LCM Architects
LCM Architects is a Chicago-based architecture and accessibility consulting firm founded in 1996, providing integrated ADA/FHA compliance and design services to government, education, healthcare, hospitality, and multifamily developers nationwide through a 60-person team.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What LCM Architects does
LCM Architects is a Chicago-based architecture and accessibility consulting firm founded in 1996 by Richard Lehner, John H. "Jack" Catlin, and Douglas Mohnke. The firm employs 60+ dedicated professionals including licensed architects, designers, certified accessibility specialists, and support staff, operating from headquarters at 200 N LaSalle Street and serving clients nationwide. Its business is built on two integrated service lines: traditional architecture services (design, interior design, planning, and visualization for multifamily, hospitality, education, healthcare, and workplace projects) and specialty ADA/FHA accessibility consulting (surveys, plan reviews, compliance and transition plans, construction inspections, due diligence, training, and legal support). Notable engagements include the Philip J. Rock Center & School, the 280,000 SF Carle at the Fields Administrative Office Center consolidating 1,200+ employees, the Chicago Transit Authority's All Stations Accessibility Program advising on 42 rail stations, and ADA compliance consulting for over 400 hotel properties.
LCM's competitive positioning rests on architectural design capability combined with regulatory expertise spanning ADA, FHA, Section 504, ANSI A117.1, ABA, IBC, and UFAS accessibility standards. Founding partner Jack Catlin was the first practicing architect to chair the U.S. Access Board, and partners including Doug Anderson have served on the Access Board and ANSI A117.1 committees that authored the 2010 ADA Standards. The firm operates as a private LLC generating revenue through project-based professional services engagements with multi-year contract structures; pricing varies by scope, complexity, and team composition. The go-to-market model relies on direct enterprise engagement, RFP responses, and referrals, supplemented by content marketing through blog, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Issuu plus thought leadership at industry events including Hotec Design 2023. No institutional funding, parent company, or acquisition activity is evidenced; ownership has transitioned following Douglas Mohnke's 2021 retirement and Jack Catlin's September 2023 passing, with current partners including Doug Anderson, Mark Small, Casey Burch, and Todd Douglas.
LCM Architects firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- LCM Architects
- Legal name
- LCM Architects, LLC
- Website
- https://lcmarchitects.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- LCM Architects is a Chicago-based architecture and accessibility consulting firm founded in 1996, providing integrated ADA/FHA compliance and design services to government, education, healthcare, hospitality, and multifamily developers nationwide through a 60-person team.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
LCM Architects industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architecture and Accessibility Consulting
- NAICS
- Architectural Services (541310), Architectural Services (54131)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Home Accessibility Assessment & Design (HSAPANAA), Architecture, Planning & Surveying (AIA, Planning, Land Surveyor CE) (EDAAALAG), Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders (IMAFABAE)
Keywords
Where LCM Architects is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
LCM Architects 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 Services: Traditional architecture services including design, planning, interior design, and visualization for multifamily, educational, healthcare, hospitality, and civic projects.
- ADA & FHA Consulting: Accessibility consulting services including surveys, plan reviews, compliance plans, construction inspections, training, and legal support for clients needing ADA/FHA compliance.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Project-based professional services pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels8 records
LCM Architects product offering
Product offeringCore offering
LCM Architects is a Chicago-based architecture and planning firm that delivers integrated architecture, interior design, planning, and visualization services alongside specialized ADA and FHA accessibility consulting. The firm's accessibility practice spans surveys, plan reviews, compliance and transition plans, construction inspections, training, due diligence, and legal/expert-witness support for clients that must meet federal, state, and local accessibility codes.
Product overview
LCM Architects operates as an architecture and accessibility consulting firm offering an integrated one-stop solution that combines traditional architecture services with specialized accessibility consulting. The core portfolio consists of Architecture Services (design, interior design, planning, visualization for multifamily, hospitality, education, healthcare, and workplace projects), paired with ADA Accessibility Consulting (surveys, plan reviews, compliance plans, construction inspections, training) and FHA Accessibility Consulting (for multifamily housing). These are supported by sub-services including Universal Design, Due Diligence, Architectural Support, Legal Support, and Technical Assistance. The firm's differentiation stems from its unique blend of licensed architects, certified accessibility specialists, and engineers who provide both architectural design and technical accessibility compliance expertise under one roof.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Architecture Services Traditional architecture services including design, interior design, planning, and visualization delivered to developers, government entities, educational institutions, healthcare systems, and hospitality operators across the United States.
