Studio MELEE

What Studio MELEE does

Studio MELEE is a privately held architecture firm headquartered at 139 4th Street in West Des Moines, Iowa, with a second office at 1553 W. Todd Drive, Suite 107 in Tempe, Arizona. The firm delivers full architectural design services — concept through construction administration — across six verticals: educational institutions, civic and public, religious institutions, retail and hospitality, office and commercial, and residential (single-family and multi-family). Project sizes documented in the portfolio range from roughly 3,000 SQFT renovations (Scenic Route Bakery) to 65,000 SQFT new construction (Northeast Montessori School), with civic and institutional work appearing to dominate.

The firm's core technology stack consists of standard architectural design and space-planning tools; no proprietary platforms, AI/ML systems, or differentiated software products are disclosed. Project-based revenue is generated through professional architectural design fees, typically structured as a percentage of construction cost or fixed design fees per project scope. Acquisition is sales-led, relying on direct outreach, RFP responses for institutional buyers, client referrals, and repeat engagements from prior customers (e.g., recurring work for Des Moines Public Schools across multiple buildings). Distribution is purely direct, with no third-party intermediaries or reseller channel.

The principals Jamie Malloy and Curtis Ehler lead client engagement and operations. Studio MELEE differentiates on a stated 'form follows relationships' design philosophy and has accumulated industry validation including a 2020 AIA Iowa Craft Award, multiple Library Journal architectural features, and recurring Iowa Architect Magazine coverage. The firm reports 100+ completed projects and an active pipeline extending through 2024-2025, with no public funding, M&A, or ownership disclosures available.

Name

Studio MELEE

Legal name

Studio MELEE

Website

https://studiomelee.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Studio MELEE is a privately held architecture firm with offices in West Des Moines, Iowa and Tempe, Arizona, delivering full-service architectural design across educational, civic, religious, retail, hospitality, office, and residential projects primarily in the Midwest and Southwest US.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Design Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Interior Design Services (541410), Residential Building Construction (2361), Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (236220)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYIMAFABAE

Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Construction & Civil Engineering/Residential Building Construction

SECONDARYIMAFANAG

Drywall, Partitions & Suspended Ceilings

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Construction & Civil Engineering/Interior Fit-Out & Finishing Contractors

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Commercial architecture
• Educational facility design
• Residential architecture
• Civic building design

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Moines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Studio MELEE generates revenue through professional architectural design services, including new construction design, renovations, additions, and modernization projects. Revenue is project-based, with fees typically structured as a percentage of construction cost or fixed design fees per project scope. The firm works on projects ranging from small tenant improvements to large-scale institutional buildings.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Studio MELEE is an architecture firm providing professional architectural design services, including new construction design, renovations, additions, and modernization projects. Services span six building categories — Office & Commercial, Residential, Civic & Public, Religious Institutions, Retail & Hospitality, and Educational Institutions — and are delivered on a project-by-project basis under a "form follows relationships" design philosophy across Iowa and Arizona.

Product overview

Studio MELEE is an architecture firm offering comprehensive architectural design services across multiple building categories. The firm operates as a single-service practice focused on architecture and design, providing services for office/commercial, residential (single-family and multi-family), civic/public, religious institutions, retail/hospitality, and educational institution projects. The company works with clients throughout Iowa and the surrounding region, managing projects from concept through completion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Office & Commercial Architecture Architectural design services for office buildings, commercial spaces, and corporate facilities, including new construction and renovation projects for commercial tenants, property developers, and corporate clients.
• Residential Architecture Single-family residential and multi-family residential architectural design services, including custom homes and apartment complexes, delivered to private homeowners and residential developers.
• Civic & Public Architecture Public sector architectural design including libraries, government buildings, community centers, and recreational facilities, delivered to municipalities, public libraries, parks and recreation departments, and community organizations.
• Religious Institutions Architecture Design services for churches, temples, and other religious facilities including new construction and renovations, education wing additions, chapel renovations, and fellowship hall expansions for faith-based nonprofit clients.
• Retail & Hospitality Architecture Commercial retail and hospitality space design including stores, restaurants, bakeries, bars, event venues, and hospitality venues, with focus on storefront build-outs, restaurant build-outs, and commercial tenant improvements.
• Educational Institutions Architecture Architectural design for schools, universities, and educational facilities including secure entries, classroom additions, facility modernizations, school cafeterias, auditorium upgrades, gymnasium renovations, HVAC improvements, and facility master planning for public and private K-12 districts and schools.

