What PJHM Architects does

PJHM Architects is a California-based interdisciplinary architecture and research firm founded in 1963 that specializes in planning, designing, and modernizing K-12 educational and civic facilities. The firm serves public school districts, cities, developers, and private educational clients across California, with three regional offices located in Lake Forest (Orange County), Los Angeles, and Oceanside (San Diego). Its core services span site acquisition, master planning, conceptual design, contract documents, construction administration, R&D, specifications, and state agency liaison — covering full project lifecycles from feasibility through occupancy.

The firm's technical differentiation centers on evidence-based design for high-performance learning environments. Notable capabilities include daylighting design methodologies validated by California Energy Commission research, CHPS (Collaborative for High Performance Schools) verified design, photovoltaic integration and net-zero energy campus planning, and specialized facility types (aquatic centers, performing arts theaters, agricultural research centers, CTE/innovation labs, and 21st-century learning environments). The firm has delivered 100+ projects across 35+ California school districts, including multi-decade anchor relationships with San Diego Unified, Irvine Unified, Perris Union High School District, Long Beach Unified, Moreno Valley Unified, San Bernardino City Unified, and Corona-Norco Unified.

PJHM operates as a private, principal-led professional services firm with 11-50 employees and a leadership team of 4 co-founder/principal-level leaders and 6 associate principals whose tenures range from 1986 to 2011. The firm generates revenue through project-based professional service fees negotiated via public procurement and RFP processes typical of California K-12 school district engagements. The firm holds no external institutional investment, has no disclosed funding rounds, and operates exclusively within the California market, with deep expertise navigating the state's complex school facilities regulatory stack (OPSC, DSA, CDE, CEQA, DTSC).

Name

PJHM Architects

Legal name

PJHM Architects Inc.

Website

https://pjhm.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PJHM Architects is a 63-year-old California-based architecture firm specializing in K-12 educational and civic facility planning, design, and modernization. It serves 35+ public school districts through three Southern California offices, with deep expertise in CHPS-certified, high-performance learning environments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Architecture Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Architectural Services (541310)

akta.pro primary industry

Urban Planning & Master Planning (BPAHAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Regional & Land Use Planning (BPAHAKAE)

Keywords

• K-12 school architecture
• Educational facility design
• School modernization services
• Sustainable school design
• Civic project architecture

Headquarters

HQ city

Laguna Hills

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 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 and Planning Services: PJHM generates revenue through fees for comprehensive architectural and planning services to K-12 school districts, cities, developers, and private clients in California. Services span site acquisition, master planning, conceptual design, contract documents, construction administration, research and development, specifications, and state agency liaison. Projects are typically one-time engagements (new school construction or modernization) with some multi-phase ongoing relationships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

PJHM Architects provides comprehensive architectural and planning services for California K-12 school districts, cities, and private clients. The firm specializes in new construction, modernization, and expansion of educational facilities designed to CHPS (Collaborative for High Performance Schools) criteria, including elementary schools, K-8 schools, middle schools, high schools, CTE/STEM facilities, aquatic centers, performing arts venues, athletic facilities, and agricultural research centers. Services span site acquisition, master planning, conceptual design, contract documents, construction administration, research and development, specifications, and California state agency (OPSC, DSA, CDE) liaison.

Product overview

PJHM Architects is an interdisciplinary architecture and research firm specializing in educational and civic projects. Founded in 1963, the firm offers comprehensive planning and design services for California K-12 schools and higher education facilities. Their portfolio spans elementary schools, K-8 schools, middle schools, high schools, district educational support facilities, and higher education institutions. Key specialized offerings include Career Technical Education (CTE) facilities design, CHPS (Collaborative for High Performance Schools) certified sustainable buildings, aquatic centers, athletic stadiums and facilities, performing arts centers and theaters, agricultural research centers, STEM buildings, and innovation labs. The firm serves numerous school districts across Southern California including Irvine Unified, San Diego Unified, Perris Union High School District, Moreno Valley Unified, and others. Services include site acquisition, master planning, conceptual design, contract documents, construction administration, research and development, specifications, and state agency liaison with California Department of Education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Planning + Design Services Comprehensive architectural services covering the full project lifecycle from site acquisition through construction administration, including master planning, conceptual design, contract documents, research and development, specifications, and state agency liaison for K-12 school districts, cities, developers, and private clients across California.
• Solis Park K-8 School New K-8 school design and construction administration project: 101,718 SF seven-building campus on 13 acres for 1,000 K-8 students at Irvine USD, including library, auditorium, gymnasium, amphitheater, agriculture center, and multiple courtyards.
• Patrick Henry High School Arts, Media, and Entertainment Academy (PHAME) Performing arts and CTE academy for San Diego USD: 509-seat theater with Production Studios and Workshops, traditional and digital design and fabrication facilities, CHPS Verified certification, supporting Media and Design Arts and Production and Managerial Arts career pathways.
• Perris High School Modernization Comprehensive high school campus modernization for Perris Union HSD, including a 33-meter Class A Aquatic Center, 500-seat Visual and Performing Arts building, agricultural mechanics lab, and student union.
• Midland Elementary School Innovation Center Cross-disciplinary innovation center for Moreno Valley USD's Midland Elementary School: 1,290 SF collaborative space with laser cutting machines, 3D printers, sewing machines, video game stations, and video recording studio, designed to CHPS criteria to inspire elementary-level creativity and career pathway exploration.
• Aquatic Center Design Services Specialized service line for design of 33-meter Class A competition pools for school athletic programs, including pool decks, grandstands, competition lighting, and pool house buildings, delivered across multiple school districts.
• Vista Del Lago Public Health CTE Building Two-story CTE building for Moreno Valley USD housing four career technical education pathways: patient care simulation lab (5 stations), medical coding/billing, medical assisting, and Emergency First Responder program with EMT simulation space.
• Beacon Park K-8 School CHPS-certified K-8 campus for ~1,000 students in Irvine USD with educational technologies, collaboration spaces, music and science classrooms, innovation lab, design lab, parent center, full-court gymnasium, and fitness lab.
• Heritage High School STEM Building State-of-the-art STEM facility for Perris Union HSD offering chemistry, physics, and computer science courses with computer-aided design in architecture, engineering, and machinery design, plus rapid-prototyping, CNC machining, and 3D printing capabilities.
• Jordan High School Major Renovation Long-term multi-phase modernization campaign (2013-2026) for Long Beach USD's Jordan HS, replacing and modernizing all campus facilities including classroom construction, food services, VAPA classrooms, auditorium, library, music building, gymnasium, aquatics center, stadium, and athletic facilities.
• On The Boards Projects Current pipeline of design and construction projects in various stages, including Gossamer Grove Elementary School, Carver Elementary School Modernization, Baldy View Regional Occupational Program (ROP), Jordan High School Stadium, and Coachella Valley High School Agricultural Academy.

Quantifiable outcome

• Schools designed by PJHM with daylighting strategies have been shown in California Energy Commission research to improve learning rates and student performance
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 PJHM Architects