DLA Architects
DLA Architects is a privately held, full-service architectural design firm founded in 1983 and headquartered in Itasca, Illinois, specializing in K-12 educational facility design under its 'Form Follows Learning' philosophy. The firm serves school districts, municipalities, park districts, and religious organizations across the Midwest (Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana) with project-based professional services spanning design, construction administration, and LEED/sustainable design.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1983
- HeadquartersItasca, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What DLA Architects does
DLA Architects, Ltd. is a privately held, full-service architectural design firm founded in 1983 by Bruce Dahlquist and Dwain Lutzow, headquartered in Itasca, Illinois. The firm provides end-to-end architectural services spanning design, construction administration, interior design, space planning, and LEED/sustainable design across educational, recreational, cultural, municipal, commercial, and religious building types. Its core specialization is K-12 and higher education facility design, organized around a documented 'Form Follows Learning' philosophy that aligns pedagogy with physical space planning; supporting service lines include facility assessments, master planning, ADA surveys, pre-referendum and CDB grant consulting, and LEED certification support. The firm uses industry-standard design tools, BIM, and sustainable design practices to deliver ground-up construction, additions, and renovations primarily for institutional clients in the Midwest (Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana).
DLA generates revenue through project-based professional service fees quoted per engagement, with multi-year contract cadence typical of institutional capital projects. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales: partners engage directly with school districts, municipalities, park districts, religious organizations, and private clients from project inception through completion, supported by participation in industry associations (IASBO, ASBO International, AIA, IAPD/IPRA) and conference presence. Customer mix is heavily concentrated in K-12 education, with secondary exposure to municipal, parks & recreation, and faith communities; the firm lists among the Top 300 US architecture firms (Architectural Record, BD+C Giants 300) and Top Midwest Design Firms (ENR Midwest). Leadership transitioned fully from founding partners (Dahlquist retired 2017, Lutzow retired 2020) to current principals Carrie Matlock (President), Eric S. Sickbert (CFO/Director of Operations), Louis F. Noto Jr. (COO), William E. Templin (VP of Quality), and Edward L. Wright (VP of Business Development). The firm has expanded via acquisition (Robert Juris & Associates, September 2023) and capacity expansion (~30% HQ buildout, 2018), with no external funding or public-market activity disclosed.
DLA Architects firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DLA Architects
- Legal name
- DLA Architects, Ltd.
- Website
- https://dla-ltd.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1983
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- DLA Architects is a privately held, full-service architectural design firm founded in 1983 and headquartered in Itasca, Illinois, specializing in K-12 educational facility design under its 'Form Follows Learning' philosophy. The firm serves school districts, municipalities, park districts, and religious organizations across the Midwest (Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana) with project-based professional services spanning design, construction administration, and LEED/sustainable design.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DLA Architects industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural Design Services
- NAICS
- Architectural Services (54131), Interior Design Services (54141)
- SIC
- General Bldg Contractors - Nonresidential Bldgs (1540)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC)
Keywords
Where DLA Architects is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Itasca
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
DLA 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
- Architectural Design Services: Full-service architectural firm providing comprehensive services from project inception through completion, including design, construction administration, interior design, space planning, and sustainable design services. Revenue generated through professional service fees for renovations, additions, and new construction projects.
- Assessment & Planning Services: Facility assessments, needs analyses, master planning, feasibility studies, ADA surveys, and educational specifications services. Project-based consulting fees.
- Funding & Financing Consulting: Pre-referendum services, CDB grant application services, capital campaign planning, and funding opportunity identification.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Project-based professional services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
DLA Architects product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DLA Architects is a full-service architectural firm that designs buildings from concept through completion, including renovations, additions, and ground-up new construction across educational, recreational, cultural, municipal, commercial, and religious sectors. The firm provides design, construction administration, interior design, space planning, sustainable/LEED design, facility assessments, master planning, feasibility studies, ADA surveys, and pre-referendum/funding consulting. Their guiding philosophy, "Form Follows Learning," anchors educational design work, with partners directly involved from inception to project closeout.
