AE Urbia

What AE Urbia does

AE Urbia is a Utah-based, privately held professional architecture and engineering firm founded in 1992 by James M. Williams and headquartered in South Jordan, Utah. The firm operates a unified in-house practice that delivers architectural design, structural engineering, interior design, specialty tilt-up concrete construction, water feature structural engineering, and building code consultation to commercial, industrial, hospitality, multi-family, data center, government, and entertainment clients across more than 15 countries and 20+ U.S. states. It has completed over 6,000 projects cumulatively and accumulated 200+ design awards, with James Williams personally recognized as one of the Tilt-Up Concrete Association's Top 20 Most Influential Design Professionals.

The firm's core technical differentiation rests on pioneering multi-story tilt-up concrete lateral load-resisting systems — most notably at the Prestige Office Building and Entrata / Traverse Heights, the first true four-story tilt-up Class A office in Utah — combined with slender-wall seismic analysis used in essential facilities such as the Novva Data Center (372,065 sq ft, LEED Silver) and specialty water feature engineering delivered through a recurring partnership with Cloward H2O on projects including Baha Bay (Bahamas), Boca Raton Resort, Tidal Cove, and Montgomery Whitewater. A parallel sister company, J.M. Williams and Associates, Inc. (JMWA), extends structural engineering delivery capacity with over 4,500 projects since 1992.

Revenue is generated through project-based professional services fees, with pricing custom-quoted per engagement and no publicly disclosed rates; go-to-market is direct, relationship-driven, and supplemented by referral partners including general contractors (Big-D, Hughes), architecture firms (Beecher Walker), and specialty consultants (Interior Design Group). Demand generation is anchored on the firm's project portfolio, 200+ industry awards, and the founder's roles on the ICC General IBC Code Development Committee and the National HUD Resiliency Seismic and Earth Task Group, which translate into a defensible building code consultation practice. The firm employs 40+ people and has no public ownership, no disclosed investors, and no parent company.

Name

AE Urbia

Legal name

AE Urbia

Website

https://aeurbia.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AE Urbia is a Utah-based, privately held architecture and engineering firm offering in-house architectural design, structural engineering, interiors, tilt-up concrete, water feature engineering, and building code consultation across 15+ countries and 20+ U.S. states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

South Jordan

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. Architecture & Engineering Project Fees: Revenue is generated through project-based professional services fees for architectural design, structural engineering, interior design, water feature engineering, and building code consultation. Engagements range from small renovations to multi-million-square-foot industrial, commercial, hospitality, and multi-family developments. Firm has completed over 6,000 projects nationally and internationally since 1992.
2. Structural Engineering via Sister Company J.M. Williams and Associates: Sister company J.M. Williams and Associates (JMWA) provides structural engineering and design services, having completed over 4,500 projects since 1992 under James Williams.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AE Urbia is a Utah-based architecture and engineering firm that delivers integrated in-house architectural design and structural engineering services for projects of any type, scale, and location worldwide. Its practice spans architectural design, structural engineering, interior design, tilt-up concrete construction, water feature engineering, and building code consultation, with structural engineering delivered in tandem via its sister company J.M. Williams and Associates (JMWA).

Product overview

AE Urbia is a Utah-based professional architecture and engineering firm offering services worldwide through a unified in-house practice. The firm operates dually as an architectural design and structural engineering provider, with its portfolio organized around six core service offerings: Architectural design, Structural engineering, Interior Design, Tilt-Up Concrete construction, Water Features engineering, and Building Code consultation. Together, these services allow AE Urbia to deliver projects of any type, scale, and location, supported by its integrated structural engineering sister company J.M. Williams and Associates.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Services Full-scope architectural design services for commercial, industrial, hospitality, residential, civic, and institutional projects, combining design, sustainability, and affordability for clients including developers, owners, contractors, and government entities.
• Structural Engineering Tailored structural engineering solutions that optimize structures and enhance project performance, offered in-house alongside architectural services and via sister company J.M. Williams and Associates for projects of any scale.
• Interior Design Interior design services for residential and commercial projects that translate client aspirations into bespoke designs evoking emotion and memorable experiences, delivered in coordination with architectural and structural work.
• Tilt-Up Concrete Design & Engineering Industry-leading tilt-up concrete design and engineering using cutting-edge methodologies such as cast-on-site panels, slender-wall seismic analysis, insulated sandwich panels, and the first true four-story tilt-up Class A office building in Utah.
• Water Feature Engineering Structural engineering for water features ranging from tranquil pools to amusement-park attractions such as whitewater rafting, wave parks, lazy rivers, and saltwater zoo exhibits, delivered primarily in collaboration with Cloward H2O.
• Building Code Consultation Comprehensive building code and consultation services grounded in deep knowledge of the IBC, HUD resiliency standards, and state codes, supporting compliance, safety, and efficiency for clients navigating complex regulatory requirements.

