CICADA
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersPhiladelphia, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
CICADA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CICADA
- Legal name
- CICADA Architecture/Planning, Inc.
- Website
- https://cicadaarchitecture.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CICADA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural Services
- NAICS
- Architectural Services (54131), Architectural Services (541310)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Engagement & Participatory Planning (BPAHAKAO)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Historic Preservation & Conservation Planning (BPAHAKAH)
Keywords
Where CICADA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Philadelphia
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
CICADA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Architecture and Planning Services: CICADA generates revenue through professional architecture and planning service fees for community development, educational, and arts/culture projects. Services include design, documentation, construction administration, and feasibility studies from project inception through completion.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
CICADA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CICADA Architecture/Planning, Inc. provides professional architectural and planning services across community development, education, housing, and arts/culture sectors. The firm delivers design, documentation, construction administration, feasibility studies, and master planning, with specializations in affordable housing, adaptive reuse, historic preservation, and sustainable design (LEED, Energy Star, Enterprise Green Communities, Zero Energy Ready Homes). It primarily serves community development corporations, public housing authorities, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations in the Philadelphia metropolitan area.
Product overview
CICADA Architecture/Planning, Inc. is a Philadelphia-based architecture and planning firm offering comprehensive design services across community development, education, housing, and arts & culture sectors. The firm specializes in affordable housing, adaptive reuse, historic preservation, and sustainable design. Their portfolio includes projects such as Casa Indiana (senior affordable housing), North Central II (community revitalization), Benchmark Innovation Center (educational facility), and various historic preservation projects. CICADA works primarily with community development corporations, housing authorities, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Architecture Design Services Comprehensive architecture design services spanning community development, education, housing, and arts & culture projects, with focus on affordable housing, adaptive reuse, historic preservation, and sustainable design.
- Community Development Projects Affordable housing and community development projects including senior living, transitional housing, supportive housing, and mixed-use developments designed for community development corporations and nonprofit housing providers.
- Education Architecture
- Planning Services
- Historic Preservation & Adaptive Reuse
Quantifiable outcome
- North Central Phase II achieved LEED Gold certification for 89 affordable rental units
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use CICADA
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
CICADA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
CICADA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.
- Abington Friends SchoolmajorPartnership with Abington Friends School (oldest independent Quaker school in the nation, founded 1697) on comprehensive campus master plan to align physical environment with educational goals for next decade.
- Viridian Landscape StudiominorCollaboration with Viridian Landscape Studio on Abington Friends School Campus Plan, involving stakeholder meetings and landscape planning.
- HACE (Hispanic Association of Contractors and Enterprises) CDCcoreLong-term partnership with HACE CDC on multiple affordable housing projects including Casa Indiana (50-unit senior apartments), Guillermo Salas Place, Villas del Caribe renovation, St. Hugh Lofts, and HACE Office Expansion. CICADA has worked with HACE for decades on community development initiatives in Fairhill and St. Hugh neighborhoods.
- Philadelphia Housing AuthoritycoreOngoing partnership with PHA on North Central Phase II (89 affordable units, LEED Gold certified), Roberts Vaux Community Center + High School (HUD Choice Neighborhood Initiative), Walton School Repurposing, and other public housing projects. Total investment exceeding $500 million under transformation plans.
- Project HOMEcorePartnership with Project HOME on supportive housing projects including Kate's Place (144-unit permanently supportive housing), Joyce's Place (transitional housing for women), and Hub of Hope Engagement Center (homeless services facility in SEPTA sub-concourse).
- Women's Community Revitalization Project (WCRP)corePartnership with WCRP on affordable housing development including Mamie Nichols Townhomes (33 accessible units with 11 designated for veterans), Arlene Thorpe Townhomes (27 units), and Abigail Pankey Apartments (32 units) in Point Breeze and Mantua neighborhoods.
- CATCH (Citizens Acting Together Can Help)majorPartnership with CATCH on Mamie Nichols Townhomes project, with 11 units designated to house veterans experiencing homelessness. CATCH provides supportive services for veteran residents.
- Community of Compassion CDCmajorPartnership with Community of Compassion CDC on Compassion Senior Living project (38 one-bedroom apartments) in Cobbs Creek neighborhood, designed to meet Enterprise Green Communities certification.
- DePaulminorPartnership with DePaul on St. Joseph's House project, renovating a former Catholic convent into 24 units of student housing for DePaul students experiencing homelessness.
