Metcalfe
Metcalfe is a Philadelphia-based architecture and design firm combining architecture, exhibition design, and environmental graphic design for institutional clients in healthcare, education, museums, and cultural institutions across the United States and Colombia.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersPhiladelphia, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Metcalfe does
Metcalfe Architecture & Design is a privately held, Philadelphia-based architecture and design firm founded in 2001 by Alan Metcalfe. The firm combines three practices under one roof: architecture, exhibition design, and environmental graphic design, with explicit specialization in informal learning environments, nature play and canopy experiences, sustainable and Passive House design, and pediatric-positive-distraction healthcare spaces. Its core technical differentiation is methodological: a design philosophy that integrates physical, visual, and experiential elements to drive social engagement and exploration, codified through 24+ years of work and reinforced by credentials including LEED-AP staff, a Passive House professional, and an AIA Fellow.
Metcalfe generates revenue exclusively through B2B professional service fees from institutional clients. Pricing is custom and project-based, with engagements ranging from small renovations (~375 SF) and single-room fit-outs to large new construction (120,000 SF schools, 110,000 SF institutional facilities) delivered over multi-year contracts. Clients include hospitals and pediatric health systems (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Lancaster General, UPMC Pinnacle, Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters), K-12 and higher education institutions (Bryn Athyn, Solebury, Wissahickon Charter, Mount Saint Joseph), museums and cultural institutions (Morris Arboretum, National Building Museum, Museum of the American Revolution, Maryland Science Center, Bruce Museum), public libraries, corporate clients (Comcast Technology Center, Wawa), and residential projects. Distribution is direct enterprise sales via relationships, RFPs, and referrals; the firm does not use channel partners or self-service channels.
Operating geographies span the continental United States (Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, West) plus international work in Colombia. The firm supplements its design work with a recurring partner ecosystem of landscape architects, digital interactive firms, fabricators, and large institutional architects (ZGF, Ballinger, Stantec, Array), executed as co-design and implementation engagements. Revenue, headcount exact figures, and ownership structure beyond named partners are not publicly disclosed.
Metcalfe firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Metcalfe
- Legal name
- Metcalfe Architecture & Design
- Website
- https://metarchdesign.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Metcalfe is a Philadelphia-based architecture and design firm combining architecture, exhibition design, and environmental graphic design for institutional clients in healthcare, education, museums, and cultural institutions across the United States and Colombia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Metcalfe industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architecture and Design Services
- NAICS
- Interior Design Services (541410)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering Services (8711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Space Planning & Workplace Design (BPAHAKAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Wayfinding, Signage & Environmental Graphic Design (BPAHAKAN)
Keywords
Where Metcalfe is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Philadelphia
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Metcalfe business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Architecture and Design Services: Metcalfe generates revenue through professional architecture and design services for institutional clients including master planning, new construction, renovations, and specialized interior design. Projects span across cultural institutions, healthcare facilities, educational institutions, corporate spaces, and residential properties. Revenue is project-based with typical engagement scopes ranging from single-room renovations to large-scale new construction projects.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom project-based pricing based on scope, size, and complexity |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Metcalfe product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Metcalfe is a multi-disciplinary architecture and design firm providing professional services in architecture, exhibition design, environmental graphic design, and master planning for institutional clients. The firm specializes in informal learning environments, nature-play installations, healthcare positive-distraction design, and sustainable Passive House buildings, serving schools, museums, hospitals, cultural institutions, libraries, and corporate clients across the United States and select international markets.
Product overview
Metcalfe is an architecture and design firm offering professional services including architecture, exhibition design, environmental graphic design, and master planning. The firm does not operate as a software or technology product company.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Architecture Services Professional architecture services for institutional clients including schools, hospitals, museums, cultural institutions, libraries, corporate offices, and residential properties. Scope spans master planning, new construction, renovations, and additions, with project sizes ranging from small renovations (e.g., 375-square-foot patios) to large-scale new construction (e.g., 120,000 SF school buildings).
