What SMP Architects does

SMP Architects is a Philadelphia-headquartered architectural design firm founded in 1980 (rebranded to its current name in 2007) that provides full-service architectural design for institutional, governmental, and nonprofit clients across Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic region. Its core offering encompasses master planning, site planning, feasibility studies, programming, historic preservation, restoration, adaptive reuse, space planning, and interior design for new construction and renovation projects. The firm distinguishes itself through deep specialization in sustainable and LEED-certified design — including documented achievements at the Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Certified levels across public schools, universities, state park visitor centers, recreation facilities, and cultural institutions — and through a collaborative, community-engaged design process that integrates environmental systems as visible, educational components of buildings.

The firm is led by principals David Ade and Todd Woodward and operates with approximately 13 team members, including registered architects, LEED-accredited professionals, and an in-house accountant. Its revenue is generated through project-based professional services fees negotiated per engagement, with work secured primarily through competitive RFPs, design competitions, and long-term relationship-based engagements with public-sector clients. The most strategically important client relationships span more than two decades, notably with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and recur across multiple campuses in the Penn State system, the University of Pennsylvania, the City of Philadelphia (Rebuild Philadelphia initiative), the School District of Philadelphia, and numerous independent schools and nonprofit organizations.

SMP's go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales targeting institutions rather than consumer marketing, supplemented by a project portfolio website, an active Instagram feed, industry awards (AIA, USGBC, Preservation Alliance), and academic publications. The firm operates from a single office at 1600 Walnut Street in Center City Philadelphia and is privately held with no disclosed institutional ownership, funding rounds, or M&A activity.

Name

SMP Architects

Legal name

SMP Architects

Website

https://smparchitects.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SMP Architects is a Philadelphia-based architectural design firm providing sustainable, LEED-certified new construction, renovation, historic preservation, and master planning services for educational institutions, state and municipal agencies, and nonprofits across Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Design Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413), Interior Design Services (54141)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Historic Preservation & Conservation Planning (BPAHAKAH), Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB), Community Engagement & Participatory Planning (BPAHAKAO)

Keywords

• Sustainable architectural design
• LEED certified buildings
• Historic preservation architecture
• Educational facility design
• Adaptive reuse architecture

Headquarters

HQ city

Pausa

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: SMP Architects provides full-range architectural design services for new construction and renovation projects including master planning, site planning, feasibility studies, programming, historic preservation, restoration, adaptive reuse, space planning, and interior design. Revenue is generated through professional services fees on project-based engagements with institutional, governmental, and nonprofit clients. Projects range from small visitor centers to large-scale academic buildings and municipal facilities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SMP Architects provides full-range architectural design services for new construction and renovation projects, including master planning, site planning, feasibility studies, programming, historic preservation, restoration, adaptive reuse, space planning, and interior design. The firm focuses on sustainable, LEED-certified design for institutional, governmental, and nonprofit clients across educational, conservation, and public-sector projects in Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic region.

