What Waterleaf Architecture does

Waterleaf Architecture is a Portland, Oregon-headquartered professional services firm founded in 1952 providing architectural and interior design services to private building owners, public agencies, and nonprofit clients across the Pacific Northwest. The firm operates on a project-based professional services revenue model, executing work across five primary verticals: public transit (TriMet, C-TRAN, SDOT, Portland Streetcar), higher education and healthcare (Oregon State University, Oregon Health & Science University, Eastern Oregon University), wineries (Domaine Serene, Penner-Ash, Seven Hills, Amaterra), adaptive reuse and historic preservation (50+ projects on local or National Register of Historic Places), and community/civic facilities (Community Vision's Seven Corners Collaborative, Mt. Hood Meadows). Customer acquisition is relationship-driven through direct commissions and public-sector RFP processes, supported by portfolio-driven website marketing, regional transit conference participation, earned media through industry awards (Restore Oregon DeMuro Awards, DJC TopProject), and a certified B-Corporation brand positioning.

The firm's technology stack consists of mainstream building information modeling and visualization tooling — Revit, AutoCAD, SketchUp, and Adobe Creative Suite — augmented by domain expertise rather than proprietary platforms. Differentiated capabilities include integrated energy modeling and sustainability analysis aligned with the 2030 Challenge and LEED/Earth Advantage certification processes, seismic upgrade design for historic unreinforced masonry structures, and universal design that exceeds ADA Accessibility Guidelines. Waterleaf is organized as an employee/partner-owned firm with no external institutional investors, operating under B-Corporation governance with a Gold rating under the City of Portland Sustainability at Work program.

Name

Waterleaf Architecture

Legal name

Waterleaf Architecture

Website

https://waterleaf.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Waterleaf Architecture is a Portland, Oregon-based architecture and interior design firm serving private, public, and nonprofit clients across the Pacific Northwest with specialized practices in adaptive reuse, transit, higher education, winery, and historic preservation projects. Founded in 1952, it is a certified B-Corporation with 50+ historic preservation projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural and Interior Design Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Architectural Services (54131)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Historic Preservation & Conservation Planning (BPAHAKAH)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Adaptive reuse architecture
• Historic preservation design
• Transit facility architecture
• Sustainable building design

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural and Interior Design Services: Waterleaf generates revenue through professional architectural and interior design fees for new construction, renovation, adaptive reuse, and historic preservation projects across commercial, transit, higher education, winery, residential, and community sectors in the Pacific Northwest.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Waterleaf Architecture provides professional architectural and interior design services for new construction, renovation, adaptive reuse, and historic preservation projects across commercial, winery, transit, higher education, healthcare, residential, and community-sector clients throughout the Pacific Northwest. The firm integrates sustainable design, universal design, seismic upgrading, and LEED certification processes into its projects, leveraging BIM tools (Revit, AutoCAD), SketchUp, and Adobe Creative Suite. It operates as a project-based practice with more than 60 years of experience and over 50 completed historic preservation projects.

Product overview

Waterleaf Architecture is an architecture firm providing comprehensive architectural and interior design services across multiple specialized sectors. The firm operates as a unified service offering rather than a platform-plus-modules structure, with core competencies in adaptive reuse, sustainability, universal design, seismic upgrades, and historic preservation. Services span commercial, winery, transit, higher education, residential, healthcare, and community sectors throughout the Pacific Northwest. The firm is a certified B-Corporation with over 60 years of experience, integrating sustainability practices into all project types and maintaining expertise in LEED certification, Earth Advantage certification, and 2030 Challenge carbon neutrality commitments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Design Services Comprehensive architectural design services for commercial, winery, transit, higher education, residential, historic restoration, and adaptive reuse projects throughout the Pacific Northwest, delivered by Waterleaf Architecture from concept through construction administration.
• Interior Design Services Interior design services including concept planning, lighting design, space planning, casework design, finish selection, furniture design, and construction administration, delivered in collaboration with Gunderson Designs for commercial, hospitality, winery, and residential projects.
• Adaptive Reuse and Historic Preservation Services Renovation, adaptive reuse, restoration, and historic preservation services for historic buildings, including work on over 50 projects listed locally or on the National Register of Historic Places, integrating seismic, life-safety, and accessibility upgrades.
• Seismic Upgrade Services for Historic Structures Structural seismic upgrades for historic structures, including unreinforced masonry, providing creative and cost-effective seismic solutions that integrate seismic, life-safety, and accessibility improvements while preserving historic character.
• Universal Design and Accessibility Services Universal design services that exceed ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG), creating accessible, functional, and safe environments for occupants, staff, and visitors of all abilities across new construction and historic preservation projects.
• Sustainability and LEED Certification Services Sustainable design and LEED certification services, including integrated energy modeling, sustainability analysis, LEED and Earth Advantage certification support, and alignment with the 2030 Challenge for carbon neutrality.
• Transit Architecture Services Architectural design for transit infrastructure, including streetcar, light rail, bus stations, transit centers, and operations and maintenance facilities for Pacific Northwest transit agencies.
• Winery Architecture Services Specialized winery architecture including production facilities, gravity-flow wineries, barrel storage, tasting rooms, and event/hospitality facilities throughout the Pacific Northwest wine region.
• Higher Education Architecture Services Campus architecture for universities and academic medical centers, including expansions, infrastructural upgrades, classrooms, office space, residence halls, performing arts spaces, and research laboratories.

