What Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects does

Pelli Clarke & Partners, operating as Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects until a post-2019 rebranding, is a privately held architecture and master-planning firm founded in 1977 by Cesar Pelli, Fred Clarke, and Diana Balmori in New Haven, Connecticut. The firm provides comprehensive architectural services — concept, design, and construction administration — across mixed-use towers, civic and cultural buildings, transit-oriented developments, education campuses, healthcare and research facilities, and headquarters, with completed buildings in over 20 countries across the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Australia.

The firm's underlying technical capabilities center on tall-building design, transit-integrated construction over live infrastructure (notably Boston South Station), seismic structural systems, bespoke high-performance facades, and multi-jurisdiction sustainability certification under LEED, BREEAM, CASBEE, China Three-Star, Green Mark, and BEAM Plus frameworks. Projects are secured through international design competitions and direct commissions from institutional clients; the firm has delivered landmark works including the Petronas Towers, Salesforce Tower, Azabudai Hills / Mori JP Tower, Torre Iberdrola, and São Paulo Corporate Towers.

The firm operates as a professional-services partnership with offices in New Haven (headquarters), New York, San Francisco, Chicago, and Shanghai, employing between 101 and 250 professionals. Revenue is earned through project-based architectural and master-planning fees, typically negotiated as a percentage of construction cost or fixed per-milestone amounts, with pricing not publicly disclosed. The firm markets through its website, earned media in architectural trade press, conference participation, and competitive design tenders, with no retail, e-commerce, or reseller distribution.

Name

Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects

Legal name

Pelli Clarke & Partners

Website

https://pcparch.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Founded in 1977, Pelli Clarke & Partners is a private architecture and master-planning firm headquartered in New Haven, CT that designs iconic skyscrapers, transit-oriented developments, and civic buildings for institutional developers, governments, and corporations globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable/Green Building & LEED Consulting (BPAHAKAG)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Master planning
• Skyscraper architecture
• Mixed-use developments
• Sustainable building design

Headquarters

HQ city

New Haven

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 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: Pelli Clarke & Partners generates revenue through fees charged for architectural design, master planning, and interior design services on commissioned projects. Revenue is project-based, earned through design and construction phases, typically structured as a percentage of construction cost or fixed fee per project milestone.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Pelli Clarke & Partners is a global architecture and design firm providing architectural design, master planning, and interior design services for landmark mixed-use towers, civic and cultural buildings, transit-oriented developments, education campuses, healthcare facilities, and corporate headquarters. Services span concept through construction administration, with deep specialization in tall buildings, transit integration over live rail infrastructure, and high-performance sustainable design across LEED, BREEAM, CASBEE, China Three-Star, Green Mark, and WELL certification frameworks.

Product overview

Pelli Clarke & Partners is a global architecture and design firm providing comprehensive architectural services across multiple building types. The firm's portfolio spans master planning, mixed-use, civic and cultural, education, healthcare and research, headquarters and office, and hotel and residential projects. Key project categories include transit-oriented developments, tall buildings and skyscrapers, performing arts centers, airports, and sustainable/green building design. The firm offers full architectural services from concept through construction, with expertise in sustainable design including LEED, BREEAM, and other green building certifications. Notable completed projects include Azabudai Hills in Tokyo (Japan's tallest building), Boston South Station, Salesforce Tower in San Francisco, and International Finance Centre in Hong Kong, among many landmark projects globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Design Services Full-scope architectural design services covering concept, schematic design, design development, and construction administration for landmark mixed-use towers, civic and cultural buildings, transit-oriented developments, education campuses, healthcare facilities, and corporate headquarters.
• Master Planning Services Large-scale urban and district master planning services for transit-oriented developments, higher education campuses, and corporate headquarters, including projects such as Yibin High-Speed Rail District Master Plan, Ningbo East New Town, and Al Jaddaf in Dubai.
• Interior Design Services Interior architectural design services for residential, hospitality, and commercial interior environments, complementing the firm's exterior architectural practice.

