Farr Associates
Farr Associates is a Chicago-based, 35-year-old architecture and urban design firm specializing in net-zero buildings, historic preservation, and sustainable master planning for government, educational, and affordable housing clients across the Midwest.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1990
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Farr Associates does
Farr Associates is a Chicago-based, privately-held architecture and urban design firm founded by Doug Farr in 1990, specializing in high-performance sustainable buildings, historic preservation, and master planning. The firm delivers full-service architecture (commercial, civic, educational, multi-family, single-family, and adaptive reuse), urban design and placekeeping (corridors, master plans, zoning), sustainability consulting (LEED, Living Building Challenge, Phius, WELL), community engagement via NCI charrettes, and prototype development for repeatable net-zero building solutions. Its portfolio includes award-defining projects such as the Chicago Center for Green Technology (third LEED Platinum in the nation, 2003), University of Chicago Keller Center (2019 AIA COTE Top Ten), Academy for Global Citizenship (Phius-certified, Living Building Challenge targeted), Lawson House (409 units of affordable SRO housing, 2024), and the $100M Hotel Florence redevelopment inside Pullman National Historic Park.
The firm generates revenue through project-based professional services fees (architecture, urban design, consulting, community engagement) on a quote-based pricing structure tied to scope, complexity, and scale. Its go-to-market is sales-led via direct relationships, public-sector RFP/RFQ procurement, and thought leadership channels (Substack, conferences, published books including Sustainable Urbanism and Sustainable Nation). Customer segments concentrate in government and municipal clients, educational institutions, and affordable housing developers, with selective commercial and nonprofit engagements; named clients include the University of Chicago, City of Chicago, Town of Normal, Chicago Housing Authority, Granite City Housing Authority, City of Austin, and Bi-State Development. The firm is WBE-certified and Just 2.0-certified and maintains a sub-10-person team operating from the Monadnock Building in Chicago's Loop, with active projects spanning the Midwest (IL, MO, IN, MI, OH) and select markets in Texas and Florida.
Farr Associates firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Farr Associates
- Legal name
- Farr Associates
- Website
- https://farrside.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1990
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Farr Associates is a Chicago-based, 35-year-old architecture and urban design firm specializing in net-zero buildings, historic preservation, and sustainable master planning for government, educational, and affordable housing clients across the Midwest.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Farr Associates industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural Services
- NAICS
- Architectural Services (54131), Architectural Services (541310), Other Specialized Design Services (54149), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering Services (8711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sustainable/Green Building & LEED Consulting (BPAHAKAG)
Keywords
Where Farr Associates is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Farr Associates business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Architecture Services: Full-service architecture and urban design services for commercial, institutional, residential, and civic projects. Revenue generated through design fees, project management, and consulting services on a project-by-project basis.
- Sustainability Consulting: Third-party consulting for green building certifications including LEED, Living Building Challenge, Phius, and WELL Building standards.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
Farr Associates product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Farr Associates is a Chicago-based architecture and urban design firm providing full-service architectural design, urban design and master planning, and sustainability consulting for commercial, residential, civic, educational, and historic preservation projects. The firm specializes in high-performance, net-zero energy buildings, Passive House/Phius, LEED, and Living Building Challenge certified projects, sustainable urbanism, and adaptive reuse of historic structures.
Product overview
Farr Associates Architecture & Urban Design is a full-service architecture and urban design firm offering high-performance building design, urban design & master planning, sustainability consulting, community engagement, and prototyping services. Their portfolio spans commercial, residential, civic, education, and historic preservation projects with a focus on sustainable design and decarbonization. Notable projects include the University of Chicago Keller Center (LEED Platinum + Living Building Challenge), Academy for Global Citizenship (Living Building Challenge targeting), Lawson House affordable housing, Pullman Hotel Florence redevelopment, Lincoln Park Passive House retrofit, and the 25-year Uptown Normal master plan. The firm operates as a WBE-certified practice with Just™ certification.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Architecture Services
- Urban Design & Placekeeping
- Sustainability Consulting
- Community Engagement
- Prototyping Services
Quantifiable outcome
- 46% less energy use than code at Keller Center
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Farr Associates
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Farr Associates technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Farr Associates partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
74 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Celadon Construction Corporation NFPcoreLead developer for the $100M Hotel Florence redevelopment project in Pullman National Historic Park. Farr Associates serves as Architect of Record alongside Ramsey Historic Consultants, Skender as General Contractor, and Art of Culture for curatorial programming.
- Ramsey Historic ConsultantscoreHistoric preservation consultant for Hotel Florence project, ensuring adherence to historic character and preservation standards.
- SkendercoreGeneral contractor for Hotel Florence redevelopment project.
- Art of CulturecoreCuratorial programming partner for Hotel Florence project, fostering creative and artistic synergy across South Side neighborhoods.
- site design groupcoreLandscape architect for Hotel Florence project and frequent collaborator on adaptive reuse projects including Lawson House.