Named customers15 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KCL EngineeringcoreTechnology or IntegrationKCL Engineering serves as MEP Engineer on multiple Studio MELEE projects including Neighborhood Design Studio, Jester Park Clubhouse, Norwalk Fieldhouse, First Street Retail, and Railroad Park Restrooms. Ongoing collaborative relationship across numerous projects demonstrates established working partnership.
• KCL EngineeringcoreTechnology or IntegrationKCL Engineering served as MEP Engineer for KCL Engineering World Headquarters project, where Studio MELEE designed the engineering firm's own office headquarters in a century-old shell building. Featured in Iowa Architect Magazine Spring 2020.
• Raker-Rhodes EngineeringcoreTechnology or IntegrationStructural engineering partner on multiple projects including Neighborhood Design Studio and Iowa Pork Tent. Provides structural engineering expertise for complex projects.
• GTG CompaniesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral contractor on Railroad Park Restrooms project.
• Koester ConstructionminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral contractor on Lakeside Fellowship project.
• MD ConstructionminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral contractor on O'Donnell Ace Hardware project.
• Henkel ConstructionminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral contractor on Jester Park Clubhouse addition and renovation.
• Landmark Construction ServicesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral contractor on KCL Engineering World Headquarters project.
• Garling ConstructionminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral contractor on Newton Public Library renovation.
• The Weitz Co.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral contractor on IBEW 347 Union Hall project.
• Lansink ConstructionminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral contractor on Norwalk Fieldhouse project.
• Mandelbaum CommercialminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDeveloper partner on First Street Retail new construction project.
• Oakwood BuildersminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral contractor on Waterbury Prairie single-family residence.
• ConfluenceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture partner on Northeast Montessori School project.
• Cameron Campbell Integrated StudiominorOthersPhotography partner on multiple projects including Neighborhood Design Studio and Gutekunst Public Library.
• Jeff Wagner IDEAAminorOthersPhotography partner on Lakeside Fellowship, Dickey & Campbell Law, and KCL Engineering World Headquarters projects.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• OPN Architects: Iowa-headquartered architecture firm with comparable size and an institutional/education/healthcare client mix across the Midwest. Closest direct competitor in Studio MELEE's core K-12, civic, and healthcare segments.
• INVISION Architecture: West Des Moines-based architecture firm of similar scale serving commercial, healthcare, education, and civic clients in Iowa and the broader Midwest. Direct local competitor for Studio MELEE's Iowa institutional RFPs.
• RDG Planning & Design: Omaha-based architecture and planning firm with strong institutional, civic, library, and education practice across the Midwest. Comparable vertical mix and project types (libraries, schools, public buildings) to Studio MELEE.
• DLR Group: Omaha-headquartered integrated design firm with a sizable K-12, civic, and library practice nationally. Midwest-rooted competitor that often competes for the same institutional RFPs Studio MELEE pursues, but at larger scale and with in-house engineering.
• Legat Architects: Midwest-based (Chicago) architecture firm with comparable size and a strong K-12 and higher education practice. Directly comparable in scale and target client verticals.

Broad incumbents

• CannonDesign: Large national architecture and engineering firm with deep institutional, healthcare, and education practices. Competes for the same larger civic and education RFPs but operates at materially greater scale and offers integrated engineering in-house.
• HOK: Global architecture and engineering firm with institutional, civic, and education practices. Larger incumbent that competes for marquee civic and institutional commissions, but typically serves bigger-budget projects than Studio MELEE's typical scope.
• Perkins&Will: Global architecture firm with strong institutional and education practices including libraries and civic buildings. Operates at much greater scale than Studio MELEE but pursues overlapping civic and library work nationally.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/studiomelee
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/studio-melee
• Instagraminstagram.com/studiomelee
• Xx.com/studiomelee

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Studio MELEE