Willet Hauser Architectural Glass

What Willet Hauser Architectural Glass does

Willet Stained Glass Studios (formerly Willet Hauser Architectural Glass) is a privately held American architectural art glass studio founded in 1898 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania by William and Anne Lee Willet, and merged in 1977 with James E. Hauser's Winona, Minnesota studio. The company designs, fabricates, and installs custom stained glass windows and provides conservation-led restoration, protective glazing systems, removal and archival storage, and AIA-accredited continuing education programs. Operations are delivered through four regional studios (Winona MN headquarters, Maidens VA, Cincinnati OH, South Salt Lake UT showroom) and a field force of regional studio consultants who travel territories for on-site assessments and installations. Technology centers on traditional lead came construction, kiln-fired glass painting and grisaille techniques, and proprietary systems including the Klear-Flo protective glazing and Insulated Glass Unit (IGU) construction with laminated/tempered panels, UV filtering, and acoustic attenuation.

The business operates on a project-based, quote-driven model with no publicly disclosed pricing. Revenue streams include one-time commissions for new window fabrication and installation, professional services for restoration and conservation, protective coverings and recurring maintenance contracts, removal and climate-controlled storage, and educational CEU programs. Customer segments are primarily religious institutions (churches, cathedrals, chapels) and public/commercial spaces (libraries, museums, transit authorities, government buildings), with architects, contractors, and preservation professionals served as project partners. The company is trusted by 36,000+ churches and institutions, has produced 20,000+ windows across 50 U.S. states and 14 countries, and maintains an archive of 25,000+ designs with a Historical Archivist on staff. Every installation carries a 10-year warranty.

The company is led by President Michael Mills and COO Paul Russell, with a roster of approximately 70+ named staff including master craftsmen, master glass painters, specialty artisans (fusing, water jet, glazing), and dedicated field installation crews. Go-to-market combines direct enterprise field sales with channel partnerships through architects and designers, event-driven demand generation via AIA CEU programs and the annual Willet Art Prize competition ($10,000 prize pool), and content marketing through webinars and educational resources. The firm rebranded from Willet Hauser Architectural Glass to Willet Stained Glass Studios in 2025, signaling a renewed unified identity built on the combined Willet-Hauser legacy.

Name

Willet Hauser Architectural Glass

Legal name

Willet Studios

Website

https://willet-studios.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1898

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Willet Stained Glass Studios designs, fabricates, and restores architectural stained glass for religious institutions, public buildings, and commercial spaces across the United States. Founded in 1898, the company operates four regional studios with master craftsmen and a 25,000+ design archive.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Stained Glass Manufacturing

NAICS

Glass and Glazing Contractors (238150), Glass and Glazing Contractors (23815)

SIC

Glass Products, Made Of Purchased Glass (3231)

akta.pro primary industry

Windows (IMADAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Decorative, Patterned & Privacy Glass (Frosted/Textured/Colored) (IMADAHAG)

Keywords

• Custom stained glass
• Stained glass restoration
• Historic glass conservation
• Architectural art glass
• Protective glazing systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Winona

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Stained Glass Window Fabrication & Installation: Design, fabrication, and installation of bespoke stained glass windows for religious, public, and commercial spaces. Projects range from single memorial windows to comprehensive multi-window programs for churches and institutions.
2. Historic Restoration & Conservation: Full restoration services involving careful panel removal, lead replacement, glass repair/replication, and reinstallation. Includes condition assessments, documentation, and ongoing conservation planning.
3. Protective Coverings & Maintenance: Installation of protective exterior glazing systems, scheduled inspections, professional cleaning, and preventative maintenance programs to extend window lifespan.
4. Removal & Archival Storage: Professional removal, protective crating, climate-controlled storage, and condition reporting for windows during renovation or preservation projects. Includes reinstallation coordination.
5. Educational Classes & CEU Programs: AIA-accredited continuing education courses, hands-on workshops, and custom presentations for architecture firms, churches, design studios, and organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Willet Stained Glass Studios (formerly Willet Hauser Architectural Glass) designs, fabricates, restores, and preserves custom stained glass windows for religious, public, and commercial architectural spaces. The studio delivers end-to-end services including new window design and fabrication, conservation-led restoration and repair, exterior protective glazing systems, and removal/climate-controlled archival storage, complemented by technical partnership support for architects and contractors.