- Wiss, Janney, Elstner AssociatescoreStructural engineer and envelope/façade consultant for Hotel Florence project. Frequent collaborator including Lawson House project.
- TERRA EngineeringcoreCivil engineer for Hotel Florence project. Frequent collaborator including Lawson House and Christy Webber Landscapes projects.
- dbHMScoreMEP engineer and IT consultant for Hotel Florence project. Frequent collaborator on high-performance building projects including Lawson House, Keller Center, and Christy Webber Landscapes.
- Schuler ShookminorTheater planner and lighting designer for Hotel Florence project.
- ThresholdminorAcoustics consultant for Hotel Florence project.
- Holsten Real Estate DevelopmentcoreDeveloper for Lawson House project - 409 units of affordable SRO housing in historic YMCA building, Chicago's Gold Coast.
- Walsh ConstructioncoreGeneral contractor for Lawson House renovation project.
- Klein & HoffmanminorBuilding forensics consultant for Lawson House project.
- Jenkins & HuntingtonminorTransportation consultant for Lawson House project.
- Ryan LLCminorHistoric tax credit consultant for Lawson House project.
- Wiss, Janey, Elstner AssociatescoreConservator for Lawson House historic preservation.
- RDHminorBuilding envelope consultant for Lawson House project.
- Woodhouse Tinucci ArchitectscoreCollaborating architect and interior designer for University of Chicago Keller Center project.
- Mortenson ConstructioncoreGeneral contractor for Keller Center renovation project.
- Site Design GroupcoreLandscape architect for Keller Center project.
- AP MonarchcoreLBC consultant for Keller Center Living Building Challenge certification.
- WSPcoreLBC Red List consultant for Keller Center project.
- Anne Kustner Lighting DesignminorLighting designer for Keller Center project.
- SMNG A Ltd.coreArchitect of Record for Academy for Global Citizenship charter school project.
- Power ConstructioncoreGeneral contractor for Academy for Global Citizenship project.
- Urban ResolvecoreOwner's representative for Academy for Global Citizenship project.
- Gibbs Planning GroupcoreCollaboration partner for Uptown Normal master planning projects since 1999.
- Hoerr Schaudt Landscape ArchitectscoreLandscape architect for Uptown Circle stormwater plaza project.
- The George Sollitt Construction Co.coreGeneral contractor for Christy Webber Landscapes headquarters project.
- CCJM EngineerscoreMEP engineers for Christy Webber Landscapes headquarters.
- Drucker Zajdel Structural EngineerscoreStructural engineers for Christy Webber Landscapes headquarters.
- Pepper Construction Co.coreGeneral contractor for Charles Shaw Technology & Learning Center project.
- MacRostie Historic AdvisorscoreHistoric preservation consultant for Powerhouse High School project.
- Conservation Design Forum (ECT)coreLandscape architect for Charles Shaw Technology & Learning Center project.
- Urban Design GroupcoreCollaborator on Colony Park Sustainable Community master plan in Austin, TX.
- DunawaycoreCivil engineering collaborator for Colony Park master plan.
- The PlatformcoreDeveloper client for 6001 Cass historic renovation project in Detroit.
- PCIcoreGeneral contractor for 6001 Cass project in Detroit.
- Giffels WebstercoreCivil engineer and landscape architect for 6001 Cass project.
- Pivotal Housing PartnerscoreDeveloper for Broadway Lofts - Gary, Indiana's first all-electric PHIUS certified project.
- Terra EngineeringcoreCivil and landscape engineering for Broadway Lofts project.
- Economic Development Corporation Michigan CitycoreClient leading the $1B Indiana State Prison redevelopment planning exercise.
- McKennacoreEconomic analysis for Indiana State Prison Reimagination Project.
- Zimmerman/VolkcoreHousing analysis for Indiana State Prison Reimagination Project.
- TYLincoreTransportation engineering for Indiana State Prison Reimagination Project.
- 548 CapitalcoreDeveloper for Galleria89 - 46-unit affordable housing and mixed-use building under City of Chicago INVEST South/West initiative.
- Rivetna ArchitectscoreCollaborating architect for Galleria89 project.
- Hyde Park Neighborhood ClubcoreClient for master planning and revitalization of community center founded in 1909.
- Jackson & GreencoreGeneral contractor for Hyde Park Neighborhood Club renovation project.
- ediFelcoreMEPFP engineering for Hyde Park Neighborhood Club project.
- TYLincoreStructural engineering for Hyde Park Neighborhood Club project.
- Zoetic Building ConsultantscoreContractor for Lincoln Park Phius-certified passive house retrofit project.
- EcoAchieverscorePhius+ Rater for Lincoln Park passive house project.
- City of RockfordcoreClient for Downtown Rockford Strategic Action Plan implementing TLC (Tactical, Lean, Climax) approach.
- Lathrop Community PartnerscoreDevelopment partnership including Related Midwest, Heartland Housing, and Bickerdike Redevelopment for Lathrop Homes master plan.
