What Zimmerman Architectural Studios, Inc. does

Zimmerman Architectural Studios, Inc. (ZAS) is a privately held, full-service architecture, interior design, planning, landscape architecture, and engineering firm headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded in 1906, the firm employs 101-250 people and operates through ten specialized sector studios including Healthcare, Education, Corporate + Commercial, Government, Industrial, Recreation + Wellness, Science + Technology, Sports + Entertainment, Worship, and Civic + Cultural. The firm delivers integrated design services from visioning through construction administration, applying Lean design methodology (including Gemba walks, Kaizen events, value stream mapping) and evidence-based design principles tailored to each market. Clients include major Wisconsin healthcare systems (UW Health, SSM Health, Froedtert Health, Aurora Health Care, Children's Wisconsin), educational institutions (Racine Unified, Seton Catholic Schools, University of Wisconsin-Madison), industrial firms (A.O. Smith, Enerpac, JAX Inc., MillerCoors), government entities (City of Baraboo, Oak Creek, Waukesha County), and nonprofits (multiple YMCA chapters).

The firm generates revenue through project-based professional services fees, typically representing 5-10% of overall project construction cost, billed under multi-year contracts. Sales occur through direct enterprise engagement with healthcare systems, school districts, municipalities, corporations, and nonprofits; business development is managed by studio directors who handle relationships in their respective verticals. While the firm is Wisconsin-headquartered, it is registered in multiple states. Pricing is custom-quoted based on scope and complexity; no publicly disclosed revenue exists. The firm's value proposition rests on in-house multidisciplinary integration (civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, lighting, plumbing, fire protection engineering), 120 years of institutional knowledge, and deep sector specialization.

Recent trajectory includes a 2018 leadership transition to a new generation of shareholders, sustained growth in the Industrial Studio (4.7M+ sq ft designed in 5 years), and consistent workplace culture recognition (Milwaukee Business Journal Best Places to Work 2021-2025). The firm is not a technology company; its toolset emphasizes Lean and evidence-based design methods, project management disciplines, and integrated engineering rather than proprietary software or AI.

Name

Zimmerman Architectural Studios, Inc.

Legal name

Zimmerman Architectural Studios, Inc.

Website

https://zastudios.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1906

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Zimmerman Architectural Studios is a 120-year-old, Milwaukee-based full-service architecture, interior design, planning, landscape architecture, and engineering firm serving Wisconsin healthcare systems, educational institutions, corporations, municipalities, and nonprofits through ten specialized sector studios.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architecture and Engineering Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Architectural Services (541310), Interior Design Services (54141), Interior Design Services (541410), Engineering Services (541330), Landscape Architectural Services (54132)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB), Civil & Structural Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAA), Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC)

Keywords

• Architecture design services
• Interior design planning
• Building engineering design
• Healthcare facility design
• Evidence-based design

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

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, interior design, planning, landscape architecture, and engineering services for building projects across healthcare, education, corporate, government, worship, and recreation sectors. Fees based on project scope, complexity, and services required.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Zimmerman Architectural Studios is a full-service architecture, interior design, planning, landscape architecture and engineering firm that designs healthcare, education, corporate, government, industrial, worship, recreation, civic, sports and science/technology facilities. Engagements span visioning, planning, schematic design, design development, construction documentation and construction administration, with in-house engineers providing structural, mechanical, electrical, lighting, plumbing, and fire protection design integrated into project delivery. Fees are quoted on a project basis tied to scope, building type complexity, and services required, typically representing 5–10% of overall project cost under multi-year contracts.

