Build
BUILD LLC is a Pacific Northwest architectural design firm specializing in multi-family and mixed-use projects, serving commercial developers, residential clients, corporate/institutional planners, and nonprofit community organizations across Seattle and Central Oregon.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersSeattle, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Build does
BUILD LLC is a privately held architectural design firm founded by Kevin Eckert in 2000, with offices in Seattle, Washington and Sisters, Oregon, serving the Pacific Northwest market. The firm specializes in multi-family and mixed-use projects while also delivering single-family residential, commercial, and institutional work. Its service portfolio spans the full project lifecycle, including feasibility studies, schematic and design development, permit documents, construction documents, master planning, landscape design, project management, construction administration, code review and permitting, specifications, interiors, and visual marketing and graphics. Notable delivered projects include the 32-unit Fremont View Apartments (completed October 2024, achieving a 4.5x density increase on a sloped Seattle infill site), the 30-unit King Street Apartments, the 12-unit Juniper Flats, and the 146-unit Sisters Woodlands Master Plan.
BUILD LLC operates on project-based fee arrangements with four customer segments: commercial developers (primary), residential clients (primary), corporate/facility managers, and institutional/educational planners. The firm has a parallel practice of pro bono and mission-aligned work with nonprofit partners including Sisters Habitat for Humanity, Bike Works, Coyote Central, RootedHomes, Queen Anne Community Center, Green Lake Community Center, Tilth Alliance Youth Garden Works, and NorthStar Cycling Club. The four-partner leadership group (Kevin Eckert, Andrew van Leeuwen, Justin Lemma, Niccoló Piacentini) holds advanced degrees from Columbia, University of Washington, and University of Kansas, and combines architecture with landscape architecture, structural engineering, and ecology backgrounds. The firm also operates the BUILD Online Magazine (active since 2007) and The Modern List as content and thought-leadership channels.
The firm's business model is service-based and project-based, with fees structured around individual engagements rather than disclosed standard pricing. The firm reports 25+ years of experience, 200+ completed projects, and 500+ dwellings designed, supported by a lean headcount of 1-10 employees. Go-to-market relies primarily on direct client engagement, referrals, and content marketing through its blog and social media (Instagram, BlueSky, LinkedIn), with earned media coverage in publications such as the Daily Journal of Commerce.
Build firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Build
- Legal name
- BUILD LLC
- Website
- https://buildllc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- BUILD LLC is a Pacific Northwest architectural design firm specializing in multi-family and mixed-use projects, serving commercial developers, residential clients, corporate/institutional planners, and nonprofit community organizations across Seattle and Central Oregon.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Build industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural Design Services
- NAICS
- Architectural Services (54131), Architectural Services (541310)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering Services (8711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)
Keywords
Where Build is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seattle
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Build business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Build product offering
Product offeringCore offering
BUILD LLC is an architectural design firm providing full-service architectural design from feasibility studies through construction administration, with a primary focus on multi-family and mixed-use projects in the Pacific Northwest. Services include schematic design, design development, permit documents, master planning, landscape design, project management, code review and permitting, specifications, interiors, and visual marketing. The firm also publishes the BUILD Online Magazine, a content platform covering modern architecture and design.
Product overview
BUILD LLC is an architectural design firm offering a comprehensive suite of services rather than a unified software product. The firm provides end-to-end architectural services spanning feasibility studies, design, master planning, landscape design, project management, construction administration, code review and permitting, specifications, interiors, and visual marketing. Notable projects include multi-family residential buildings (Fremont View Apartments, Juniper Flats, King Street Apartments), commercial spaces, and master-planned communities (Sisters Woodlands). The firm also operates the BUILD Online Magazine (BOM), a publication covering modern architecture and design topics. All services are delivered through the firm's integrated generalist approach, guiding projects through all stages from concept to completion.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- BUILD Online Magazine: A discussion of modern architecture, design, and the built environment created and written by BUILD LLC.
Products and services
- Architectural Design Services Full-service architectural design covering feasibility studies, schematic design, design development, permit documents, construction documents, master planning, landscapes, project management, construction administration, code review and permitting, specifications, interiors, and visual marketing. Served commercial developers, corporate clients, institutional planners, and individual homeowners with a focus on multi-family and mixed-use projects.
- BUILD Online Magazine (BOM) Discussion platform on modern architecture, design, and the built environment featuring articles on architecture, interviews, technical posts, development, sustainability, circular economy, and regenerative design. Active since 2007 with 33 pages of content.
