What Sid studio does

SIDstudio is a Netherlands-based structural design studio founded in 2011 by Arjan Habraken, operating at the intersection of architecture and structural engineering. The firm provides specialized structural design, engineering, optimization, and 3D modeling services to architectural firms, developers, government entities, and institutional clients, with concentrated expertise in lightweight large-span roof structures (ETFE tensegrity, glass domes), parametric form-finding, non-linear finite element analysis, and modular timber building systems developed in partnership with MDLX b.v. Notable technical achievements include the 1,400m2 ETFE tensegrity roof at the House of Province in Arnhem (Nationale Staalprijs 2018, BNA Best Building 2018) and the 4,400m2 glass dome spanning the 60,000 sqm EDGE Amsterdam West office building delivered in 2022.

The firm operates a project-based professional services model, generating revenue through single-engagement design and engineering fees determined per project by scope and complexity. Go-to-market is sales-led via direct engagement with architects and developers, complemented by a community-led acquisition layer built on a deep partnership with Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), where the founder holds a part-time Assistant Professor position that functions as a research pipeline and talent funnel. Customer segments span commercial real estate, education, healthcare, cultural institutions, government/municipal, and rail infrastructure, with a project portfolio of 100+ engagements across the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, South Korea, Taiwan, Qatar, Israel, and the USA. The team of fewer than 10 combines two senior engineers/draftsmen with 40+ years of experience, several TU/e-affiliated structural and parametric designers (including PhD candidates), and a digital production designer with an Engineering Doctorate from TU/e focused on parametric design and digital manufacturing.

Name

Sid studio

Legal name

SID STUDIO

Website

http://www.sidstudio.nl/

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SIDstudio is a Dutch structural design studio founded in 2011 that provides specialized engineering, parametric optimization, and lightweight roof design services to architects, developers, governments, and institutional clients across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Structural Engineering Services

NAICS

Engineering Services (541330), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)

akta.pro primary industry

Civil & Structural Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Building Information Modeling (BIM) & Digital Design Services (BPAHAKAK), Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

Keywords

• Structural engineering services
• Architectural structural design
• Parametric optimization engineering
• Lightweight roof structures
• Modular timber buildings

Headquarters

HQ city

Leiderdorp

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Structural Design Services: Project-based professional services providing structural design, engineering and optimization from initial concept through construction completion. Services include conceptual design, detailed engineering, 3D modeling, and on-site presence.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

SIDstudio is a structural design studio that delivers structural engineering and design services for buildings and infrastructure where architecture and engineering must be tightly integrated. Core offerings include structural concept design, engineering and parametric optimization, large-span and lightweight roof structures (including ETFE tensegrity and glass domes), 3D-modelling and virtual testing, modular timber building systems (in partnership with MDLX), and applied research.