- Exhibition Design Design services for museum and cultural institution exhibits including interpretive planning, interactive exhibit design, immersive installations, and visitor experience design. Notable projects include Revolution Place Discovery Center, SPACE exhibit at Maryland Science Center, Making Room Exhibit at National Building Museum, Science Gallery at Bruce Museum, and Philadelphia Revealed.
- Environmental Graphic Design Environmental graphics, wayfinding, and donor recognition design for healthcare facilities, museums, libraries, and corporate clients. Healthcare practice focuses on positive-distraction design incorporating biophilic and nature-based imagery. Notable projects include Buerger Center for Advanced Pediatric Care at CHOP, The Universal Sphere at Comcast Technology Center, and pediatric unit designs at Lancaster General Hospital and UPMC Pinnacle Harrisburg.
- Master Planning Comprehensive site master planning services for cultural institutions, schools, and campuses. Notable projects include Whiting Forest of Dow Gardens, Pine Crest School campuses, Colegio Karl C. Parrish in Colombia, and West Overton Village historic site master plan.
- Nature Play and Interpretive Installation Design Specialty design services for elevated tree canopy walks, nature play environments, and playscapes that incorporate perceived risk to encourage exploration. Notable projects include Out on a Limb at Morris Arboretum (450-foot walkway suspended 50 feet above forest floor) and The Playscape at Moorestown Friends School with Studio Ludo.
- Sustainable and Passive House Building Design Architecture services incorporating sustainable materials, energy-efficient systems, and Passive House principles. The team includes three LEED-AP staff members and one Passive House design professional, and has committed to the AIA 2030 Commitment for carbon-neutral buildings. Notable project includes Hope Hall at Solebury School, the first dormitory in the United States to be fully Phius certified.
Quantifiable outcome
- Phius-certified buildings perform up to 85% better than conventional buildings
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Metcalfe
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Metcalfe technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Metcalfe partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Viridian Landscape StudiocoreMetcalfe partnered with Viridian Landscape Studio for the AFS Outside Headwaters Discovery Program at Abington Friends School. The project is central to the school's curriculum, integrating landscape and children through nature play.
- Art Guild, Inc.majorMetcalfe worked with Art Guild, Inc. to design the SPACE exhibit at Maryland Science Center, creating rooms filled with playful interactives exploring the seen and unseen universe.
- Show CanadacoreShow Canada led mechanical design and fabrication for The Universal Sphere at Comcast Technology Center. Known for work with Cirque du Soliel and Olympic opening ceremonies, they provided the specialized expertise for this unique 40-foot sphere project.
- Studio LudocoreMetcalfe collaborated with Studio Ludo to develop The Playscape at Moorestown Friends School, a reimagined playscape experience that embraces outdoor play as a natural extension of outdoor education.
- Night Kitchen InteractivemajorPartnered with Night Kitchen Interactive for digital experiences at the Bruce Museum's Science Gallery exhibit, creating rich, playful learning environment with both traditional and digital interactives.
- Universal Services AssociatesmajorFabrication and installation partner for Bruce Museum Science Gallery exhibit design.
- HabithèqueminorCollaborated with exhibit planner Habithèque for the Gilroy Roberts Gallery at Community College of Philadelphia, designing the inaugural exhibition.
- DMZ PlannerscoreMetcalfe works with DMZ Planners on space utilization and facilities planning for Pine Crest School campuses and for master planning at Colegio Karl C. Parrish in Colombia.
- Pashek + MTR Landscape ArchitectscoreMetcalfe partnered with Pashek + MTR Landscape Architects along with Drexel University Lenfest Center to create a comprehensive site master plan for West Overton Village historic site.
- Drexel University Lenfest Center for Cultural PartnershipscorePartnered for West Overton Village master plan and collaborated on Philadelphia Revealed exhibit with Drexel's Lenfest Center for Cultural Partnerships.
- Array ArchitectsmajorMetcalfe worked with Array Architects to curate photography-based environmental graphics for Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters new inpatient hospital in Norfolk, VA.
- ZGF ArchitectsmajorMetcalfe partnered with ZGF Architects as part of a multidisciplinary team to design environmental graphics and wayfinding for CHOP's Medical Behavioral Unit, the first of its kind in the nation.
