What Davis Design does

Davis Design is a full-service architecture, engineering, and interior design firm headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska, with additional offices in Norfolk, Nebraska, and Vermillion, South Dakota. Founded in 1912 as Berlinghof and Davis and rebranded to its current name in 1994, the firm has operated continuously for over 110 years and employs 51-100 professionals organized into integrated architecture, mechanical/electrical/structural engineering, interior design, contract furnishings, and construction administration disciplines. It serves clients across eight market verticals — healthcare, senior living, education, industrial, corporate, government/civic, multi-family housing, and recreation — with a project portfolio that includes 437,000 sq. ft. industrial facilities for Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing, a 302,000 sq. ft. operations center for Lincoln Electric System, a 112,000 sq. ft. renovation for Madonna Rehabilitation, and a 96,000 sq. ft. Welding Technology Center for Southeast Community College. In 2024, the firm formalized Davis Contract Furnishings LLC as a sister company to handle furniture, artwork, and signage procurement, an integrated offering the firm notes is uncommon among peers.

The business operates as a traditional professional services A&E firm, generating revenue through project-based professional fees for design, engineering, interior design, and construction administration services. Projects are obtained through direct client engagement, RFP responses, referrals, and long-term institutional relationships, primarily concentrated in Nebraska with work extending into South Dakota, Iowa, and the broader Midwest. Pricing is project-specific and quote-based and is not publicly disclosed. Marketing is limited to a project portfolio website, news/blog content, and a careers page; the firm has no disclosed API, no proprietary technology platforms, and no AI/ML capabilities. Leadership is structured around a principal group led by Michael Wachal (President, CEO, Senior Structural Engineer) and Brandon Sire (CFO, Senior Mechanical Engineer), with three additional principals and multiple associate principals overseeing architecture, engineering, and business operations. The firm is privately held, reports no funding rounds, has no parent company, and shows no M&A activity.

Name

Davis Design

Legal name

Davis Design

Website

https://davisdesign.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1912

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Davis Design is a 110-year-old, Lincoln-based full-service architecture, engineering, and interior design firm with 51-100 employees serving healthcare, education, industrial, government, corporate, senior living, multi-family housing, and recreation clients across Nebraska, South Dakota, and Iowa on a project-based professional services model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lincoln

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Architecture and Design Services: Davis Design generates revenue through professional fees for architectural design, engineering services, interior design, contract furnishings coordination, and construction administration. Services are delivered on a project-by-project basis for clients across healthcare, education, government, corporate, industrial, and multi-family housing markets.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Davis Design is a full-service architecture and engineering firm delivering architecture, mechanical/electrical/structural engineering, interior design, contract furnishings, and construction administration services. The firm delivers integrated design solutions from concept to construction completion across market sectors including healthcare, senior living, education, industrial, corporate, government/civic, multi-family housing, and recreation. Davis Contract Furnishings LLC operates as a sister company extending the firm's interior design capabilities.

