Archi/Build

What Archi/Build does

Archi/Build Group, Inc., operating under the trade name Cernek Architects since 2020, is a founder-owned private design/build professional services firm established in 1990 by Craig T. Cernek and headquartered in the Chicago, Illinois area. The firm provides integrated architectural design and general contracting services for residential and commercial clients, covering the full project lifecycle from design and documentation through permitting, estimating, and construction oversight. It also delivers expert witness testimony in construction-related disputes and neutral arbitration services through the American Arbitration Association, serving building owners, developers, and legal professionals.

The firm generates revenue through three professional service streams on a quote-based pricing model with no publicly disclosed fee schedules: architectural design and design/build construction for residential and commercial clients, retained expert witness work in property disputes, errors and omissions, structural issues, water intrusion, code compliance, and life safety matters, and impartial arbitration services. Customer segments are horizontal, spanning residential property owners, commercial clients, developers, and legal professionals, with no named anchor customers, marketing channels, or distribution intermediaries. Client acquisition relies on professional reputation, referrals, and the founder's industry affiliations rather than formal sales or marketing infrastructure.

The firm's core differentiator is the dual credentialing of its founder as both a licensed architect (Illinois since 1992, Tennessee since 2024) and a general contractor, an unusual combination that the firm cites as enabling it to bridge design intent and built reality. There is no proprietary technology platform, no AI/ML capability, no external funding, and no subsidiary structure; the business operates with 11-50 employees as a founder-controlled professional practice.

Name

Archi/Build

Legal name

Archi/Build Group, Inc.

Website

https://archibuild.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Archi/Build Group, Inc. (dba Cernek Architects) is a founder-owned Illinois design/build firm providing architectural design, general contracting, expert witness testimony, and arbitration services for residential, commercial, developer, and legal clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Design and Construction Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (236220), Engineering Services (541330)

SIC

Operative Builders (1531), General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520), Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Design-Build / EPC General Contracting (IMAFAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders (IMAFABAE), Residential General Contracting (New Build) (IMAFAAAB), Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Design-build firm
• General contracting
• Expert witness testimony
• Construction arbitration services

Headquarters

HQ city

Schaumburg

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Full project lifecycle services including design, documentation, permitting, estimating, and general contracting for residential and commercial projects including remodeling, additions, and new construction.
2. Expert Witness Services: Expert testimony in construction-related disputes including property disputes, errors & omissions, structural issues, water intrusion, code compliance, and life safety matters.
3. Arbitration Services: Neutral arbitrator services for construction and related matters through American Arbitration Association.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Core offering

Archi/Build Group, Inc. is a design/build architectural firm providing full project lifecycle services — design, documentation, permitting, estimating, and general contracting — for residential and commercial projects including remodeling, additions, and new construction. The firm, operating under the trade name Cernek Architects, also delivers retained expert witness testimony and neutral arbitration services for construction-related legal disputes.

Product overview

Archi/Build Group, Inc. is a design/build firm offering an integrated suite of architectural and construction services. The core offering spans residential and commercial design, general contracting, construction oversight, and expert witness/dispute resolution services. The firm operates under the trade name Cernek Architects (2020—Present) and provides full project lifecycle services from design and documentation through permitting, estimating, and general contracting. The President, Craig T. Cernek, ALA, also provides expert witness testimony and neutral arbitration services for construction-related legal disputes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Architectural Design Licensed architectural design services for residential projects including new construction, remodeling, and additions, spanning the full project lifecycle from design through documentation and permitting. Intended for homeowners and residential property owners.
• Commercial Architectural Design
• General Contracting
• Expert Witness Services Retained expert witness services for construction-related legal disputes including property disputes, errors and omissions, structural issues, water intrusion, code compliance, and life safety matters. Provides testimony in trials, depositions, and arbitrations for attorneys and legal professionals.
• Arbitration / Dispute Resolution Services Neutral arbitrator services delivered through the American Arbitration Association providing impartial alternate dispute resolution in construction and related matters for parties to construction disputes.
• Construction Oversight Construction phase observation and oversight services ensuring design intent is preserved through built reality, bridging technical expertise with hands-on construction experience for project owners and developers.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• American Arbitration AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCraig T. Cernek serves as a Neutral Arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association since 2015, providing impartial alternate dispute resolution services in construction and related matters.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• SmithGroup: Large national architecture and engineering firm with broad integrated design practice. Comparable in offering architectural and engineering services across multiple building types, though at significantly larger scale.
• WATG (Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo): Global architecture and design firm offering integrated design services across multiple sectors. Comparable in combining architectural design with construction oversight, though at much larger scale and broader geographic reach.

Direct peers

• Legat Architects: Midwest architecture firm with offices in Illinois and Iowa, offering design and construction-administration services. Comparable in regional Midwest footprint and similar client base of building owners and developers.
• Opus Design Build: Design-build construction firm offering integrated design and construction services for commercial, institutional, and residential projects. Direct competitor in the design-build delivery model that combines architecture with construction.
• Wight & Company: Illinois-based design-build firm offering integrated architecture and construction services. Direct competitor in the same Chicagoland design-build market with similar dual-credential model and broad project scope.
• Bulley & Andrews: Chicago-based general contractor and construction manager with deep historic ties to the built environment in Illinois. Comparable in offering integrated design and construction services in the same regional market.
• Albert Kahn Family of Companies: Detroit-based architecture, engineering, and construction firm with integrated design-build capability. Comparable in offering combined architectural design and construction services across building types.
• LPA Design Studios: Integrated design firm combining architecture, engineering, and planning with an integrated design-build delivery model. Comparable in offering full project lifecycle services with multi-office geographic reach.
• Tigerman McCurry Architects: Chicago-based architecture firm where Craig T. Cernek concurrently serves as Senior Architect. Directly comparable integrated architectural practice with deep Chicago roots and similar award-winning design profile.

Others

• American Arbitration Association: Partner organization through which Craig T. Cernek provides neutral arbitrator services. Adjacent ecosystem participant whose construction-related arbitration work creates a referral channel for the firm's expert witness practice.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Archi/Build