HB+A Architects
HB+A Architects is a San Francisco-based, privately held architecture studio founded in 2006 (11-50 employees) that provides climate-focused architecture, interior design, urban planning, and LEED/Living Building Challenge consulting. It serves healthcare, public-sector infrastructure (SFO, LA Metro, BART), education, and developer clients on multi-year project engagements.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What HB+A Architects does
HB+A Architects is a privately held, San Francisco-based architecture and design studio founded in 2006 and led by founder Hafsa Burt, FAIA. The firm operates with 11-50 employees from its headquarters at 100 Pine Street and provides planning, architecture, interior design, urban design, product design, feasibility studies, technical advisory, accessibility and code consultation, and wayfinding services. Its core technical differentiation lies in climate-conscious design — including low-carbon assemblies, material health focus, and Living Building Challenge (LBC) expertise — with the Box Factory project achieving Zero Energy certification under LBC standards.
The firm serves a diversified client base across healthcare (UCSF, Turner Eye Institute, Marin Health Center), education (Merritt College), public sector infrastructure (San Francisco International Airport, LA Metro, BART/VTA, San Francisco Public Works, Santa Clara Valley Water District), entertainment (Warner Bros.), and retail/residential developers. Notable contract engagements include the $20 million SFO Secure Connector, a 6.2-mile segment of the LA Metro East San Fernando Valley Progressive Design-Build, and the 6-mile BART Silicon Valley Phase II Extension (CP2). HB+A also operates a "Box Lab" planning sub-brand and has developed a product line spanning Coin(ed), transit bus shelters, and custom furniture/retail fixtures.
Revenue is generated through project-based professional services with custom quote-based pricing, typically on multi-year engagements. Go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven, relying on direct engagement with enterprise, government, and mid-market clients, supplemented by a content and PR strategy (blog, portfolio, press in Archdaily, Fast Company, Metropolis). The firm is independently owned with no disclosed outside funding or parent company, and recognized in 2024-2026 with awards including the Metropolis Planet Positive Award, California Green Building Award, Fast Company Innovation by Design, and multiple 2026 Gold and Silver design honors.
HB+A Architects firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- HB+A Architects
- Legal name
- hb+a Architects
- Website
- https://hbaarchitects.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- HB+A Architects is a San Francisco-based, privately held architecture studio founded in 2006 (11-50 employees) that provides climate-focused architecture, interior design, urban planning, and LEED/Living Building Challenge consulting. It serves healthcare, public-sector infrastructure (SFO, LA Metro, BART), education, and developer clients on multi-year project engagements.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
HB+A Architects industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural Services
- NAICS
- Architectural Services (541310), Interior Design Services (541410)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Sustainable/Green Building & LEED Consulting (BPAHAKAG)
Keywords
Where HB+A Architects is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
HB+A Architects business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Architecture and Design Services: Professional architecture and design services for residential, commercial, healthcare, institutional, and public sector projects including feasibility studies, urban design and planning, interior design, and product design
- LEED and Sustainability Consulting: LEED certification support, GreenPoint Rated consulting, and sustainability advisory services for building projects
- Technical and Code Advisory Services: Specialist input on systems, envelopes, materials, and construction methods, plus accessibility and code consultation
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom project-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
HB+A Architects product offering
Product offeringCore offering
HB+A Architects provides planning, architecture, interior design, and sustainability consulting services with a focus on climate-conscious, low carbon design. The firm delivers LEED BD+C certification support, GreenPoint Rated consulting, and Living Building Challenge strategic guidance, alongside feasibility studies, urban design, product design, technical advisory, and wayfinding and signage design for commercial, healthcare, residential, institutional, and public sector clients.
Product overview
HB+A Architects is a sustainability-focused architecture and design studio offering a comprehensive portfolio of services including LEED BD+C certification, GreenPoint Rated consulting, and Living Building Challenge strategic guidance. The firm provides architecture, interior design, urban design and planning, product design, feasibility studies, technical advisory, and wayfinding services. Notable products include the award-winning Box Factory zero energy residence, Coin(ed), San Joaquin Valley Transit Bus Shelters, and custom furniture and retail fixtures. The firm is led by Hafsa Burt and is based in San Francisco, California.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Box Lab: A planning/design initiative mentioned as part of the firm's project portfolio offerings.
Products and services
- Architecture Services Innovative, sustainability-focused building design balancing form, function, and context to create user-friendly spaces for commercial, healthcare, residential, institutional, and public sector clients.
- Interior Design Services Thoughtful interior design for residential, commercial, and institutional spaces improving comfort, usability, and visual clarity while supporting client culture and brand.
- LEED BD+C Services LEED Building Design + Construction certification support covering new construction, core and shell, and K-12 school projects, including goal-setting, integrative design, documentation, and final certification coordination.
- GreenPoint Rated Consulting Consulting for GreenPoint Rated homes and multifamily projects focusing on energy performance, water savings, and healthy indoor air quality for California residential work.
- Living Building Challenge Services Strategic guidance for projects aiming for Living Building Challenge or regenerative design frameworks, including net-positive energy and water strategies, low-carbon materials, and circularity approaches.
- Urban Design and Planning Planning and design strategies shaping walkable, resilient neighborhoods, linking buildings, public space, and mobility systems for vibrant community life.
- Feasibility Studies Up-front studies testing site possibilities including entitlement paths, zoning constraints, yield, budget ranges, and key risks for grounded decision-making.