Product overview

Zimmerman Architectural Studios is a full-service architecture, interior design, planning and engineering firm offering integrated design services across multiple studios. The firm provides Architecture, Interior Design and Environmental Branding, Planning, Landscape Architecture, and Engineering as its core service offerings. These services are delivered through specialized studios covering Healthcare, Education, Corporate + Commercial, Government, Industrial, Recreation + Wellness, Science + Technology, Sports + Entertainment, Worship, and Civic + Cultural sectors. The firm is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with 120 years of experience designing facilities throughout the Midwest.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture Services Full-service architectural design services with principal involvement throughout projects, applying intimate market expertise and cross-market application to deliver design excellence for healthcare, education, corporate, government, industrial, worship, recreation, science/technology, sports/entertainment, and civic/cultural buildings.
• Interior Design and Environmental Branding Interiors studio creating cohesive developments that interpret inspiration and reflect client identity, bringing brands to life in physical spaces with all environment elements tactically designed to reinforce brand image; led by VP of Interior Design.
• Planning Services Research-based, future-focused strategic planning supported by historical database and robust data-gathering capabilities, considering present-day conditions alongside sustainable design for longevity.
• Landscape Architecture Holistic landscape architecture creating seamless transitions between built and natural environments, enhancing human experiences from outside in and inside out.
• Engineering Services Full suite of in-house engineering including civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, lighting, plumbing, and fire protection design, with comprehensive integration of building systems for optimal facility performance.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4.7 million+ square feet of industrial and manufacturing spaces designed in last 5 years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers23 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered key and secondary.

• CG SchmidtkeyImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 September 2025Construction partner for Seton Catholic Schools project including St. Rafael the Archangel School and Prince of Peace School. CG Schmidt is working alongside Zimmerman as general contractor for these first new Catholic school buildings in Milwaukee in nearly 60 years.
• VJS Construction Services, Inc.keyImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction services partner for Olympia Brown K-8 School expansion project in Racine Unified School District.
• Harwood Engineering ConsultantskeyImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMEP engineering partner for Olympia Brown K-8 School expansion project, working with Zimmerman's architectural and interior design services.
• C.G. SchmidtkeyImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral contractor for Aurora Health Center in Racine adaptive reuse project, working with Zimmerman's design team and Harwood Engineering MEP engineers.
• Venture ArchitectssecondaryImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitecture partner for Waushara County Government Center project, a collaborative effort recognized with IIDA Wisconsin Honorable Mention award.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Legat Architects: Midwest architecture firm with offices in Illinois and Iowa serving K-12, higher education, and municipal clients. Comparable studio-based vertical structure and education/government focus.
• Eppstein Uhen Architects (EUA): Milwaukee-based architecture and engineering firm of similar scale and tenure, with comparable healthcare, education, corporate, and industrial practices across the upper Midwest. Directly competes with ZAS for many of the same Wisconsin clients and pursuits.
• Kahler Slater: Wisconsin-headquartered integrated design firm offering architecture, interior design, and planning across healthcare, corporate, hospitality, and living sectors. Closely comparable in size, geography, and integrated service model.
• HGA (Hammel Green and Abrahamson): Minnesota-based integrated architecture, engineering, and planning firm with strong healthcare, education, and civic practices. Comparable integrated AEC model and Midwest footprint, with somewhat broader geographic reach.
• Plunkett Raysich Architects (PRA): Mid-size Midwest architecture firm with a heavy healthcare and senior living focus. Comparable in studio-based vertical specialization and project types, particularly in the Wisconsin/regional healthcare market.
• Bray Architects: Wisconsin-based architecture firm with a strong K-12 and higher education practice. Direct regional peer competing for the same Wisconsin school district and university engagements.

Broad incumbents

• HDR Inc. Large global architecture and engineering firm with a major healthcare, education, and civic practice. Overlaps with ZAS on Wisconsin healthcare systems and university clients, though at significantly larger scale.
• SmithGroup: National integrated architecture and engineering firm with strong healthcare, science & technology, and higher education practices. A scaled competitor that periodically pursues the same institutional clients as ZAS.
• CannonDesign: National integrated design practice with deep healthcare, education, and science & technology expertise. Competes with ZAS on larger healthcare and education programs across the Midwest and nationally.
• Perkins&Will: Global architecture practice with major healthcare and education studios. Competes for larger hospital and university projects across the Midwest and increasingly pressures mid-size regional firms on flagship pursuits.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Zimmerman-Architectural-Studios-Inc-82065748756
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zimmerman-architectural-studios-inc-
• Instagraminstagram.com/zimmerman.architecturalstudios?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
• Xx.com/tweet_zastudios

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 Zimmerman Architectural Studios, Inc.