MD Architects

What MD Architects does

MD Architects is a full-service, relationship-based architecture firm founded in 2000 by Rick Renschen in Indianapolis, Indiana, that specializes in veterinary and human healthcare facility design. The firm began with human medical facility design (oncology and outpatient surgery centers), expanded into veterinary architecture in 2006, and merged with Seattle-based Architectural Werks, Inc. (AWI) in 2023 to form one of the largest architecture practices of its kind serving the veterinary and healthcare industries. In August 2025, the company transitioned to 100% employee ownership through an ESOP.

The firm delivers integrated architectural and interior design services across the full project lifecycle: planning and consultation, schematic design, design development, construction documentation, construction administration, and specifications/submissions. Its core product set centers on veterinary facility design (general practices, specialty hospitals, emergency and referral centers, animal shelters, pet boarding, and wildlife rehabilitation), complemented by human healthcare (hospitals, outpatient clinics, behavioral health, dental practices), and select commercial work (retail, hospitality, laboratory, office). Service differentiators include Fear-Free Design Principles, biophilic design integration, workflow optimization analysis, and LED natural light simulation for back-of-house areas. Operations run from three studios: Indianapolis (HQ), Kirkland WA (Seattle area), and Boston MA, serving clients nationwide.

MD Architects generates revenue through project-based professional services fees for architectural and interior design engagements, with pricing customized to scope, square footage, and complexity. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales via website inquiry forms, project consultations, and studio-based engagement. The firm's competitive position rests on domain specialization in veterinary architecture, an award track record (multiple dvm360 Hospital Design Competition wins from 2021 through 2025), and cross-industry expertise bridging human healthcare advancements into animal care facility design.

Name

MD Architects

Legal name

MD Architects

Website

https://mdarchitects.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MD Architects is a full-service architecture firm specializing in veterinary and human healthcare facility design, operating from studios in Indianapolis, Seattle, and Boston. It delivers integrated architectural and interior design services for animal hospitals, specialty/emergency veterinary centers, human healthcare facilities, and select commercial projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architecture and Interior Design Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Interior Design Services (54141)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB)

Keywords

• Veterinary architecture design
• Healthcare facility design
• Animal hospital planning
• Interior design services
• Commercial architecture

Headquarters

HQ city

Fishers

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Full-service architecture including planning, design, specifications, and construction guidance throughout each project. Revenue generated through project-based fees for architectural services covering site analysis, schematic design, design development, construction documentation, and construction administration.
2. Interior Design Services: Comprehensive interior design services including finish and material selection, space planning, furniture selection, artwork coordination, and FF&E (furniture, fixtures, and equipment) design. Provided as standalone service or integrated with architectural projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

MD Architects delivers full-service architectural and interior design for veterinary facilities (animal hospitals, specialty and emergency clinics, shelters, boarding/daycare, wildlife rehabilitation), human healthcare facilities (hospitals, outpatient clinics, medical offices, dental practices), and select commercial projects (breweries, retail, offices, labs). Engagements cover the complete project lifecycle including planning, site analysis, schematic design, design development, construction documentation, bidding, construction administration, and FF&E specification/procurement. The firm combines in-house architecture and interior design with specialized knowledge in Fear-Free animal care design, biophilic principles, and workflow optimization.