- Wayfinding and Signage Design Design of clear, intuitive wayfinding and signage systems for buildings, campuses, and transit environments with hierarchy, typography, mapping, and placement strategies.
- Product Design Custom products and details including lighting, furniture, and components that extend architectural concepts and bring refinement to projects.
- Technical Advisory Specialist input on systems, envelopes, materials, and construction methods to improve quality, constructability, and long-term performance.
- Accessibility and Code Consultation Review and guidance to help projects meet or exceed building codes and accessibility standards while creating environments accessible to more people.
- San Joaquin Valley Transit Bus Shelters Transit bus shelter designs for San Joaquin Valley transit systems.
Quantifiable outcome
- Zero Energy Certified under Living Building Challenge
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use HB+A Architects
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
HB+A Architects technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
HB+A Architects partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- LA MetrocoreWayfinding and Signage Services for East San Fernando Valley (ESFV) project. HB+A provides design services for clear, intuitive wayfinding and signage systems for transit environments.
- Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA)coreBART Silicon Valley Phase II Extension Project (CP2) - pivotal component extending BART service 6 miles from Berryessa/North San Jose station through downtown San Jose to Santa Clara.
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO)coreMultiple projects including $20M Secure Connector (new secured bridge/walkway connecting United Airlines domestic and international boarding areas), Gate 91 Vertical Secure Connector, and sustainability services agreements.
- Merritt CollegeminorScience Building D project in Oakland - collaboration on educational facility design.
- UCSFcoreAs Needed Architectural Services agreement providing flexible architectural support for UCSF healthcare facilities.
- San Francisco Public Works (SFPW)coreAs-Needed Architectural Design Services and As Needed Services for Health Care Facilities with partner Mei Architects.
- Gerson Overstreet ArchitectsminorCollaboration on Secure Connector project at SFIA.
- Mei ArchitectsminorCollaboration on As Needed Services for Health Care Facilities for SFPW.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
HB+A Architects competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- BNIM Architects: BNIM is a national design practice renowned for high-performance sustainable architecture and Living Building Challenge work. Comparable to HB+A in sustainability-first positioning and mission-driven studio culture.
- Olson Kundig: A design-driven architecture practice with strong craft, custom product, and bespoke project orientation. Comparable to HB+A's boutique studio model and product design practice alongside core architecture.
- Lake|Flato: Texas-based architecture firm recognized for sustainable, climate-responsive design that received the AIA Architecture Firm Award. Comparable to HB+A's blend of sustainability leadership and design excellence recognition.
- Mithun: Mithun is a design-driven architecture firm with deep sustainability and integrated design practice. Comparable to HB+A in size, mission-led approach, and emphasis on climate-positive architecture across building types.
- KieranTimberlake: KieranTimimberlake is an architecture and research firm widely recognized for sustainable design innovation and embodied-carbon leadership. Closely comparable to HB+A in sustainability differentiation and design-research orientation.
- Aidlin Darling Design: An award-winning San Francisco architecture and interiors studio known for craft-driven, contextually grounded residential and cultural work. Direct peer in Bay Area boutique architecture market and similar firm size.
- Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects: A San Francisco-based architecture firm recognized for sustainable, civic-minded design including AIA Committee on the Environment Honor Awards. Direct competitor to HB+A in the Bay Area public-sector and institutional market.
Broad incumbents
- HOK: Global design, architecture, and engineering firm with established sustainability and transit infrastructure practices. Overlaps with HB+A in transit, healthcare, and public-sector work but at much larger enterprise scale.
- Perkins&Will: Global architecture and design firm with deep sustainability practice including LEED and net-zero expertise. Competes with HB+A for institutional and public sector mandates but at significantly larger scale and broader service portfolio.
- Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM): Global architecture, engineering, and planning firm with sustainability-focused practice and major transportation/infrastructure portfolio. Broad incumbent competing for the same public-sector master-planning engagements as HB+A.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
HB+A Architects social profiles
Digital presenceHB+A Architects financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
HB+A Architects leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
HB+A Architects funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
HB+A 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 HB+A Architects
What does HB+A Architects do?
HB+A Architects provides planning, architecture, interior design, and sustainability consulting services with a focus on climate-conscious, low carbon design. The firm delivers LEED BD+C certification support, GreenPoint Rated consulting, and Living Building Challenge strategic guidance, alongside feasibility studies, urban design, product design, technical advisory, and wayfinding and signage design for commercial, healthcare, residential, institutional, and public sector clients.
Is HB+A Architects a public or private company?
HB+A Architects is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was HB+A Architects founded?
HB+A Architects was founded in 2006. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is HB+A Architects based?
HB+A Architects is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does HB+A Architects make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Architecture and Design Services are the primary driver. The others are LEED and Sustainability Consulting and technical and Code Advisory Services.
Who are HB+A Architects's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are BNIM Architects, Olson Kundig, Lake|Flato, Mithun, KieranTimberlake, Aidlin Darling Design and Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects. Broad incumbents are HOK, Perkins&Will and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM).
Does HB+A Architects have an API?
No public API is recorded for HB+A Architects.
What industry is HB+A Architects in?
HB+A Architects's product category is Architectural Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAA, Architectural Design Services, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAG, Sustainable/Green Building & LEED Consulting. Its NAICS code is 541310.