Line and Space
Line and Space is a 16-person architecture firm founded in 1978 in Tucson, Arizona that designs resource-conserving, climate-specific buildings. It serves federal, state, and local government agencies, educational institutions, and select private developers across the US and internationally, also acting as general contractor on select projects.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1978
- HeadquartersTucson, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Line and Space does
Line and Space is a privately held architecture and design firm founded in 1978 in Tucson, Arizona, specializing in resource-conserving, environmentally sensitive architecture for desert and extreme climates. The firm operates from five locations across the Southwestern US (Tucson as headquarters, plus Marfa TX, Walnut Creek CA, Los Angeles CA, and Honolulu HI) with additional international project work in China and Afghanistan. Their technical differentiation rests on a 45+ year body of climate-specific work including passive cooling strategies, water harvesting, gray water irrigation, photovoltaic integration, and on-site material experimentation in their Sonoran Desert laboratory, supported by R&D partnerships with institutions like the US Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL), LaFarge Corporation, and the University of Manitoba Concrete Laboratory.
The firm delivers two main service lines. First, architectural design services for libraries, animal care centers, visitor centers, educational facilities, fire stations, and custom residences, structured as either percentage-of-construction-cost or fixed design fees on multi-year contracts. Second, integrated design/build services on select projects where the firm acts as both architect and general contractor, most notably the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum Restaurant and Gallery Complex and the 25,000 sf Campbell Cliffs residence. Revenue derives almost entirely from professional services fees on public and private commissions.
Customer concentration centers on government clients across federal (US Fish and Wildlife Service, DOI Bureau of Land Management), county (Pima County, Maricopa County), and municipal (City of Tucson) levels, alongside educational institutions (University of Arizona, Sul Ross State University) and select private developers (Tianqin Bay Development in China). The firm's go-to-motion relies on competitive bidding, RFPs, and direct client relationships. Notable customer outcomes include facilities serving 1,000,000+ annual visitors at Red Rock Canyon Visitor Center, 600,000+ at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, and LEED Gold certifications on multiple federal buildings. The firm has accumulated over 140 architectural and environmental design awards, providing intangible asset value through peer recognition.
Line and Space firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Line and Space
- Legal name
- Line and Space, LLC
- Website
- https://lineandspace.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1978
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Line and Space is a 16-person architecture firm founded in 1978 in Tucson, Arizona that designs resource-conserving, climate-specific buildings. It serves federal, state, and local government agencies, educational institutions, and select private developers across the US and internationally, also acting as general contractor on select projects.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Line and Space industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural Services
- NAICS
- Architectural Services (54131), Architectural Services (541310)
- SIC
- Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB), Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders (IMAFABAE)
Keywords
Where Line and Space is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tucson
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Line and Space business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Architectural Design Services: The firm generates revenue through providing architectural design services for projects including libraries, animal care centers, visitor centers, educational facilities, corporate retreats, and residential projects. Fees are structured as percentage of construction cost or fixed fees for design services.
- Design/Build General Contracting: As general contractors on select projects, the firm provides construction services including Arizona Sonora Desert Museum Restaurant and Gallery Complex, Campbell Cliffs (multi-million dollar, 25,000 sf custom residence), Hana Environmental Design Studio, and Arroyo House.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom architectural services with pricing based on project scope |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Line and Space product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Line and Space provides architectural design and integrated design/build services for resource-conserving, environmentally sensitive architecture. The firm designs projects including libraries, animal care centers, visitor centers, educational facilities, corporate retreats, and residential projects across the US and internationally. On select projects, they act as both architect and general contractor, providing unique construction knowledge to maximize design possibilities within budgetary constraints.
Product overview
Line and Space is a 16-person architecture firm founded in 1978, offering architectural design and design/build services with a focus on resource-conserving, environmentally sensitive architecture. The firm specializes in projects that demonstrate sustainability and environmental stewardship through climate-specific design strategies including water harvesting, gray water irrigation, photovoltaics, and passive tempering of outdoor spaces. Their portfolio spans diverse project types including libraries, animal care centers, visitor centers, educational facilities, civic buildings, and residential projects, primarily in the US Southwest with additional projects in China.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Architectural Services
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 140 architectural and environmental design awards received
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Line and Space
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Line and Space technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Line and Space partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- US Department of Energy National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL)coreLine and Space worked closely with NREL to experiment with using Nanogel beads from Cabot Laboratories for window insulation and developed metal transpired solar walls for heating public restrooms at the Red Rock Canyon Visitor Center. This partnership enabled innovative sustainable building technologies.