- Chicago Housing AuthoritycoreClient for Lathrop Homes master plan redevelopment into affordable and mixed-income community.
- Michael Van Valkenburgh ArchitectscoreLandscape architect for Lathrop Homes project.
- MacRostie Historic AdvisorscoreHistoric consultant for Lathrop Homes project.
- Bi-State DevelopmentcoreClient for Northside-Southside Transit-Oriented Development Corridor Study in St. Louis.
- CBB TransportationcoreTransportation consultant for St. Louis Bi-State Corridor Plan.
- MZ StrategiesminorStrategic consulting for St. Louis corridor plan.
- East West Gateway Council of GovernmentscoreClient for BEVO Great Streets complete streets plan in St. Louis.
- City of St. LouiscoreClient for BEVO Great Streets project on Gravois Avenue.
- Development StrategiescoreMarket analysis for BEVO Great Streets project.
- DTLScoreLandscape architect for BEVO Great Streets project.
- City of Traverse CitycoreClient for Envision 8th Street charrette and corridor master plan.
- Walsh ConstructioncoreContractor for Granite City Green Communities affordable housing project.
- Cities of Akron & Cuyahoga FallscoreJoint clients for Merriman Valley-Schumacher Master Plan spanning both communities in Ohio.
- Goldberg General ContractingcoreGeneral contractor for Yannell Net-Zero Residence project.
- Climate Resilience ConsultingcoreCollaborator on Resilience Hub Planning & Design Compendium.
- One Architecture & UrbanismcoreCollaborator on Resilience Hub Planning & Design Compendium.
- Northwestern UniversitycoreCo-author of LIVING CITIES report on APEC cities sustainability.
- Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County (CEDA)coreClient for Building Science Training Center - incubator for sustainable construction and weatherization training.
- Zoetic Building ConsultantscoreMEP engineer for CEDA Weatherization Training Center.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Farr Associates competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- HOK: Major global firm with sustainability-focused practice across civic, education, and healthcare. Competes for similar institutional clients with substantially larger bench.
- Perkins&Will: Large global AEC firm with deep sustainability practice and significant Living Building Challenge + net-zero portfolio. Competes with Farr on institutional and civic RFPs but operates at much larger scale.
- Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM): Global architecture and engineering giant with growing high-performance and adaptive reuse practice. Overlaps with Farr on civic, transit-oriented, and high-performance projects.
Direct peers
- Lake|Flato Architects: San Antonio-based design firm with nationally recognized sustainable and contextual architecture practice, similar size and awards profile to Farr (multiple AIA COTE Top Ten).
- KieranTimberlake: Pioneering research-driven architecture firm known for high-performance, net-zero and adaptive reuse projects. Comparable in size, mission-driven culture, and depth of sustainability credentials (LEED Platinum, LBC).
- BNIM Architects: Mid-sized US architecture and planning firm specializing in high-performance, regenerative design with strong sustainability consulting practice. Closest peer to Farr's sustainable urbanism methodology and Living Building Challenge portfolio.
- Mithun: Integrated design firm with strong sustainability, civic, and affordable housing practice. Compares on mission-driven culture, mixed-use urban infill, and Living Building Challenge experience.
- Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture: Chicago-based firm with global portfolio emphasizing net-zero and high-performance design. Closest geographic and specialty peer; comparable focus on sustainability-led design at scale.
Regional players
- Antunovich Associates: Chicago architecture firm with strong civic, transit-oriented, and historic preservation practice. Local peer competing for municipal projects in the same geography.
Others
- Site Design Group: Chicago landscape architecture firm that collaborates with Farr on major projects (Keller Center, Lawson House). Adjacent enabling partner rather than direct competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Customer concentration
Farr Associates social profiles
Digital presenceFarr Associates compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance10 records
Farr Associates financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Farr Associates leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Farr Associates funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Farr Associates 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 Farr Associates
What does Farr Associates do?
Farr Associates is a Chicago-based architecture and urban design firm providing full-service architectural design, urban design and master planning, and sustainability consulting for commercial, residential, civic, educational, and historic preservation projects. The firm specializes in high-performance, net-zero energy buildings, Passive House/Phius, LEED, and Living Building Challenge certified projects, sustainable urbanism, and adaptive reuse of historic structures.
Is Farr Associates a public or private company?
Farr Associates is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Farr Associates founded?
Farr Associates was founded in 1990. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Farr Associates based?
Farr Associates is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Farr Associates make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Architecture Services are the primary driver. The others are sustainability Consulting.
Who are Farr Associates's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are HOK, Perkins&Will and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM). Direct peers are Lake|Flato Architects, KieranTimberlake, BNIM Architects, Mithun and Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture. Antunovich Associates is listed as a regional player. Site Design Group is listed as an others.
Does Farr Associates have an API?
No public API is recorded for Farr Associates.
What industry is Farr Associates in?
Farr Associates's product category is Architectural Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAG, Sustainable/Green Building & LEED Consulting. Its NAICS code is 54131 and its SIC code is 8711.