SkB Architects
SkB Architects is a Seattle-based, privately held full-service architecture and interior design firm founded in 1999, serving enterprise clients across commercial, retail, hospitality, residential, and cultural sectors with end-to-end design services from masterplanning through post-occupancy evaluation.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersSeattle, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What SkB Architects does
SkB Architects is a privately held, full-service architecture and interior design firm founded in 1999 by Shannon Gaffney, Kyle Gaffney, and Brian Collins-Friedrichs and headquartered at 2333 3rd Avenue in Seattle, WA. The firm operates across commercial, retail, hospitality, single-family and multi-family residential, workplace, cultural/community, and masterplanning project categories, delivering end-to-end services from pre-design programming, feasibility studies, and code/zoning analysis through visioning, concept development, cost and value analysis, custom element design and procurement (furniture, lighting, wallcoverings), construction administration, and pre/post-occupancy surveys. Underlying service delivery rests on a craft-led, process-driven design approach — there is no proprietary technology platform, AI/ML capability, API surface, or patent portfolio disclosed. The firm has delivered 1,000+ projects, earned 50+ industry awards, and operates a horizontal segmentation strategy that serves enterprise clients across technology, financial services, retail, hospitality, and cultural sectors.
The firm makes money through project-based professional services fees, with pricing determined by scope, complexity, and square footage rather than published tiers. Its go-to-market is enterprise field sales driven by direct relationships, referrals, and industry reputation, supported by a portfolio website (skbarchitects.com), Instagram, and earned media coverage in publications such as Architectural Digest, Dezeen, and ArchDaily. Named clients include Microsoft (multiple engagements spanning over a decade), OpenAI, Snap Inc., Walmart, Ben Bridge Jewelers, Tommy Bahama, Wild Ginger, WSECU, U.S. Bank, KEXP, the Seattle Kraken, Boston Consulting Group, McKinsey & Company, and Holland America Group. The firm appears to be founder/partner-owned with no disclosed private equity, venture capital, or parent company involvement, and leadership currently comprises three founding partners, one partner, one principal, three associate principals, and various director-level and operational staff.
Operating geographies span the Pacific Northwest primary market with project work documented in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Chicago, Colorado, and broader California. The firm's primary commercial segments are Corporate/Commercial and Hospitality, with Retail, Residential, and Culture & Community as additional major segments. Although no revenue or headcount figures are publicly disclosed, the depth of marquee enterprise engagements, geographic reach, and sustained award cadence (2012-2024) are consistent with a stable mid-sized architecture practice.
SkB Architects firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SkB Architects
- Legal name
- SkB Architects
- Website
- https://skbarchitects.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- SkB Architects is a Seattle-based, privately held full-service architecture and interior design firm founded in 1999, serving enterprise clients across commercial, retail, hospitality, residential, and cultural sectors with end-to-end design services from masterplanning through post-occupancy evaluation.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SkB Architects industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural & Interior Design Services
- NAICS
- Architectural Services (541310), Architectural Services (54131), Interior Design Services (54141)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering Services (8711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Community Engagement & Participatory Planning (BPAHAKAO)
Keywords
Where SkB Architects is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seattle
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
SkB Architects business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Architectural Services: Professional fees for full-service architecture and interior design services including masterplanning, site analysis, pre-design, programming, feasibility studies, code/zoning analysis, visioning, concept development, cost analysis, custom element design, construction administration, and post-occupancy surveys.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Project-based professional services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
SkB Architects product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SkB Architects is a full-service architecture and interior design firm that delivers design and consulting services for commercial, residential, hospitality, retail, and cultural projects. Service scope spans masterplanning, site analysis, pre-design programming, feasibility and code/zoning analysis, visioning, concept development, cost analysis, custom element design and procurement, construction administration, and post-occupancy surveys. Projects are delivered as bespoke engagements for enterprise and institutional clients across the United States.