- StantecmajorMetcalfe worked with Stantec on multiple healthcare projects including Lancaster General Hospital's Seraph-McSparren Pediatric Inpatient Center and UPMC Pinnacle Harrisburg pediatric unit.
- BallingermajorMetcalfe worked alongside Ballinger for CHOP's King of Prussia Pediatric Inpatient Hospital and Raymond G. Perelman Donor Wall project.
- Corona Real Estate PartnersminorCorona served as owner's representative for Elwyn Early Learning Services office fit-out project.
- Julia BlaukopfminorMetcalfe collaborated with Julia Blaukopf on Goat Hollow restaurant design, creating custom wallpaper and design elements.
- Ennis NehezminorConsulting partner for Goat Hollow restaurant design project.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Metcalfe competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Stantec: Global design and engineering firm with significant healthcare and education practices. Metcalfe has worked with Stantec as a partner on multiple healthcare projects, indicating parallel positioning in pediatric facility design.
- Perkins&Will: Global architecture practice with strong healthcare, education, and cultural-institution studios. Overlaps with Metcalfe in pediatric healthcare and museum design but operates at much larger scale.
- CannonDesign: National architecture and engineering firm with a large healthcare and education practice. Competes for the same institutional clients as Metcalfe but at significantly larger scale and full-service scope.
Direct peers
- Array Architects: Healthcare-focused architecture firm specializing in inpatient and pediatric facilities. Listed as a Metcalfe partner on CHKD project; directly comparable in pediatric hospital design.
- EwingCole: Philadelphia-based architecture and design firm with deep healthcare, education, and cultural-institution portfolios. Direct competitor for the same institutional RFPs Metcalfe pursues in the Mid-Atlantic.
- Ballinger: Philadelphia architecture firm specializing in healthcare, science/tech, and higher-education facilities. Listed as a Metcalfe implementation partner on CHOP projects, indicating closely adjacent practices in pediatric healthcare design.
- WRT (Wallace Roberts & Todd): Philadelphia-based planning and design firm with experience in cultural landscapes, education, and civic projects. Comparable regional peer for master-planning and institutional design work.
- Snøhetta: Design and architecture firm known for cultural institutions, public-realm projects, and experiential environments. Shares Metcalfe's design-philosophy-driven approach and museum/library portfolio.
- DIGSAU: Philadelphia-based boutique architecture practice with cultural, civic, and residential work. Local direct peer in the same geography, competing for similar Philadelphia-region institutional clients.
- Quinn Evans Architects: Mid-size architecture firm with cultural-institution, education, and preservation practices. Comparable in size and segment mix to Metcalfe, often competing for the same museum and library RFPs.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Metcalfe social profiles
Digital presenceMetcalfe financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Metcalfe leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Metcalfe funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Metcalfe 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 Metcalfe
What does Metcalfe do?
Metcalfe is a multi-disciplinary architecture and design firm providing professional services in architecture, exhibition design, environmental graphic design, and master planning for institutional clients. The firm specializes in informal learning environments, nature-play installations, healthcare positive-distraction design, and sustainable Passive House buildings, serving schools, museums, hospitals, cultural institutions, libraries, and corporate clients across the United States and select international markets.
Is Metcalfe a public or private company?
Metcalfe is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Metcalfe founded?
Metcalfe was founded in 2001. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Metcalfe based?
Metcalfe is headquartered in Philadelphia, United States, in the North America region.
How does Metcalfe make money?
One revenue line is on record: architecture and Design Services.
Who are Metcalfe's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Stantec, Perkins&Will and CannonDesign. Direct peers are Array Architects, EwingCole, Ballinger, WRT (Wallace Roberts & Todd), Snøhetta, DIGSAU and Quinn Evans Architects.
Does Metcalfe have an API?
No public API is recorded for Metcalfe.
What industry is Metcalfe in?
Metcalfe's product category is Architecture and Design Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAI, Space Planning & Workplace Design, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAN, Wayfinding, Signage & Environmental Graphic Design. Its NAICS code is 541410 and its SIC code is 8711.