START Architecture

Architectural Servicesstartarchitecture.ca

START Architecture is a private Western Canadian architecture firm formed from the merger of ONPA and HFKS Architects, providing architectural, master planning, and interior design services to healthcare, education, government, and institutional clients across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba from studios in Edmonton and Calgary.

Company typePrivate
Founded1964
HeadquartersEdmonton, Canada
Headcount11–50
GTM typeB2B
OfferingServices

What START Architecture does

START Architecture Inc. is a private Canadian architecture firm headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, with a second studio in Calgary. The firm was formed through the merger of ONPA Architects (established approximately 1964) and HFKS Architects (established approximately 1979), combining roughly 60 and 45 years of heritage respectively. START provides comprehensive architectural services spanning Architectural Design, Project Management, Master Planning and Urban Design, Building Sciences, Architecture Interiors, Programming Services, Studies and Research, and Building Information Modelling (BIM) using REVIT. The firm is positioned among leading Canadian practices in BIM adoption and integrates BIM across all project types for design visualisation, coordination, clash detection, energy modelling, and construction documentation. Revenue is generated through professional fees on a project-by-project basis, with no publicly disclosed pricing.

The firm serves institutional and public-sector clients as prime consultant, with primary segments in Healthcare (hospitals, cancer centres, continuing care, mental health facilities), Education (K-12 schools, university research complexes), and Government/Civic (correctional facilities, courthouses, transit infrastructure). Secondary segments include Commercial/Industrial and Sacral/Religious projects. Named marquee clients include the University of Alberta (multiple research and science facilities), Alberta Health Services delivery partners, the Government of Alberta (AGLC Liquor Distribution Centre, Edmonton New Remand Centre, Alberta Legislature), and the Province of Saskatchewan (Regina Provincial Correctional Centre Redevelopment, Prince Albert Provincial Correctional Centre). The firm delivers projects across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, with sustainability credentials evidenced by multiple LEED Gold and Silver certifications and 2 Green Globes awards.

START operates as a privately held corporation with no external investment or parent company. Go-to-market is direct enterprise engagement with institutional buyers via qualification-based public procurement, supported by a portfolio-driven website showcasing 70+ completed projects. Headcount sits in the 11-50 employee band. Notable delivered projects include the Edmonton New Remand Centre (described as Canada's largest and most technically advanced correctional facility of its kind, 1,947 capacity), the Katz Group Centre and Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Research Innovation (68,000 m2 each), and the $142M AGLC Liquor Distribution Centre delivered $11M under budget.

START Architecture firmographics

Firmographics

Name: START Architecture
Legal name: START Architecture Inc.
Website: https://startarchitecture.ca
Company type: Private
Founded year: 1964
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 11–50 employees
Short description: START Architecture is a private Western Canadian architecture firm formed from the merger of ONPA and HFKS Architects, providing architectural, master planning, and interior design services to healthcare, education, government, and institutional clients across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba from studios in Edmonton and Calgary.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

START Architecture industry classification

Industry

Product category: Architectural Services
NAICS: Architectural Services (54131), Interior Design Services (54141), Engineering Services (54133)
SIC: Services-Engineering Services (8711), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
akta.pro primary industry: Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)
akta.pro secondary industries: Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB), Building Information Modeling (BIM) & Digital Design Services (BPAHAKAK), Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC)

Keywords

Architectural design services
Master planning
Building information modeling
Interior design services
Urban design planning

Where START Architecture is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Edmonton
HQ country: Canada
HQ region: North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

START Architecture business model

Business model

GTM type: B2B
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

Architectural Design Services: START Architecture provides comprehensive architectural services including design, working drawings, and contract administration. Revenue is generated through professional fees for architectural design projects across commercial, institutional, and government sectors.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

START Architecture product offering

Product offering

Core offering

START Architecture provides comprehensive architectural design services spanning architectural design, project management, master planning and urban design, building sciences, interior design, programming, studies and research, and Building Information Modelling (BIM) using REVIT. The firm delivers these services as prime consultant to institutional, governmental, healthcare, educational, commercial, industrial, and sacral clients from its Edmonton and Calgary studios, leading project teams through concept, design, working drawings, and contract administration.

Product overview

START Architecture is an architectural services firm that operates as a single, unified service offering rather than a software platform. The company provides comprehensive architectural services including Architectural Design, Project Management, Master Planning and Urban Design, Building Sciences, Architecture Interiors, Programming, Studies and Research, and Building Information Modelling (BIM) services using REVIT. The firm serves diverse sectors including healthcare, education, correctional, commercial, industrial, cultural, and infrastructure projects from studios in Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

Architectural Design Services

Quantifiable outcome

LEED Gold certification achieved for Cooling Plant on Campus (exceeded LEED Silver target)
+2 more outcomes

Companies that use START Architecture

Customer profile

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

START Architecture technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

START Architecture partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

HFKS ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTART Architecture Inc. is the merger of HFKS Architects and ONPA Architects. HFKS brought 45 years of experience to the combined entity.
ONPA ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTART Architecture Inc. is the merger of HFKS Architects and ONPA Architects. ONPA carried on the tradition that started in Edmonton 60 years ago.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights2 records

START Architecture competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

WZMH Architects: Canadian architecture firm with institutional and commercial portfolio; comparable size and design-oriented practice serving similar building typologies.
Architecture49: Canadian full-service architecture firm with significant institutional, healthcare, and education portfolio; similar scale and public-sector client base as START Architecture.
DIALOG: Canadian interdisciplinary design practice with architecture, engineering, and interior design; comparable size and similar institutional/healthcare and education project focus across Western Canada.
Diamond Schmitt Architects: Toronto-based Canadian architecture firm with deep healthcare, education, and institutional expertise; comparable in project type and complexity, though larger scale and broader geographic reach.
KPMB Architects: Canadian architecture firm known for institutional, cultural, and education projects; similar mid-sized practice profile with strong design reputation and public-sector clients.

Regional players

Revery Architecture: Vancouver-based Canadian architecture firm with strong institutional and civic portfolio; similar mid-sized practice profile and comparable project types, though primarily BC-focused.

Broad incumbents

HDR Architecture: Global architecture and engineering firm with major healthcare and institutional practice overlapping START's core segments; competes for large public-sector projects in Canada.
Perkins&Will: Global architecture firm with strong Canadian presence and recognized healthcare and education expertise; competes for institutional mandates as a larger, broader incumbent.
Stantec Architecture: Much larger global design firm with substantial Canadian architecture practice; competes for the same institutional and public-sector mandates but offers broader engineering and consulting services.
WSP in Canada: Global professional services firm with major Canadian architecture and engineering practice; competes for institutional and infrastructure projects across Western Canada.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

START Architecture financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

START Architecture leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

START Architecture funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

START Architecture M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about START Architecture

What does START Architecture do?

Is START Architecture a public or private company?

START Architecture is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.

When was START Architecture founded?

START Architecture was founded in 1964. It employs 11 to 50 people.

Where is START Architecture based?

START Architecture is headquartered in Edmonton, Canada, in the North America region.

How does START Architecture make money?

One revenue line is on record: architectural Design Services.

Who are START Architecture's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are WZMH Architects, Architecture49, DIALOG, Diamond Schmitt Architects and KPMB Architects. Revery Architecture is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are HDR Architecture, Perkins&Will, Stantec Architecture and WSP in Canada.

Does START Architecture have an API?

No public API is recorded for START Architecture.

What industry is START Architecture in?

START Architecture's product category is Architectural Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAA, Architectural Design Services, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAB, Interior Design Services. Its NAICS code is 54131 and its SIC code is 8711.