Best Practice Architecture
Founded in 2011, Best Practice Architecture is a Seattle design-intensive architecture firm providing full-service design, permitting, and construction administration for residential and commercial clients across the Pacific Northwest. The small studio serves restaurants, retail, offices, and homes.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersSeattle, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Best Practice Architecture does
Best Practice Architecture is a Seattle-based, design-intensive architectural firm founded in 2011 by Ian Butcher that provides full-service architecture and interior design for residential and commercial clients in the Pacific Northwest. The 1-10 person practice delivers end-to-end services spanning concept design, permitting, construction drawings and documentation, and on-site construction administration, with the firm also assisting clients in contractor selection and the bidding process. Project work spans commercial offices, restaurants, retail environments, hospitality venues, and residential remodels and additions, with notable logos including POSSIBLE (40,000 sf Seattle HQ, 2011-2016), 98point6 (13,000 sf Columbia Center office, 2019), Sea Creatures Restaurant Group, Serafina, Eye Eye Optical, Eames NW, Mt. Joy, Downtown Spirits, and the SAG-AFTRA Foundation (12,200 sf Los Angeles performing arts facility). The studio relocated from the Rainier Oven Building to a new Capitol Hill space at 300 E Pike Street in September 2023 and is led by founder Ian Butcher together with Sarah Smith, who was elevated to Partner in May 2026.
Best Practice Architecture firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Best Practice Architecture
- Legal name
- Best Practice Architecture
- Website
- https://bestpracticearchitecture.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Founded in 2011, Best Practice Architecture is a Seattle design-intensive architecture firm providing full-service design, permitting, and construction administration for residential and commercial clients across the Pacific Northwest. The small studio serves restaurants, retail, offices, and homes.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Best Practice Architecture industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural Services
- NAICS
- Architectural Services (541310), Interior Design Services (54141)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB), Space Planning & Workplace Design (BPAHAKAI)
Keywords
Where Best Practice Architecture is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seattle
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Best Practice Architecture business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Architectural Services: Best Practice charges hourly for architectural services, based on the different roles/skill level of employees on the team and invoices monthly. Depending on the size of the project, they may set a maximum fee based on a percentage of construction costs or a fixed bid. Their services include design work, permitting, drawings and documents for construction, and construction administration. Clients should budget approximately 20% of total project cost towards 'soft costs' including architectural fees (approximately 15% of construction cost), consultant fees (approximately 3%), permitting fees (approximately 2%), and other design-related costs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | Hourly professional services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Best Practice Architecture product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Best Practice Architecture is a Seattle-based, design-intensive architecture firm offering full-service architectural and interior design for commercial, residential, restaurant, and office projects. The firm delivers end-to-end services including design work, permitting, construction drawings and documents, and on-site construction administration, and also helps clients identify contractors and navigate the bidding and pricing process. The practice emphasizes original, playful design balanced with functionality and serves clients across the Pacific Northwest.
Product overview
Best Practice Architecture is a design-intensive architecture firm located in Seattle offering a comprehensive suite of architectural and interior design services. Their practice spans multiple project types including commercial, residential, restaurant, and office design. They provide end-to-end services encompassing supercool design work, permitting, construction documentation, and on-site construction administration. The firm also offers some interior design work, hardscape design, and related design consulting services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Architecture and Design Services
- Interior Design Services
- Construction Administration Services
- Hardscape Design Services
Companies that use Best Practice Architecture
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Best Practice Architecture technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Best Practice Architecture partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- POSSIBLEflagshipLong-term client relationship spanning multiple years and phases. Designed POSSIBLE's Seattle Headquarters (40,000 sf) in the historic Times Square Building, completed in phases from 2011-2016. Ongoing collaboration on new spaces as the company expanded, including lobby, offices, conference spaces, kitchens, and all-hands gathering areas.
- Marvin Yamaguchi ArchitecturecoreCollaborated with Marvin Yamaguchi as Architect of Record for the 98point6 office expansion project in Columbia Center (13,000 sf). Best Practice served as Design Architect while Marvin Yamaguchi was Architect of Record.
- Ty+CheyminorTy+Chey provided photography services for the Best Practice World HQ project documenting their own office space on Capitol Hill.
