What Lee & Sakahara Architects does

Lee & Sakahara Architects (operating as Leesak Architects, Inc.) is a Las Vegas-headquartered architecture and planning firm founded in 1979, with a regional office in Irvine, California, serving the western United States. The firm delivers full-service architectural design across three primary project categories: industrial real estate (warehouses, distribution centers, manufacturing facilities, industrial parks), public sector and government work (military visiting quarters, recreation centers, parking structures, municipal buildings), and commercial/retail (office, medical, retail, restaurants, hotels, automotive). Client logos include industrial developers such as CapRock Partners, LaPour Partners, Pauls Corp., and Burke Construction, plus federal and municipal clients including Nellis AFB, Davis Monthan AFB, Charleston AFB, Little Rock AFB, Hill AFB, LAWA, Port of San Diego, and City of Las Vegas. The firm holds SBE and MBE certifications supporting its access to set-aside government contracts.

The firm's core technology stack is built around Building Information Modeling (BIM) using Autodesk Revit, which integrates design from conceptual phases through construction administration and enables data handoff to building management systems. A specialized sustainable-design capability includes LEED Accredited Professionals (one-third of professional staff) and a full-time LEED facilitator, with the firm having achieved LEED Gold on the F-35 AGE Maintenance Facility at Nellis AFB and LEED Silver on 12 additional projects. Service offerings span Pre Design (programming, space schematics, facility surveys), Site Development (master planning, zone processing), Architectural Design (full structural/MEP/civil/landscape/interior coverage), Construction Administration, and Special Services (entitlements, renderings, leasing materials).

Lee & Sakahara generates revenue through project-based professional services fees on completed architectural projects, with no public pricing or subscription model. Go-to-market is direct engagement: enterprise and developer clients via relationship-based and repeat-business sales, and government clients through formal RFQ/RFP procurement processes. The firm markets primarily through industry awards (100+ awards across NAIOP, ABC, AIA, and others from 1980-2024), professional association memberships (AIA, NAIOP, USGBC), and a project portfolio website. Leadership includes founder/CEO Douglas Lee, Managing Principal/VP Valentino Ferrer (28-year tenure), Principal Christopher Teachman (federal projects), VP of Operations Heide Arnold (34-year tenure), and Senior Project Managers Adrian Harrison and Jeremy Smith — reflecting a stable, employee-retention-driven culture where over 25% of personnel have tenures exceeding 15 years.

Name

Lee & Sakahara Architects

Legal name

Leesak Architects, Inc.

Website

https://leesak.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lee & Sakahara Architects (Leesak Architects, Inc.) is a Las Vegas-based, SBE/MBE-certified architecture firm founded in 1979, delivering full-service design for industrial, public sector, and commercial clients across the western United States via BIM/Revit and LEED-accredited practice.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architecture and Planning Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Drafting Services (541340), Interior Design Services (541410)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Building Information Modeling (BIM) & Digital Design Services (BPAHAKAK)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Building information modeling
• LEED sustainable design
• Industrial facility design
• Military federal architecture

Headquarters

HQ city

Irvine

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Project-based fees for comprehensive architectural design and documentation services including architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, civil, landscape, and interior design. Revenue generated through professional service fees on completed projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Lee & Sakahara Architects (operating as Leesak Architects, Inc.) is a full-service architecture and planning firm providing comprehensive design and construction administration services for commercial/retail, industrial, and public sector/government projects across the western United States. Services span architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, civil, landscape, and interior design, delivered with BIM/Revit technology and LEED sustainable-design expertise.

