GHD Design
GHD Design is the architecture and design practice of employee-owned GHD, providing integrated architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, and urban design services across ten sectors. It serves government and commercial clients worldwide from a network of 20 global studios.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1928
- HeadquartersSydney, Australia
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What GHD Design does
GHD Design is the architecture and design practice of GHD, an Australian-origin, employee-owned professional services firm founded in 1928. The design practice operates more than 400 professionals across 20 global studios and is ranked among the leading 100 architectural firms worldwide. It delivers four core disciplines - architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, and urban design - organized across ten sector specializations including civic and justice, commercial and workplace, defence and national security, education and science, health and wellbeing, industrial, precincts and places, residential and aged care, retail and hospitality, and transport.
The practice operates an integrated delivery model that combines its design disciplines with engineering, digital, and specialist services from the broader GHD group, allowing engagement from business case through to operations. Revenue is generated through fee-based professional consulting engagements on a project-by-project basis; pricing is not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting government and commercial clients, with services delivered directly through the studio network.
The firm serves clients such as Western Australian energy operator Synergy (battery energy storage), Sydney Metro West (transport infrastructure), and the US Federal Government (via the RIM Architects acquisition, July 2024). Operations span Australia, Canada, Chile, Indonesia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, the UAE, the UK, and the USA.
GHD Design firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- GHD Design
- Legal name
- GHD
- Website
- https://ghdwoodhead.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1928
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- GHD Design is the architecture and design practice of employee-owned GHD, providing integrated architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, and urban design services across ten sectors. It serves government and commercial clients worldwide from a network of 20 global studios.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
GHD Design industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural Design Services
- NAICS
- Architectural Services (541310), Interior Design Services (541410)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)
Keywords
Where GHD Design is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sydney
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
GHD Design business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Professional Design Consulting Services: GHD Design generates revenue through fee-based professional services engagements for architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, and urban design projects. Services are delivered from business case through to operations, serving government federal clients and commercial customers globally.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
GHD Design product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GHD Design provides professional architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, and urban design services delivered through a global network of 20 studios and more than 400 design professionals. Services span business case development through to operations across 10 market specializations including civic/community/justice, commercial and workplace, defence and national security, education and science, health and wellbeing, industrial, precincts and places, residential/retirement/aged care, retail and hospitality, and transport sectors.
Product overview
GHD Design is an integrated design services firm offering architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, and urban design services. The firm operates a global network of over 400 professionals across 20 studios and is ranked among the top 100 global architectural firms. The core disciplines (Architecture, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, Urban Design) are delivered across 10 market specializations including Civic/Community/Justice, Commercial and Workplace, Defence and National Security, Education and Science, Health and Wellbeing, Industrial, Precincts and Places, Residential/Retirement and Aged Care, Retail and Hospitality, and Transport. GHD's integrated offering combines design services with engineering, digital, and specialist services to deliver technically elegant, intelligent, and sustainable outcomes from business case to operations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- GHD Design: Architecture, interior design, landscape and urban design practice within GHD, ranked among the leading 100 global architectural firms with more than 400 professionals across 20 studios.
Products and services
- Architecture Provides architectural design services transforming spaces and structures through a design-led approach, delivered from business case to operations for enterprise and government clients globally.
- Interior Design Transforms interior spaces for clients to achieve their aspirations through human-centred design approaches, serving commercial, institutional, and government end-users.
- Landscape Architecture Delivers high-quality community amenity in the public realm through landscape design solutions for civic, urban, and institutional clients.
- Urban Design Applies a holistic, place-led approach to deliver community and environmental benefits in urban environments for government, developers, and institutional clients.
- Defence and National Security Design Design services that enhance defence capabilities for national security projects, delivered to federal and defence-sector clients across the US West and Pacific regions.
- Health and Wellbeing Design Applies human-centred design in critical healthcare facilities to support health and wellbeing outcomes for hospital, aged care, and health-system clients.
- Transport Design Optimises customer experience and technical performance for transport infrastructure projects, including the Sydney Metro West Western Tunnelling Package.
