What Studio Twenty Seven Architecture does

Studio Twenty Seven Architecture is a private, for-profit architectural design firm headquartered in Washington, DC, founded in 1999. The firm specializes in K-12 public charter school design and has delivered more than 50 charter school projects, alongside a portfolio spanning educational master planning, residential architecture, historic preservation and adaptive reuse, university facilities (notably Gallaudet University under DeafSpace guidelines), government-funded supportive and short-term family housing under DC's Homeward DC program, and public parks. Core technical capabilities center on sustainable design with extensive LEED certification experience (including the first LEED Platinum school building in Washington DC at Mundo Verde), green roof systems, geothermal and greywater integration, and adaptive reuse of National Register-listed structures such as the 1908 Chapman Stables.

The firm operates as a B2B professional services practice on a project-based fee model, with pricing negotiated per project based on scope and complexity rather than disclosed publicly. Its go-to-market is enterprise field sales through direct engagement with institutional clients, RFP responses, and repeat relationships; 78-85% of annual work comes from returning clients. Distribution relies on direct delivery by in-house project teams, supported by joint ventures with larger firms such as Leo A. Daly and Devrouax + Purnell Architects on larger public-sector projects, and by a partnership with Building Hope for charter school facilities development. Marketing is primarily earned media through 60+ AIA design awards, active social channels, and website news content.

The firm employs between 11 and 50 people (with approximately 12 named design professionals visible), operates primarily in the Mid-Atlantic region (DC, MD, VA) with recent entry into New Jersey, and is privately held by founding principals John K. Burke (Principal In Charge) and Jacob Marzolf (Design Principal). Revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Studio Twenty Seven Architecture

Legal name

Studio Twenty Seven Architecture

Website

https://studio27arch.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Studio Twenty Seven Architecture is a Washington, DC-based private architecture firm specializing in K-12 public charter school design, having built 50+ charter schools, alongside adaptive reuse, sustainable/LEED-certified design, and public-sector housing projects serving institutional clients across the Mid-Atlantic region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Studio Twenty Seven Architecture generates revenue through professional architectural design services including master planning, architectural design, construction administration, and renovation services for institutional clients. Revenue is project-based, sourced from public charter schools, school districts, government agencies, and non-profit housing organizations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Studio Twenty Seven Architecture is an architectural design studio providing master planning, architectural design, renovation, adaptive reuse, and construction administration services for institutional clients. The firm specializes in K-12 public charter school design (over fifty schools delivered), educational master planning, residential architecture, sustainable and LEED-certified green building design, historic preservation/adaptive reuse of National Register-listed structures, short-term family housing design, and university laboratory and residence hall projects.

