RKW Architektur +

What RKW Architektur + does

RKW Architektur + is a German full-service architecture firm operating as RKW Rhode Kellermann Wawrowsky GmbH, founded in 1950 by Helmut Rhode and headquartered in Düsseldorf. The firm maintains four offices in Germany (Düsseldorf, Münster since 2015, Bremen since 2022, Leipzig) and employs more than 400 multidisciplinary professionals — architects, interior architects, structural engineers, and controllers — drawn from 25 countries, structured under eight partners. The legal entity is a privately held GmbH with no public listing, parent company, or disclosed external investors; the firm identifies itself as one of Germany's most successful architecture practices based on a 75-year track record.

The firm's service offering spans all HOAI Leistungsphasen (German architecture fee regulation, design phases 1–9), including architecture, interior architecture, sustainable building, BIM (Building Information Modeling), construction management, project management, and quality management. Underlying technical depth is anchored in BIM methodology (with active executive-board membership in the BIM Allianz) and an internal sustainability.lab initiative. Distinctive proprietary products are the 'define' consulting tool for early-stage process security and the newer KI-based 'define – deliver' tool for digitized turnkey construction ordering. Customer segments are deliberately horizontal — education, office/commercial, urban development, residential, special buildings (theatres, correctional facilities), sports, and industrial — with named enterprise logos including Hines, Enfa Investment, AOK Rheinland, Körber, DZ-Hyp, REWE Group, Debeka, and MTU Aero Engines.

Revenue is generated through professional services fees governed by the HOAI structure and tied to construction costs across multi-year project cycles, complemented by competition prizes and direct commissions. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales via RFPs, architectural competitions, and direct institutional procurement, with regional offices providing market access across Germany. The firm is currently expanding capacity with a ~5,000 m² anchor-tenant lease at the KöTower in Düsseldorf and reinvests in talent pipelines through awards such as the Helmut-Rhode-Förderpreis and the Domo Award (with Schüßler-Plan and TU Dortmund).

Name

RKW Architektur +

Legal name

RKW Rhode Kellermann Wawrowsky GmbH

Website

https://rkw.plus

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

RKW Architektur + is a German full-service architecture firm founded in 1950, with 400+ professionals across four offices (Düsseldorf HQ, Münster, Bremen, Leipzig) delivering BIM-enabled design, sustainability, construction, and project management to enterprise, institutional, and public clients in Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Design Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Interior Design Services (54141)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Regional & Land Use Planning (BPAHAKAE)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Building information modeling
• Sustainable construction consulting
• Construction project management
• Urban planning services

Headquarters

HQ city

Düsseldorf

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architecture and Planning Services: RKW Architektur + generates revenue through professional architecture and planning fees across all Leistungsphasen (design phases) of construction projects, including design competitions, new construction, renovation, and urban planning engagements for institutional, commercial, and public clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

RKW Architektur + is a full-service architecture and planning firm that delivers comprehensive architectural services across all nine German HOAI Leistungsphasen (design phases 1-9), from competition design and conception through construction supervision. Its portfolio spans education, offices, retail, industrial, urban planning, residential, sports, and special-purpose buildings for corporate, institutional, and public-sector clients throughout Germany.

Product overview

RKW Architektur + is a German architecture firm offering comprehensive architectural and planning services as a unified portfolio. The core offering consists of Architecture (Architektur) as the primary service, supplemented by specialized services including Sustainable Building (Nachhaltig Bauen), BIM (Building Information Modeling), Construction Management (Baumanagement), Project Management (Projektmanagement), Quality Management (Qualitätsmanagement), Interior Architecture (Innenarchitektur), and Urban Planning. The define service functions as a consulting tool for early-stage project development. The firm also operates the sustainability.lab for sustainability expertise integration. All services are delivered across project types including education, offices, retail, industry, urban planning, sports, residential, and special buildings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architektur (Architecture) Full-service architecture design covering all project phases from conception to completion, serving sectors including education, offices, retail, industry, urban planning, sports, residential, and special buildings.
• Nachhaltig Bauen (Sustainable Building / Sustainability consulting) Sustainability consulting service integrated across all projects, featuring the sustainability.lab team that develops sustainability tools and integrates expertise into internal processes.
• BIM (Building Information Modeling) Digital planning service using Building Information Modeling methodology; RKW is an active member of the BIM Allianz and participates in standard-setting processes for digital construction.
• Baumanagement (Construction Management) Construction management and supervision services ensuring projects are delivered on time, on budget, and to quality standards.
• Projektmanagement (Project Management) Comprehensive project management services coordinating all stakeholders and phases of construction and development projects.
• Qualitätsmanagement (Quality Management) Quality assurance and management services ensuring consistent standards across all project deliverables.
• Innenarchitektur (Interior Architecture) Interior architecture and design services for various building types and functions, delivered as part of the firm's multidisciplinary offering.
• define (Consulting framework) Proprietary consulting framework for early-stage process security in development, planning, and construction - covering needs and space definition, expectation and effect identification, and coordination of locations and stakeholders.

