Steven Wisenbaker Architects AIA

What Steven Wisenbaker Architects AIA does

Steven Wisenbaker Architects AIA (legally "Steve Wisenbaker AIA Architects and Planners") is a private, founder-owned architectural practice headquartered at 300 Tamal Plaza, Suite 200, Corte Madera, California. Founded in 1976 by Steve Wisenbaker following his 1975 California architectural licensure, the firm operates with a staff in the 11–50 range and delivers professional architectural design services across three project categories: custom residential homes (including beach houses, hillside homes, cabins, villas, and remodels/additions), commercial office buildings, and tenant improvement work. Its primary customer segment is affluent residential property owners in the San Francisco Bay Area and adjacent Northern California markets, with selective out-of-region projects in locations such as Telluride and the Columbia River Gorge.

The firm's core service is comprehensive architectural design, grounded in a proprietary 'Design Logic' methodology — a behavioral approach to site planning that reserves the best part of a parcel as an outdoor room and sequences interior spaces around an arrival and privacy flow. Differentiated expertise includes FEMA-compliant coastal construction (evidenced by projects such as the Stinson Beach House) and ADA compliance, which function as gating qualifications for premium coastal and accessible residential commissions. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with project fees determined by scope, complexity, and size. Projects are sourced primarily through referrals and direct client engagement, supported by a website portfolio of 20+ completed projects organized by type and location.

The business is a single-firm boutique practice with no disclosed funding, outside investors, parent company, or subsidiaries. Distribution is regional, go-to-market is direct, and there is no software product, app, API, or technology platform — the offering is purely professional services. The firm holds no patents, public certifications, or formal partnerships in the available record, and there are no disclosed M&A, leadership changes, or restructuring events.

Name

Steven Wisenbaker Architects AIA

Legal name

Steve Wisenbaker AIA Architects and Planners

Website

https://stevewisenbakerarchitects.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Steven Wisenbaker Architects AIA is a Corte Madera, California-based architectural firm providing custom residential, commercial, and tenant improvement design services. Founded in 1976, it serves high-net-worth clients primarily in the San Francisco Bay Area using a proprietary behavioral site-design methodology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Residential architecture
• Commercial architecture
• Custom home design
• FEMA compliant construction

Headquarters

HQ city

Corte Madera

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Architectural Services: Professional architectural services for residential, commercial, and tenant improvement design projects, including new construction, remodels, and additions

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Steve Wisenbaker Architects AIA provides comprehensive custom architectural design services for residential, commercial, and tenant improvement projects. The practice spans new construction, remodels, and additions, applying a behavioral "Design Logic" methodology that prioritizes site-responsive planning, indoor-outdoor connections, and regulatory expertise in FEMA coastal construction and ADA compliance. The firm is licensed by the State of California and primarily serves clients in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Product overview

Steve Wisenbaker AIA Architects and Planners operates as a single-firm architectural practice founded in 1976 by Steve Wisenbaker. The firm's core offering is comprehensive architectural design services, encompassing residential homes (including beach houses, hillside homes, cabins, villas, and remodels), commercial office buildings, and tenant improvements. The practice specializes in ADA compliance and FEMA-compliant coastal construction, and employs a distinctive 'Design Logic' methodology that emphasizes behavioral approaches to site planning, identifying optimal outdoor spaces before placing structures. The firm is licensed by the State of California and serves clients primarily in the California Bay Area region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Design Services Comprehensive architectural design services for residential (custom homes, remodels, additions, beach houses, hillside homes), commercial office, and tenant improvement projects, applying a behavioral "Design Logic" methodology to site planning and spatial design with expertise in FEMA and ADA compliance. For affluent residential property owners and commercial clients primarily in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Broad incumbents

• Lake|Flato Architects: San Antonio-based architecture firm recognized for site-responsive, sustainable residential and resort design. Comparable in custom-residential focus and design-philosophy emphasis, though operating at a larger scale and in a different region.
• Olson Kundig: Seattle-based architecture firm internationally recognized for high-end custom residential design. Operates at a larger scale and broader geographic reach than Wisenbaker but competes in the same premium custom-residential category with similarly craft- and site-driven design philosophy.
• Bohlin Cywinski Jackson: Multi-office architecture firm with an acclaimed residential portfolio alongside civic and commercial work. Larger and more diversified than Wisenbaker, but competes for the same high-end custom residential commissions with site-responsive design.
• Marmol Radziner: Los Angeles-based architecture and design-build firm known for high-end custom residential projects including prefab/modular offerings. Comparable in custom residential focus and premium client base, though larger and with integrated construction capabilities.

Direct peers

• Studio Schicketanz: California-based boutique architecture firm specializing in custom residential projects with strong coastal and environmental sensitivity. Comparable to Wisenbaker in site-responsive design philosophy, custom-home focus, and premium California clientele.
• Jensen Architects: San Francisco-based boutique architecture firm with residential and hospitality projects across the Bay Area. Comparable in scale, geography, and high-end custom-residential practice model.
• Feldman Architecture: San Francisco-based boutique architecture firm focused on custom residential design for high-net-worth clients across Northern California. Closest comparable in scale, geography, and client segment to Wisenbaker, with overlapping Marin County and Bay Area project territory.
• Ike Kligerman Barkley: New York- and San Francisco-based architecture firm specializing in high-end custom residential design. Comparable in premium custom-home focus, though serving a different primary geography.
• Aidlin Darling Design: Bay Area architecture practice with a portfolio of custom residential and select commercial projects. Comparable in size, regional focus, and high-end custom-residential practice model.

Emerging players

• Ken Fulk: San Francisco-based design and architecture studio working on luxury residential, hospitality, and branded environments. Comparable in HNW Bay Area clientele and design-led practice, though more oriented to interior and experiential design than pure architecture.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/steve-wisenbaker-architects

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Steven Wisenbaker Architects AIA