What DFDG Architecture does

DFDG Architecture is a privately held, Arizona-based architectural firm founded in 1970 by John Dick, operating from its Phoenix headquarters and a Tucson regional office. The firm provides architecture, interior design, and land planning services across four primary verticals — healthcare, higher education, municipal/government, and sports & recreation — with a documented project portfolio spanning $1M to $135M+ in construction value. Its service mix includes programming, schematic design, design development, construction documents, and construction administration, delivered under CMAR, Design-Build, JOC, and Design-Bid-Build arrangements and pursued through RFQ/RFP processes or direct institutional relationships.

DFDG's most differentiated offering is its proprietary Trauma-Informed Design (TID) practice, anchored by the SPACe Model (Safety, Privacy, Accessibility, Control, Efficiency), co-developed with architectural psychologist Dr. Dak Kopec and operationalized through the Gilbert Advocacy Center project. The firm extends into complex, high-stakes facility types (medical education, research, public safety, advocacy, athletics) primarily by teaming with specialist partners such as CO Architects and FGM Architects, enabling DFDG to serve as Architect of Record on projects beyond its solo bench capacity — including the $135M Mayo Clinic Integrated Education and Research Building and the 175,000 SF ASU Health Headquarters (estimated Fall 2028 completion).

Revenue is generated through project-based professional services fees, custom-quoted per engagement, with multi-year contract drawdowns typical for institutional clients. Named anchor clients include Arizona State University, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix Suns, the Town of Gilbert, City of Mesa, City of Prescott, Lake Havasu City, and the Maricopa Community College District; construction partner relationships with Haydon Building Corp (~25+ years) and McCarthy (17+ years) further anchor the pipeline. Leadership transitioned in 2020 when founder John Dick retired after 50+ years and Darrin Orndorff was named President, with Mike Gibson and Ryan Schmitt elevated to Principal to lead the Phoenix and Tucson offices respectively. The firm has 11–50 employees, no disclosed external funding, and revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

DFDG Architecture

Legal name

DFDG Architecture

Website

https://dfdg.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

DFDG Architecture is a Phoenix-based, privately held architectural firm founded in 1970 providing architecture, interior design, and planning services to healthcare, higher education, municipal, and sports clients across Arizona, with a proprietary specialization in Trauma-Informed Design (SPACe Model).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Design Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Interior Design Services (541410), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Interior design services
• Trauma-informed design
• Healthcare facility design
• Higher education facilities

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

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, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Architecture Services: Core revenue from architectural design services including programming, schematic design, design development, construction documents, and construction administration for institutional, commercial, healthcare, educational, and municipal projects. Revenue is project-based, typically awarded through competitive bidding (RFQ/RFP) or direct commission from established client relationships.
2. Interior Design Services: Interior design services including space planning, finish selection, furniture specification, and interior design documentation, often delivered as part of integrated architectural projects or as standalone interior design engagements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

DFDG Architecture provides integrated architectural design, planning, and interior design services for institutional, healthcare, higher education, municipal, and commercial clients primarily across Arizona. The firm delivers full-scope services from programming and schematic design through construction administration, and has developed a proprietary Trauma-Informed Design methodology (the SPACe Model) applied to sensitive facilities such as advocacy centers and healthcare environments. Projects typically range from approximately $1M to over $135M and are secured through direct client relationships or RFQ/RFP competitive bidding processes.

Product overview

DFDG Architecture is an architectural firm offering a portfolio of core design services including Architecture, Planning, and Interior Design. The firm specializes in Trauma-Informed Design (TID), a specialized service applying their proprietary SPACe Model framework (Safety, Privacy, Accessibility, Control, and Efficiency) to create healing environments. Their project portfolio spans higher education facilities (ASU Health Headquarters, Chandler-Gilbert Community College), healthcare buildings (Mayo Clinic IERB, Health Futures Center), municipal/civic facilities (Gilbert Advocacy Center, municipal courts, fire stations), parking structures, and sports/recreation facilities across Arizona.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture Services Full-scope architectural design services for institutional, healthcare, higher education, municipal, public safety, and commercial projects across Arizona. Delivered from programming through schematic design, design development, construction documents, and construction administration for projects ranging from approximately $1M to over $135M.
• Planning Services Project planning services that define project outcomes and strategic approaches for construction and development, supporting clients in pre-design feasibility and programming phases.
• Interior Design Human-experience-focused interior design services including space planning, finish selection, furniture specification, and interior design documentation, often delivered as part of integrated architectural projects or as standalone engagements.
• Trauma-Informed Design (TID) An empathetic design approach applied to medical facilities, schools, offices, shelters, advocacy centers, and community buildings. Creates environments actively supporting healing, minimizing stress, and fostering positivity for users who have experienced trauma.