Product overview
DLA Architects is a full-service architectural design firm offering a comprehensive portfolio of services centered on their core philosophy of 'Form Follows Learning.' The firm provides end-to-end architectural services spanning design, construction administration, interior design, and sustainable/LEED design. Their specialized design categories include Educational Design, Recreational Design, Cultural & Theater Design, Municipal/Governmental Design, Commercial Design, and Religious Design. Supporting services include facility assessments, master planning, ADA surveys, grant writing, pre-referendum services, and a scholarship program for aspiring architects.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Architectural Design Services End-to-end architectural design for renovations, additions, and new ground-up construction across educational, recreational, cultural, municipal, commercial, and religious sectors, delivered with direct partner involvement from inception through completion.
- Educational Design
Quantifiable outcome
- Projects frequently receive industry awards and recognition from Learning By Design, American School & University, Illinois Association of School Boards, and AIA
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use DLA Architects
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
DLA Architects technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
DLA Architects partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Robert Juris & Associates Architects, Ltd.major acquisitionRobert Juris & Associates was acquired by DLA Architects, bringing new ideas, skills, and perspectives to the firm. This acquisition expanded DLA's team and capabilities.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
DLA Architects competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- HOK: Global architecture and engineering firm with a large Education practice that competes for institutional K-12, higher education, and civic projects nationally. Overlaps with DLA in education but at a much larger scale.
- Stantec: Global engineering, architecture, and consulting firm with a large K-12 and higher education practice. Competes for institutional education and municipal design work across the Midwest; substantially larger but with overlapping end markets.
- Perkins&Will: Global architecture firm with a nationally recognized Education practice and active K-12 portfolio. Overlaps with DLA on education clients but operates at vastly greater scale and broader geography.
- CannonDesign: Large national architecture/engineering firm with a dedicated Education practice and offices across the Midwest, including Chicago. Competes with DLA on larger K-12 and higher education projects but operates at significantly greater scale and breadth.
Regional players
- Corgan: Texas-based architecture firm with a substantial K-12 practice serving Southwest and national school district clients. Comparable in K-12 specialization but operates in a different primary geography than DLA's Midwest focus.
Direct peers
- Wight & Company: Mid-size Illinois architecture and engineering firm with a substantial K-12 and community education design practice, headquartered in the Chicago suburbs. Comparable in scale and Midwest focus, with similar mixed-segment portfolio.
- LPA Design Studios: Mid-size integrated design firm with a strong K-12 and higher education practice. Comparable in firm size, vertical specialization, and integrated design services to DLA, though geographically focused on the West Coast.
- HMFH Architects: Mid-size New England architecture firm exclusively dedicated to educational facility design. Comparable in size and single-vertical specialization to DLA but serves a different regional market.
- Legat Architects: Illinois-based mid-size architecture firm with a strong K-12 education practice serving Midwest school districts. Most directly comparable peer to DLA in size, geography, vertical specialization, and project delivery model.
- Fanning Howey: Indiana-headquartered architecture firm specializing exclusively in K-12 educational facility design. Closest single-vertical competitor to DLA, with comparable firm size and an established reputation as a Top K-12 design firm.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
DLA Architects social profiles
Digital presenceDLA Architects financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DLA Architects leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
DLA Architects subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
DLA Architects funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DLA 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 DLA Architects
What does DLA Architects do?
DLA Architects is a full-service architectural firm that designs buildings from concept through completion, including renovations, additions, and ground-up new construction across educational, recreational, cultural, municipal, commercial, and religious sectors. The firm provides design, construction administration, interior design, space planning, sustainable/LEED design, facility assessments, master planning, feasibility studies, ADA surveys, and pre-referendum/funding consulting. Their guiding philosophy, "Form Follows Learning," anchors educational design work, with partners directly involved from inception to project closeout.
Is DLA Architects a public or private company?
DLA Architects is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was DLA Architects founded?
DLA Architects was founded in 1983. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is DLA Architects based?
DLA Architects is headquartered in Itasca, United States, in the North America region.
How does DLA Architects make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Architectural Design Services are the primary driver. The others are assessment & Planning Services and funding & Financing Consulting.
Who are DLA Architects's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are HOK, Stantec, Perkins&Will and CannonDesign. Corgan is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Wight & Company, LPA Design Studios, HMFH Architects, Legat Architects and Fanning Howey.
Does DLA Architects have an API?
No public API is recorded for DLA Architects.
What industry is DLA Architects in?
DLA Architects's product category is Architectural Design Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAA, Architectural Design Services, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAC, Landscape Architecture & Site Design. Its NAICS code is 54131 and its SIC code is 1540.