- Schuchart CocorePhase I contractor for POSSIBLE Seattle HQ project. One of several contractors used across the multi-phase project.
- BNBuilderscoreGeneral contractor for Perch Cafe project - a full-floor dining cafe, coffee bar, and commercial kitchen on top floor of a technology firm's office space.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Best Practice Architecture competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SkB Architects: SkB Architects is a Seattle architecture and interior design firm with workplace, hospitality, retail and residential experience. It is comparable because it serves many of the same commercial-interior and boutique residential markets as Best Practice.
- SHED Architecture & Design: SHED Architecture & Design is a Seattle studio focused on architecture, interiors and design for homes, remodels, cabins and small commercial spaces. It is comparable to Best Practice’s boutique, design-led residential and commercial project work.
- Graham Baba Architects: Graham Baba is a Seattle architecture and interiors firm known for restaurants, retail, workplace, hospitality and adaptive reuse projects. It is highly comparable because Best Practice also competes for design-intensive commercial, restaurant, retail and office interiors in the Seattle market.
- MW Works Architecture + Design: MW Works is a Seattle architecture and design firm with modern residential, retreat and selected commercial work. It is comparable because both firms emphasize design quality, small-studio service and Pacific Northwest residential/commercial architecture.
- Board & Vellum: Board & Vellum is a Seattle-based architecture, interior design and landscape design practice serving residential and commercial clients. It is comparable as a multidisciplinary local design-services firm covering many of the same residential renovation and commercial interior needs.
- Wittman Estes: Wittman Estes is a Seattle studio combining architecture, landscape and interior design, particularly for custom homes and small-scale projects. It is comparable to Best Practice’s residential design and remodel/ADU focus, though with a stronger landscape integration angle.
- Heliotrope Architects: Heliotrope Architects is a Seattle architecture practice known for contemporary residential, commercial and hospitality projects. It overlaps with Best Practice’s design-forward residential and boutique commercial architecture offering.
- GO'C: GO'C is a Seattle architecture and design studio working across residential, cultural and commercial projects. It is comparable as a design-driven local studio serving project-based clients in overlapping built-environment categories.
Broad incumbents
- The Miller Hull Partnership: The Miller Hull Partnership is an established architecture firm headquartered in Seattle with commercial, civic, institutional and sustainable-design work. It is a broader incumbent because it competes in the regional architecture market but has a wider, larger-scale institutional focus than Best Practice’s boutique mix.
- Olson Kundig: Olson Kundig is a larger Seattle-based architecture and design firm with high-end residential, cultural, commercial and product/furniture design work. It is a broader incumbent because it overlaps in premium architecture and interiors but operates at a larger scale and broader global profile than Best Practice.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Best Practice Architecture social profiles
Digital presenceBest Practice Architecture financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Best Practice Architecture leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Best Practice Architecture funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Best Practice Architecture 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 Best Practice Architecture
What does Best Practice Architecture do?
Best Practice Architecture is a Seattle-based, design-intensive architecture firm offering full-service architectural and interior design for commercial, residential, restaurant, and office projects. The firm delivers end-to-end services including design work, permitting, construction drawings and documents, and on-site construction administration, and also helps clients identify contractors and navigate the bidding and pricing process. The practice emphasizes original, playful design balanced with functionality and serves clients across the Pacific Northwest.
Is Best Practice Architecture a public or private company?
Best Practice Architecture is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Best Practice Architecture founded?
Best Practice Architecture was founded in 2011. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Best Practice Architecture based?
Best Practice Architecture is headquartered in Seattle, United States, in the North America region.
How does Best Practice Architecture make money?
One revenue line is on record: architectural Services.
Who are Best Practice Architecture's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SkB Architects, SHED Architecture & Design, Graham Baba Architects, MW Works Architecture + Design, Board & Vellum, Wittman Estes, Heliotrope Architects and GO'C. Broad incumbents are The Miller Hull Partnership and Olson Kundig.
Does Best Practice Architecture have an API?
No public API is recorded for Best Practice Architecture.
What industry is Best Practice Architecture in?
Best Practice Architecture'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 541310.