JLG Architects

What JLG Architects does

JLG Architects is a 100% employee-owned full-service architecture firm founded in 1989 as a two-person studio and now operating from nine offices across North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota (Fargo, Grand Forks, Bismarck, Williston, Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Minneapolis, St. Cloud, Alexandria). The firm is organized into ten vertical studios — Healthcare, Higher Education, Hockey, Industrial, Justice & Rehabilitation, K12 Education, Libraries & Museums, Mixed-Use & Housing, Sports, and Workplace — each led by principal architects who drive project acquisition within their domain. Its portfolio spans marquee institutional commissions including the $500M Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, the $56M UND Nistler College of Business & Public Administration, the $450M Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library (Architect of Record alongside Snøhetta, opening July 2026), and sports/entertainment venues for the Savannah Ghost Pirates and Mosaic Quarter in Tucson.

The firm's underlying technical differentiators are its evidence-based design (EDAC-accredited healthcare staff), sustainability leadership (Living Future 50 Pledge, Architecture 2030 signatory, Living Building Challenge pursuit on TRPL), and domain specialization in ice rink engineering (the nation's only Certified Ice Rink Manager/Certified Ice Technician Architect on staff). JLG's "Design for Life" federally registered methodology and its AXP development program — reportedly reducing architect licensure time from a national average of 12.9 years to 3.7 years — underpin its talent engine. The business model is standard professional services: fee-based architectural contracts negotiated project-by-project, delivered through direct business development, RFP responses, and long-term studio relationships with government, institutional, and commercial clients; pricing is not publicly disclosed. Since 2015 the firm has operated as a 100% Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), governed by an elected board under CEO/President Michelle Mongeon Allen, with no external institutional investors or parent company.

Name

JLG Architects

Legal name

JLG Architects

Website

https://jlgarchitects.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

JLG Architects is a 100% employee-owned, full-service architecture firm operating nine offices across the Upper Midwest, delivering specialized design services across healthcare, higher education, hockey, sports, justice, and cultural-institution verticals for government, institutional, and commercial clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Architectural Services (541310), Interior Design Services (541410)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB), Community Engagement & Participatory Planning (BPAHAKAO)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Healthcare facility design
• Higher education architecture
• Sustainable building design
• Hockey arena design

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Forks

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: JLG Architects generates revenue through professional services contracts including master planning, architectural design, and construction administration for specialized building types across healthcare, higher education, sports facilities, justice, industrial, K12, libraries, and mixed-use housing.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

JLG Architects is a 100% employee-owned full-service architecture firm delivering integrated architectural design, master planning, and construction administration services across specialized verticals including Healthcare, Higher Education, Hockey, Industrial, Justice & Rehabilitation, K12 Education, Libraries & Museums, Mixed-Use & Housing, Sports, and Workplace. The firm serves government, institutional, and commercial clients through nine offices across North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota, with nationally recognized expertise in evidence-based healthcare design, ice rink engineering, and Living Building Challenge sustainability standards.

Product overview

JLG Architects is a 100% employee-owned architectural firm that operates as a multi-studio practice offering comprehensive design services. The firm is organized into specialized practice studios including Healthcare, Higher Education, Hockey, Industrial, Justice and Rehabilitation, K12 Education, Libraries and Museums, Mixed-Use and Housing, Sports, and Workplace Architecture. Each studio delivers project-based work tailored to specific market sectors. The firm is perhaps best known for its role as Architect of Record for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in collaboration with Snøhetta, as well as signature projects including Altru Hospital, UND Nistler College of Business, Port Wentworth Ice Cove & Amphitheater, and the Mosaic Quarter Iceplex. JLG also produces thought leadership content through its 'Bold by Nature' and 'Community Matters' podcasts. The firm maintains offices across Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Healthcare Architecture Studio Comprehensive architectural design practice for hospitals, clinics, critical access facilities, health education centers, behavioral health facilities, and sports medicine/wellness centers. Serves rural and urban hospital systems with EDAC-accredited staff expertise.
• Higher Education Architecture Studio Architectural design services for academic, athletic, science, and student life facility needs across college and university campuses.
• Hockey Arena Architecture Studio Hockey arena and ice facility design practice offering collegiate, community, and performance ice rink environments, with the nation's only Certified Ice Rink Manager/Certified Ice Technician Architect on staff.
• Industrial Architecture Studio Industrial design practice including facilities for electric cooperatives, distribution centers, and manufacturing.
• Justice and Rehabilitation Architecture Studio Justice and correction facility design practice including county jails, courthouses, detention facilities, and law enforcement facilities.
• K12 Education Architecture Studio K-12 school design practice including career and technical education centers and community schools serving public school districts.
• Libraries and Museums Architecture Studio Library and museum design practice including presidential libraries and cultural institutions.
• Mixed-Use and Housing Architecture Studio Mixed-use and housing design practice including residential developments, adaptive reuse, and commercial mixed-use projects.
• Sports Architecture Studio Sports facility design practice including arenas, field houses, and multi-sport complexes.
• Workplace Architecture Studio Workplace design practice including corporate offices and commercial interiors with expertise in neuroinclusive workplace design.

