SMA Architecture + Design
SMA Architecture + Design is a 44-year-old, Helena- and Bozeman-based full-service architecture and design firm providing architectural design, interior design, graphics and branding, LEED/sustainability, and historic-preservation services to education, commercial, healthcare, military, and government clients across Montana and the intermountain west.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1981
- HeadquartersHelena, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What SMA Architecture + Design does
SMA Architecture + Design is a privately held, full-service architecture and design firm founded in 1981 by John D. McKittrick and Rick Schlenker, headquartered in Helena, Montana, with a second office in downtown Bozeman. The firm provides architectural design, interior design, graphics and branding, FF&E procurement, master planning and feasibility studies, historic preservation, and sustainability/LEED certification services to commercial, institutional, educational, healthcare, and military clients across Montana and the intermountain west.
The firm differentiates on an integrated design process that brings construction disciplines, specialized consultants, and contractors into the programming phase, anchored by 44 years of regional knowledge in Montana-specific code, climate, and historic-preservation requirements. Selected project credentials include MSU's Hyalite Hall (LEED Gold v4, 500-bed freshman residence hall with 26.9% energy and 48% water savings), the University of Montana's The Lodge Dining Center (LEED Gold v4, 44,000 sf, 88.85% construction-waste diversion), Shodair Children's Hospital (behavioral-health design), Farmer's State Bank themed branches, Montana Army National Guard readiness facilities, and the $31.5M Montana PBS / KGLT Visual Communications Building at MSU.
The business model is fee-for-project professional services: revenue is generated through project-based architectural and design commissions procured primarily via RFQ/RFP competitive bidding for institutional clients and direct enterprise relationships for repeat commercial and healthcare clients. Operations are delivered through a partner-led principal structure (currently five principals) with 51-100 total employees, supported by an internal marketing and business-development function. The firm is privately held with no disclosed external investors, parent entities, or subsidiaries.
SMA Architecture + Design firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SMA Architecture + Design
- Legal name
- SMA Architecture & Design
- Website
- https://architects-sma.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1981
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- SMA Architecture + Design is a 44-year-old, Helena- and Bozeman-based full-service architecture and design firm providing architectural design, interior design, graphics and branding, LEED/sustainability, and historic-preservation services to education, commercial, healthcare, military, and government clients across Montana and the intermountain west.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SMA Architecture + Design industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural Services
- NAICS
- Architectural Services (54131), Interior Design Services (54141), Graphic Design Services (541430)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB), Community Engagement & Participatory Planning (BPAHAKAO)
Keywords
Where SMA Architecture + Design is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Helena
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
SMA Architecture + Design business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Architectural Services: Professional architectural services for commercial, institutional, educational, historic preservation, healthcare, and military projects. Revenue generated through project-based fees for design, construction documentation, and construction administration services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Annual | Employee compensation package |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
SMA Architecture + Design product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SMA Architecture + Design is a full-service architecture and design firm providing architectural design, interior design, graphics and branding, master planning, historic preservation, and LEED-certified sustainable design services for commercial, institutional, educational, healthcare, and military clients. The firm operates through an integrated design process that combines architectural, interior, and graphic disciplines with construction administration to serve clients throughout Montana and the intermountain west.
Product overview
SMA Architecture + Design operates as a full-service architecture and design firm offering a unified portfolio of integrated services. The core offerings include Architectural Design Services, Interior Design, and Graphics & Branding departments. Supporting modules include FF&E Procurement, Historic Preservation, Master Planning & Feasibility Studies, and Sustainability & LEED Certification Services. The firm serves commercial, institutional, educational, healthcare, and military sectors across Montana and the intermountain west, emphasizing an integrated design process between construction disciplines, specialized consultants, and building contractors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Architectural Design Services Professional architectural services for commercial, institutional, educational, healthcare, historic preservation, and military projects throughout the intermountain west. Includes programming, design, construction documentation, and construction administration anchored in an in-depth programming phase that identifies client vision and needs.
- Interior Design Interior design services integrated with architectural projects, covering commercial, healthcare, educational, and military spaces with a focus on modern and contemporary design approaches. Led by a six-designer team headed by Associate Principal and Interior Design Department Lead Kaelyn Clarke.
- Graphics & Branding Graphics and branding services including visual identity design, wayfinding systems, and brand development for projects requiring cohesive visual communication, delivered in-house by SMA staff.
- Historic Preservation Historic preservation services for renovation and restoration of historic buildings, including award-winning adaptive reuse work such as the Old Liquor Block renovation in Helena.
- Master Planning & Feasibility Studies Master planning and feasibility study services for large-scale developments and institutional clients, including pre-bond planning and building condition reports.
- Sustainability & LEED Certification Services Sustainable design services incorporating LEED certification standards, renewable energy implementation such as solar panels, EV charging stations, rainwater management, low-emitting materials, and environmental impact reduction strategies across the firm's project portfolio.
Quantifiable outcome
- Hyalite Hall estimated to save 26.9% in energy and 48% in water annually compared to conventional dormitory
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use SMA Architecture + Design
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
SMA Architecture + Design technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
SMA Architecture + Design partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.
