TCA

What TCA does

TCA Architecture + Planning is a Seattle-based architecture firm founded in 1963 that operates across four practice areas: fire station and public safety facility design (its specialty, with 250+ fire station projects completed), municipal architecture, commercial architecture, and high-end residential architecture. The firm differentiates primarily through deep domain expertise in fire station design, including pioneering sustainable concepts such as the first Zero Net Energy fire station in the United States (Salt Lake City Fire Station 14) and an innovative hot zone/cold zone two-building contamination control concept (Central Valley Fire Station 1). Its core technology stack consists of standard architectural tools, including CAD, 3D modeling, and Revit-based Building Information Modeling (BIM), with no proprietary platform technology.

The firm is privately held and self-identified as a Combined Woman & Minority Business Enterprise (CBE), led by four principals (Brian Harris, Forest Hooker, Sarah Elley, and Jeremy Koh). Revenue is generated through project-based professional services fees for architecture, design, and construction administration, with a 60-year track record of repeat municipal clients across more than ten states. TCA's go-to-market is relationship-led and community-driven, anchored by thought leadership contributions to Firehouse Magazine, speaking engagements at industry conferences, and partnerships with larger national firms where TCA serves as Fire Station Specialist on out-of-state projects. Customers are exclusively government or public-sector entities, with occasional commercial and residential work, and the firm has won multiple Firehouse Magazine Gold Awards, an AIA NWW Design Award, and an ASHRAE National Technology Award.

Name

TCA

Legal name

TCA Architecture + Planning

Website

https://tca-inc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

TCA Architecture + Planning is a Seattle-based architecture firm founded in 1963 that specializes in fire station and public safety facility design, with over 250 fire station projects completed. It also serves municipal, commercial, and high-end residential clients across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Architectural Services (54131)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Building Information Modeling (BIM) & Digital Design Services (BPAHAKAK)

Keywords

• Fire station design
• Municipal architecture
• Commercial architecture
• Residential architecture
• Public safety facilities

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

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

Revenue model

1. Architecture and Design Services: TCA generates revenue through professional architecture and design services for municipal, commercial, and residential projects. Revenue is project-based, earned through design fees, construction administration, and consulting services. The firm maintains an established reputation with exceptional client satisfaction leading to significant repeat clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

TCA Architecture + Planning is a Seattle-based architectural design firm founded in 1963 that provides specialized architecture services across four primary practice areas: fire station and public safety facility design (their signature specialty with over 250 fire station projects), municipal architecture (city halls, police/justice centers, utilities), commercial architecture, and high-end residential design. Revenue is generated through project-based professional service fees covering design, construction documentation, BIM modeling, code compliance, and construction administration.

Product overview

TCA Architecture is a Seattle-based architecture firm offering specialized architectural design services across four primary practice areas: fire station and public safety facility design (their specialty with 250+ fire station projects), municipal architecture, commercial architecture, and high-end residential architecture. The firm operates as a single unified service practice rather than a platform with separate modules, providing personalized design services from concept through construction administration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fire Station Design Services Specialized architectural design services for fire stations, emergency response facilities, public safety centers, training facilities, and ARFF (Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting) stations. Includes operational efficiency planning, contamination control systems, and Zero Net Energy design capabilities. Serves fire departments, fire districts, and municipal governments.
• Municipal Architecture Services Architectural design services for municipal facilities including city halls, police headquarters, justice centers, wastewater treatment facilities, and public utility buildings. Serves cities and municipalities requiring government buildings, utilities, and civic infrastructure design.
• Commercial Architecture Services Commercial building design services including retail centers, truck maintenance facilities, lease and finance centers, corporate offices, and tenant improvements. Serves commercial clients requiring functional space planning, brand representation, and sustainable certifications.
• Residential Architecture Services High-end residential design services including waterfront homes, custom residences, multi-family housing, and micro-housing developments. Serves affluent homeowners seeking custom design reflecting personal aesthetics, site optimization, sustainable features, and luxury finishes in the Pacific Northwest and select other locations.

