Chiang O'Brien Architects

Name

Chiang O'Brien Architects

Legal name

Chiang | O'Brien Architects, DPC

Website

https://chiangobrien.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Chiang O'Brien Architects is a privately held, MWBE-certified full-service architectural firm in Ithaca, NY, specializing exclusively in new construction, renovation, and historic preservation projects for colleges and universities across the northeastern United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Architectural Services (54131)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB)

Keywords

• Higher education architecture
• Campus facility design
• Historic building renovation
• Sustainable building design
• Library and lab design

Headquarters

HQ city

Ithaca

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Professional architectural services including programming studies, renovations, additions, and new construction for higher education institutions. Revenue is generated through project-based fees for design and construction administration services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Chiang | O'Brien Architects is a full-service architectural design firm focused exclusively on higher education institutions, delivering programming studies, renovations, additions, and new construction for campus facilities including libraries, laboratories, student life buildings, health and wellness centers, academic offices, arts venues, and historic structures. The firm is a New York State Certified Minority and Woman-Owned Business Enterprise and supports clients with sustainable, accessibility-compliant, student-centered design across the northeastern United States.

Product overview

Chiang | O'Brien Architects is a New York State Certified Minority and Woman-Owned Business Enterprise providing full-service architectural design services exclusively for higher education institutions. The firm offers a comprehensive portfolio spanning new construction, renovations, additions, and programming studies. Their service categories include Student & Campus Life Facility Design, Library & Learning Commons Design, Laboratory & Science Building Design, Health & Wellness Center Design, Academic Office & Hub Design, Gallery & Arts Facility Design, and Historic Preservation & Renovation. The firm has completed projects for major institutions including Cornell University, multiple SUNY campuses, Hamilton College, Syracuse University, Penn State, and Skidmore College.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Higher Education Architectural Design Services Full-service architectural design services for higher education institutions, covering programming studies, renovations, additions, and new construction for campus facilities.
• Student and Campus Life Facility Design Architectural design for student-facing campus facilities such as campus stores, student unions, and campus life buildings, including the SUNY Oneonta Red Dragon Outfitters campus store.
• Library and Learning Commons Design Renovation and new construction services for academic libraries and collaborative learning spaces, including the Penn State Scranton Library Nursing Building and Skidmore College Scribner Library Creative Corridor Study.
• Laboratory and Science Building Design Design services for teaching and research laboratories and science buildings, including the Penn State Abington Woodland Biology Lab renovation completed in 2024.
• Health and Wellness Center Design Design services for integrated physical and mental health facilities on college campuses, including the Hamilton College Joel and Elizabeth Johnson Center for Health and Wellness.
• Academic Office and Engagement Hub Design Design services for academic office spaces, engagement hubs, and collaborative work environments for university departments, including the Cornell University Kennedy Hall Engaged Cornell Hub.
• Gallery and Arts Facility Design Design services for art galleries, exhibition spaces, and performing arts facilities on university campuses, including the Syracuse University Nancy Cantor Warehouse Gallery permanent renovation and Carnegie Library renovation.
• Historic Preservation and Renovation Renovation services that preserve historic building character while modernizing facilities for contemporary academic use, including the SUNY ESF Marshall Hall Revitalization and the firm's own Crescent Building studio in Ithaca.

Quantifiable outcome

• Achieved LEED certification and sustainability awards for multiple projects including Cornell Health and SUNY ESF Marshall Hall

Named customers10 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Wilkeson Pointe/Buffalo Waterfront ProjectnotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Chiang O'Brien Architects contributed design services for new comfort stations and beer garden as part of the $11 million Wilkeson Pointe improvements project. The firm will continue working with the waterfront team to design the new cruise ship terminal, with construction expected to begin in 2026.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• CannonDesign: Large national architecture and design firm with a dedicated higher education practice serving universities across the U.S. Directly comparable to Chiang O'Brien in target market but operates at a much larger scale with broader service offerings including engineering and healthcare.
• SmithGroup: National architecture, engineering, and planning firm with strong higher education and science/lab practices. Comparable to Chiang O'Brien in higher education specialization and sustainability focus, but operates at a much larger scale with integrated engineering services.
• Perkins&Will: Global architecture practice with a strong higher education studio serving major universities. Comparable in higher education focus and sustainability emphasis (COTE-equivalent initiatives), but operates at significantly larger scale and scope across multiple verticals.

Direct peers

• Payette: Boston-based architecture firm with a focused practice on higher education, healthcare, and science facilities. Strong comparable to Chiang O'Brien in mission-driven higher education specialization, science/lab design expertise, and Northeast geography.
• Sasaki Associates: Design firm specializing in architecture, planning, and landscape for institutional and higher education clients. Comparable to Chiang O'Brien in higher education portfolio and design excellence, though Sasaki offers broader urban planning and landscape services.
• Lake|Flato Architects: Design firm known for sustainability-focused architecture with higher education and institutional projects. Comparable to Chiang O'Brien in sustainability credentials (COTE awards) and educational sector focus, though based in Texas with broader geographic reach.
• ikon.5 architects: New York-based architecture firm with higher education and institutional portfolio. Comparable to Chiang O'Brien in mid-size firm scale, higher education focus, and regional Northeast presence, with similar award-winning design approach.
• Ann Beha Architects: Boston-based architecture firm historically focused on cultural, civic, and educational institutions including colleges and universities. Directly comparable to Chiang O'Brien in higher education specialization and Northeast regional focus, with similar boutique-firm positioning.
• William Rawn Associates: Architecture firm serving educational and cultural institutions with a strong higher education practice. Comparable to Chiang O'Brien in institutional specialization and design excellence, with similar boutique scale and East Coast geography.
• HLW International: Architecture and design firm with significant higher education practice serving universities across the Northeast. Comparable to Chiang O'Brien in higher education specialization and geographic focus, though operates at a larger scale with integrated interiors and engineering.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/chiangobrienarchitects

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Chiang O'Brien Architects