Quantifiable outcome

• i8 Munich — first large-scale timber hybrid project in Munich, finalist at MIPIM Awards 2026
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Schüßler-PlancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 January 2024RKW Architektur + and Schüßler-Plan co-founded the Domo Award in 2024, together with TU Dortmund's Faculty of Architecture and Civil Engineering. The award recognizes interdisciplinary teamwork between architecture and civil engineering students in the 'Dortmunder Modell' educational program. The prize is endowed with 2,000 euros for study trips and aims to promote collaborative development thinking.
• TU Dortmund (Fakultät für Architektur und Bauingenieurwesen)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 January 2024TU Dortmund partners with RKW Architektur + and Schüßler-Plan for the Domo Award, which honors the 'Dortmunder Modell' — a unique interdisciplinary educational concept bringing architecture and civil engineering students together. The award recognizes outstanding team-oriented academic work in the P3 module.
• BIM AllianzcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRKW is an active member of the BIM Allianz and was re-elected to its executive board at the 2026 general meeting in Berlin. RKW participates in expert conferences on BIM standardization, BIM-based building permit applications, and digital construction workflows. The firm also contributed to the digitalBAU conference with presentations on BIM standard processes and practical data requirements.
• ArchitonicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital platform partner for the 2022 Helmut-Rhode-Förderpreis, which for the first time received international submissions from multiple countries through cooperation with digital platforms.
• ArchDailyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital platform partner for the 2022 Helmut-Rhode-Förderpreis, helping broaden international reach of the student drawing competition.
• German Architects.comminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital platform partner for the 2022 Helmut-Rhode-Förderpreis, helping promote the student architecture drawing competition internationally.
• HTWK Leipzig (Hochschule für Technik, Wirtschaft und Kultur Leipzig)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRKW Leipzig acts as a recurring sponsor of the HTWK Studienpreis für Architektur and the Deutschlandstipendium, supporting architecture students at the Leipzig university of applied sciences.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• gmp Architekten (von Gerkan, Marg and Partners): Major German full-service architecture practice with strong public-sector and cultural project portfolio. Competes with RKW for institutional, transport, and large-scale commercial commissions in Germany and abroad.
• HPP Architekten: One of Germany's largest architecture firms with hundreds of employees across multiple offices. Direct competitor for the same enterprise, public, and commercial commissions in Germany with comparable full-service, multidisciplinary offerings.
• Hascher Jehle Architektur: Berlin-based German full-service architecture firm with strong corporate and public sector commissions. Direct peer in target segments and integrated delivery across Leistungsphasen.
• KSP Engel: Large German architecture practice with a broad portfolio of office, education, and public buildings. Direct competitor in the same HOAI-regulated, full-service architectural market.
• Schüßler-Plan: Major German engineering and planning firm that co-founded the Domo Award with RKW and TU Dortmund. Closely comparable engineering-adjacent professional services peer in the German building lifecycle market.
• ASTOC ARCHITECTS AND PLANNERS: Cologne-based German architecture and urban planning practice. Comparable in focus on quarter development, urban planning, and large-scale enterprise commissions, overlapping with RKW's Nordsternquartier and Homann Areal work.
• JSK Architekten: Berlin-based full-service German architecture firm of comparable scale with strong international airport and corporate portfolios. Direct peer in scale, delivery model, and target client segments.
• HENN Architekten: Munich-headquartered German architecture and masterplanning firm with a comparable focus on industrial, corporate, and cultural projects for enterprise clients. Closely comparable in scale, typology, and sustainability orientation.

Broad incumbents

• Foster + Partners: Global architecture firm with a major German and Munich presence. Competes for the same large enterprise, cultural, and mixed-use commissions at the upper end of the market but with significantly broader geographic scope.
• David Chipperfield Architects: Internationally renowned architecture practice with strong German and Berlin presence. Competes for the same cultural, public, and high-prestige corporate commissions but operates a much broader international portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rkwmail
• Facebookfacebook.com/RKWArchitekturplus
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rkw-architektur
• Instagraminstagram.com/rkwarchitekturplus

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 RKW Architektur +