SWA Architecture

What SWA Architecture does

SWA Architecture PLLC is a New York City-based, privately-held professional services firm founded in 2001 by architect Steve Wygoda, offering integrated architecture, expediting, planning, and permitting services for commercial, residential, hospitality, and franchise clients across the United States. The firm is structured as a Professional Limited Liability Company under New York law and operates from a Manhattan headquarters at 11 Park Place plus a Long Island regional office in Huntington, with licensure in 35+ states plus the District of Columbia. Its core product portfolio spans Architecture Services (commercial, residential, mixed-use, and landmark/historic preservation), Expediting Services (NYC Department of Buildings, Landmark Preservation Commission, Housing Preservation & Development, and Fire Department approvals), Planning Services (zoning analysis, variance applications, BSA hearings), Sidewalk Café Design (a category the firm pioneered by collaborating with the Mayor's office to create NYC's first Small Sidewalk Café Rule), Franchise Services (nationwide multi-jurisdiction rollouts, with 2,000+ locations designed and permitted), and Construction Management plus Interior Design as add-ons.

The underlying technology stack is conventional: standard architectural design software and permitting workflow tools with no proprietary platform, no AI/ML components, no patents or trademarks, and no software integrations. Differentiation is process- and relationship-driven rather than technology-driven. SWA's core differentiators are 25+ years of NYC Department of Buildings relationships, codified regulatory influence (the Small Sidewalk Café Rule), 100% in-house architecture and permitting capabilities, and a track record with marquee clients including McDonald's, 7-Eleven, Starbucks, Kroger, Wendy's, Burger King, Regal Cinemas, FedEx, Wingstop, Lowell Hotel, Madame Tussauds, and UFC Gym.

The business model is professional services revenue generated through project-based, quote-based fees tailored to scope, with no publicly disclosed pricing. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales and direct relationship-based business development with franchise corporate teams, property owners, developers, landlords, contractors, and consultants. Three customer segments dominate: franchise brands (QSR and retail chains requiring nationwide rollout consistency), restaurants and hospitality (especially NYC sidewalk cafés), and commercial/residential developers. Leadership transitioned in June 2025 following founder Steve Wygoda's passing; Principal Sharon Broyn (RA, AIA, NCARB) and COO Avery Basch now oversee the firm.

Name

SWA Architecture

Legal name

SWA Architecture PLLC

Website

https://swaarchitecture.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SWA Architecture is a New York City-based architecture and expediting firm founded in 2001 that provides integrated design, permitting, and planning services to franchise brands, hospitality operators, and commercial/residential developers across 35+ U.S. states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architecture Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Interior Design Services (54141)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Historic Preservation & Conservation Planning (BPAHAKAH), Whole-Home Interior Renovation (Non-Structural) (HSAPAEAC)

Keywords

• Commercial architecture design
• Permit expediting services
• Zoning and planning
• Franchise architecture
• Sidewalk cafe design

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Architecture and Design Services: Full-service architecture firm providing commercial and residential design, including landmark/historic preservation, building design, interior design, and project development. Revenue generated through professional service fees for architectural engagements.
2. Permit Expediting Services: Expediting services for navigating NYC DOB permitting, landmark preservation, housing preservation & development, and fire department approvals. Revenue generated through service fees for permit navigation and approval processing.
3. Planning and Zoning Services: Zoning analysis, variance applications, special use permits, BSA hearings, and City Planning approvals. Revenue generated through consulting and advisory service fees.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

SWA Architecture is a full-service architecture and expediting firm providing commercial, residential, mixed-use, and historic preservation design; permit expediting with NYC Department of Buildings, Landmark Preservation Commission, and Fire Department; zoning analysis, variance applications, and BSA hearings; specialized sidewalk cafe design; and multi-jurisdiction franchise architecture and permitting services. The firm operates with 100% in-house architecture and permitting capabilities, licensed in 35+ U.S. states.

Product overview

SWA Architecture is a full-service architecture and expediting firm offering an integrated portfolio of services. The core offerings include Architecture Services (commercial, residential, mixed-use, historic preservation), Expediting Services (permit navigation with NYC departments), Planning Services (zoning analysis, variance applications), Sidewalk Cafe Design Services (pioneered NYC's first Small Sidewalk Cafe Rule), and Franchise Services (nationwide multi-jurisdiction permitting for franchise brands). Additional services include Construction Services and Interior Design. The firm is licensed in 36+ U.S. states and has completed 2,000+ locations designed and permitted.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture Services Full-service architectural design covering commercial, residential, mixed-use, landmark/historic preservation, building design, and project development for franchise brands, hospitality operators, and developers.
• Expediting Services Permit expediting and approval navigation services working with the NYC Department of Buildings, Landmark Preservation Commission, Housing Preservation & Development, and Fire Department for commercial and residential projects.
• Planning Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,000+ locations designed and permitted nationwide
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers28 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

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• CallisonRTKL: CallisonRTKL is a large global architecture firm with a strong retail practice serving major brands on rollouts and flagship environments. It competes for the same enterprise franchise accounts as SWA but at significantly greater scale.
• WD Partners: WD Partners is a large strategy, design, and architecture firm serving retail, restaurant, and hospitality clients with brand strategy and multi-site rollout services. It competes with SWA on franchise accounts but operates at substantially greater scale and broader service breadth.

Direct peers

• GreenbergFarrow: GreenbergFarrow is a national architecture and engineering firm with deep retail and franchise program experience. It serves many of the same retail and QSR brand clients as SWA with comparable architecture and multi-site rollout capabilities.
• FRCH Design Worldwide: FRCH is a retail and hospitality architecture firm specializing in brand environments, concept design, and multi-site rollouts for major QSR and retail clients. Its franchise and rollout delivery model directly parallels SWA Architecture's franchise service line.
• Design International: Design International is an architecture firm specializing in retail, hospitality, and brand environments globally. Its focus on retail brand experience and franchise delivery parallels SWA's franchise architecture and restaurant/hospitality practice.
• Hamilton Anderson Associates: Hamilton Anderson Associates is an architecture firm with experience in commercial, retail, and adaptive reuse projects of comparable scale to SWA. Its mixed-use and urban infill work overlaps with SWA's commercial and mixed-use portfolio.
• JGA Incorporated: JGA is a retail, restaurant, and brand environment design firm specializing in franchise rollout programs for major national brands. It is directly comparable to SWA in both client category and multi-site delivery model.
• Chipman Design Architecture: Chipman Design is a retail and restaurant architecture firm providing design, branding, and project management for franchise, hospitality, and mixed-use clients. Its service mix and client profile closely mirror SWA's franchise architecture offering.
• Nadel Architecture: Nadel is an architecture and planning firm with strong retail, hospitality, and mixed-use expertise. Its portfolio and client mix overlap meaningfully with SWA's commercial, hospitality, and franchise work.

Emerging players

• AvroKO: AvroKO is a design and architecture firm specializing in hospitality and restaurant interiors. While smaller and more focused on hospitality than SWA, it competes directly for the same NYC restaurant and hospitality design mandates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SWAArchitecture
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/swa-architecture

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 SWA Architecture