What JLA Architects does

JLA Architects is a privately-held, full-service architectural and planning firm headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, with additional offices in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Denver, Colorado. Founded in 2007 and operating with a staff in the 11–50 range, the firm delivers architectural, interior design, masterplanning, and sustainable/green building design services across multiple market verticals including multifamily, mixed-use, retail, restaurants, civic, community, recreational, hospitality, corporate, and educational projects, both regionally and nationally.

The firm's core product is its Architectural + Planning Services offering, which spans project feasibility through construction and final marketing, supported by add-on capabilities in Interior Design Services, Masterplanning, and Sustainable/Green Building Design (LEED, Wisconsin Green Built Home, Enterprise Green, Energy Star). Underlying delivery relies on industry-standard architectural design software and methodologies rather than proprietary technology, with no public API, mobile app, or disclosed AI tools. Notable portfolio assets include LEED Gold-certified Woodale Crossing, the 553-unit Huxley Yards affordable housing development, MLK Library Apartments, The Eastern mixed-use development, and the Imagination Center civic facility.

JLA generates revenue through professional services fees quoted on a project-by-project basis, with multi-year engagements typical for large developments. Go-to-market is predominantly enterprise field sales via direct client engagement with real estate developers, government entities, community organizations, and small business owners, supplemented by an organic digital presence (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, blog, and a portfolio website). A demonstrated concentration of named enterprise clients in the Wisconsin real estate development sector (Cinnaire, Fiduciary Real Estate Development, Gebhardt Development, Galway Companies, Horizon Development) and a 2014–2026 track record of regional trade awards across multiple projects underscore repeat-engagement dynamics within the firm's target verticals.

Name

JLA Architects

Legal name

JLA Architects

Website

https://jla-ap.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

JLA Architects is a privately-held, full-service architectural and planning firm with offices in Madison, Milwaukee, and Denver, delivering architectural, interior design, masterplanning, and sustainable design services for real estate developers, municipalities, and small business owners across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Madison

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. Architecture and Design Services: JLA Architects generates revenue through professional architectural services, providing comprehensive range of architectural and planning services for various project and market types including sports and recreation facilities to multifamily developments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

JLA Architects is a full-service architectural firm providing comprehensive architectural and planning services from project feasibility through building construction and final marketing. The firm serves mixed-use, multifamily, retail, restaurant, civic, recreational, hospitality, masterplanning, corporate, and education projects for real estate developers, small business owners, community organizations, and government clients. With offices in Madison and Milwaukee, WI, and Denver, CO, the firm delivers projects across the United States.

Product overview

JLA Architects is a full-service architectural firm providing comprehensive architectural and planning services for a variety of project and market types ranging from sports and recreation facilities to multifamily developments. The firm's core offering is its Architectural + Planning Services, supported by specialized modules including Interior Design Services, Masterplanning, and Sustainable/Green Building Design. The company operates with offices in Madison, Milwaukee, and Denver and works on projects across the nation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural + Planning Services Full-service architectural design providing project feasibility assistance through building construction and final marketing, serving mixed-use, multifamily, community, retail, restaurant, masterplanning, hospitality, recreational, civic, corporate, and education market types for real estate developers, community organizations, government entities, and small business owners.

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• LHB of MinneapolisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJLA partnered with LHB of Minneapolis as a consultant on the One City Schools adaptive re-use project in Monona, WI.
• J.H. Findorff & Son, Inc.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerJ.H. Findorff & Son served as preconstruction manager on the One City Schools project, with positive feedback from their Sr. Preconstruction Manager John Tucker about JLA's collaborative approach.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Gensler: Global design firm providing architecture, interiors, planning and brand across commercial, civic, hospitality and residential markets; comparable breadth of design services but at vastly larger scale.
• HOK: Global architecture, design and engineering firm with major practice areas including multifamily, mixed-use, civic, sports and recreation; comparable design capabilities at materially larger scale, representing competitive incumbent for marquee projects.
• CannonDesign (formerly Cannon): Larger national design firm offering architecture, engineering and planning across healthcare, education, civic and commercial sectors; comparable service offering but at broader scale and geographic reach than JLA.
• Stantec (Architecture practice): Global professional services firm with significant architecture, planning and community development practice spanning multifamily, mixed-use, civic and recreational markets; comparable services through a much larger parent organization.

Direct peers

• Cuningham Group: Mid-size architecture and design firm with strong Midwest presence (Minneapolis, Denver, Las Vegas) focused on multifamily, hospitality, entertainment and community projects; comparable scale, multi-office model and market mix to JLA.
• Eppstein Uhen Architects (EUA): Mid-size architecture firm with offices in Madison, Milwaukee and other Midwest cities, providing architectural, planning, and interior design services across multifamily, mixed-use, civic and corporate markets; highly comparable to JLA in scale, geography and service mix.
• BKV Group: Mid-size architecture, engineering and planning firm serving multifamily, affordable housing, senior living, hospitality and community clients from offices including Minneapolis and Chicago; comparable scale, market focus and multi-state Midwest presence.
• HGA Architects and Engineers: National design practice with Midwest roots providing architecture, engineering and planning across healthcare, civic, education, and cultural markets; comparable on integrated architecture/planning service delivery and Midwest base.
• Kahler Slater: Milwaukee-based architecture and design firm serving commercial, healthcare, hospitality, multifamily and community clients; closely comparable in regional base and broad multi-market architecture services.
• Plunkett Raysich Architects (PRA): Wisconsin-based full-service architecture, interior design and planning firm serving multifamily, senior living, healthcare, civic, and commercial clients; closely comparable in size, regional footprint, and focus on community-oriented design.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC2ne_jIR7cv1Q-g7oaWzuyQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/JLAarchitects
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jlaarchitects
• Instagraminstagram.com/jlaarchitects

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 JLA Architects