Product overview
SkB Architects is a full-service architecture and interior design firm offering a comprehensive suite of design services. The core offering consists of architecture and interior design spanning commercial, retail, hospitality, and residential sectors. Service modules include masterplanning, pre-design programming, feasibility studies, visioning, cost analysis, custom element procurement, construction administration, and occupancy surveys. The firm's project categories include Commercial Architecture, Retail Design, Hospitality Design, Single Family Residential, Multi-Family Residential, Workplace Design, Culture & Community Design, and Masterplanning & Experience Planning. Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Seattle, WA, the firm has completed over 1,000 projects and received 50+ industry awards.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- 50+ industry awards received
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use SkB Architects
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
SkB Architects technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
SkB Architects partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
SkB Architects competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Perkins&Will: Global architecture and design firm with strong workplace, commercial, and cultural practice. Competes with SkB for enterprise commissions but as a much larger, multi-discipline incumbent with broader regional coverage.
- SmithGroup: Integrated design firm with comparable workplace, commercial, and cultural practices across the U.S. Larger, multi-office incumbent that competes with SkB for enterprise and institutional clients in the Western U.S.
- Gensler: Global architecture and design firm with vast scale across workplace, retail, hospitality, and cultural sectors. Competes with SkB for enterprise clients (Microsoft, McKinsey, BCG, Walmart) but at much larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
Direct peers
- KieranTimberlake: Award-winning architecture firm of comparable size and ethos, focused on rigorous, research-driven design for cultural, workplace, and residential clients. A peer in design philosophy and scale, competing for similar high-design commissions.
- LMN Architects: Seattle-based architecture firm specializing in commercial, civic, and cultural buildings with comparable scale and Pacific Northwest focus. Direct peer competing for similar civic, commercial, and convention-center-scale commissions.
- ZGF Architects: Pacific Northwest-headquartered architecture firm with comparable mix of commercial, healthcare, and workplace projects. Direct regional peer competing for similar enterprise and institutional clients in the Pacific Northwest.
- NBBJ: Seattle-headquartered architecture firm with comparable scale and portfolio across corporate, healthcare, and commercial sectors. Direct Pacific Northwest peer that has designed Microsoft and other tech headquarters, competing with SkB for the same enterprise clients.
- Olson Kundig: Seattle-based architecture and design firm known for residential, hospitality, and cultural projects with a strong award-winning brand. Comparable in size, geography, and sensory-driven design philosophy, and competes directly for Pacific Northwest clients.
- Mithun: Seattle-based integrated architecture, urban design, and interiors firm with a focus on sustainable, place-based design. Comparable in mission, geography, and design philosophy to SkB, and a direct peer for cultural and workplace commissions.
- SHoP Architects: Design-driven architecture firm known for large-scale commercial, cultural, and mixed-use projects with award-winning brand. Comparable in design ambition and cultural-sector portfolio, and a peer for high-profile commissions.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
SkB Architects social profiles
Digital presenceSkB Architects financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SkB Architects leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
SkB Architects funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SkB Architects M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SkB Architects
What does SkB Architects do?
SkB Architects is a full-service architecture and interior design firm that delivers design and consulting services for commercial, residential, hospitality, retail, and cultural projects. Service scope spans masterplanning, site analysis, pre-design programming, feasibility and code/zoning analysis, visioning, concept development, cost analysis, custom element design and procurement, construction administration, and post-occupancy surveys. Projects are delivered as bespoke engagements for enterprise and institutional clients across the United States.
Is SkB Architects a public or private company?
SkB Architects is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was SkB Architects founded?
SkB Architects was founded in 1999. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is SkB Architects based?
SkB Architects is headquartered in Seattle, United States, in the North America region.
How does SkB Architects make money?
One revenue line is on record: architectural Services.
Who are SkB Architects's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Perkins&Will, SmithGroup and Gensler. Direct peers are KieranTimberlake, LMN Architects, ZGF Architects, NBBJ, Olson Kundig, Mithun and SHoP Architects.
Does SkB Architects have an API?
No public API is recorded for SkB Architects.
What industry is SkB Architects in?
SkB Architects's product category is Architectural & Interior Design Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAA, Architectural Design Services, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAO, Community Engagement & Participatory Planning. Its NAICS code is 541310 and its SIC code is 8711.