- LaFarge Corporation (Canada)minorLaFarge Corporation provided support through the University of Manitoba Concrete Laboratory for development and testing of Ductal high-density, high-tensile strength concrete for the Integrated Shade Seat bus stop project.
- University of Manitoba Concrete LaboratoryminorThe Concrete Laboratory supported development and testing of Ductal concrete for the Integrated Shade Seat project through partnership with LaFarge Corporation.
- Cabot LaboratoriesminorProvided Nanogel beads for window insulation experiments conducted with NREL for potential use on the Red Rock Desert Learning Center project.
- Global Solar CorporationminorIntegrated locally produced photovoltaics into the Integrated Shade Seat bus stop design, powering self-contained 100,000 hour LED lighting.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Line and Space competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- BNIM: Mid-sized architecture firm with deep sustainability expertise and multiple AIA Top Ten Green Project awards. Direct peer in environmental design leadership and public-sector project portfolio.
- Jones Studio: Tucson-based architecture firm with similar size, focus on desert/regional architecture, and strong sustainability credentials. Directly comparable in scale, geography, and design philosophy, both serving Southwest US public-sector clients.
- Studio Ma: Phoenix-based sustainable architecture firm with similar desert-climate specialization and focus on integrated environmental design. Comparable project types and regional presence.
- Olson Kundig: Design-build architecture firm with strong integration of design and construction capabilities. Compares to Line and Space's design/build model and emphasis on craftsmanship and material innovation.
- Lake|Flato Architects: San Antonio-based firm nationally recognized for sustainable, climate-responsive architecture. Comparable in design philosophy, sustainability focus, and award-winning portfolio; overlapping customer base in public and institutional projects.
- Mithun: Integrated design firm with strong sustainability credentials and similar project typologies (civic, educational, cultural). Comparable in design philosophy and pursuit of regenerative design strategies.
- Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects: San Francisco firm recognized for sustainable design leadership and AIA Committee on the Environment awards. Direct peer in environmental design excellence and institutional/public client work.
Emerging players
- William McDonough + Partners: Cradle-to-Cradle and sustainability-focused architecture firm. Comparable in environmental design philosophy and pioneering sustainable practices, though focused on a smaller, higher-profile project roster.
Broad incumbents
- NBBJ: Large global architecture firm with significant healthcare, education, and civic practice. Overlaps with Line and Space's institutional client base and sustainable design offerings, but at much larger scale.
- SmithGroup: Large integrated design firm with strong sustainability practice and extensive public-sector client relationships. Comparable in serving government, education, and cultural clients with sustainable design expertise.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Line and Space social profiles
Digital presenceLine and Space financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Line and Space leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Line and Space funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Line and Space 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 Line and Space
What does Line and Space do?
Line and Space provides architectural design and integrated design/build services for resource-conserving, environmentally sensitive architecture. The firm designs projects including libraries, animal care centers, visitor centers, educational facilities, corporate retreats, and residential projects across the US and internationally. On select projects, they act as both architect and general contractor, providing unique construction knowledge to maximize design possibilities within budgetary constraints.
Is Line and Space a public or private company?
Line and Space is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Line and Space founded?
Line and Space was founded in 1978. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Line and Space based?
Line and Space is headquartered in Tucson, United States, in the North America region.
How does Line and Space make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Architectural Design Services are the primary driver. The others are design/Build General Contracting.
Who are Line and Space's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are BNIM, Jones Studio, Studio Ma, Olson Kundig, Lake|Flato Architects, Mithun and Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects. William McDonough + Partners is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are NBBJ and SmithGroup.
Does Line and Space have an API?
No public API is recorded for Line and Space.
What industry is Line and Space in?
Line and Space'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 7340.