Product overview

SIDstudio is a structural design studio offering integrated engineering and design services at the intersection of architecture and engineering. The company provides six core service offerings: Structural Design (creative engineering with architects), Structural Engineering and Optimisation (calculations and finite element analysis), Large Roof Spans (lightweight structures), 3D-Modelling (virtual testing), Modular Building Systems (prefabricated wood systems), and Research and Development. The company also maintains a strategic partnership with MDLX b.v., a related company developing modular wooden buildings. SIDstudio's approach emphasizes structural form-active shapes, topology optimization, and sustainable design using biobased materials to minimize environmental footprint.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Structural Design Services Creative structural design services delivered alongside architects and artists, using hand sketches, 3D modelling and form-finding techniques to find structural solutions that strengthen aesthetics and functionality. Targeted at architects requiring engineering support that preserves architectural intent on innovative projects.
• Structural Engineering and Optimisation Engineering-phase service connecting geometry, materials, and loading demands, supported by non-linear finite element analysis for structural sensitivity and dynamic-behaviour studies and parametric modelling. Delivered for building and infrastructure projects with complex loading or non-standard geometries.
• Large Roof Spans Specialist structural design of large-span roof structures requiring highest integration between architecture and structure, including ETFE tensegrity roofs and glass domes. Targeted at architects and developers of civic, office and cultural buildings with signature roof structures such as EDGE Amsterdam West and the House of Province Arnhem.
• 3D-Modelling 3D building modelling used to design and test structural solutions virtually, optimising structural efficiency, cost and build time through fitting tests and communication with multidisciplinary design teams. Targeted at projects with non-standard geometries or tight integration with architectural and MEP teams.
• Modular Building Systems Structural design of prefabricated modular building systems made from wood, built for adaptability over a building's lifespan and for reuse of elements elsewhere, co-developed with MDLX b.v. Targeted at developers seeking sustainable, demountable, reconfigurable timber buildings such as apartments, schools and holiday parks.
• Research and Development Applied research on lightweight structures, parametric optimisation, geometry and pattern studies, and modular building systems made from biobased materials to extend lifespan and reduce waste. Targeted at partners (including TU/e) seeking research-driven innovation in structural design.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1400m2 ETFE tensegrity roof won BNA Best Building of the Year 2018 and National Steel Award
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Expo Pavilion GroupminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 2 October 2023Engineering partner for Pavilion of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at Expo 2023 in Doha, Qatar. SIDstudio provided engineering for the pavilion structure.
• MDLX b.v.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015MDLX develops, manufactures and constructs wooden modular buildings made entirely of prefabricated elements. SIDstudio co-developed the structural modular system. Arjan Habraken is partner at MDLX. Buildings can be adapted during lifespan and elements reused. SIDstudio embraces this collaboration as necessity for sustainable building industry.
• Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong relationship between SIDstudio and Faculty Built Environment. Arjan Habraken is part-time Assistant Professor teaching Resource Efficient Structural Design. Collaboration combines practice with research - students study SIDstudio ideas while materials are tested in laboratory. SIDstudio benefits from academic research capabilities.
• Oostingh Staalbouw BVminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSteel construction partner for EDGE Amsterdam West dome project. Responsible for steel frame construction of the 70m dome structure.
• G&S Bouw b.v.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMain contractor for EDGE Amsterdam West project.
• Architecten Cie / de Architekten CiecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLong-standing collaboration on large projects including EDGE Amsterdam West (4400m2 glass dome) and House of Province (1400m2 ETFE roof). Strong architectural-structural integration partnership.
• ZJAminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitecture firm collaboration on Elevated Light Rail Track South Korea project and BRNO station competition. Also involved in Saudi Arabia Expo pavilion.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Werner Sobek: Stuttgart-founded engineering and design firm operating globally across structural engineering, facade engineering and sustainability; overlaps SIDstudio's themes of lightweight and resource-efficient structures, but at much larger scale and broader service portfolio.
• Arup: Global engineering, design and consulting firm; its structural engineering practice routinely works on innovative and architecturally iconic structures worldwide, including the KMMA project that SIDstudio supported. Functions as a broad incumbent against which SIDstudio competes for top-end briefs.
• Buro Happold: Global integrated engineering consultancy with large structural engineering practice covering iconic buildings, infrastructure, and computational engineering. Operates in the same design and innovative-structural-solutions space as SIDstudio but at vastly greater scale and geographic reach.
• Royal HaskoningDHV: Large Dutch-headquartered engineering consultancy with broad structural, infrastructure, and building-services capability. Comparable market in Netherlands, though at much larger scale and broader portfolio than SIDstudio's specialist structural-design focus.

Direct peers

• Knippers Helbig Advanced Engineering: Stuttgart-based structural engineering consultancy focused on parametric design, complex geometry, and lightweight structures for landmark architecture (e.g., facade and roof engineering for high-profile projects). Mirrors SIDstudio's form-active geometry and parametric optimization positioning at similar boutique scale.
• AKT II (Adams Kara Taylor): London-based structural engineering consultancy working at the intersection of architecture and engineering, with strong expertise in complex geometry, computational design, and timber engineering. Comparable to SIDstudio in mission and methodology, with a more established UK/international client book.
• Eckersley O'Callaghan: Structural and facade engineering practice with offices in UK, US, and Asia, focused on architecturally ambitious projects including long-span glass, lightweight roofs, and adaptive structures. Overlaps SIDstudio on complex roof structures and engineering-design integration at architecture-iconic scale.
• Bollinger+Grohmann: Ingenieurgruppe Bauen, structural engineering boutique founded in Frankfurt with offices across Europe and Australia, specialising in structural design of complex and innovative architecture. Highly comparable to SIDstudio in size, philosophy (engineering at the architecture intersection), and project typology (iconic roofs, complex timber and membrane structures).
• Werkraum Ingenieure: Austrian/German structural design consultancy specialising in parametric design, computational engineering, and architecturally expressive timber/steel structures. Closely comparable niche and methodology to SIDstudio's parametric and modular timber work.
• Schlaich Bergermann Partner (sbp): Berlin/Stuttgart-based engineering firm renowned for lightweight roof structures, cable-stayed and tensile architecture, and steel/membrane structural systems. Closely comparable to SIDstudio's domain in ETFE tensegrity, large-span roof structures, and form-active design.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sidstudionl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/a3b

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Sid studio