Quantifiable outcome

• First Zero Net Energy Fire Station in the country (Salt Lake City Fire Station 14)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

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

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• A3C Collaborative ArchitecturemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022TCA serves as Design Architect alongside A3C Collaborative Architecture (Architect of Record) for Michigan's first-ever net-zero fire station in Ann Arbor, a 12,000 sq. ft. solar-powered facility.
• ThinkOne ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019TCA partnered with ThinkOne Architects on Central Valley Fire Station 1 in Belgrade, MT, serving as the Fire Station Specialist while ThinkOne served as Architect of Record. This partnership developed the innovative two-building hot zone/cold zone contamination control concept.
• Blalock and PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018TCA teamed with Blalock and Partners to design Salt Lake City Fire Station 14, the first Zero Net Energy fire station in the country. Blalock served as Architect of Record with TCA as Fire Station Specialist.
• Firehouse MagazinecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTCA maintains a strong relationship with Firehouse Magazine as a contributor of industry expertise through articles on fire station design, building codes, and safety considerations. Firehouse provides a platform for TCA's thought leadership in the fire services community.
• Anderson Mason Dale ArchitectsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTCA serves as Associate Architect with Anderson Mason Dale Architects on the Bozeman Public Safety Center project, a 91,000 SF facility for Police, Municipal Courts, and Fire Department.
• Designs Northwest ArchitectsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTCA collaborated with Designs Northwest Architects on Kirkland Plaza, a LEED Platinum residential project that won the AIA 2020 NWW Design Award.
• BCJ (Baker Currie + Julian)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTCA served as Fire Station Specialist Architect with BCJ as Architect of Record for Seattle Fire Station 32, a four-story LEED Platinum targeted facility.
• Boxwood ArchitectsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTCA worked with Boxwood Architects on Seattle's Joint Training Facility, a 12.6-acre campus designed to become the first LEED Silver Certified Training Facility in the country.
• Finkle + Williams ArchitecturemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTCA served as Fire Station Specialist Architect with Finkle + Williams as Architect of Record for Lenexa Justice Center in Kansas.
• UC&D MagazineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSpanish Fork Fire Station 62 was recognized as 'Most Outstanding Public Project Under $10 Million' by UC&D Magazine, highlighting TCA's project delivery.
• Perkins Will DesignmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTCA served as Fire Station Specialist Architect with Perkins Will Design on Dallas Fire Station 50.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• DLR Group: National integrated design firm with civic and public safety practice; competes with TCA on larger fire station and public safety center commissions across multiple states.
• Stantec (formerly SHW Group): Global design and engineering consultancy with public sector and civic buildings practice; competes for larger municipal fire/police facility commissions.
• HKS: Large national AEC firm with significant civic and public safety portfolio; competes with TCA for larger municipal commissions and as a potential prime architect partner.
• Perkins&Will: International architecture firm with civic, public safety, and sustainable design practice; comparable to TCA on sustainable design credentials and serves as a frequent architect-of-record partner (e.g., Dallas FS 50).

Direct peers

• WHL Architects (LeMay Erickson Wilcox): Architecture firm with a recognized public safety and civic facilities practice, including fire station and emergency services design — directly comparable to TCA's core specialty.
• Blackson Bray: Specialist architecture firm focused on fire stations and emergency services facilities; competes with TCA for the same municipal client base in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
• Bone/Levine Architects: Public safety and civic architecture firm known for police, fire, and justice facility design — directly competes with TCA for municipal RFPs.
• Wagner Tharp Architects (WTA): Architecture practice with a strong public safety portfolio including fire stations and police facilities, comparable in scale and specialization to TCA.
• Anderson Mason Dale Architects: Architecture firm with civic, public safety, and education practice; directly comparable as a peer architect-of-record on projects like the Bozeman Public Safety Center where TCA served as associate.

Regional players

• Mithun: Seattle-based architecture firm with civic, residential, and sustainability focus; competes regionally with TCA for Pacific Northwest municipal and high-end residential commissions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tca-architecture-and-planning
• Xx.com/TCAArchitecture
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 TCA