Product overview

Lee & Sakahara Architects (operating as Leesak Architects, Inc.) is a Las Vegas-based architecture and planning firm founded in 1979, offering a comprehensive suite of architectural design services. The firm operates as a service-based practice rather than a software product company. Its core offering consists of architecture and planning services organized into three main project categories: Commercial/Retail, Industrial, and Public Sector. Key service modules include Pre Design Services, Site Development, Construction Administration, Architectural Design Services (covering architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, civil, landscape, and interior design), Special Services (entitlements, renderings, leasing brochures), and Building Information Modeling (BIM) using Revit technology. The firm also offers LEED Design and Documentation as a specialized sustainable design module, having achieved LEED Gold certification on projects like the F-35 AGE Maintenance Facility at Nellis Air Force Base and LEED Silver on 12 additional projects. The firm has a regional office in Irvine, California, and serves clients across Nevada, California, Arizona, and other states.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture and Planning Services Full-service architecture and planning offering providing comprehensive design and construction services for commercial, industrial, and public sector projects.
• Building Information Modeling (BIM) Advanced 3D modeling service using Autodesk Revit for design integration from conceptual design through construction administration, enabling real-time analytics and project outcome simulations and integration into building management systems.
• LEED Design and Documentation Sustainable design service with LEED project registration and documentation, delivered by LEED-accredited professionals including a full-time LEED facilitator on staff.
• Pre Design Services Project programming, space schematics development, and existing facilities survey services provided ahead of design.
• Site Development Site analysis, master planning, utilization studies, utility studies, and zone processing assistance for development projects.
• Construction Administration Submittal services, field observance services, project representation, close out, record drawings, and post construction evaluation during the build phase.
• Architectural Design Services Comprehensive design and documentation covering architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, civil, landscape, interior design, and special design services with materials research and construction specifications.
• Special Services Project entitlements, government agency liaison, tenant-related services, renderings, model construction, leasing brochures, and computer simulations.
• Commercial / Retail Projects Commercial and retail building design services including office buildings, medical offices, shopping centers, and automotive facilities.
• Industrial Projects Industrial facility design including warehouses, distribution centers, manufacturing facilities, and industrial parks.
• Public Sector Projects Government and public infrastructure projects including military lodging/visiting quarters, recreation centers, and municipal buildings.

Quantifiable outcome

• LEED Gold certification achieved for F-35 AGE Maintenance Facility at Nellis AFB
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Ware Malcomb: California-based (Irvine HQ) architecture and engineering firm providing architectural design for commercial, industrial, and office projects across the US. Directly comparable in size, geography, and project type mix, with strong overlap in industrial real estate clients.
• RATIO Architects: Mid-size architecture firm with national practice in commercial, industrial, and workplace design. Similar size band and project-type mix to Leesak, with comparable BIM/Revit delivery model and developer-client focus.
• KSS Architects: Mid-size architecture practice with strong retail, hospitality, and commercial development portfolio. Closely comparable in size, project types (commercial/retail, hospitality), and reliance on developer-client relationships.
• MVE + Partners: Mid-size California architecture firm providing comprehensive architectural services for commercial, hospitality, and industrial clients. Highly comparable in size, geographic base, and design-led project portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• LPA Design Studios: Large California-headquartered integrated design firm offering architecture, planning, and interior design across commercial, civic, and education sectors. Overlaps with Leesak in commercial/retail and industrial work but operates at materially larger scale and broader national footprint.
• HMC Architects: California-founded architectural firm with long history in commercial, civic, healthcare, and higher education design. Comparable practice model and Western US base, though significantly larger and more diversified across public and private sectors.
• DLR Group: National architecture and engineering firm designing civic, federal, and commercial buildings. Directly competes for federal/military work similar to Leesak's Air Force lodging portfolio, but operates from 30+ offices nationwide with substantially deeper bench.
• SmithGroup: Large integrated design firm delivering architecture, engineering, and planning across workplace, science and technology, and federal markets. Comparable federal project capability and LEED expertise but at enterprise scale with national delivery.
• HKS Architects: National architecture firm with strong portfolios in commercial, healthcare, and government/military design. Comparable in federal/military service offering and LEED-accredited staffing, but with materially larger scale and broader sector mix.
• Corgan: Large architecture firm with strengths in commercial, aviation, and workplace design. Overlaps with Leesak on airport/transportation projects (LAX Parking Structure) but operates at far larger scale with national presence.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/about

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Lee & Sakahara Architects