- Allegheny West FoundationmajorPartnership with Allegheny West Foundation on Panati Playground + Rec Center redesign (7,700 s.f.) in Allegheny West neighborhood, including half-court basketball gym, teen lounge, computer lab, maker spaces, and commercial kitchen for AWF's Share food program.
- Villanova UniversitycoreLong-standing partnership with Villanova University on multiple educational projects including Vasey Hall Graduate Center adaptive reuse, Bartley Hall Exchange, Bartley Classrooms, Garey Hall Public Safety, and prior work on Villanova Business School.
- Swarthmore CollegemajorPartnership with Swarthmore College on Cornell Library Study Spaces renovation, transforming ground floor into flexible learning environment with varied seating options and study zones.
- Westtown SchoolmajorPartnership with Westtown School on new two-story mass timber dining hall building (23,000 s.f.) with passive heating/cooling, locally-sourced materials, and drought-resilient landscaping.
- SHoP ArchitectscoreDesign partnership with SHoP Architects on Benchmark School Innovation Lab and Westtown School Dining Hall projects. CICADA serves as architect of record while collaborating with SHoP on design vision.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CICADA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- WRT (Wallace Roberts & Todd): Philadelphia-based architecture, planning, and urban design firm with a mission-driven practice spanning community development, sustainability, and historic preservation - the closest direct peer to CICADA in geography, scale, and client base.
- David Baker Architects: California-based architecture firm nationally recognized for affordable and supportive housing design. Comparable specialty in mission-driven multifamily and supportive housing projects.
- Hord Coplan Macht: Mid-Atlantic architecture firm with strong education, community, and civic practices. Similar mission-driven orientation and competing for the same RFP pool in the Philadelphia region.
- Quinn Evans: Architecture firm specializing in historic preservation, adaptive reuse, and cultural institutions. Directly comparable in CICADA's preservation and adaptive-reuse specialty with broader geographic reach.
- Erdy McHenry Architecture: Philadelphia architecture firm focused on community-oriented mixed-use, education, and urban infill projects. Comparable in size, regional footprint, and emphasis on stakeholder-driven design.
- Interface Studio Architects: Philadelphia-based mission-driven architecture firm focused on equitable community design, housing, and education. Directly comparable values-driven practice serving CDCs and nonprofit clients.
- KSS Architecture: Education-focused architecture firm with deep experience in K-12 and higher-education campus planning. Comparable in scale and aligned with CICADA's educational-institution segment.
- John Milner Architects: Historic preservation architecture firm with an affordable housing and community development portfolio. Comparable specialty focus on adaptive reuse and culturally significant building projects.
Broad incumbents
- CannonDesign: Large national architecture and design firm with substantial education and community practices. Competes with CICADA for institutional and education-sector commissions but as part of a much broader portfolio.
- Perkins&Will: Major global architecture firm with a strong sustainable-design practice and deep education, healthcare, and community portfolios. Comparable LEED and sustainability expertise but at far larger scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CICADA social profiles
Digital presenceCICADA compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
CICADA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CICADA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
CICADA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CICADA 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 CICADA
What does CICADA do?
CICADA Architecture/Planning, Inc. provides professional architectural and planning services across community development, education, housing, and arts/culture sectors. The firm delivers design, documentation, construction administration, feasibility studies, and master planning, with specializations in affordable housing, adaptive reuse, historic preservation, and sustainable design (LEED, Energy Star, Enterprise Green Communities, Zero Energy Ready Homes). It primarily serves community development corporations, public housing authorities, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations in the Philadelphia metropolitan area.
Is CICADA a public or private company?
CICADA is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was CICADA founded?
CICADA was founded in 1995. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is CICADA based?
CICADA is headquartered in Philadelphia, United States, in the North America region.
How does CICADA make money?
One revenue line is on record: architecture and Planning Services.
Who are CICADA's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are WRT (Wallace Roberts & Todd), David Baker Architects, Hord Coplan Macht, Quinn Evans, Erdy McHenry Architecture, Interface Studio Architects, KSS Architecture and John Milner Architects. Broad incumbents are CannonDesign and Perkins&Will.
Does CICADA have an API?
No public API is recorded for CICADA.
What industry is CICADA in?
CICADA's product category is Architectural Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAO, Community Engagement & Participatory Planning, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAH, Historic Preservation & Conservation Planning. Its NAICS code is 54131.