Wright Heerema Architects

What Wright Heerema Architects does

Wright Heerema Architects (WHA) is a Chicago-based architecture and interior design firm founded in 1996 by Stephen T. Wright. The firm provides an integrated suite of professional design services covering architecture, interior design, workplace strategy, master planning, repositioning and reuse, branding, sustainability, and technology integration for commercial real estate owners, developers, and corporate tenants. WHA's work is concentrated in workplace interiors and building repositioning projects — i.e., modernizing older commercial office assets to compete with Class A product — with operations spanning Chicagoland and selective nationwide engagements. The firm reports completion of more than 2,500 projects totaling over 20 million square feet across 10 client sectors.

The firm operates as a professional services practice with principal-led business development. Pricing is quote-based and project-specific; no public fee schedule or revenue figures are disclosed. WHA's primary technology deployment is Point Cloud scanning for accurate as-built measurement, used to unlock rentable square footage in historic buildings and accelerate interior fit-out workflows. Marketing is anchored on a content-marketing/earned-media mix — website blog (Making Waves), a workplace-design eBook (The Destination Workplace), Instagram, LinkedIn, and PR in Crain's Chicago Business, GlobeSt, and REJournals — supplemented by participation at CoreNet Chicago, BisNow, and NeoCon.

WHA serves two primary segments: commercial real estate owners/investors seeking to reposition or enhance assets (long-tenured clients include Beacon Capital Partners, Spear Street Capital, Franklin Partners, Golub, TIER REIT, Torburn Partners), and corporate tenants designing headquarters and specialized facilities (Motorola Solutions, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., Northrop Grumman, Alliant Credit Union, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons). Secondary segments include pharmaceutical/life sciences and nonprofits. The firm is privately held, founder-led under Stephen T. Wright with principals Kenneth R. Wardingley and Daniel J. Elkins following Roger Heerema's January 2026 retirement and transition to an advisory role.

Name

Wright Heerema Architects

Legal name

Wright Heerema Architects

Website

https://wharchs.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Wright Heerema Architects is a Chicago-based architecture and interior design firm providing workplace strategy, repositioning, tenant improvement, and master planning services for commercial real estate owners, developers, and corporate tenants across the Midwest and select U.S. markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural and Interior Design Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Interior Design Services (54141)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB), Space Planning & Workplace Design (BPAHAKAI)

Keywords

• Commercial architecture services
• Interior design services
• Workplace strategy consulting
• Building repositioning services
• Master planning services

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

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 and Interior Design Services: Professional fees for architectural design, interior design, workplace strategy, branding, master planning, sustainability, and repositioning services for commercial office buildings and corporate clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Wright Heerema Architects is a Chicago-based architecture and interior design firm delivering planning, architecture, interior design, workplace strategy, branding, master planning, sustainability, and repositioning services. The firm primarily serves commercial real estate owners, developers, and corporate tenants, with a strong concentration in workplace interiors and building repositioning projects across Chicagoland and nationwide.

Product overview

Wright Heerema Architects (WHA) is a Chicago-based architecture and interior design firm offering a comprehensive suite of design services. The firm's core offerings include Architecture Services, Interior Design, Technology Integration, Branding, Master Planning, Repositioning and Reuse, Sustainability, and Workplace Strategy. These services are delivered as integrated consulting offerings rather than discrete software products or modules, serving commercial real estate clients, building owners, developers, and corporations across Chicagoland and nationwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture Services Comprehensive architectural design services for commercial office buildings, including new construction and renovation projects, for building owners, developers, and corporate tenants.
• Interior Design Interior design services focused on workplace environments, tenant improvements, and amenity spaces for commercial properties and corporate clients.
• Technology Integration Technology design and integration services for buildings including AV systems, connectivity infrastructure, and smart building technologies for commercial properties.
• Branding Building and property branding services including signage, identity systems, and visual communications for commercial real estate.
• Master Planning Strategic planning services for large-scale commercial developments and corporate campuses.
• Repositioning and Reuse Renovation and transformation services for outdated commercial buildings, focusing on updating spaces to meet modern tenant expectations and increase property value.
• Sustainability Sustainable design services including LEED-certified projects and environmentally conscious building practices for commercial properties.
• Workplace Strategy Consulting services to help organizations align their workspace with company culture, work styles, and business objectives.