Product overview

Studio Twenty Seven Architecture is a collaborative design and research architecture practice based in Washington, D.C. The firm offers a portfolio of architecture services centered on K-12 charter school design (having designed over fifty public charter schools), educational master planning, residential architecture (including adaptive reuse of historic buildings), sustainable/green building design with LEED certification expertise, and institutional projects including university science facilities and affordable housing. The firm's work spans new construction, renovation, and adaptive reuse projects with a focus on sustainable design principles and community-responsive architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• K-12 Charter School Design Master planning and architectural design services for K-12 public charter schools, with deep expertise in space optimization on constrained urban sites and design solutions within non-profit charter school budgets.
• Educational Master Planning Strategic master planning services for educational institutions, focused on expeditionary-based learning environments and community-centered campus design.
• Residential Architecture Single-family residential design including new construction, adaptive reuse, and sustainable urban residential design in the Mid-Atlantic region.
• Sustainable and Green Building Design Energy-efficient and eco-friendly building design incorporating LEED certification standards, geothermal systems, solar panels, green roofs, greywater systems, permeable pavers, bio-retention systems, and renewable materials.
• Adaptive Reuse and Historic Preservation Transformation of historic structures, including buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, into modern residential and institutional spaces while preserving historical elements such as brick walls, terrazzo floors, cast-iron beams, and original elevator shafts.
• Short-Term Family Housing Design Emergency and rapid rehousing facility design for the District of Columbia's Homeward DC program, providing dignified temporary housing solutions for families experiencing homelessness, including seven-story ziggurat-form buildings.
• University Science and Residence Hall Facilities Science, Technology, and Mathematics laboratory renovation and expansion projects for universities, including DeafSpace-compliant designs for Gallaudet University serving deaf and hard-of-hearing students.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60+ design awards from the American Institute of Architects at local and national levels
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects (NBWLA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 October 2024NBWLA served as the lead designer of the overall Beaverdam Reservoir Park. Studio Twenty Seven Architecture was engaged by NBWLA to assist with specific elements including the welcome center, park pavilions, and boat houses that support recreational opportunities at the park. The park is a joint venture between Loudoun Water and NOVA Parks.
• Devrouax + Purnell ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudio Twenty Seven Architecture completed the KIPP DC Benning Campus project as a joint venture with Devrouax + Purnell Architects. This was a phased project spanning 2006-2008 for initial phases and 2019-2021 for Phase 3, resulting in a 115,722 sq ft campus.
• Leo A. DalycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudio Twenty Seven Architecture has executed multiple joint venture projects with Leo A. Daly, including La Casa Permanent Supportive Housing and The Aya (Ward 6 Short Term Family Housing). The joint venture combines both firms' expertise for large public-sector housing projects.
• O.A. Peterson Construction CompanyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal contractor for Philip's Academy Charter School of Paterson construction project. Played a key role in building the new campus that transformed a vacant manufacturing site.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• VMDO Architects: Charlottesville, VA-based architecture firm with deep specialization in K-12 educational facility design, including public schools and universities. Highly comparable to Studio 27 in client type (education-first), regional footprint (Mid-Atlantic), and project-based professional services model.
• Grimm + Parker: Mid-Atlantic architecture firm with strong K-12 charter school and public education portfolio, similar size and specialization. Direct comparable in serving DC-area charter school clients with constrained-budget design.
• Quinn Evans Architects: DC-area architecture firm specializing in historic preservation and adaptive reuse of culturally significant buildings. Highly comparable to Studio 27's Chapman Stables and Gallaudet University adaptive reuse work, with overlapping public-sector client base.
• WGM Architects: DC-area architecture firm with significant K-12 and public-sector education portfolio. Comparable in size and client type, focused on similar institutional and educational projects in the Mid-Atlantic market.
• Hord Coplan Macht: Mid-Atlantic architecture, planning, and landscape firm with education and public-sector practices. Comparable in scale and regional focus, with overlap in institutional and K-12 design.
• Marshall Craft Associates: Baltimore-based architecture firm specializing in educational and institutional facilities. Directly comparable to Studio 27 in K-12 focus and Mid-Atlantic charter school / public school district client base.
• MTFA Architecture: DC-based architecture firm with education, civic, and cultural practice. Comparable in scale and regional focus, with overlapping DC-area public-sector and educational institutional clients.
• Reader & Swartz Architects: DC-area architecture firm specializing in K-12 educational facilities and historic preservation. Direct comparable to Studio 27 in client type, size, regional focus, and charter school/public sector specialty.

Broad incumbents

• CannonDesign: Large national architecture firm with significant K-12 and higher education practice. Comparable in serving educational clients and sustainable design, but operates at much broader scale across multiple sectors and geographies.
• Perkins&Will: Global architecture firm with extensive education and healthcare practices. Comparable in delivering award-winning sustainable design for institutional clients, but with much broader geographic and sector reach than Studio 27.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/studio27arch
• Facebookfacebook.com/studio27arch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/studio-twentyseven-architecture
• Instagraminstagram.com/studio27arch

Compliance3 records

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 Studio Twenty Seven Architecture