Product overview

Davis Design is a full-service architecture firm providing architecture, engineering, interior design, contract furnishings, and construction administration services. Founded in 1912, the firm operates as a unified service offering rather than separate products, with expertise spanning seven market sectors: Healthcare, Senior Living, Education, Industrial, Corporate, Government/Civic, Multi-Family Housing, and Recreation. The services work collaboratively from concept to completion, with architects, engineers (mechanical, electrical, structural), interior designers, and construction administrators integrated into project delivery. Davis Contract Furnishings LLC operates as a sister company extending interior design capabilities with furniture, artwork and signage coordination.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture Services Full architectural design services encompassing innovation, progressive ideas, and timeless design principles. Works hand-in-hand with engineers, interior designers, and construction administrators to deliver projects from concept to conclusion for healthcare, education, government, corporate, industrial, senior living, multi-family, and recreation clients.
• Engineering Services Mechanical, electrical, and structural engineering services that work in tandem with architects and interior designers to provide technical expertise ensuring buildings operate smoothly and efficiently.
• Interior Design Services Interior design services creating environments that speak to client goals, ranging from exciting to soothing spaces, efficient and supportive of people within. Includes finish selection, layout design, and integration of special interior features.
• Contract Furnishings Furnishings coordination including systems furniture, ancillary furniture, artwork and signage, extending interior design services with capabilities not often found at most firms.
• Construction Administration Competent construction administration with construction-focused professionals serving as client advocates, providing eyes and ears on the ground to ensure projects run smoothly from start to finish.
• Healthcare Architecture Holistic healthcare design creating ideal healing spaces and nurturing patient experiences. Projects include family medicine clinics, hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, surgical centers, and pediatric dentistry.
• Senior Living Architecture Compassionate senior design combining comfort, ease and function. Projects include assisted living, memory care, and independent living communities with hallmarks of compassionate design.
• Education Architecture Innovative educational design fostering success for all learning levels and goals. Projects span K-12 schools, higher education facilities, technical training centers, and early childhood development centers.
• Industrial Architecture Industrial architecture tailored to specific project needs, including manufacturing facilities, distribution centers, automotive dealerships, and warehouses designed for functionality and efficiency.
• Corporate Architecture Corporate architectural design creating powerful images about people housed within, working closely with clients to realize architectural visions reflecting character, values and goals.
• Government and Civic Architecture Government, civic and community design maximizing public good with intentional and respectful approaches to budgets, resources and community objectives.
• Multi-Family Housing Architecture Dynamic multi-family communities balancing aesthetics, functionality and sense of place, weaving modern design trends with practical and affordable considerations.
• Recreation Architecture Recreation architecture blending functionality, creativity and community engagement to craft spaces inspiring activity and connection, including sports complexes and wellness facilities.

Named customers11 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

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• DLR Group: Full-service architecture and engineering firm with deep Midwest heritage (former Omaha roots), delivering integrated design across healthcare, education, government, and commercial sectors—closely paralleling Davis Design's integrated A&E model and sector mix.
• HDR Inc. Omaha-headquartered global architecture/engineering firm offering multi-discipline design across healthcare, civic, education, and infrastructure—directly comparable to Davis Design's Nebraska-anchored, multi-vertical A&E service model.
• Holland Basham Architects: Lincoln, Nebraska-based full-service architecture firm providing architectural design, planning, and interior services in healthcare, education, and civic markets—directly overlapping Davis Design in geography and sector focus.
• Schemmer Associates: Omaha-based architecture/engineering firm offering integrated design services across multiple verticals in the Midwest—comparable in geography, multi-disciplinary scope, and project delivery model.
• BNIM Architects: Midwest-based architecture, planning, and design firm emphasizing integrated, sustainability-focused practice across healthcare, education, and civic markets—comparable in values-driven design approach and regional A&E positioning.
• Clark & Enersen: Nebraska-headquartered architecture and engineering firm with multiple offices and broad sector coverage including healthcare and education—directly mirroring Davis Design's Nebraska base, full-service model, and sector mix.

Broad incumbents

• HGA (Hammel, Green and Abrahamson): National full-service architecture, engineering, and planning firm with strong healthcare and education portfolios—comparable to Davis Design's integrated A&E scope but operating at significantly larger scale.
• CannonDesign: Large national architecture, engineering, and consulting firm serving healthcare, education, and civic clients with integrated design solutions—comparable service breadth and vertical mix to Davis Design, but at broader geographic and scale reach.
• HKS Inc. National architecture and design firm with deep healthcare and education expertise—comparable sector focus and integrated design approach, though operating as a much larger incumbent.

Regional players

• Wight & Company: Illinois-based integrated architecture, engineering, and construction firm serving Midwestern clients across healthcare, education, and senior living—comparable multi-disciplinary model and regional Midwest footprint.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubedavisdesign.com/videos

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Davis Design