Product overview

SMP Architects is a Philadelphia-based architectural firm offering comprehensive architectural design services for institutional and academic clients. The firm provides master planning, site planning, feasibility studies, programming, historic preservation, restoration, adaptive reuse, space planning, and interior design for new construction and renovation projects. Their portfolio includes educational facilities (schools, universities), state park visitor centers, recreation centers, and public buildings, with a focus on environmentally responsible and sustainable design principles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Design Services Full-range architectural design services for new construction and renovation projects, including master planning, site planning, feasibility studies, programming, historic preservation, restoration, adaptive reuse, space planning, and interior design. Provided to institutional, governmental, and nonprofit clients in the education, conservation, and public sectors.
• Master Planning and Site Planning Master planning and site planning services for campuses and state parks, including the design of greenways, building siting, and overall land-use frameworks. Used by universities, school districts, and conservation agencies to coordinate long-term development plans.
• Historic Preservation and Adaptive Reuse Historic preservation, restoration, and adaptive reuse services for significant historic structures, including projects such as the East Park Canoe House (1914, Spanish Mission Revival), the McPherson Square Carnegie Library (1917, designed by Wilson Eyre & McIlvaine), and the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove. Provided to cultural institutions, municipalities, and conservation organizations.
• Sustainable and LEED Certified Building Design Environmental sustainability and LEED certified building design incorporating energy efficiency, stormwater management, daylighting, and responsibly sourced materials. The firm has delivered projects achieving LEED Platinum (Kensington CAPA, first public high school in the US to achieve LEED Platinum), LEED Gold (Nature Inn at Bald Eagle, Lions Gate, Wade Science Center, Ohiopyle Visitor Center, Tiadaghton), LEED Silver (Juniata Hall, Riley Center), and LEED Certified levels.
• Interior Design and Space Planning Interior design and space planning services for new construction and renovation projects, including academic interiors, simulation centers, lobbies, and cafeteria spaces. Provided to institutional and governmental clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Kensington CAPA achieved LEED Platinum – the first public high school in the United States to receive this recognition
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMP has collaborated with DCNR for over twenty years, working on over a dozen projects across Pennsylvania's state park and state forest system. Projects include the Tiadaghton Resource Management Center, Ohiopyle Falls Visitor Center, Nature Inn at Bald Eagle State Park, Frances Slocum Environmental Education Center, Environmental Learning Center at Bald Eagle, Poe Valley State Park Office, and park planning for Big Elk Creek State Park and Susquehanna Riverlands State Park.
• Community Design CollaborativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMP Principal Todd Woodward has a long-standing volunteer relationship with the Community Design Collaborative, including co-chairing the board, committee participation, design team involvement, and co-authoring 'Leverage: Strengthening Neighborhoods through Design.' Todd received the 2020 Alan Greenberger Award from the Collaborative.
• OLIN Design TeamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMP was a member of the OLIN design team for the 'Infill Philadelphia: Soak It Up!' design competition, winning the Greening the Grid Category in 2013.
• Pennsylvania Horticultural SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMP collaborated with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society on the design of an expansion of the 8th & Diamond Recreation Center, as part of a larger project including rehabilitation of outdoor play areas.
• Viridian Landscape Studio and Meliora DesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMP led a team including Viridian Landscape Studio and Meliora Design to create a plan for Big Elk Creek State Park, a new DCNR state park in Southern Chester County consisting of 1,700 acres.
• SRK ArchitectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMP collaborated with SRK Architects on the Kensington CAPA project for the School District of Philadelphia.
• AP/BSI Construction (Joint Venture)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAP/BSI Construction was the turnkey builder/developer for the Kensington CAPA project, a joint venture with SMP Architects as the designer for the School District of Philadelphia.
• Ground ReconsideredminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMP and Ground Reconsidered collaborated on the Miquon School Heart of the Campus project, working closely with the school's stakeholder group on the vision and execution of the new library and classroom facility.
• Turner Construction CompanyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSMP's proposed teaming with Turner Construction Company was successful in the design/build pursuit of Lions Gate Student Apartments at Penn State Abington, a 400-bed, 135,000 SF LEED Gold residence hall.
• Stuart & Associates ArchitectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMP is the design architect, working with Stuart & Associates Architects, for Shepard Recreation Center and Barrett Playground projects under Philadelphia's Rebuild initiative.
• CVM (Structural Engineers)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCVM designed, detailed, and administered the new steel frame for The Hill School's Shirley Quadrivium Center project, including interface with existing bearing walls.
• Nicetown Community Development CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMP led community engagement processes facilitated by Nicetown Community Development Corporation for Shepard Recreation Center and Barrett Playground projects, part of Philadelphia's Rebuild initiative.
• Rebuild Philadelphia / Free Library of PhiladelphiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMP is working with Rebuild Philadelphia and the Free Library of Philadelphia on the McPherson Square Library renovation (Carnegie Library, 1917, designed by Wilson Eyre & McIlvaine) and the George Institute Branch Library renovation.
• Heritage Design CollaborativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMP and Heritage Design Collaborative designed the rehabilitation of the East Park Canoe House, a Spanish Mission Revival style building by Walter T. Smedley (1914) along Philadelphia's boathouse row.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bohlin Cywinski Jackson: Pennsylvania-headquartered architecture firm with strong portfolio in higher education, civic, and cultural buildings, recognized for design excellence and contextual place-making similar to SMP's approach.
• DIGSAU: Philadelphia architecture practice focused on cultural, civic, and adaptive reuse projects with strong sustainability ethos. Comparable in geography, project types, and design philosophy.
• EwingCole: Philadelphia architecture and engineering firm with significant education, government, and cultural institution work, including sustainable design. Comparable size and Mid-Atlantic institutional focus.
• Ballinger: Philadelphia-based architecture and engineering firm with extensive higher education, healthcare, and institutional work. Comparable in geography and institutional client base.
• KieranTimberlake: Philadelphia-based architecture firm with deep expertise in sustainable design, research-driven practice, and institutional/academic clients. Highly comparable given shared geography, sustainability leadership, and higher-ed/government clientele.

Broad incumbents

• Gensler: Largest global design firm with strong higher education, government, and cultural practices pursuing sustainability-focused institutional work. Competes for the same Mid-Atlantic institutional projects.
• HOK: Global architecture firm with extensive higher education, civic, and sports/cultural work and recognized sustainable design leadership. Overlaps with SMP on institutional RFPs.
• Perkins&Will: Large global AEC firm with leading sustainability practice and significant higher-education and institutional portfolio. Competes for the same LEED-driven institutional RFPs at greater scale.

Emerging players

• Lake|Flato: Sustainable architecture firm with strong education, civic, and conservation portfolio and recognized green-building leadership. Comparable in sustainability ethos and project typologies though geographically distinct.

Regional players

• Wieland Architects: Mid-sized firm focused on education, recreation, and civic facilities in the Mid-Atlantic with comparable institutional client base to SMP, including work with school districts and municipalities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/smp_architects

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 SMP Architects