Quantifiable outcome

• JLG's AXP development program reduces architect licensure from the national average of 12.9 years to 3.7 years
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Sanford HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2026JLG Architects and Sanford Health partnered to create Zen Zone mental health rooms for student-athletes at the Summit League Basketball Championships in Sioux Falls, SD. Sanford Health contributed toward the creation of calming wellness spaces designed to support mental well-being.
• Dimensional Innovations (DI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 October 2025Dimensional Innovations is the Primary Exhibit Fabricator for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library project, valued at $450M, working with JLG Architects and Snøhetta on immersive experience galleries and environmentally sustainable exhibit elements.
• SnøhettaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerJLG Architects serves as Architect of Record for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, ND, working hand-in-hand with Snøhetta (the international Design Architect and Design Landscape Architect). This is JLG's most prominent project, with the $450M library opening July 4, 2026.
• JE DunncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerJE Dunn serves as Construction Manager at Risk for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library project. JLG collaborates with JE Dunn on complex construction administration and execution.
• ConfluencecoreTechnology or IntegrationConfluence serves as Landscape Architect of Record for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, collaborating with JLG Architects and Snøhetta on the site design.
• Summit LeagueminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJLG Architects partnered with the Summit League for the second consecutive year to provide dedicated mental health Zen Zone rooms for student-athletes during the Basketball Championship tournament.
• ArupcoreTechnology or IntegrationArup serves as Audiovisual, Theater, and Acoustic Engineer for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.
• Magnusson Klemencic Associates (MKA)coreTechnology or IntegrationMKA serves as Structural Engineer for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library project.
• Atelier TencoreTechnology or IntegrationAtelier Ten serves as Sustainability Consultant for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, supporting the project's Living Building Challenge and carbon-positive goals.
• Future of StorytellingcoreTechnology or IntegrationFuture of Storytelling serves as Exhibit Story and Content Designer for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.
• Local ProjectscoreTechnology or IntegrationLocal Projects serves as Exhibit Designer for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.
• Cortina ProductionscoreTechnology or IntegrationCortina Productions serves as Media Design and Production for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.
• Sherwood Design EngineerscoreTechnology or IntegrationSherwood Design Engineers serves as Civil Engineer for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library project.
• AE2ScoreTechnology or IntegrationAE2S serves as Civil Engineer for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.
• Morrissey EngineeringcoreTechnology or IntegrationMorrissey Engineering serves as Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Engineer for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.
• BNDRY StudiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBNDRY Studio collaborated with JLG on the Grand Forks Career Impact Academy design.
• BWBRcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBWBR served as Design Architect (Justice) in partnership with JLG for the Ward County Jail Expansion project.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Stantec: Global design and consulting firm with established Healthcare, Education, and Community Development practices. Competes with JLG for institutional and government clients but is materially larger and more diversified.
• HKS: Large national architecture firm with signature Healthcare, Sports, and Civic practices. Overlaps with JLG across Healthcare and Sports verticals but at substantially greater scale.
• HDR Architecture: Large multi-disciplinary design firm with strong Healthcare, Justice, and Education practices. Overlaps directly with JLG's verticals but operates at much greater scale with broader service lines including engineering and program management.

Direct peers

• Cuningham Group: Mid-size architecture, master planning, and interior design firm with strong Hospitality, Entertainment, and Healthcare practices. Comparable in scale, regional roots, and entertainment/sports specializations (including arena design) that overlap with JLG's Sports and Hockey Studios.
• CannonDesign: National architecture, engineering, and planning firm with deep Healthcare, Higher Education, and Sports practices. Comparable to JLG in vertical mix but operates at materially larger scale with multiple national offices.
• BWBR: Mid-size architecture firm with a Healthcare-focused practice that has partnered with JLG (e.g., on Ward County Jail as Design Architect). Directly comparable in scale and mission, with similar civic and healthcare specializations.
• Perkins&Will: Global architecture firm with deep Healthcare and Higher Education studios. Directly comparable to JLG across the same core verticals (healthcare, education, civic/cultural) but at significantly larger scale and national/international footprint.
• Kahler Slater: Integrated design firm with Healthcare, Sports (including ice arenas), Workplace, and Senior Living practices. Directly comparable to JLG across verticals including Hockey/Sports, Healthcare, and Workplace design.
• DLR Group: Employee-owned (100% ESOP) integrated design firm with strong Healthcare, Higher Education, K-12, and Sports practices. Closest structural peer to JLG given shared ESOP model and similar vertical mix.

Regional players

• Eppstein Uhen Architects (EUA): Midwest-based architecture and engineering firm serving Healthcare, Education, Workplace, and Community Development. Comparable in scale and regional concentration to JLG with overlapping verticals.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/JLGArchitects
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jlg-architects-
• Instagraminstagram.com/jlgarchitects
• Xx.com/JLGArchitects

Compliance12 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 JLG Architects