Quantifiable outcome

• 200+ design awards firm-wide
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers47 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

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

• Beecher Walker ArchitectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAE Urbia provided structural engineering services for the 252-unit Layton Station Apartments in collaboration with Beecher Walker Architects, who led the architectural design. The project is a five-story residential community on a concrete podium with integrated parking and amenities including pool, hot tub, clubhouse, golf simulator, dog wash, and bike storage.
• Big-D ConstructionminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral contractor partner on the 659,000 sq ft Copper Crossing Building 7 tilt-up concrete manufacturing and distribution facility for Holcim. The team coordinated production piping, product flow, and traffic patterns throughout the site.
• Hughes General ContractorsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral contractor partner on the 62,353 sq ft Lehi Power facility, a tilt-up concrete exposed structure with integrally colored onyx and gray panels. Adjacent metal structure houses three natural gas generators.
• Cloward H2OcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecurring specialty water feature design partner. AE Urbia provides structural engineering while Cloward H2O leads aquatic design on projects including Boca Raton Resort & Club, Glenwood Hot Springs, Turtle Back Zoo Penguin Exhibit, Tidal Cove Water Park, Baha Bay, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel, and Montgomery Whitewater.
• Interior Design GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-design partner on the 117-room Hoodoo Hotel in Moab, Utah. AE Urbia led the collaborative process to balance design excellence with budget considerations over multiple design iterations. The result won a 2020 Gold Key Award for Best Guest Room.
• Mike Lee Design / MLD ProductionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner Keith collaborated with Mike Lee of Mike Lee Design/MLD Productions on design aspects of the Polynesian Cultural Center’s Hawaiian Journey (a dormant volcano on the exterior) and on the Hukilau Marketplace.
• J.M. Williams and Associates (JMWA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister company of AE Urbia, also led by James Williams, focused on structural engineering and design. JMWA has completed over 4,500 projects since 1992. Clients can engage either AE Urbia or JMWA, with shared expertise and leadership.
• J.M. Williams and Associates (jmwa.com)flagshipOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerCross-referenced via the AE Urbia website's J.M. Williams and Associates landing page (aeurbia.com/j-m-williams-and-associates/), with a link to jmwa.com. Acts as a sister brand and shared services entity for structural engineering work.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Method Architecture: Mountain West architecture firm with tilt-up and commercial expertise serving similar regional markets to AE Urbia, comparable in scale and service mix.
• VCBO Architecture: Salt Lake City-based architecture firm serving commercial, healthcare, education, and civic clients in Utah and the broader Mountain West, overlapping AE Urbia's regional commercial practice.
• FFKR Architects: Utah-headquartered architecture firm with a strong tilt-up and commercial portfolio across the Intermountain West, comparable to AE Urbia in regional tilt-up specialization.
• MHTN Architects: Salt Lake City-headquartered architecture, planning, and interiors firm active in Utah commercial, healthcare, education, and civic sectors, comparable to AE Urbia's full-service regional scope.
• BHB Engineers: Utah-based structural engineering firm serving commercial, healthcare, and industrial clients in the Mountain West, comparable to AE Urbia's structural engineering and tilt-up practice.

Direct peers

• Cloward H2O: Aquatic design firm and AE Urbia's recurring co-development partner on water parks, resort features, and zoo exhibits (Boca Raton, Baha Bay, Montgomery Whitewater); directly comparable on specialty water-feature engineering.

Others

• Big-D Construction: Utah-based general contractor and AE Urbia's repeat partner on tilt-up industrial projects (e.g., Copper Crossing Building 7 for Holcim); comparable as an ecosystem collaborator rather than a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• SmithGroup: Integrated architecture and engineering firm combining design and structural/MEP engineering under one roof, directly comparable to AE Urbia's integrated A&E positioning across commercial, healthcare, and higher education.
• HKS Architects: Large national architecture firm with healthcare, hospitality, sports, and commercial practices that overlaps AE Urbia's hospitality and commercial office work at larger project scales.
• Gensler: Global architecture and design firm with offices across the U.S. including Salt Lake City; competes with AE Urbia on commercial, hospitality, and data center commissions but at vastly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 AE Urbia