Product overview

MD Architects is a full-service, relationship-based architecture firm offering integrated architectural and interior design services across three primary verticals: veterinary facility design, human healthcare design, and commercial design. The firm's service offering spans the entire project lifecycle from planning and consultation through schematic design, design development, construction documentation, and construction administration. In-house interior design capabilities complement the core architecture services, providing clients with comprehensive facility solutions including finish selection, artwork, furniture, and specifications. The veterinary architecture practice includes general practices, specialty and emergency animal hospitals, pet boarding and shelter facilities, and wildlife rehabilitation centers. Human healthcare services cover hospitals, outpatient clinics, dental facilities, and behavioral health centers. Commercial projects include retail, hospitality, laboratory, and office spaces.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Veterinary Architecture Design Full-service architectural design for veterinary facilities including animal hospitals, specialty care, emergency rooms, general practices, pet boarding, shelters, and wildlife rehabilitation centers. Service is for veterinary practice owners, hospital operators, and animal welfare organizations across the United States.
• Human Healthcare Design Architectural design services for human healthcare facilities including hospital renovations, outpatient clinics, medical office buildings, behavioral health facilities, and specialty care centers for healthcare systems and clinic operators.
• Commercial Design Commercial architectural services for breweries, restaurants, coffee shops, retail spaces, office buildings, laboratories, pharmacy, and administrative facilities for hospitality, retail, and commercial property owners.
• Dental Facility Design Specialized architectural design for dental offices including general dentistry, pediatric dentistry, and dental clinic chains. Service is for dental practice owners and operators seeking practice brand expression with optimized clinical functionality.
• Interior Design Services In-house interior design services including finish selection, artwork coordination, furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E) design and procurement, provided standalone or integrated with architectural projects.
• Planning and Consultation Services Strategic foundation services including deep analysis of current challenges, clinical aspirations, and long-term business goals before design begins, including programming, space planning, and site visits.
• Construction Documentation Services Production of comprehensive drawing sets for permitting, construction, and bid pricing, including plans, elevations, wall sections, and technical specifications.
• Construction Administration Services Ongoing partnership through construction including shop drawing review, contractor coordination meetings, and resolution of requests for information.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sherwood Family Pet Clinic welcomed 200+ new clients within three months of opening new facility
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Architectural Werks, Inc. (AWI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 May 2023In 2023, MD Architects merged with Seattle-based design firm Architectural Werks, Inc. (AWI), forming one of the nation's largest healthcare architecture firms of its kind. The combined entity operates under the MD Architects brand with studio locations in Indianapolis, Seattle, and Boston.
• Bradford Building Company Inc.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction partner working alongside MD Architects on multiple veterinary health projects ranging from 30,000sf Emergency Pet Hospitals to small renovations. Collaborative relationship with Justin Arrington, VP.
• Kline Rostocil ConstructionminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction firm partnered with MD Architects on Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital project in Highland Heights, OH. President Laurence A. Kline noted MD Architects as supportive and engaging partner for both client and construction team.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• HGA: HGA is a national architecture and engineering firm with a strong healthcare practice, designing hospitals and medical facilities across the US. It represents another broad incumbent comparable to MD's healthcare facility design capabilities.
• Perkins&Will: Perkins&Will is a major international architecture firm with a renowned healthcare practice serving academic medical centers and large health systems. It is a broader incumbent competing for high-value healthcare facility commissions.
• CannonDesign: CannonDesign is a large architecture and engineering firm with a substantial healthcare practice designing hospitals, ambulatory facilities, and medical research buildings. It is comparable as a broader incumbent in the healthcare architecture market.
• EwingCole: EwingCole is a Philadelphia-based architecture, engineering, and interior design firm with a strong healthcare practice serving major health systems. It is a much larger incumbent that competes with MD Architects on larger healthcare facility projects.
• HKS: HKS is a large global architecture firm with one of the most prominent healthcare practices in the US, designing hospitals and medical facilities nationwide. It represents the broader incumbent competitor for larger healthcare projects where MD may compete.
• BSA LifeStructures: BSA LifeStructures is an Indianapolis-based architecture and engineering firm specializing in healthcare and life sciences facility design, including human healthcare and research facilities. The shared Indianapolis base and overlapping healthcare focus make it a comparable regional incumbent peer.

Direct peers

• Animal Arts: Animal Arts is a Boulder, CO-based architecture firm that specializes exclusively in animal care facility design, including veterinary hospitals, animal shelters, and pet care facilities. It is the closest direct competitor to MD Architects in the veterinary architecture niche.
• BDA Architecture: Nashville-based BDA Architecture has a well-known Animal Care Practice alongside broader healthcare and commercial design work, serving veterinary hospitals and animal care facilities across the US. It overlaps directly with MD Architects in veterinary and healthcare design verticals.
• E4H Environments for Health Architecture: E4H is a Plano, TX-based architecture firm dedicated exclusively to healthcare facility design, including human healthcare projects. It is comparable to MD Architects in healthcare-focused practice, though MD's deeper vertical is veterinary while E4H's is broader human healthcare.
• Array Architects: Array Architects is a Conshohocken, PA-based firm specializing in healthcare facility design for hospitals, medical offices, and outpatient facilities. It is comparable to MD Architects' human healthcare practice with overlapping client types and similar project-based fee model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/md-architects
• Instagraminstagram.com/mdarchitects

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

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 MD Architects