Red Architecture

What Red Architecture does

Red Architecture is a full-service architecture firm headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, founded in 2006 by three partners with a service-driven vision. The firm operates as Red Architecture LLC and employs approximately 60 people across offices in Columbus (headquarters) and Cincinnati (opened May 2023 in the Over The Rhine neighborhood), delivering architecture, mechanical/electrical/plumbing (MEP) engineering, interior design, planning, construction administration, and 3D visualization services. It is registered to practice architecture in all 50 U.S. states and Washington D.C., with engineering services registered in 49 states and D.C., enabling direct nationwide project delivery.

The firm's core technology stack is Autodesk Revit for Building Information Modeling (BIM), used to produce coordinated design and construction documentation across project types. Revenue is generated through professional service fees on custom-quoted engagements ranging from small restaurant fit-outs to multi-million-dollar industrial and mixed-use developments. The customer base is concentrated in enterprise clients—most notably Chipotle, for which Red serves as Architect of Record across 900+ locations in 25+ states—alongside HMSHost (airport hospitality), VanTrust Real Estate, Pizzuti Companies, Allied Mineral, KTH, and Startech.com, plus mid-market and community projects.

The go-to-market motion is relationship-driven and sales-led, leveraging multi-decade principal relationships (Ed Wilson has maintained client relationships for over 20 years) and repeat business from enterprise rollout programs. Marketing is primarily portfolio- and referral-based, supplemented by community sponsorships and internal events, with no public pricing, no app or API product surface, and no external funding or institutional ownership disclosed.

Name

Red Architecture

Legal name

Red Architecture LLC

Website

https://redarchitecture.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Red Architecture is a full-service architecture firm headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, delivering architecture, engineering, interior design, and construction administration nationwide from offices in Columbus and Cincinnati. It serves enterprise clients—most notably Chipotle across 900+ locations—plus industrial, airport, and community-sector projects in all 50 U.S. states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Architectural Reconfiguration & Structural Alterations (HSAPAEAB)

Keywords

• Commercial architecture services
• Industrial building design
• Restaurant design services
• Construction administration services
• MEP engineering services

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architecture and Design Services: Full-service architectural firm providing design, engineering, interior design, planning, and construction administration services. Revenue generated through professional service fees for projects ranging from small restaurant fit-outs to large industrial developments.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Red Architecture is a full-service architecture firm providing architectural design, mechanical/electrical/plumbing engineering, interior design, planning, and construction administration services. The firm specializes in commercial, industrial, restaurant, hospitality, religious, and corporate headquarters projects, with registered licensure to deliver services across all 50 U.S. states and Washington D.C.

Product overview

Red Architecture is a full-service architecture firm offering a unified portfolio of design services including architecture, engineering (mechanical, electrical, plumbing), interior design, planning, construction administration, and 3D visualization. The firm specializes in commercial project types including restaurants (with notable long-term partnership on Chipotle's 900+ location nationwide program), industrial/warehouse facilities, office buildings, religious buildings, hospitality venues, and corporate headquarters. Services span from initial site analysis and concept design through construction administration, with the firm registered to practice in all 50 U.S. states. The company also partners with sister company 801 Creative for 3D visualization services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture Services Complete architectural services including concept design, schematic design, design development, construction documents, permitting, and project administration for commercial, industrial, restaurant, and institutional clients nationwide.
• Engineering Services In-house mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) engineering services that complement architectural design, led by a licensed engineer registered in 49 states.
• Interior Design Interior design services integrating aesthetics and functionality, including color palettes, materials, lighting, and furniture selection.
• Planning Services Master planning and site analysis services examining organizational concerns at multiple scales through a multi-disciplinary approach.
• Construction Administration Construction phase oversight including punch lists, construction schedules, routine site visits, and client meetings to ensure project integrity.
• 3D Visualization 3D imaging, animation, and graphic design solutions for presentation, branding, and marketing materials delivered in partnership with sister company 801 Creative.

Quantifiable outcome

• 900+ Chipotle locations completed across 25+ states
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered supportive and project-specific.

• 801 CreativesupportiveTechnology or IntegrationSister company partnership for 3D visualization and graphic design solutions. Works in partnership to provide imaging, animation, branding, and marketing materials. 801 Creative's staff backgrounds in architecture enable accurate translation of conceptual drawings with realistic precision.
• Downtown Commissionproject-specificStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey project partner for Freedom a la Cart location. Helped find optimal location and assisted with special facade treatments including brick details for the human trafficking survivor employment facility.
• Local Artist (Sister East Design)project-specificStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Sister East Design on Ginger Rabbit Jazz Lounge project for décor and lighting work to realize client's vision of an alluring, moody atmosphere.
• Metal Building Providerproject-specificStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign-build collaboration for KTH R&D facility. Worked with metal building provider and engineers to apply material finishes, projections, and increase glazing opportunities to meet aesthetics requirements.
• The Daimler Groupproject-specificStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloper partner for America's Floor Source headquarters project - $30M, 264,000 SF mixed-use facility on Stelzer Road.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• NBBJ: National architecture firm with strong commercial workplace and corporate headquarters practices. Comparable to Red on enterprise HQ and office-building commissions but at much larger scale.
• CannonDesign: National architecture, engineering, and interiors firm with integrated practice model similar to Red's arch + MEP offering. Overlaps in commercial, workplace, and institutional market segments at larger scale.
• DLR Group: National integrated AEC firm with strong commercial, workplace, and industrial practices. Overlaps with Red's commercial and industrial design segments at a much larger scale, and competes for similar enterprise rollout programs.
• HOK: Global design, architecture, and engineering firm with broad commercial, workplace, and hospitality practices. Overlaps with Red on enterprise commercial and hospitality work at substantially larger scale and geographic reach.
• Perkins&Will: International architecture and design firm with broad commercial, workplace, and cultural building practices. Comparable to Red on commercial and community-oriented projects at significantly larger scale and reach.
• Gensler: Global architecture and design firm with significant hospitality, workplace, and commercial practices. Competes with Red for large enterprise restaurant, retail, and commercial rollouts while operating at vastly greater scale.

Direct peers

• Moody Nolan: Largest African-American-owned design firm, Midwest-based with comparable headcount range. Overlaps with Red in commercial, community, and cultural building types across similar mid-size enterprise and institutional clients.
• WD Partners: Columbus, Ohio-based design firm specializing in restaurant and retail rollouts for major brands. Highly comparable given shared geography, similar restaurant-prototype focus, and comparable enterprise-customer mix (e.g., QSR and fast-casual clients).
• FRCH Design Worldwide: Cincinnati-based architecture and design firm with deep restaurant, hospitality, and retail expertise. Comparable to Red on hospitality/restaurant rollouts, mid-market positioning, and Ohio-based operational roots.
• BHDP Architecture: Cincinnati-headquartered architecture firm of comparable size (~300 employees) with deep restaurant, retail, and workplace practices. Closely comparable to Red in scale, regional Midwest base, and emphasis on enterprise rollout programs for national restaurant brands.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/red_architects
• Facebookfacebook.com/columbus.architects
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/r-e-d-architecture-planning-llc

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 Red Architecture