Quantifiable outcome
- 4.5x increase in density for Fremont View Apartments project
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Build
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Build technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Build partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Sisters Habitat for HumanitycoreOngoing partnership for affordable housing projects including Sisters Woodlands Habitat Cottages (6 affordable homes) and pro bono design work. BUILD provides architectural design services for Habitat's affordable housing developments in Central Oregon.
- Bike WorksminorPro bono partnership redesigning covered outdoor storage into flexible learning and community gathering space. Included roof canopy redesign, stadium seating, and bike shop storage integration.
- Coyote CentralminorPro bono design and permitting for workshop addition to organization's facilities to help forward their mission of sparking creativity in young people.
- Tilth Alliance Youth Garden WorksminorPro bono collaboration on University District facilities including design and construction of garden shelter for the University District farm.
- NorthStar Cycling ClubminorPro bono interior redesign of former gas station and mechanic shop into flexible community space with bike repair, locker rooms, and bike storage for melanated cycling community.
- RootedHomesminorPartnership through Sisters Woodlands development providing first-time homebuyer access in Central Oregon via Community Land Trust model, including pilot program with Sisters School District.
- Queen Anne Community CenterminorPro bono research, speculative development studies, and promotional materials to help serve broad demographic of user groups.
- Green Lake Community CenterminorPro bono master plan proposal offering updated site plan with new structure within 'band of influence' at Green Lake Park, including enhanced pedestrian connections.
- Stringham ConstructionminorConstruction contractor for Fremont View Apartments project in Seattle's Fremont neighborhood.
- Dovetail General ContractorsminorGeneral contractor for mkt. restaurant tenant improvement project in Tangletown, Seattle.
- PAE EngineersminorEngineering partner referenced in client testimonial; collaboration on projects requiring MEP engineering services.
- ARCADE MagazineminorCommunity involvement partner - Dialogue on Design publication that BUILD engages with as contributors and supporters.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Build competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mithun: Seattle-headquartered architecture firm with strong residential, mixed-use, and master planning practices. Comparable to BUILD in Pacific Northwest focus and multi-family housing expertise.
- Olson Kundig: Seattle-based architecture firm specializing in residential and multi-family projects across the Pacific Northwest. Directly comparable to BUILD given shared PNW base, residential focus, and custom design-build orientation.
- LMN Architects: Seattle-based architecture firm with a strong multi-family, civic, and commercial portfolio. Direct competitor for PNW developer commissions.
- ZGF Architects: Portland-based architecture firm with offices across the West Coast serving residential, commercial, and institutional clients. Comparable geographic base and mixed-use expertise.
- Weber Thompson: Seattle architecture firm with substantial multi-family and mixed-use portfolio. Direct competitor for PNW housing and mixed-use developer commissions.
- SHoP Architects: Design firm known for large-scale mixed-use and multi-family residential projects. Comparable mixed-use focus and developer client base, though larger in scale and footprint.
- Ankrom Moisan: Portland- and Seattle-based architecture firm focused on multi-family housing, mixed-use, and senior living. Comparable residential housing focus in the Pacific Northwest.
Broad incumbents
- HKS Architects: Large national architecture practice covering residential, commercial, and institutional projects. Adjacent incumbent with overlapping residential developer clients.
- Perkins&Will: Global architecture firm with broad residential, institutional, and commercial practice. Overlaps with BUILD in multi-family housing but operates at much greater scale and breadth.
- KPF (Kohn Pedersen Fox): Large international architecture firm with deep mixed-use and residential high-rise practice. Comparable end-client use cases but operates as a global incumbent.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Build social profiles
Digital presenceBuild financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Build leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Build funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Build 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 Build
What does Build do?
BUILD LLC is an architectural design firm providing full-service architectural design from feasibility studies through construction administration, with a primary focus on multi-family and mixed-use projects in the Pacific Northwest. Services include schematic design, design development, permit documents, master planning, landscape design, project management, code review and permitting, specifications, interiors, and visual marketing. The firm also publishes the BUILD Online Magazine, a content platform covering modern architecture and design.
Is Build a public or private company?
Build is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Build founded?
Build was founded in 2000. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Build based?
Build is headquartered in Seattle, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Build's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mithun, Olson Kundig, LMN Architects, ZGF Architects, Weber Thompson, SHoP Architects and Ankrom Moisan. Broad incumbents are HKS Architects, Perkins&Will and KPF (Kohn Pedersen Fox).
Does Build have an API?
No public API is recorded for Build.
What industry is Build in?
Build's product category is Architectural Design Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAA, Architectural Design Services. Its NAICS code is 54131 and its SIC code is 8711.