Darden Architects, Inc .

What Darden Architects, Inc . does

Darden Architects, Inc. is a privately-held architectural, planning, and interior design firm founded in 1959 and headquartered in Fresno, California. The firm provides comprehensive design services to institutional clients throughout California, with primary concentration in the San Joaquin Valley and Central Valley regions. Its client base spans four verticals: K-12 school districts, higher education institutions (community colleges and universities), healthcare systems, and government/municipal agencies. Named marquee clients include Fresno Unified, Clovis Unified, Sanger Unified, State Center Community College District, Valley Children's Hospital, Sierra View Medical Center, and Kaweah Delta Health Care District.

The firm's service portfolio covers architectural design, interior design, sustainable design, construction administration, in-house construction cost estimating, graphic design, educational planning and programming, state agency liaison (DSA, OPSC), healthcare code compliance (HCAI/OSHPD, CDPH), and community college capital outlay proposal services. Technology delivery is anchored in Building Information Modeling (BIM), REVIT, and 3D visualization tools, supported by LEED Accredited Professionals on staff. The firm operates as a traditional professional services practice with project-based pricing negotiated via RFP processes with public institutions, and maintains long-term relationships with district administrators and facility managers. Darden is independently owned, currently in its fourth generation of leadership under Managing Principal Robert L. Petithomme, with a leadership team of six principals and five associates. The firm is licensed as a California corporation, has no disclosed parent company, subsidiaries, or external investors, and has earned regional and national recognition including consecutive Best Architectural Firm awards from the Central Valley Business Journal and the 2017 NCARB/AIA Intern Development Program Firm Award.

Name

Darden Architects, Inc .

Legal name

Darden Architects, Inc.

Website

https://dardenarchitects.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Darden Architects is a Fresno, California-based architectural, planning, and interior design firm founded in 1959, serving K-12 school districts, community colleges, healthcare systems, and government agencies throughout California's Central Valley with BIM-enabled design and regulatory expertise.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB), Building Information Modeling (BIM) & Digital Design Services (BPAHAKAK), Sustainable/Green Building & LEED Consulting (BPAHAKAG)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• K-12 education design
• Healthcare facility design
• Higher education architecture
• Interior design services

Headquarters

HQ city

Fresno

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architecture and Design Services: Professional services revenue generated from providing comprehensive architectural, planning, and interior design services to institutional clients including school districts, community colleges, healthcare facilities, and civic organizations throughout California.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Darden Architects delivers comprehensive architectural, planning, and interior design services to institutional clients throughout California, with primary verticals in K-12 education, higher education, healthcare (HCAI/OSPHC-governed), and civic/government facilities. The firm provides integrated design using Building Information Modeling (BIM) and REVIT, supplemented by in-house construction cost estimating, sustainable/LEED design, graphic design, construction administration, and state agency liaison (DSA, OPSC). All services are delivered through project-based engagements with public-sector and institutional clients across the San Joaquin Valley and Central Valley.

Product overview

Darden Architects, Inc. is an architectural, planning, and interior design firm that offers a comprehensive suite of professional services rather than a traditional product portfolio. The firm's core offerings include Architectural Design Services, K-12 Education Design, Higher Education Design, Healthcare Facilities Design, Interior Design Studio, and Civic Architecture. Supporting services include Construction Cost Estimating, Sustainable Design, Graphic Design, Educational Planning & Programming, Construction Administration, State Agency Liaison, and Healthcare Design Code Compliance. The firm utilizes Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology as a design and documentation platform. All services are delivered through integrated, collaborative teams combining architectural and interior design expertise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Design Services Comprehensive architectural design services including thoughtful planning, design excellence, quality detailing, and timeless architecture for educational, healthcare, civic, and commercial projects throughout California.
• K-12 Education Design Architectural, planning, and interior design services for TK-12 school districts, including elementary schools, secondary schools, and educational centers throughout California.
• Higher Education Design

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully brought complex projects in under budget with minimum of contract change orders
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Buehler EngineeringcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering consultant on Madera Community College Academic Village Two project, providing structural engineering services as part of the integrated design team.
• Lawrence Engineering GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering consultant on Madera Community College Academic Village Two project, providing mechanical/electrical/plumbing engineering services.
• Hardin Davidson EngineeringcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering consultant on Madera Community College Academic Village Two project.
• Blair Church & FlynncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering/structural consultant on Madera Community College Academic Village Two project.
• Robert Boro Landscape ArchitectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture consultant on Madera Community College Academic Village Two project, providing site and landscape design services.
• Dekker/Perich/SabatinicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign Architect on California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine project, working with Darden Architects as Architect of Record.
• BMY ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral contractor on multiple projects including Parlier High School CTE building and Madera Community College Academic Village Two.
• Turner ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral contractor on regional civic projects.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Quattrocchi Kwok Architects: California-based architecture firm with deep specialization in K-12 and community college design. Mirrors Darden's vertical focus, DSA familiarity, public-sector RFP go-to-market, and regional California footprint, making it the closest head-to-head peer.
• HMC Architects: California-headquartered firm with concentrated practices in education, healthcare, and civic sectors. Overlaps Darden in DSA/OSPD/HCAI expertise, BIM-based delivery, and long-tenured public-sector client relationships.
• PBK: Architecture and engineering firm specializing in K-12, higher education, and healthcare. Comparable in vertical mix and regulatory expertise, with similar delivery model and public-sector RFP orientation.
• SVA Architects: California-based firm focused on educational facilities including K-12 and community colleges. Competes with Darden for the same California public-school district and community college RFPs.
• CAW Architects: California architecture firm with strong K-12 and community college practice, including modernized facility work. Comparable size, geography, and institutional client base to Darden.
• WLC Architects: California firm specializing in K-12, community college, and public-safety facilities. Strong match on vertical focus (DSA-experienced), geography, and project scope.

Broad incumbents

• LPA Design Studios: Large integrated design firm with major California presence in K-12, higher education, and healthcare. Competes for the same institutional RFPs but operates at significantly greater scale with research-driven and evidence-based design practices.
• DLR Group: National integrated design firm with strong K-12 and healthcare practices. Frequently competes for California district-wide bond programs that Darden also targets, but at much larger headcount and a broader geographic reach.
• SmithGroup: Integrated design firm with national higher education and healthcare practices. Comparable in healthcare and education expertise, including work on HCAI-style regulated projects, but at much greater scale and geographic breadth.

Regional players

• AC Martin Partners: Los Angeles-based architecture firm with broader commercial, civic, and higher education reach. Competes with Darden on California institutional projects but is anchored in Southern California rather than the Central Valley.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dardenarchitect

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Darden Architects, Inc .