Quantifiable outcome

• Boston South Station handles over 128,000 boardings per weekday across Amtrak, MBTA, subway, and bus.
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers11 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

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Al Ghurair DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 April 2026Al Ghurair Development appointed Pelli Clarke & Partners as the lead masterplan design architect for its one-million-square-foot transit-oriented development in Al Jaddaf, Dubai, part of the Dubai Creek Harbour project. The project will feature residential, commercial, cultural, and hospitality spaces designed around a five-minute city concept.
• HinescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 September 2025Hines is the developer of Boston South Station Tower, a $1.5 billion, 51-story mixed-use development designed by Pelli Clarke & Partners. The project was realized through a public-private partnership with Amtrak, MBTA, Boston Planning & Development Agency, and MassDOT.
• Oxford Properties GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOxford Properties Group is the client for Union Park in Toronto, the largest mixed-use development in Toronto's history. Pelli Clarke & Partners serves as Design Architect on the 4.3-million-square-foot project featuring office towers, residential towers, retail, and public park space.
• The Galleria Investments LLCmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Galleria Investments LLC commissioned Pelli Clarke & Partners to design City Tower One, a 608-unit luxury residential tower on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai. The project is expected to complete in 2025.
• Mori BuildingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMori Building commissioned Pelli Clarke & Partners to design the Mori JP Tower and Azabudai Hills district in Tokyo — Japan's tallest building, completed in 2023. Aman Residences Tokyo occupies the top floors of the Mori JP Tower.
• AmtrakmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmtrak is a key public partner in the Boston South Station redevelopment, a public-private partnership led by Pelli Clarke & Partners to transform the 126-year-old station.
• MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMBTA is a key public partner in the Boston South Station redevelopment, with Pelli Clarke & Partners leading the redesign to improve transit connectivity for commuter rail and subway services.
• Boston PropertiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoston Properties co-developed Salesforce Tower and Salesforce Transit Center in San Francisco with Hines. Pelli Clarke & Partners won the 2007 international competition to design both buildings.
• HinescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHines co-developed Salesforce Tower in San Francisco with Boston Properties. Pelli Clarke & Partners designed the tower and transit center at its base, representing a forward-thinking public-private collaboration.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Gensler: Largest global architecture and design firm with a far broader practice (interiors, workplace strategy, brand) but competes for the same corporate headquarters, mixed-use, and signature commercial tower commissions. A broad incumbent at the top of the market.

Direct peers

• Zaha Hadid Architects: London-based global architecture firm with a portfolio of iconic, sculptural towers and cultural buildings. Direct peer on signature high-profile commissions where design distinction drives client selection.
• Foster + Partners: London-headquartered global architecture firm with a similarly iconic portfolio spanning supertall towers (The Gherkin, Bloomberg HQ), transit-oriented projects, and cultural institutions. Direct competitor for the same multinational developer and government commissions.
• HOK: Global design, architecture, and engineering firm with a comparable portfolio of corporate headquarters, healthcare, civic, and mixed-use towers. Direct peer on large institutional and developer commissions across multiple building types and geographies.
• Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF): New York-based global architecture practice specializing in tall buildings, mixed-use towers, and large-scale urban developments (Shanghai World Financial Center, Hudson Yards). Direct peer on signature commercial towers and developer commissions in the same client base.
• Snøhetta: Norway-headquartered global architecture and design firm with a portfolio of landmark cultural, civic, and mixed-use projects. Direct peer on signature cultural buildings, public realm master plans, and sustainability-driven design commissions.
• Perkins&Will: Global architecture practice with deep healthcare, education, and science/research portfolios and a strong sustainability record. Comparable to Pelli Clarke on healthcare systems, university clients, and LEED-led project delivery.
• HKS Architects: US-headquartered global architecture firm with strong practices in healthcare, higher education, sports, and commercial towers. Direct peer on healthcare systems, university campus master plans, and large developer commissions.
• Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM): Global architecture and engineering firm renowned for the world's tallest buildings (Burj Khalifa, One World Trade Center) and large-scale mixed-use and civic commissions. Directly comparable to Pelli Clarke on supertall skyscrapers, transit-oriented master plans, and developer-led iconic commissions.
• Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (AS+GG): Chicago-based practice founded by the former lead designer of Burj Khalifa, focused on supertall, large-scale, and high-performance sustainable towers. Closely comparable on tall-building specialty, sustainability leadership, and global mega-commissions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pelli-clarke-pelli-architects
• Instagraminstagram.com/pelliclarkeandpartners
• Xx.com/PCPArch
• Facebookfacebook.com/pcparch

Compliance21 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects