What ODA Architecture does

ODA Architecture is a privately held commercial architecture firm headquartered at 2010 South Tryon Street in Charlotte's Historic South End District. Founded in 1984 by Stephen Overcash and Tim Demmitt as Overcash Demmitt Architects, the firm was renamed ODA Architecture following Demmitt's 2019 retirement. It operates with a staff of 11–50 professionals organized into six principal-led studios covering Hospitality, Mixed Use & Interior Architecture, Office & Healthcare, Industrial & Lifestyle Storage, Multi-Family, and Business Management & Operations. The firm delivers a full scope of architectural services — master planning, site selection, programming and feasibility studies, rezoning, architectural design, construction documentation, permitting, construction administration, interior design, building repurposing, and historical tax credit consulting — and has designed buildings in more than 25 states, with a documented international engagement at a World Expo venue in Kazakhstan.

ODA's revenue model is project-based professional services, with fees quoted per engagement and varying by scope, size, and complexity. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales driven by long-tenured relationships, repeat clients (multiple spanning 20+ years including New Forum Development, Auro Hotels, Raines Hospitality, and Choate Construction), referrals, and competitive proposals. The firm maintains a content-driven awareness engine (FUNomenal Chronicle newsletter, @odaarchitecturenc Instagram, blog thought leadership, project case studies) targeted at developers, hoteliers, healthcare operators, and civic clients across the eastern United States. ODA is self-funded with no external investment and operates an entrepreneurial partnership model under sole proprietor Stephen Overcash alongside six appointed principals.

Name

ODA Architecture

Legal name

ODA Architecture

Website

https://oda.us.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ODA Architecture is a Charlotte-based commercial architecture firm founded in 1984, delivering master planning, design, and construction administration services across hospitality, mixed-use, multifamily, office, and lifestyle storage sectors for developers, hoteliers, and enterprise clients across the eastern US.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlotte

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: ODA Architecture generates revenue through professional architectural fees for design services including master planning, architectural design, construction documentation, construction administration, interior design, historical tax credit consulting, and rezoning services. Revenue is project-based and varies by scope, size, and complexity of each engagement.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ODA Architecture is a commercial architecture firm providing professional architectural design services including master planning, architectural design, construction documentation, permitting, construction administration, interior design, historical tax credit consulting, and rezoning services. The firm delivers projects across hospitality, commercial office, multifamily residential, mixed-use development, industrial and lifestyle storage, interiors, and parking structures for developers, hoteliers, businesses, and government entities primarily in the eastern United States.

Product overview

ODA Architecture is a commercial architectural design firm offering a comprehensive suite of architectural services rather than a software product. The firm's core offerings include master planning, architectural design, construction documentation, permitting, and construction administration services across multiple project types. The company's portfolio spans hospitality (hotels, restaurants, event spaces), commercial office, multifamily residential, mixed-use development, industrial and lifestyle storage facilities, interiors, and parking structures. Founded in 1984 and headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, ODA serves clients throughout the eastern United States with a "FUNomenal Design" approach. Notable projects include Four Seasons Private Residences Deer Valley, various AC Hotels and Marriott properties, and large-scale mixed-use developments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Master Planning Strategic site planning services that interpret client vision while blending sensitively with community goals and long-term development objectives for developers and property owners.
• Site Selection Evaluation Analysis services helping developers determine the optimum site that maximizes their goals and provides the best return on investment.
• Programming and Feasibility Studies Pre-design services including research, stakeholder interviews, and charettes to outline physical needs and aspirational vision for projects.
• Rezoning Services Assistance with rezoning processes through thoughtful design, community workshops, and planning board negotiations to achieve appropriate solutions.
• Architectural Design FUNomenal Design services creating buildings with thoughtful design and unique individual identity that tell a story, serving developers, hoteliers, businesses, and government entities.
• Construction Documentation Accurate construction drawings and specifications ensuring compliance with hundreds of codes and regulations governing building safety.
• Permitting Services Building code interpretation and permitting process navigation to protect health, safety, and welfare of occupants.
• Construction Administration Orchestration of construction process interpreting drawings and working closely with contractors to ensure owner vision is carried through all details.
• Historical Tax Credit Consulting Assistance with National and State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) approval processes to help clients benefit from tax incentives for preserving historic building character.
• Interior Design Services Innovative interior concepts featuring light, color, curves, and texture that are meaningful and intriguing for hospitality, office, and residential projects.
• Building Repurposing Services Breathing new life into underutilized buildings through repurposing, which is less costly than new construction and eco-friendly.

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor, moderate and core.

• AIA (American Institute of Architects)minorOthersProfessional membership organization affiliation. AIA is the leading professional association for architects, providing standards, resources, and professional development.
• CSI (Construction Specifications Institute)minorOthersProfessional membership for construction professionals focused on specifications and project delivery best practices.
• Urban Land InstituteminorOthersGlobal nonprofit research organization focused on responsible land use and creating thriving communities.
• Greater Charlotte Hospitality and Tourism AlliancemoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional alliance supporting hospitality and tourism industry growth in the Charlotte area. Aligns with ODA's significant hospitality design practice.
• Self Storage Association AffiliatemoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association for self-storage operators. Supports ODA's growing lifestyle storage and industrial storage design practice.
• Green Building InitiativeminorOthersNonprofit organization promoting sustainable building practices and green building certification programs.
• Taylor & Viola Structural EngineerscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStructural engineering firm frequently appearing on ODA projects as a key project consultant, including Even Hotel Charlotte, Steele Creek MOB, 5 Star RaceCar Bodies, and numerous others.
• Wilde EngineeringcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMEP engineering firm frequently collaborating on ODA projects including Even Hotel Charlotte, Steele Creek MOB, Branchburg Storage, and many others.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• HOK: Global architecture, design, and engineering firm with comparable commercial, hospitality, and mixed-use practices; larger competitor that ODA encounters on enterprise-scale pursuits.
• DLR Group: Multi-discipline design firm with architecture practices spanning hospitality, multifamily, mixed-use, and office; larger-scale competitor with broader geographic reach.
• Perkins&Will: Large global architecture firm with extensive commercial, hospitality, and mixed-use practices; competes with ODA on larger enterprise projects while operating at significantly greater scale.
• Gensler: Largest global architecture and design firm with deep commercial office and hospitality practices; represents the scale end of the market against which mid-size firms like ODA compete for enterprise clients.
• HKS: Major architecture and design firm with significant hospitality, mixed-use, and commercial office practices; competes with ODA on branded hotel and large mixed-use developments.

Direct peers

• Clark Nexsen: Mid-size architecture and engineering firm with comparable commercial, hospitality, and mixed-use practices serving the southeastern US market, competing directly with ODA for regional developer relationships.
• LS3P Associates: Headquartered in Charlotte, LS3P is a mid-size architecture firm with comparable service offerings across commercial, hospitality, education, and healthcare sectors in the southeastern US, making it a close regional peer to ODA.
• McMillan|Pazdan|Smith Architecture: Mid-size southeastern US architecture firm with comparable practice mix including commercial, hospitality, multifamily, and mixed-use development; a close regional peer competing for similar developer clients.
• Little Diversified Architectural Consulting: Similar-sized, multi-discipline architecture and design firm with comparable practice areas including commercial office, hospitality, and mixed-use development; competing for the same mid-market developer clients.

Emerging players

• David M. Schwarz Architects: Architecture firm with notable hospitality and mixed-use design portfolio including lifestyle hotels and entertainment destinations; competes with ODA's hospitality studio for similar branded-hotel and destination projects.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/odaarchitecturenc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 ODA Architecture