DJR Architecture
DJR Architecture is a Minneapolis-based, founder-led architectural firm founded in 1985 that provides architecture, interior design, urban design, modular construction, and historic preservation services to real estate developers, housing authorities, and organizations primarily in the upper Midwest.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1985
- HeadquartersMinneapolis, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What DJR Architecture does
DJR Architecture is a privately held, full-service architectural firm founded in 1985 by Dean Dovolis and headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The firm provides architectural design, interior design, urban design and planning, modular construction, and historic preservation services across multifamily residential, affordable housing, mixed-use, commercial, hospitality, civic, and cultural sectors. DJR's core technology centers on architectural design services supported by expertise in modular construction methods (including Type 3A buildings and semi-automated parking integration), sustainable building certifications (GreenStar, Enterprise Green Communities, Zero Energy Ready Home), and historic rehabilitation. The firm has delivered notable precedent-setting projects including Alvera, the first 7-story Type 3A modular building in the region, and MPHA Family Housing Expansion, an 84-unit modular public housing program across 16 sites.
DJR operates as a traditional professional services practice, generating revenue through project-based fees structured as a percentage of construction cost or fixed fee arrangements. Client acquisition relies on reputation, portfolio quality, referrals, and industry recognition rather than outbound sales; marketing is conducted primarily through the firm's portfolio website (djrarch.com) and earned credibility from more than 20 industry awards across Minnesota Real Estate Journal, Finance & Commerce Top Projects, Modular Building Institute, NAIOP, IIDA FAB, and AIA Minneapolis categories between 2016 and 2026. The firm serves real estate developers (Reuter Walton, Sela Investments, Ackerberg, NX Ventures, CDT Realty), government entities (Minneapolis Public Housing Authority), financial institutions (Bridgewater Bank), and nonprofits (Open Arms), with project delivery spanning Minnesota, California, and select international locations including Rwanda and Djibouti. The firm remains founder-controlled under Dean Dovolis as Principal, CEO, and Founder, with no disclosed private equity backing, institutional investment, or external ownership changes.
DJR Architecture firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DJR Architecture
- Legal name
- DJR Architecture
- Website
- https://djrarch.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1985
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- DJR Architecture is a Minneapolis-based, founder-led architectural firm founded in 1985 that provides architecture, interior design, urban design, modular construction, and historic preservation services to real estate developers, housing authorities, and organizations primarily in the upper Midwest.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DJR Architecture industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural Design Services
- NAICS
- Architectural Services (54131), Interior Design Services (54141)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Urban Planning & Master Planning (BPAHAKAD)
Keywords
Where DJR Architecture is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Minneapolis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
DJR Architecture business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Architectural Design Services: DJR Architecture generates revenue through fees for architectural design services, including master planning, schematic design, design development, construction documentation, and construction administration. Projects span multifamily residential, commercial, mixed-use, civic/cultural, and hospitality sectors. Revenue is project-based with fees structured as percentage of construction cost or fixed fee arrangements.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
DJR Architecture product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DJR Architecture is a full-service architectural firm providing architectural design, interior design, urban design and planning, and modular construction services. The firm specializes in multifamily residential, affordable housing, mixed-use, commercial, hospitality, civic/cultural, and historic preservation projects. Revenue is earned through project-based fees structured as percentage of construction cost or fixed fee arrangements.
Product overview
DJR Architecture is a full-service architectural firm offering architecture, interior design, urban design and planning, and modular construction services. The firm specializes in multi-family residential, affordable housing, mixed-use, commercial, hospitality, civic/cultural, and historic preservation projects primarily in the upper Midwest (Minnesota, Wisconsin, California) with international work in Rwanda and Djibouti. Notable specialized offerings include modular construction design (including Type 3A buildings and semi-automated parking integration), historic rehabilitation, and sustainable building certifications (GreenStar, Enterprise Green Communities, Zero Energy Ready Home). The firm has completed projects such as Alvera (first Type 3A modular building in the region), Miro Apartments (127-unit modular development), and Volo at Texa Tonka (101-unit mid-century modern apartment complex).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- First 7-story Type 3A modular building in the region - Alvera achieved precedent-setting approval from city staff through extensive modular review process
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use DJR Architecture
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
DJR Architecture technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
DJR Architecture partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
DJR Architecture competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- KieranTimberlake: Innovative architecture firm recognized for modular, prefabricated, and sustainable building experimentation. Comparable to DJR's modular construction research orientation and design-led reputation.
- SHoP Architects: Design-led architecture firm with strong multifamily and modular/innovative construction portfolio. Comparable to DJR's commitment to pushing construction methodology boundaries in residential work.
Direct peers
- Cuningham Group: Minneapolis-headquartered architecture firm with significant multifamily, hospitality, and mixed-use work. Competes head-to-head with DJR on regional residential and commercial projects of similar scale and typology.
- BKV Group: Minneapolis-based architecture firm specializing in multifamily, affordable housing, and senior living. Directly comparable to DJR's affordable and market-rate multifamily focus and developer client base.
- Snow Kreilich Architects: Minneapolis architecture firm with residential, civic, and adaptive reuse portfolios. Competes in similar regional categories and shares the same award-circuit positioning as DJR.
- MSR Design: Minneapolis architecture firm with award-winning multifamily residential, civic, and affordable housing portfolios. Direct competitor in the Twin Cities for similar developer and nonprofit clients.
- LHB Architects: Minneapolis-based architecture and engineering firm with strong multifamily, affordable housing, and civic portfolios. Directly competes with DJR for Twin Cities developer and housing authority assignments and shares regional project-acquisition dynamics.
- Hammel, Green and Abrahamson (HGA): Minnesota-founded architecture and engineering firm with deep multifamily, healthcare, and cultural portfolios. Comparable scale and regional presence, competing for similar enterprise and institutional clients.
Broad incumbents
- DLR Group: Large integrated design firm with multifamily, civic, and commercial practice. Competes with DJR for regional institutional and developer work but operates at meaningfully larger scale and broader footprint.
- Perkins&Will: Global architecture firm with significant Minneapolis presence across multifamily, healthcare, and commercial. Broader portfolio and geographic reach, but overlapping capability and target clients in the regional market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
DJR Architecture social profiles
Digital presenceDJR Architecture financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DJR Architecture leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
DJR Architecture funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DJR 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 DJR Architecture
What does DJR Architecture do?
DJR Architecture is a full-service architectural firm providing architectural design, interior design, urban design and planning, and modular construction services. The firm specializes in multifamily residential, affordable housing, mixed-use, commercial, hospitality, civic/cultural, and historic preservation projects. Revenue is earned through project-based fees structured as percentage of construction cost or fixed fee arrangements.
Is DJR Architecture a public or private company?
DJR Architecture is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was DJR Architecture founded?
DJR Architecture was founded in 1985. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is DJR Architecture based?
DJR Architecture is headquartered in Minneapolis, United States, in the North America region.
How does DJR Architecture make money?
One revenue line is on record: architectural Design Services.
Who are DJR Architecture's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are KieranTimberlake and SHoP Architects. Direct peers are Cuningham Group, BKV Group, Snow Kreilich Architects, MSR Design, LHB Architects and Hammel, Green and Abrahamson (HGA). Broad incumbents are DLR Group and Perkins&Will.
Does DJR Architecture have an API?
No public API is recorded for DJR Architecture.
What industry is DJR Architecture in?
DJR Architecture's product category is Architectural Design Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAD, Urban Planning & Master Planning. Its NAICS code is 54131.