What Arkin Tilt Architects does

Arkin Tilt Architects is a privately held, award-winning architecture practice based in Berkeley, California, founded and led by co-founders David Arkin (licensed since 1991) and Anni Tilt. The firm specializes in sustainable, energy- and resource-efficient design across four principal service lines: custom residential projects (the primary segment), commercial and lodging facilities, community and public/institutional buildings, and religious facilities. Its geographic footprint spans California, Oregon, Nevada, and Alaska, including remote commissions such as the Boreal Wilderness EcoLodge in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Customers are acquired primarily through referrals, design awards, and publication coverage in outlets including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Dwell, and Fine Homebuilding.

The firm's underlying technology is built around four interlocking building-science disciplines: passive solar design (climate-responsive orientation within 30 degrees of due south, thermal mass, shading, and natural ventilation), active solar systems (photovoltaics and solar thermal collectors with sand-bed thermal storage), straw bale construction (achieving R-30 insulation values with net-carbon-sequestering walls), and earth construction including rammed earth and PISE (sprayed soil-cement), often combined with straw bale as exterior insulation. The firm also offers Green Building Certification Consulting across LEED, GreenPoint Rated, Passive House, and Living Building Challenge. Notable quantified outcomes include a net-zero/Passive House-certified Project Green Home, a Santa Cruz Straw Bale Residence achieving 241 GreenPoints, and an Idea Garden that held a 73°F interior while outdoor temperatures reached 103°F without mechanical cooling.

Arkin Tilt operates a traditional professional services revenue model, billing clients on a project basis according to scope, complexity, and construction cost across the full lifecycle from site analysis and schematic design through construction documents and construction administration. The firm is structured around the two founding principals plus a small team of named project managers and architects (Devin Kinney, Tavi Hillesland, Quinton Frederick, Joe Lambert, Adam Weiss, Nadia Khan, Chandra Baerg). Beyond client work, the firm invests in ecosystem leadership through co-founding the California Straw Building Association (CASBA), a twelve-year board tenure at the Solar Living Institute, and pro bono participation in Public Architecture's 1% Program. The firm has accumulated a sustained award pedigree including two AIA/COTE Top Ten Green Project Awards, multiple Acterra Business Environmental Awards, and a BUILD Architecture Award for Recognized Leaders in Low Carbon Building.

Name

Arkin Tilt Architects

Legal name

Arkin Tilt Architects

Website

https://arkintilt.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Arkin Tilt Architects is a Berkeley-based, privately-held architecture firm specializing in sustainable, energy-efficient design for residential, commercial, lodging, and institutional clients across California, Oregon, Nevada, and Alaska, using passive solar, straw bale, and earth construction techniques.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Berkeley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Custom architectural design services for residential, commercial, community, and religious facilities. Revenue generated through professional service fees based on project scope, complexity, and construction costs. Services include site analysis, schematic design, design development, construction documents, and construction administration.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Arkin Tilt Architects provides full-service architectural design for residential, commercial, community, and religious buildings with a focus on sustainable, energy-efficient design. The firm integrates passive solar design, active solar systems, straw bale construction, and rammed earth/PISE earth construction techniques into custom projects, and also provides green building certification consulting for LEED, GreenPoint Rated, Passive House, and Living Building Challenge standards.

Product overview

Arkin Tilt Architects is an award-winning architecture and design firm offering comprehensive architectural services with a focus on sustainable, energy-efficient design. The firm's core offering integrates multiple techniques and services including Passive Solar Design, Active Solar Design (photovoltaics and thermal systems), Straw Bale Construction, and Earth Construction (rammed earth and PISE). The firm also provides Green Building Certification Consulting to help projects achieve LEED, GreenPoint Rated, Passive House, and Living Building Challenge certifications. Projects span residential homes, commercial and lodging facilities, community and public buildings, and renovation/addition work, all embodying principles of ecological design, resource efficiency, and harmony with natural environments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sustainable Architectural Design Services Full-service architectural design for residential, commercial, community, and religious clients, integrating passive solar design, active solar systems, straw bale construction, and earth construction techniques into custom projects. The service includes site analysis, schematic design, design development, construction documents, and construction administration.
• Green Building Certification Consulting Guidance and design services for achieving green building certifications including LEED, GreenPoint Rated, Passive House, and Living Building Challenge. Provided to project owners seeking third-party validation of sustainable building performance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Buildings designed to achieve net-zero energy and Passive House certification
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Public ArchitecturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration through Public Architecture's 1% Program, providing pro bono architectural services to nonprofit organizations. ATA provides reduced or free services for worthy ventures in exchange for future payment or services.
• California Straw Building Association (CASBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founded by Anni and David Arkin. CASBA promotes straw bale construction and sustainable building practices. David serves as Director, Anni has contributed to detail guide re-writes.
• Habitat for HumanityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStaff members serve on Habitat for Humanity projects as part of community engagement initiatives.
• Solar Living InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDavid Arkin served for twelve years as board member. Organization focuses on sustainable living and renewable energy education.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Van der Ryn Architects: Pioneering California sustainable design firm where co-founder David Arkin previously worked, including on the Real Goods Solar Living Center. Comparable sustainability philosophy and methods, though a smaller and more legacy-oriented practice today.
• Pyatt Studio / Pyatt Associates: Bay Area design practice working on custom residential and small commercial projects with attention to sustainable, site-responsive design. Smaller and more recent than ATA, but with comparable project typologies and sustainability focus.

Direct peers

• KieranTimberlake: Philadelphia-based architecture firm nationally recognized for sustainable design research, high-performance building envelopes, and integrated building science. Comparable to ATA in its focus on sustainable design rigor, performance-driven outcomes, and award-winning portfolio.
• Olson Kundig: Seattle-based design practice with strong reputation for residential, hospitality, and community projects emphasizing craft, sustainability, and site-responsive design. Comparable in alternative-materials expertise, regional Pacific focus, and award-winning portfolio.
• BAR Architects & Interiors: Berkeley-headquartered architecture and interiors firm working across commercial, residential, and community projects in the Bay Area. Comparable geographically and in scale, with an overlapping client base in East Bay residential and institutional work.
• Lake|Flato Architects: San Antonio-based firm celebrated for sustainable, regionally rooted residential and institutional design. Comparable to Arkin Tilt in commitment to climate-responsive design, use of natural materials, and award-recognized sustainability leadership.
• Aidlin Darling Design: San Francisco Bay Area architecture studio known for residential, winery, and institutional projects emphasizing craft, sustainability, and integration with landscape. Comparable to Arkin Tilt in regional scope, project scale, and design-driven sustainability orientation.
• Siegel & Strain Architects: Emeryville, California-based architecture practice of comparable size and Bay Area focus, with deep specialization in sustainable, high-performance, and net-zero energy design across residential, civic, and educational projects. Directly comparable in mission, regional footprint, and sustainability-led practice model.
• Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects: San Francisco-based firm recognized for sustainability leadership in civic, educational, and residential architecture. Comparable to ATA in commitment to net-zero, energy-efficient, and environmentally responsive design across similar project typologies.

Others

• Fernau + Hartman Architects: Bay Area architecture firm where co-founder Anni Tilt previously worked for eight years. Comparable in scale and design approach to ATA, though broader in typology including commercial and cultural projects rather than sustainable-residential focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/arkintiltarchitects
• Instagraminstagram.com/arkintilt/?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Arkin Tilt Architects