Architectural Record

What Architectural Record does

Architectural Record is a B2B media publication covering architecture and design, founded in 1896 and currently operated as a subsidiary of BNP Media, Inc. The company serves licensed architects, architecture firms, students, educators, and building product manufacturers through a flagship monthly magazine (print and digital editions), a website at architecturalrecord.com, the DESIGN:ED podcast, AIA-approved continuing education (CE Center and CE Academies), and an online store selling reference books and costbooks (e.g., the 2026 Architect's Square Foot Costbook at $139.95). It runs a portfolio of long-running award and editorial programs including the Record Awards, Design Vanguard, Record Houses, Record Interiors, Record Products of the Year, Women in Architecture Awards, and the Cocktail Napkin Sketch Contest, and hosts the annual Innovation Conference and ongoing webinars.

The publication's core technology is a digital publishing and content platform supporting web, digital magazine, CE/quiz delivery, podcast distribution, and e-commerce. Underlying technology is conventional B2B media infrastructure operated under BNP Media's publishing stack; the 2026 launch of the 'Ask RECORD AI' feature indicates an AI-assisted content discovery layer, but no proprietary AI research or model development is disclosed.

The business model combines four revenue streams: recurring magazine subscriptions (individual and firm-level via the Firm Pass tier), advertising and sponsored content (including sponsored podcasts and webinars) from building product manufacturers such as DoorBird, Current/Carlisle, Carlisle SynTec, Tamlyn, Reef Industries, and Henry Company, one-time product sales of reference books and costbooks, and revenue from webinars, events, and the Innovation Conference. Distribution is global across print and digital channels, with primary operations based in Troy, Michigan, and an editorially independent editorial team led by Editor-in-Chief Cathleen McGuigan.

Name

Architectural Record

Legal name

BNP Media, Inc.

Website

https://architecturalrecord.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1896

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Architectural Record is a 130-year-old B2B architecture and design media brand, owned by BNP Media, serving architects, firms, students, and building product manufacturers through a monthly magazine, digital edition, AIA continuing education, podcasts, awards programs, and reference publications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architecture and Design Trade Publication

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Construction Codes & Building Standards Publishing (MPAJACAH)

Keywords

• Architecture journalism
• Architectural publications
• Continuing education
• Design awards programs
• Building products media

Headquarters

HQ city

Troy

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Magazine Subscriptions: Annual and monthly subscriptions providing access to print and digital magazine content
2. Advertising and Sponsored Content: Building product manufacturers and design companies advertise in the magazine and on the website. Sponsored content includes articles about products and services relevant to architects.
3. Product Sales: Sale of architectural books, costbooks, and reference materials through the online store
4. Webinars and Events: Continuing education webinars offering AIA learning units for architects, often sponsored by manufacturers

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Architectural Record is a B2B trade media publication that produces a monthly magazine (print and digital) covering architecture, house design, projects, products, and industry news, alongside professional reference books and costbooks. It also operates an AIA-approved Continuing Education Center, the DESIGN:ED podcast, sponsored continuing-education webinars, and annual awards and conference programs serving the architecture profession.

Product overview

Architectural Record is a media publication platform offering journalism, educational content, and industry awards programs for the architecture profession. The core offering is the Architectural Record Magazine (print and digital editions), supplemented by professional reference products (costbooks, technical guides), continuing education services (CE Center with AIA credits), and editorial features (Record Houses, Design Vanguard, Record Interiors). The publication hosts annual award programs including the Record Awards, Design Vanguard, Women in Architecture Awards, and Record Products of the Year. Additional offerings include the DESIGN:ED Podcast, webinars, the Innovation Conference, and a historic archive. The platform operates on a subscription model with Firm Pass tiers for enhanced access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Record Magazine The flagship monthly trade magazine for architecture and design professionals, covering building architecture, house design, projects, products, news, commentary, and opinion.
• Digital Edition

Quantifiable outcome

• Comprehensive coverage of architecture projects globally including residential, commercial, cultural, educational, and institutional building types

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• DoorBirdminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDoorBird is a sponsor of Architectural Record's content, with articles about their 3D configurator being published as sponsored content. DoorBird produces IP video door stations for residential and commercial design.
• Current (Carlisle)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCurrent (sponsored content about LED downlights and below-ceiling serviceability) is a lighting solutions company that sponsors Architectural Record content.
• Carlisle SynTec SystemsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCarlisle SynTec Systems sponsors content about cold storage envelope design for architects and specifiers.
• TamlynminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTamlyn sponsors content about exterior trim details and panel facades for architects and design professionals.
• Reef IndustriesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerReef Industries sponsors content about vapor barriers and moisture control in building design.
• Henry (Carlisle Company)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerHenry Company sponsors content about waterproofing systems for water containment structures.
• Construction SpecialtiesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConstruction Specialties sponsors the Cocktail Napkin Sketch Contest as part of Architectural Record's awards programs.
• BNP MediacoreOthersArchitectural Record is owned and operated by BNP Media, a business-to-business media company. BNP Media provides publishing infrastructure, marketing services, reprints, market research, and list rental services.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Architectural Digest: Architectural Digest is a global architecture and design magazine published by Condé Nast. It directly competes with Architectural Record in the architecture and design editorial space, covering residential and commercial projects, design trends, and celebrity architects with similar subscription and advertising models.
• Dezeen: Dezeen is one of the world's most popular architecture, interiors, and design magazines, operating as a digital-first publication. It competes with Architectural Record for the same global architect audience, breaking project news faster and monetizing through advertising and events without a print edition.
• ArchDaily: ArchDaily is a leading online architecture media platform that publishes daily project coverage, product news, and events. It directly competes with Architectural Record for the same architect readership and building-product advertising dollars, offering free access rather than a subscription model.
• Architizer: Architizer is an online platform and community for architects featuring project galleries, manufacturer products, and the A+Awards program. It competes with Architectural Record across editorial coverage, awards, and specifier-focused building product marketing.
• Architect Magazine: Architect Magazine is the official publication of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), covering architecture news, practice, and technology. It competes with Architectural Record for the same U.S. architect subscriber base and AIA-aligned advertising and continuing-education relationships.
• Dwell: Dwell is a modern architecture and design magazine focused on residential design. It overlaps with Architectural Record on residential coverage, including Record Houses-style content, and competes for the same design-conscious architect and consumer reader.
• Metropolis Magazine: Metropolis is a magazine focused on architecture, design, and sustainability. It competes with Architectural Record for the same architect and design-professional audience, particularly around sustainable design and product specification coverage.
• The Architect's Newspaper: The Architect's Newspaper covers architecture news, criticism, and practice with a strong urban and policy focus. It competes with Architectural Record for U.S. architect readership, advertising, and event sponsorships in the professional architecture media market.

Broad incumbents

• Wallpaper: Wallpaper* is a global design, architecture, and lifestyle magazine published by Future plc. It overlaps with Architectural Record on architecture coverage and design awards but spans broader lifestyle categories such as fashion, travel, and technology.

Regional players

• Azure Magazine: Azure is a Canadian architecture and design magazine covering projects, products, and awards. It shares architectural editorial coverage and awards-program DNA with Architectural Record but is primarily focused on the Canadian market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ArchRecord
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCLm5tl0U5QchVPQHh3qe4lg
• Facebookfacebook.com/ArchitecturalRecord
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/architectural-record
• Instagraminstagram.com/archrecordmag

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Architectural Record