Quantifiable outcome

• Delivered more than 20 million square feet of workplace development
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 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

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Torburn PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Development partner for Motorola Solutions ground-up office and lab facility project in Plantation, Florida. Torburn Partners is the building owner and developer, working with WHA as the design firm for this 85,000 square foot, three-story project.
• Brasfield & GorrieminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025General contractor for Motorola Solutions project in Plantation, Florida, working alongside WHA and Torburn Partners.
• Spear Street Capital, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilding owner for 500 W. Monroe revitalization project. WHA collaborated with Spear Street Capital to reimagine the exterior and interior of the high-rise office property, drawing inspiration from client branding and Chicago River flow.
• JLLminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProject management collaboration for Bannockburn Atrium renovation project with Wanxiang American Real Estate Group.
• J.C. AndersonminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContractor partner for Bannockburn Atrium transformation project, collaborating with WHA on the FFE updates and strategic design enhancements.
• CBREminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProject management team for 225 W. Washington lounge amenity project with client Agave Holdings, LLC.
• Beacon Capital PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilding owner engaging WHA for multiple repositioning projects including One North Dearborn amenity upgrades. WHA led design services for new amenities at this turn-of-the-century property.
• Franklin PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term development partner with 15+ years of collaboration on office redevelopment projects in Chicago suburbs and Western Michigan. Projects include The Shuman (263 Shuman Blvd.), 25 Ottawa in Grand Rapids, and 100 Ottawa Studio Park.
• TIER REITcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilding owner for Four40 (440 S LaSalle) repositioning project where WHA designed a vibrant amenity floor including Wi-Fi lounge, full service cafeteria, and conference facilities.
• Golub / Golub Realty ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilding owner for 225 W. Washington renovation project. Golub sought to renovate the building to drive strong market interest and compete with Class A counterparts.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• SmithGroup: Integrated architecture, engineering, and planning firm with a strong workplace and interiors practice — broader incumbent competing for similar enterprise commercial and corporate clients.
• Gensler: Global architecture, design, and planning firm with a dominant workplace practice and Fortune 500 client roster — a much larger competitor serving many of the same enterprise owners, developers, and corporate tenants WHA targets.
• Perkins&Will: Global architecture and design firm with significant workplace, healthcare, and science & technology practices — broader incumbent competing with WHA in enterprise corporate and healthcare/lab facility work.
• CannonDesign: Large integrated architecture and engineering firm with substantial workplace, healthcare, and science & technology practices — broader incumbent competing for similar enterprise accounts across verticals where WHA also operates.

Direct peers

• M Moser Associates: Workplace design and strategy firm specializing in corporate interiors and workplace strategy for global enterprises — directly comparable to WHA's workplace strategy + interior design bundle.
• Legat Architects: Chicago-area architecture and interior design firm serving commercial, education, and institutional clients — directly comparable as a Chicagoland architecture/interiors competitor with similar enterprise client focus.
• Nelson Worldwide: Architecture, interior design, and brand strategy firm with deep workplace and commercial real estate practice — directly comparable to WHA in offering bundle and target enterprise clients across industries.
• Ware Malcomb: Commercial architecture, planning, and interior design firm specializing in office, industrial, healthcare, and science & technology — highly comparable service mix and customer base to WHA, particularly in workplace and repositioning projects.
• Interior Architects: Global commercial interior design and workplace strategy firm serving enterprise clients with headquarters, repositioning, and workplace experience projects — directly comparable to WHA's interior design and workplace strategy practice across similar enterprise customer segments.
• Kahler Slater: Mid-size architecture, interior design, and brand strategy firm with a strong Midwest presence and enterprise client base — closely comparable to WHA in scale, service mix (architecture + interiors + brand), and target market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wright-heerema-architects
• Instagraminstagram.com/wharchitects

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Wright Heerema Architects