- ADA Accessibility Consulting Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) consulting services for government entities and private businesses, covering Title II and Title III compliance, surveys, plan reviews, transition plans, construction inspections, due diligence, technical assistance, and architectural support to remove physical barriers.
- FHA Accessibility Consulting Fair Housing Act (FHA) consulting for multifamily housing developers and builders, covering compliance with design and construction requirements for covered dwelling units, including variances and safe harbors, delivered by partners recognized as authorities on the FHA standard.
- Universal Design Services Inclusive design services applying Universal Design principles to create environments usable by people of all abilities without need for adaptation, applied to educational, civic, residential, healthcare, and workplace projects.
- Accessibility Training Program Training programs covering accessibility requirements and solutions across all aspects of project development, including videos, checklists, apps, and surveying tools for facilities professionals, with CEU credits available.
- Legal Support Services Litigation support to defendant counsel and enforcement agencies for ADA and FHA complaints, including Independent Licensed Architect (ILA) verification services and expert-witness testimony from partners with regulatory-committee credentials.
Quantifiable outcome
- Consulted on ADA compliance for over 400 hotel properties
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use LCM Architects
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
LCM Architects technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
LCM Architects partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
LCM Architects competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Page (Page Southerland Page): Large multi-discipline AEC firm with healthcare, education, and civic practices that competes with LCM's architectural design arm on multifamily, hospitality, and institutional projects, though without LCM's distinctive accessibility specialization.
- Perkins&Will: Major global architecture practice with deep healthcare and education studios that overlap with LCM's Carle Foundation and university work; an incumbent benchmark for design quality and scale in Chicago and beyond.
- SmithGroup: Large integrated design firm serving education, healthcare, and workplace clients similar to LCM's segments, with a national footprint comparable to LCM's multi-state reach.
- HKS Architects: National healthcare and education design firm whose wellness-informed practice increasingly touches accessibility and universal design — directly adjacent to LCM's specialty.
Regional players
- Wight & Company: Chicago-area architecture and engineering firm competing for the same multifamily, education, and civic clients in the Illinois market where LCM is headquartered.
- Legat Architects: Midwest-based architecture firm with K-12 and higher education practices, comparable to LCM's educational institutional segment in geography and client type.
Direct peers
- Accessology: Pure-play accessibility consulting firm offering ADA and FHA audits, plan review, and training for multifamily and hospitality — the closest direct competitor to LCM's accessibility practice.
- The Access Group: Specialty ADA and accessibility consulting firm providing transition plans, surveys, and training services comparable to LCM's accessibility sub-services.
Emerging players
- Mayer/Reed: Boutique planning and design firm with strong civic, transit, and accessibility expertise — directly comparable to LCM's CTA ASAP and universal design portfolio work.
- Solomon + Bauer + Associates: Architecture firm specializing in accessible and inclusive design for healthcare and education, mirroring LCM's integrated accessibility-architecture positioning but at smaller scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
LCM Architects social profiles
Digital presenceLCM Architects compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance7 records
LCM Architects financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
LCM Architects leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
LCM Architects funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
LCM 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 LCM Architects
What does LCM Architects do?
LCM Architects is a Chicago-based architecture and planning firm that delivers integrated architecture, interior design, planning, and visualization services alongside specialized ADA and FHA accessibility consulting. The firm's accessibility practice spans surveys, plan reviews, compliance and transition plans, construction inspections, training, due diligence, and legal/expert-witness support for clients that must meet federal, state, and local accessibility codes.
Is LCM Architects a public or private company?
LCM Architects is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was LCM Architects founded?
LCM Architects was founded in 1996. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is LCM Architects based?
LCM Architects is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does LCM Architects make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Architecture Services are the primary driver. The others are ADA & FHA Consulting.
Who are LCM Architects's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Page (Page Southerland Page), Perkins&Will, SmithGroup and HKS Architects. Regional players are Wight & Company and Legat Architects. Direct peers are Accessology and The Access Group. Emerging players are Mayer/Reed and Solomon + Bauer + Associates.
Does LCM Architects have an API?
No public API is recorded for LCM Architects.
What industry is LCM Architects in?
LCM Architects's product category is Architecture and Accessibility Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAA, Architectural Design Services, with a secondary code of HSAPANAA, Home Accessibility Assessment & Design. Its NAICS code is 541310 and its SIC code is 8700.