DRS Architects
DRS Architects is a 65-year-old Pittsburgh-based architecture firm providing PreDesign, Development & Documentation, and Consulting services to enterprise and institutional clients across healthcare, higher education, government, corporate, and hospitality sectors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1959
- HeadquartersPittsburgh, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What DRS Architects does
DRS Architects is a Pittsburgh-headquartered professional architecture firm founded in 1959, operating across three U.S. offices (Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Marietta). The firm delivers three integrated service lines: PreDesign Services (feasibility studies, master planning, conceptual design, zoning and code analysis, 3D visualization, and stakeholder engagement); Development & Documentation Services (schematic design, design development, construction documentation, permitting coordination, construction administration, and quality assurance); and Consulting Services (strategic planning support, code consultation, design review, accessibility and ADA evaluations, existing conditions assessments, and building envelope analysis). Its client base is heavily institutional and enterprise-oriented, spanning healthcare systems (Allegheny Health Network, UPMC, Allegheny General Hospital), higher education (University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon, Duquesne, Clarion, BridgeValley), corporate (BNY Mellon), federal government (FBI, DEA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers), hospitality (Nemacolin, Sheraton, DoubleTree, Marriott), and recreation/community clients. Revenue is generated through project-based professional services fees with quote-based pricing specific to each engagement. In 2024, the firm was acquired by Sixmo Companies, joining a diversified holding group that also includes Sixmo Architecture; DRS continues to operate under its own brand with its sixth generation of principals (Jon Funari, RA; Patrick Thornton, AIA; Jared Perry, PE) collectively offering nearly 100 years of experience.
DRS Architects firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DRS Architects
- Legal name
- DRS Architects
- Website
- https://drsarchitects.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1959
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- DRS Architects is a 65-year-old Pittsburgh-based architecture firm providing PreDesign, Development & Documentation, and Consulting services to enterprise and institutional clients across healthcare, higher education, government, corporate, and hospitality sectors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DRS Architects industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural Services
- NAICS
- Interior Design Services (54141), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering Services (8711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB), Civil & Structural Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAA)
Keywords
Where DRS Architects is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pittsburgh
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
DRS Architects business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Architecture and Design Services: Professional architecture services including pre-design, development and documentation, and consulting. Revenue is generated through project-based fees for design services, construction administration, and consulting engagements.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels1 record
DRS Architects product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DRS Architects provides professional architectural services across the full project lifecycle, from early-stage pre-design through construction documentation and administration. The firm delivers feasibility studies, master planning, conceptual design, schematic and design development, construction documentation, permitting coordination, construction administration, and specialized consulting such as code compliance, ADA/accessibility evaluation, and building systems analysis. These services are sold as project-based engagements to enterprise and institutional clients in healthcare, higher education, government, corporate, hospitality, and recreation sectors.
Product overview
DRS Architects offers three interconnected architectural service lines: PreDesign Services (early-phase feasibility, master planning, and conceptual design), Development & Documentation Services (full architectural design through construction administration), and Consulting Services (expert guidance on code compliance, accessibility, and building systems). These services work together as a comprehensive architectural offering from initial vision through project completion.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Companies that use DRS Architects
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
DRS Architects technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
DRS Architects partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Sixmo CompaniescoreIn 2024, DRS Architects was acquired by Sixmo Companies, marking a new chapter for the firm. This acquisition supercharged DRS's capabilities while preserving the firm's identity and commitment to quality, collaboration, and client focus. DRS is part of the Sixmo Companies family, which includes Sixmo Architecture.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
DRS Architects competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- HKS Architects: Dallas-based global architecture firm with deep healthcare and higher education practices. Direct peer because it competes with DRS for the same institutional client base (hospitals, universities) using a similar full-lifecycle professional services model.
- CannonDesign: Buffalo-headquartered AE firm focused on healthcare, higher education, and science/research facilities. Direct peer given overlapping verticals (hospital systems, universities, research labs) and similar mid-sized firm profile competing for institutional clients.
- Perkins&Will: Chicago-based global architecture firm with healthcare, higher education, civic, and government practices. Direct peer because it serves the same AHN/UPMC/CMU-type clients and competes for healthcare and university campus projects of the kind DRS delivers.
- SmithGroup: Detroit-based AE firm with strong healthcare, higher education, and government portfolios. Direct peer due to overlapping verticals (hospital, university, federal facility work) and similar mid-large professional services firm structure.
- Gensler: Global design and architecture firm with dedicated healthcare, higher education, hospitality, and corporate workplace practices. Direct peer for large institutional projects; overlaps with DRS in BNY Mellon-type corporate, hospitality, and healthcare engagements.
- HOK: Global AEC firm with healthcare, higher education, government, and corporate practices. Direct peer competing for large institutional projects, particularly academic medical centers and university capital programs where DRS also competes.
Regional players
- Astorino (now part of Stantec): Pittsburgh-headquartered architecture firm (acquired by Stantec) with a long history of healthcare, education, and corporate work in Western PA. Regional peer because it competes with DRS for the same Pittsburgh-based institutional clients and operates in the same geographic market.
- L. Robert Kimball & Associates: Ebensburg, Pennsylvania-based architecture and engineering firm with government, healthcare, and education practices. Regional peer given similar size, regional Pennsylvania footprint, and overlapping client verticals including federal and institutional work.
Broad incumbents
- Stantec: Global professional services firm with broad architecture, engineering, and environmental practices including healthcare, higher ed, and government. Broad incumbent — overlaps with DRS via its Pittsburgh-based Astorino architecture practice, but operates at much greater scale.
- HDR Architecture: Global AE firm with dedicated healthcare, higher education, and government architecture practices. Broad incumbent — competes with DRS for hospital and university projects but operates at significantly larger scale and broader service breadth.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
DRS Architects social profiles
Digital presenceDRS Architects financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DRS Architects leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
DRS Architects funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DRS Architects M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about DRS Architects
What does DRS Architects do?
DRS Architects provides professional architectural services across the full project lifecycle, from early-stage pre-design through construction documentation and administration. The firm delivers feasibility studies, master planning, conceptual design, schematic and design development, construction documentation, permitting coordination, construction administration, and specialized consulting such as code compliance, ADA/accessibility evaluation, and building systems analysis. These services are sold as project-based engagements to enterprise and institutional clients in healthcare, higher education, government, corporate, hospitality, and recreation sectors.
Is DRS Architects a public or private company?
DRS Architects is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was DRS Architects founded?
DRS Architects was founded in 1959. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is DRS Architects based?
DRS Architects is headquartered in Pittsburgh, United States, in the North America region.
How does DRS Architects make money?
One revenue line is on record: architecture and Design Services.
Who are DRS Architects's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are HKS Architects, CannonDesign, Perkins&Will, SmithGroup, Gensler and HOK. Regional players are Astorino (now part of Stantec) and L. Robert Kimball & Associates. Broad incumbents are Stantec and HDR Architecture.
Does DRS Architects have an API?
No public API is recorded for DRS Architects.
What industry is DRS Architects in?
DRS Architects'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 54141 and its SIC code is 8711.