Quantifiable outcome

• LEED Gold certification achieved for First Hill Streetcar O&M facility with significant reduction in energy usage compared to similar facilities
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Schommer & Sons ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSchommer & Sons Construction is a recurring construction partner on Waterleaf projects including the Domaine Serene Wine Lounge, Yamhill County Office (Carlton Office), Clubhouse at Domaine Serene, Seven Corners Collaborative, and Portland Winter Light Festival installations. The firm provides exquisite focus and care in restoring historic projects and bringing them to completion.
• BLRB ArchitectscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBLRB Architects of Bend, Oregon served as Architect of Record for the Domaine Serene Wine Lounge project, with Waterleaf providing Executive Architect recommendations and reviews of design development and documentation.
• Interface EngineeringsupportingTechnology or IntegrationInterface Engineering provided mechanical/electrical engineering for the Portland Streetcar OMF project and other Waterleaf projects including Cedarbrook Professional and Beaumont Village Lofts.
• Reyes EngineeringsupportingTechnology or IntegrationReyes Engineering partnered with Waterleaf on the Portland Streetcar OMF project for engineering services.
• LTK EngineeringcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLTK Engineering teamed with Waterleaf to design the Portland Streetcar OMF and First Hill Streetcar O&M facilities. LTK is a key partner for transit operations and maintenance facility projects.
• Community VisioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity Vision is a nonprofit client for whom Waterleaf designed the Seven Corners Collaborative, a building serving five non-profits assisting people with disabilities. Waterleaf collaborated closely with Community Vision to develop a universally accessible building.
• Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT)coreOthersSDOT is the client for the First Hill Streetcar O&M Facility project, a $135M First Hill Streetcar line project designed to support economic growth and strengthen connections between Capitol Hill, First Hill, and Chinatown/International District.
• Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU)coreOthersOHSU has relied on Waterleaf's architectural expertise and knowledge of their existing buildings for over 20 years, working on projects ranging from minor office remodels to world-class biomedical research facilities.
• KPFF Consulting EngineerssupportingTechnology or IntegrationKPFF Consulting Engineers partnered on OHSU Laboratories, OSU Dryden Hall, and OSU Sackett Hall projects providing structural engineering services.
• Mt. Hood Meadows Ski ResortcoreOthersWaterleaf teamed with local Hood River architect Carl Perron to design a new medical clinic and Ski Patrol offices for Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort, achieving LEED Gold Certification.
• Eastern Oregon UniversitycoreOthersWaterleaf led a multidisciplinary team to update Eastern Oregon University's Loso Hall, creating a professional-level theater experience with accessibility, mechanical, electrical, and theater infrastructure improvements.
• Green Line Affordable Development (Guardian Real Estate Services and Geller Silvis and Associates)coreOthersPartnership between Guardian Real Estate Services and Geller Silvis and Associates, developing the Fuller Station 100-unit mixed-income apartment building adjacent to the SE Fuller Road MAX Station in Happy Valley, Oregon.
• TriMetcoreOthersTriMet is a key public agency client for whom Waterleaf has completed multiple transit projects including WES Commuter Rail OMF, Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail stations, Powell LIFT Operations facility, and Fuller Station Housing adjacent to MAX station.
• WDY Structural EngineeringsupportingTechnology or IntegrationWDY Structural Engineering partnered on Seven Corners Collaborative, Yamhill County Office, and other projects providing structural engineering services.
• PAE EngineerssupportingTechnology or IntegrationPAE Engineers has partnered on numerous Waterleaf projects including OHSU Laboratories, Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail, Lloyd Center renovation, Providence Creative Office, WES Commuter Rail OMF, and other projects.
• Luma Lighting DesignsupportingTechnology or IntegrationLuma Lighting Design partnered on Lloyd Center renovation and 620 Building projects providing specialized lighting design services.
• B CorporationcoreOthersWaterleaf is a certified B-Corporation, using business as a force for good. The firm holds B-Corp certification and maintains a Gold rating with the City of Portland Sustainability at Work program.
• EnergyTrust of OregonsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerWaterleaf is a trade ally with the EnergyTrust of Oregon's New Buildings program, supporting sustainable design and energy efficiency in Oregon construction projects.
• 2030 ChallengecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWaterleaf has adopted the 2030 Challenge to work towards carbon neutrality, integrating this framework into all project designs and corporate sustainability goals.
• Penner-Ash Wine CellarscoreOthersWaterleaf provided architectural design for Penner-Ash Wine Cellars' 10,000-case gravity-production winery in Oregon's North Willamette Valley, integrating tasting room, administration, lab, barrel room, and fermentation areas.
• Domaine Roy et fils WinerycoreOthersWaterleaf designed Domaine Roy et fils winery and tasting room showcasing refined architecture with natural materials, reclaimed wood, and dramatic panoramic views of the Dundee Hills.
• Trinity Episcopal CathedralcoreOthersWaterleaf designed accessibility improvements for Trinity Episcopal Cathedral (built 1906) in Portland's Alphabet District, integrating an accessible ramp into original basalt stone walls and earning a 2017 DeMuro Award.
• Clackamas CountycoreOthersClackamas County selected the Fuller Station project to receive funds from the $658 million Metro housing bond, working with Waterleaf as the design architect on the 100-unit affordable housing development.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ZGF Architects: Larger Portland-headquartered architecture firm with a national practice and deep sustainability credentials. Overlaps with Waterleaf on higher education, transit, healthcare, and sustainable design in the Pacific Northwest, but operates at significantly greater scale and project size.
• Ankrom Moisan: Portland-based architecture and interior design firm with comparable mixed-use, multifamily, and civic portfolios. Larger than Waterleaf and operating across the West Coast, but with significant overlap in PNW client base and project types.
• Mithun: Seattle-based integrated design firm with a strong sustainability and community-focused practice. Overlaps with Waterleaf on higher education, transit-oriented, and sustainable design work in the Pacific Northwest, though larger in scale.
• Olson Kundig: Seattle-based architecture and design firm recognized for high-design hospitality, winery, and residential projects, including Pacific Northwest winery work. Comparable on Pacific Northwest market focus and winery project overlap, though materially larger and more design-led.