- Civic, Community and Justice Design Creates sustainable communities through design for civic, community, and justice facilities serving government and public-sector clients.
Quantifiable outcome
- More than 400 professionals across 20 studios
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use GHD Design
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments11 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
GHD Design technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
GHD Design partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- RIM ArchitectscoreGHD acquired RIM Architects, a firm with 38-year history providing design services in US West and Pacific regions, including significant federal sector work. RIM will operate under the GHD Design brand, enhancing GHD's architectural capabilities and supporting growth strategy in the US Federal sector.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
GHD Design competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- WSP Global: Global professional services firm with a large architecture and buildings practice serving transport, property, and environment markets. Comparable as a multi-discipline competitor on large infrastructure and built environment projects, though WSP is materially larger.
- AECOM: Global AEC firm with a substantial architecture practice spanning transport, defence, water, and environment verticals. Comparable as a multi-disciplinary design competitor for large-scale government and infrastructure mandates, though AECOM operates at materially greater scale.
- Jacobs Solutions: Global professional services firm with deep infrastructure, water, and built environment design capabilities. Comparable as a competitor for government and infrastructure design mandates, particularly in defence and federal sectors where Jacobs is a major incumbent.
Direct peers
- Hassell: Australian-headquartered international architecture and design practice with civic, workplace, education, and urban design focus. Closely comparable in geography, scale, multi-disciplinary offering, and Australian government/infrastructure client base.
- Arup: Employee-owned global engineering and design consultancy with integrated architecture, structural engineering, and specialist services. Highly comparable in ownership structure, multi-disciplinary integration, and sector breadth across transport, buildings, and energy.
- HOK (now part of Populous/HOK): Global architecture, engineering, and planning firm with strong civic, healthcare, education, and aviation practices. Comparable as a top 100 global architecture peer competing for large-scale government and institutional design mandates.
- Perkins&Will: Global architecture and design firm with strong healthcare, education, civic, and commercial practices. Comparable as a multi-sector architecture peer with similar sector breadth and comparable scale in global design rankings.
- Woods Bagot: Australian-headquartered global architecture and design practice with studios across Asia, Middle East, Europe, and the Americas. Directly comparable as a similarly-sized Australian-origin peer competing for the same international design mandates.
- HDR Inc. Employee-owned global architecture, engineering, and consulting firm with strong health, defence, and civic sector practices. Comparable in ownership structure, sector mix, and federal sector focus—particularly relevant as a US peer following the RIM Architects acquisition.
- Gensler: Global architecture and design firm specializing in commercial workplace, retail, hospitality, and residential sectors. Comparable as a top-tier architecture practice competing for premium commercial design mandates, though Gensler is more commercial-focused versus GHD's infrastructure tilt.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
GHD Design social profiles
Digital presenceGHD Design financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
GHD Design leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
GHD Design subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
GHD Design funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
GHD Design M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about GHD Design
What does GHD Design do?
GHD Design provides professional architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, and urban design services delivered through a global network of 20 studios and more than 400 design professionals. Services span business case development through to operations across 10 market specializations including civic/community/justice, commercial and workplace, defence and national security, education and science, health and wellbeing, industrial, precincts and places, residential/retirement/aged care, retail and hospitality, and transport sectors.
Is GHD Design a public or private company?
GHD Design is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was GHD Design founded?
GHD Design was founded in 1928. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is GHD Design based?
GHD Design is headquartered in Sydney, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does GHD Design make money?
One revenue line is on record: professional Design Consulting Services.
Who are GHD Design's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are WSP Global, AECOM and Jacobs Solutions. Direct peers are Hassell, Arup, HOK (now part of Populous/HOK), Perkins&Will, Woods Bagot, HDR Inc. and Gensler.
Does GHD Design have an API?
No public API is recorded for GHD Design.
What industry is GHD Design in?
GHD Design's product category is Architectural Design Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAA, Architectural Design Services. Its NAICS code is 541310.