Building Design (dba: DB)
Building Design (BD) is a UK-based subscription trade media brand, in operation since 1969 and owned by Assemble Media Group Limited, that delivers architecture and built-environment news, opinion, CPD modules, and annual rankings (WA100) to architects and architectural practices primarily in the United Kingdom.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1969
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Building Design (dba: DB) does
Building Design (BD) is a UK-based subscription-supported trade media brand serving architects, architectural technologists, CAD/3D visualisers, and students in architectural education. Headquartered in London and operating since 1969, BD is one of several media properties under the parent Assemble Media Group Limited, a UK private limited company. The core product is bdonline.co.uk, a web-based digital publication platform that delivers architecture and built-environment news, opinion, building studies, technical briefings, and continuing professional development (CPD) modules, supplemented by email newsletters (BD Daily News, BD Breaking News, The Specifier) and a digital archive. Adjacent revenue-generating franchises include the annual WA100 ranking of the world's largest architecture practices, the Architect of the Year Awards, the Building Awards, the Building the Future Conference, a webinar/CPD programme sponsored by industry partners, and a dedicated jobs board (bd4jobs.com).
The underlying technology is a web-based digital publication platform paired with an e-newsletter delivery system and an online content archive; no public API, SDK, or AI/ML capability is documented. Revenue is generated through a multi-tier subscription model (six-month Direct Debit at £75, annual Direct Debit at £135, continuous monthly card payment at £150), corporate multi-user licensing for organizations with five or more users (sold via direct sales with a dedicated account manager), sponsored CPD modules from industry partners, and event sponsorship and ticket revenue from awards programmes and the annual conference. Geographically the operation is anchored in the United Kingdom, although the publication is distributed globally via online subscription. Headcount is in the 11-50 employee range, consistent with a focused niche trade media operation rather than a large-scale consumer media business.
Building Design (dba: DB) firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Building Design (dba: DB)
- Legal name
- Assemble Media Group Limited
- Website
- http://www.bdonline.co.uk/
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1969
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Building Design (BD) is a UK-based subscription trade media brand, in operation since 1969 and owned by Assemble Media Group Limited, that delivers architecture and built-environment news, opinion, CPD modules, and annual rankings (WA100) to architects and architectural practices primarily in the United Kingdom.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Building Design (dba: DB) industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural Trade Media
- NAICS
- Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413), Architectural Services (54131)
- SIC
- Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Architecture, Construction & Building Codes Reference (Design, BIM, Safety Codes) (EDAGAGAH)
Keywords
Where Building Design (dba: DB) is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
Building Design (dba: DB) business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | 6-month subscription with automatic renewal |
| Subscription | Annual | 1-year subscription with automatic renewal |
| Subscription | Monthly | 1-year subscription with continuous card payment |
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Building Design (dba: DB) product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Building Design (BD) sells subscription-based access to BDonline.co.uk, a digital publication providing architecture and built-environment news, opinion, briefings, building studies, technical studies, and CPD modules for registered architects and architectural practices. Subscribers also receive the WA100 annual ranking of the world's largest architecture practices, daily and fortnightly email newsletters, and access to a comprehensive online archive of architectural content.
Product overview
Building Design (BD) operates as a digital-first publication platform serving the UK architectural industry. The core offering is BDonline.co.uk, a comprehensive news and intelligence portal delivering architecture news, opinion, building studies, briefings, and CPD modules. The platform bundles several complementary services: WA100 annual rankings of architecture firms, Architect of the Year Awards, Building Awards, and the Building the Future Conference. Subscribers also receive email newsletters including BD Daily News and The Specifier. The platform is subscription-based with tiered access levels, and features sponsored content and CPD modules from industry partners.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- BDonline.co.uk Subscription
Companies that use Building Design (dba: DB)
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Building Design (dba: DB) technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Building Design (dba: DB) partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Building Design (dba: DB) competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Archinect: Online community and editorial platform for architects and students featuring news, jobs, and discussions. Comparable to BD as a digital architecture media platform with a community-led audience model.
- Designboom: Online magazine covering architecture, design, and art globally with a digital-first editorial model. Comparable to BD as a digital-only architecture/design publication, but broader in scope and more visually led.
Others
- Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA): UK professional body for architects delivering CPD, awards (Stirling Prize), and member services. Comparable to BD as an institution providing CPD and awards to UK architects, but operates as a membership body rather than a media company.
Direct peers
- Dezeen: Global architecture and design publication with award-winning online content, news, and a jobs board. Directly comparable to BD as a digital-first architecture title with a multi-revenue model including advertising, events, and awards.
- ArchDaily: World's most-visited architecture website, offering free global building coverage, product catalogues, and a jobs board. Comparable to BD as a digital architecture publication competing for the same practitioner audience and advertising dollars.
- Architects' Journal (AJ): Long-standing UK weekly architecture publication covering news, technical studies, building reviews, and CPD. Most direct UK-headquartered competitor to BD serving the same architectural practice audience with a subscription model.
- Construction News: UK construction industry news publication operated by Assemble Media Group sister title ecosystem. Comparable to BD as a UK construction trade title serving built-environment professionals with subscription, events, and awards.
- RIBA Journal: Official publication of the Royal Institute of British Architects, covering architecture, design, and practice issues. Comparable to BD as a UK-focused subscription architecture publication with CPD-eligible content and practice-focused coverage.
Regional players
- The Architect's Newspaper: US-based architecture publication covering news, buildings, projects, and industry events. Comparable to BD in editorial format and audience, but serves a North American audience rather than UK architects.
Broad incumbents
- Architectural Record: Long-established monthly architecture magazine from BNP Media covering design, technology, and practice. Comparable to BD as a subscription architecture title with CPD content, but operates at broader scale and longer-form format.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Building Design (dba: DB) social profiles
Digital presenceBuilding Design (dba: DB) financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Building Design (dba: DB) leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Building Design (dba: DB) funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Building Design (dba: DB) 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 Building Design (dba: DB)
What does Building Design (dba: DB) do?
Building Design (BD) sells subscription-based access to BDonline.co.uk, a digital publication providing architecture and built-environment news, opinion, briefings, building studies, technical studies, and CPD modules for registered architects and architectural practices. Subscribers also receive the WA100 annual ranking of the world's largest architecture practices, daily and fortnightly email newsletters, and access to a comprehensive online archive of architectural content.
Is Building Design (dba: DB) a public or private company?
Building Design (dba: DB) is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Building Design (dba: DB) founded?
Building Design (dba: DB) was founded in 1969. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Building Design (dba: DB) based?
Building Design (dba: DB) is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
Who are Building Design (dba: DB)'s main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Archinect and Designboom. Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is listed as an others. Direct peers are Dezeen, ArchDaily, Architects' Journal (AJ), Construction News and RIBA Journal. The Architect's Newspaper is listed as a regional player. Architectural Record is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Building Design (dba: DB) have an API?
No public API is recorded for Building Design (dba: DB).
What industry is Building Design (dba: DB) in?
Building Design (dba: DB)'s product category is Architectural Trade Media. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAA, Architectural Design Services, with a secondary code of EDAGAGAH, Architecture, Construction & Building Codes Reference (Design, BIM, Safety Codes). Its NAICS code is 5413 and its SIC code is 7330.