Quantifiable outcome

• Higher Education and Workforce Development Project of the Year - Red Award at 2026 Real Estate Development Awards
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• CO ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing association partnership on major healthcare and medical education projects. Collaborated as associated architect on Mayo Clinic Integrated Education and Research Building (150,000 SF, $135M), ASU Health Headquarters (175,000 SF, est. Fall 2028), and Health Futures Center (145,200 SF, $72M). Partnership combines DFDG's Arizona market expertise with CO Architects' specialized medical education design experience.
• FGM ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeaming partnership on Mesa Police Department Headquarters Renovation (102,000 SF). FGM Architects brought police facility design expertise to complement DFDG's architectural capabilities for the comprehensive remodel of the 1974 mid-century modern landmark.
• Dr. Dak KopeccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitectural psychologist and Trauma-Informed Design (TID) specialist collaborated on Gilbert Advocacy Center project. Dr. Kopec developed the SPACe Model (Safety, Privacy, Accessibility, Control, Efficiency) specifically for the GAC project, creating a framework to translate clinical trauma insights into architectural strategy. This collaboration established DFDG's trauma-informed design expertise.
• McCarthycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign-Build team partnership spanning multiple major projects including ASU Mill Avenue Parking Garage (MAPS, 1,205 stalls, $37M, 2023), ASU University Gateway Building ($88M), and Phoenix Suns Verizon 5G Performance Center ($45M). Long-standing relationship with over 17 years of collaboration praised in client testimonials for creative problem-solving and win-win solutions.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• CannonDesign: National architecture and engineering firm with an extensive healthcare and academic medical center practice, comparable in healthcare project delivery approach and competing for similar Mayo Clinic / ASU-type programs.
• DLR Group: Large integrated design firm with significant civic, sports, healthcare and education practices; relevant peer for projects like the Phoenix Suns 5G Performance Center and civic portfolio DFDG pursues.
• SmithGroup: National integrated design firm with deep healthcare, higher education and civic practices, frequently shortlisted alongside DFDG and CO Architects on large Arizona institutional projects.
• Page (Page Southerland Page): National architecture, engineering and planning firm with strong civic, healthcare and higher education practices, contending for the same public-sector Arizona work as DFDG.
• Stantec Architecture: Global integrated design and engineering firm with a sizable U.S. buildings practice in healthcare, education and civic infrastructure, competing with DFDG for mid- to large-scale institutional commissions.
• HKS Architects: Large national architecture practice with one of the strongest healthcare and academic medical center portfolios, regularly competing with DFDG (via its specialist partners) for major Arizona healthcare commissions.

Direct peers

• Lake|Flato: Mid-sized national architecture firm with comparable scale and similar practice balance between civic, education and contextual design, used as a benchmark for DFDG's positioning relative to design-led regional peers.
• CO Architects: Los Angeles-based specialist in healthcare and medical-education facility design; DFDG's actual strategic partner on Mayo Clinic IERB and ASU Health HQ, competing as a peer for the same complex healthcare-academic commissions.
• Gould Turner Group: Phoenix-based architecture firm with comparable employee scale and an overlapping higher education and civic client base, competing head-to-head with DFDG on Arizona RFQ/RFP awards.
• Orcutt | Winslow | Winslow: Phoenix-based architectural firm with comparable scale and a parallel practice focused on K-12, higher education, civic and healthcare projects across the Southwest—the most direct same-market competitor to DFDG in Arizona.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/DFDGArchitecture
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dfdgarchitecture
• Instagraminstagram.com/dfdgarchitecture
• Xx.com/dfdgarchitects

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 DFDG Architecture