- VACOMmajorSMA designed VACOM's first Montana facility - the Big Spring CleanFab in Lewistown. The project renovated a former diesel repair shop into a state-of-the-art clean room facility for vacuum component cleaning services. VACOM's $31.5 million Montana expansion represents significant economic development for the region.
- Montana State UniversitycoreLong-standing partnership with multiple projects including Hyalite Hall (LEED Gold residence hall), Yellowstone Hall (Student Housing Business INNOVATOR AWARD), Montana PBS Visual Communications Building ($31.5M project bringing together PBS, KGLT Radio, Shakespeare in the Parks, and School of Film and Photography).
- University of MontanacorePartnership on The Lodge Dining Center (LEED Gold v4 certified, 44,000 sf) designed to enhance campus community experience.
- Montana Army National Guard / Department of Military AffairsmajorOngoing partnership for military facility design including Malta Readiness Center and new Vehicle Maintenance Shop for Montana's Hi-Line.
- Farmer's State BankmajorMultiple branch projects including Helena (Railyard - ASID Design Excellence Award winner) and Missoula (1970s-inspired design). Partnership involves creating unique themed banking environments.
- Shodair Children's HospitalcoreDesigned new hospital facility featuring therapeutic design with exceptional natural light for behavioral health setting.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
SMA Architecture + Design competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Cushing Terrell: Multi-discipline architecture and engineering firm headquartered in Boise, ID with offices across the intermountain west including Bozeman. Cushing Terrell directly competes with SMA in Montana for institutional, healthcare, education, and government projects and is the closest comparable by geography, service mix, and client verticals.
- GSBS Architects: Salt Lake City-based architecture firm serving higher education, healthcare, civic, and commercial clients across the intermountain west. Comparable to SMA in vertical mix (especially education), project scale, and regional institutional client base.
- JLG Architects: North Dakota-headquartered architecture firm with significant higher education, K-12, and sports/recreation portfolio across the upper midwest and mountain west. Comparable to SMA by scale, education-vertical concentration, and regional firm profile.
- OZ Architecture: Denver-based architecture and interiors firm with strong education, hospitality, and mixed-use portfolio. Comparable to SMA in integrated architecture-plus-interiors offering and mountain-west client focus.
- MHTN Architects: Salt Lake City-based architecture firm with similar scale and focus on education, healthcare, civic, and commercial projects across the intermountain west. Comparable to SMA in service breadth and regional institutional client base.
- Centre Sky Architecture: Bozeman-based architecture firm serving Montana and the intermountain west with a portfolio spanning cultural, educational, and commercial projects. Direct local competitor to SMA in the Bozeman market.
- Locati Architects: Bozeman-based architecture and interiors firm with focus on custom residential, mountain architecture, and commercial projects in Montana. Direct local competitor to SMA in the Gallatin Valley market.
- Anderson Mason Dale Architects: Denver-based architecture firm specializing in K-12, higher education, and civic projects in the mountain west. Comparable to SMA in education-vertical depth and mid-sized regional firm profile.
- CTA Architects Engineers (now Cushing Terrell): Legacy brand now part of Cushing Terrell; historically operated as a Montana-based multi-discipline A&E firm directly competing with SMA in Helena-Bozeman market. Provides a reference point for what an SMA-scale firm can grow into with M&A and geographic expansion.
- Martel Architecture: Bozeman-based architecture firm serving Montana with focus on residential, commercial, and institutional projects. Direct local competitor to SMA in the Bozeman market with comparable service offerings.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SMA Architecture + Design social profiles
Digital presenceSMA Architecture + Design compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
SMA Architecture + Design financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SMA Architecture + Design leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
SMA Architecture + Design funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SMA Architecture + Design 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 SMA Architecture + Design
What does SMA Architecture + Design do?
SMA Architecture + Design is a full-service architecture and design firm providing architectural design, interior design, graphics and branding, master planning, historic preservation, and LEED-certified sustainable design services for commercial, institutional, educational, healthcare, and military clients. The firm operates through an integrated design process that combines architectural, interior, and graphic disciplines with construction administration to serve clients throughout Montana and the intermountain west.
Is SMA Architecture + Design a public or private company?
SMA Architecture + Design is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was SMA Architecture + Design founded?
SMA Architecture + Design was founded in 1981. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is SMA Architecture + Design based?
SMA Architecture + Design is headquartered in Helena, United States, in the North America region.
How does SMA Architecture + Design make money?
One revenue line is on record: architectural Services.
Who are SMA Architecture + Design's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Cushing Terrell, GSBS Architects, JLG Architects, OZ Architecture, MHTN Architects, Centre Sky Architecture, Locati Architects, Anderson Mason Dale Architects, CTA Architects Engineers (now Cushing Terrell) and Martel Architecture.
Does SMA Architecture + Design have an API?
No public API is recorded for SMA Architecture + Design.
What industry is SMA Architecture + Design in?
SMA Architecture + Design's product category is Architectural Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAA, Architectural Design Services, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAB, Interior Design Services. Its NAICS code is 54131 and its SIC code is 8700.