Schaefer Architecture

What Schaefer Architecture does

Schaefer Architecture is a privately held, full-service architectural firm founded in 1957 in Wichita, Kansas, specializing in corporate, community, educational, recreational, worship, and government facilities across Kansas and the broader Midwest. The firm offers an integrated practice spanning architecture, interior design, master planning, programming, feasibility studies, bond issue services, building code compliance, construction management, facility audits, virtual design, plan management, furniture specification, and graphics and signage — delivered through industry-standard CAD and BIM technology for digital construction documentation. Its portfolio includes signature civic and institutional projects such as the award-winning 1960s Wichita Public Library, a 330,000 SF high school with FEMA storm shelters, a 116,000 SF LEED Gold Certified YMCA, a 10,000+ seat Riverfront Stadium, and over 1.5 million square feet of YMCA space across five states.

The firm operates on a fee-based professional services model, generating revenue through project-based contracts whose fees are determined by scope, complexity, and project size. Go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven: institutional clients (school districts, municipalities, nonprofits, corporations) are engaged via direct business development, competitive RFQ/RFP processes for public-sector work, and long-cycle referrals from repeat clients such as Wichita USD 259, the Greater Wichita YMCA, and Credit Union of America. The firm has particular depth in bond issue planning — it has facilitated more than $654 million in Kansas school district bond campaigns and led comprehensive district-wide master plans spanning up to 180 separate projects.

Operationally, Schaefer runs a lean team (11-50 employees) led by President Justin Graham and Executive Vice President Troy Hertel following a February 2025 generational leadership transition in which long-tenured President Terry Wiggers moved to Chairman. In January 2025 the firm acquired Krehbiel Architecture, a 47-year-old firm, expanding capabilities into the housing sector and adding staff and pipeline. Geographic reach is concentrated in Kansas with selective multi-state work for repeat nonprofit clients, and the firm is recognized through AIA awards at national (1968) and regional levels, plus a 2024 Wichita Business Journal Best Places to Work designation.

Name

Schaefer Architecture

Legal name

Schaefer Architecture

Website

https://schaefer-arch.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Schaefer Architecture is a 60+ year-old Wichita, Kansas-based full-service architecture firm delivering design, master planning, and bond issue services across K-12, higher education, recreation, corporate, community, government, and worship sectors primarily in the Midwest.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Interior Design Services (54141)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Engagement & Participatory Planning (BPAHAKAO)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Interior design services
• Building master planning
• Facility bond issue planning
• Construction administration services

Headquarters

HQ city

Wichita

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architecture and Design Services: Fee-based architectural services for new construction, renovations, and renovations across corporate, community, education, recreation, worship, and government sectors. Revenue is generated through project-based contracts for design, planning, and construction administration services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Schaefer Architecture is a Wichita, Kansas-based architecture and design firm providing full-service architectural design, interior design, master planning, programming, feasibility studies, bond issue planning, construction administration, and facility audit services for corporate, community, K-12 and higher education, recreation, worship, and government clients across Kansas and the broader Midwest. The firm is project-based, delivering new construction, renovations, and district-wide facility plans developed using CAD and BIM digital documentation workflows.

Product overview

Schaefer Architecture is an architectural services firm offering a comprehensive suite of design and consulting services for corporate, community, education, recreation, worship, and government sectors. The firm operates as a single integrated practice rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Core services include Architecture, Interior Design, Master Planning, Programming, Feasibility Studies, Bond Issue Services, Building Code Compliance, Construction Management, Facility Audits, Virtual Design, Plan Management, Furniture Specification, and Graphics and Signage. Projects span K-12 schools, higher education facilities, recreation centers, corporate buildings, healthcare facilities, worship centers, government buildings, and community institutions across Kansas and surrounding states.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture Full-service architectural design for corporate, community, educational, recreational, worship, and government buildings and spaces, including new construction and renovations.
• Interior Design Interior design services including space planning, finish selection, furniture specification, and interior graphics for commercial, institutional, and community clients.
• Master Planning Comprehensive facility master planning services for school districts and institutional clients, including community engagement and bond issue support.
• Bond Issue Services Bond issue planning and management services for school districts and public entities, including campaign support and multi-project plan management.
• Construction Management Construction management and administration services delivered during the building phase, complementing the firm's design and planning offerings.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500% increase in downtown YMCA participation after Robert D. Love Downtown YMCA opening
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Moshe Safdie / Safdie ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995Selected by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie as associate architects for the Exploration Place science center project ($26M, 95,000 SF). Schaefer served as local associate architects on this international collaboration involving 14+ specialized consultants. Relationship continued with ongoing additions, renovations, and master planning work at Exploration Place.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SFCS Architects: Mid-sized architecture firm headquartered in the Midwest with a strong education, senior living, and community practice. Comparable in scale, multi-vertical scope, and institutional client base.
• BNIM: Kansas City-based architecture and design firm with strong K-12, higher education, civic, and sustainable-design credentials. Comparable in mission-driven practice, regional Midwest footprint, and LEED/sustainability focus (BNIM led the original LEED Platinum Center for Advanced Energy Studies).
• Legat Architects: Mid-sized Midwest architecture firm with a strong K-12 and higher education practice. Comparable in scale and emphasis on educational facility design and master planning.
• Wight & Company: Midwest architecture, engineering, and construction firm with deep K-12 education and community-focused work. Comparable in multi-sector service offering and school-district client relationships.
• LPA Design Studios: Integrated design firm practicing architecture, engineering, and interior design across education, civic, recreation, and corporate sectors. Comparable integrated-services approach and multi-sector focus.
• GLMV Architecture: Wichita, Kansas-based architecture firm serving similar institutional, educational, healthcare, and corporate clients in the same regional market. Operates as a mid-sized full-service design practice with comparable multi-sector scope.
• HTK Architects: Overland Park, Kansas-based architecture firm with a comparable multi-vertical practice across education, civic, healthcare, and commercial work. Closest direct competitor by geography and project-type mix.

Broad incumbents

• CannonDesign: National architecture, engineering, and design firm with major education, healthcare, and civic practices. A broader incumbent that competes with Schaefer on larger institutional pursuits while operating a much wider service portfolio.
• HOK: Global design, architecture, and engineering firm with strong education, sports/recreation (e.g., stadiums), and civic practices. Competes with Schaefer on large-scale civic and recreation commissions but at substantially larger scale and national footprint.
• Perkins&Will: Global architecture firm with major education, civic, recreation, and healthcare practices. Competes with Schaefer on larger institutional commissions but at vastly greater scale and geographic reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SchaeferArch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/schaefer-arch
• Instagraminstagram.com/schaefer_arch

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Schaefer Architecture