Direct peers

• Hacker Architects: Portland-based architecture firm of comparable scale with strong portfolios in civic, educational, and residential work in the Pacific Northwest. Directly comparable on size, location, and project-type mix, including historic and adaptive reuse experience.
• LRS Architects: Portland-based architecture firm with similar size and a comparable portfolio spanning civic, educational, and community projects in Oregon and Washington. Direct comparable on geography, scale, and segment mix.
• PIVOT Architecture: Eugene, Oregon-based architecture firm with similar size and emphasis on sustainability, civic, and educational work in the Pacific Northwest. Comparable as a regional peer with overlapping Oregon client base and values-driven practice.
• SERA Architects: Portland-based architecture and urban design firm of similar size and sustainability orientation, with comparable work across civic, educational, and transit-oriented projects in the Pacific Northwest. Closest direct peer given shared Portland base, values-driven practice, and overlapping project portfolio.
• Holst Architecture: Portland-based architecture firm with similar size and focus on multifamily housing, mixed-use, and civic/community projects in Oregon. Comparable in scale and Pacific Northwest market focus, with overlapping client base in affordable and community-oriented development.
• BLRB Architects: Bend, Oregon-based architecture firm that partnered with Waterleaf as Architect of Record on the Domaine Serene Wine Lounge. Comparable as a Pacific Northwest peer with shared winery and adaptive reuse experience and a documented collaborator relationship.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/waterleafa

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Waterleaf Architecture