Product overview

Willet Stained Glass Studios operates as a full-service architectural art glass studio offering four interconnected core services: new window design and fabrication, restoration and repair, protective coverings and maintenance, and removal and storage. The studio's services are delivered through four regional studios (Winona, Minnesota; Richmond/Virginia; Cincinnati/Ohio; Salt Lake City/Utah) and supported by complementary offerings including project partnership programs for architects and contractors, educational classes with AIA continuing education credits, and the Willet Art Prize competition. All new installations are backed by a 10-year warranty.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• New Windows Design & Fabrication Custom design, fabrication, and installation of new stained glass windows for religious, public, and commercial spaces through a collaborative process from initial consultation through final installation.
• Restoration & Repair Conservation-led restoration and repair services for historic stained glass windows, including on-site assessment, documentation, lead came replacement, glass stabilization, repainting, structural reinforcement, and expert reinstallation.
• Protective Coverings & Maintenance Exterior protective glazing systems, scheduled inspections, professional cleaning, moisture and ventilation evaluation, and preventative maintenance programs to extend the life of stained glass installations.
• Removal & Storage Professional removal, specialized transportation, custom protective crating, climate-controlled archival storage, and condition reporting for stained glass during renovations or preservation projects, including reinstallation coordination.
• Project Partners Services Technical collaboration with architects, general contractors, interior designers, and artists, including budgeting support, historic preservation consulting, glass specifications, project coordination, and installation planning.
• Classes & Workshops Educational programs including AIA-accredited continuing education courses covering glass installation, selection, restoration, fusing techniques, painting, and glazing, offered as lunch-and-learns, in-person workshops, and virtual sessions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10-year warranty backing every installation
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Made in the Shade - Eastern ShoreminorOthersPartner link on Willet Studios website serving the Eastern Shore region, providing shade-related products that complement glass installations.
• Color ReflectionsminorOthersListed as partner link offering custom privacy film printing services for glass applications.
• Brite NitesminorOthersPartner link for holiday lighting services that may complement glass installations in commercial and public spaces.
• Room Outside UK LtdminorOthersPartner link for conservatory and orangery glass extension design services based in the UK.
• bp Glass Garage Doors & Entry SystemsminorOthersPartner link for glass garage doors and entry systems serving the Miami area.
• Elegant Kitchen and BathminorOthersPartner link for kitchen and bath services with glass components.
• Home Blinds and FloorsminorOthersPartner link for window treatments including shades and blinds.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Connick Associates (Charles Jay Connick Stained Glass): Historic stained glass studio founded in 1911 in Pittsburgh, specializing in both new ecclesiastical commissions and restoration of notable 20th-century windows including works by Connick himself. Direct peer: same craftsman-led, project-based business model serving overlapping religious and institutional clients.
• Judson Studios: Los Angeles-based stained glass studio with a 130+ year heritage producing new windows, restorations, and conservation work for churches, universities, and civic clients. Direct peer: comparable legacy operator in the same niche restoration/new-build market with similar artisan-driven production.
• Emil Frei & Associates: St. Louis-based stained glass studio (founded 1898) focused on ecclesiastical new commissions and historic restoration, with works at National Cathedral. Direct peer: same vintage, same customer base, same fabrication techniques - even cited in Willet's own project portfolio (St. Ann Catholic Church).
• Rambusch Decorating Company: New Jersey ecclesiastical decoration firm (founded 1898) producing stained glass, mosaics, lighting, and interior metalwork for churches and synagogues nationwide. Direct peer: same vintage, same religious-institution customer base, overlapping stained glass product line plus adjacent decorative trades.
• J. & R. Lamb Studios: Historic New York/Tennessee stained glass studio producing ecclesiastical and decorative windows with restoration services. Direct peer: same project-based model serving religious institutions with comparable traditional craftsmanship approach.
• Rohlf's Stained & Leaded Glass Studio: Family-owned Mount Vernon, NY stained glass studio in operation since 1923, producing custom ecclesiastical and residential windows plus restoration work. Direct peer: similar craft-based boutique serving religious-institution and historic-preservation clients.
• Cathedral Studios (Jerome D. Eitel Studio): Minnesota-based stained glass studio specializing in ecclesiastical new commissions and historic restoration. Direct peer: geographic neighbor with overlapping Midwest religious-institution customer base and comparable service portfolio.
• Beyer Studios: Indiana-based stained glass studio designing and fabricating custom religious and commercial windows with conservation services. Direct peer: comparable craft-based fabricator serving churches and institutions across the Midwest and nationally.

Broad incumbents

• Bendheim: Major North American specialty architectural glass distributor and fabricator offering decorative, restoration, and custom glass for commercial buildings. Broader incumbent: overlaps Willet's protective-glazing and decorative-glass product categories at larger scale and across non-ecclesiastical verticals.
• Vitro Architectural Glass: Large-scale architectural float glass manufacturer supplying flat glass, low-e coated, and decorative glass for commercial facades. Broader incumbent: adjacent upstream supplier in architectural glass but operates at commodity scale rather than artisan stained glass niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCzj54yZJ9aGfCrgogIb__Vg
• Facebookfacebook.com/WilletStudios
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/willet-studios
• Instagraminstagram.com/willet_studios
• Xx.com/ACWHGlass

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Willet Hauser Architectural Glass