions where SPA also competes for prestige clients.
Direct peers
- Historical Concepts: Peachtree Corners, GA-based architecture firm focused on residential, historic preservation, and adaptive reuse projects across the American South. Directly comparable in practice mix (custom residential, preservation, civic) and regional scope, with similar award profile.
- Olson Kundig: Seattle, WA-based owner-operated architecture firm with strong design profile and recognition across custom residential, cultural, and commercial projects. Comparable as a design-forward boutique with strong principal identity and similar award trajectory in residential design.
- Lake|Flato Architects: San Antonio, TX-based award-winning architecture firm recognized for regional modernism, sustainable design, and adaptive reuse. Comparable in design philosophy (regional modernism, sustainability), award profile (AIA National recognition), and practice mix across residential, civic, and preservation.
- Bohlin Cywinski Jackson: Multi-office architecture firm known for contextual design across cultural, civic, residential, and preservation projects. Comparable in design-forward approach to cultural and civic commissions and high craft/residential practice mix.
- Harrison Design Associates: Atlanta-based residential architecture firm with national footprint known for traditional and historically contextual design of high-end custom homes. Comparable in residential practice focus and Southeast regional prominence, with similar client demographics.
- Looney Ricks Kiss: Memphis, TN-based architecture, planning, and interior design firm with civic, institutional, and commercial practice throughout the Mid-South. Comparable in Southeast regional identity and mixed public/private sector work; broader scale but similar portfolio architecture.
- Hastings Architecture Associates: Nashville, TN-based architecture firm working across civic, institutional, residential, and adaptive reuse projects in the Southeast. Closest geographic peer with similar dual focus on preservation and contemporary design in East Tennessee-adjacent market.
Regional players
- Cooper Carry: Atlanta-based architecture firm with significant Southeast presence across civic, institutional, hospitality, and mixed-use development. Comparable in Southeast regional prominence and civic/institutional client mix, though larger scale and broader practice.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Sanders Pace Architecture social profiles
Digital presenceSanders Pace Architecture financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sanders Pace Architecture leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Sanders Pace Architecture funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sanders Pace Architecture 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 Sanders Pace Architecture
What does Sanders Pace Architecture do?
Sanders Pace Architecture provides professional architectural design and planning services for civic, institutional, commercial, and residential clients. Its core offerings include master planning, historic preservation, adaptive reuse of existing structures, new construction design, and site-sensitive architecture delivered through project-based commissions. The firm is recognized for sustainable, regional modernism and preservation-led design across East Tennessee and the broader Southeast United States.
Is Sanders Pace Architecture a public or private company?
Sanders Pace Architecture is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Sanders Pace Architecture founded?
Sanders Pace Architecture was founded in 2002. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Sanders Pace Architecture based?
Sanders Pace Architecture is headquartered in Knoxville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Sanders Pace Architecture make money?
One revenue line is on record: architectural Design Services.
Who are Sanders Pace Architecture's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are SmithGroup and Robert A.M. Stern Architects. Direct peers are Historical Concepts, Olson Kundig, Lake|Flato Architects, Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, Harrison Design Associates, Looney Ricks Kiss and Hastings Architecture Associates. Cooper Carry is listed as a regional player.
Does Sanders Pace Architecture have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sanders Pace Architecture.
What industry is Sanders Pace Architecture in?
Sanders Pace Architecture's product category is Architecture Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAH, Historic Preservation & Conservation Planning, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAD, Urban Planning & Master Planning. Its NAICS code is 54131.