NC Design Studio
NC Design Studio is a privately held Missoula, Montana-based architectural services firm founded in 2009, delivering custom residential and commercial design across Western Montana, Utah, and Hawaii through a four-phase process from schematic design to construction administration.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersMissoula, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What NC Design Studio does
NC Design Studio is a privately held, Missoula, Montana-based architectural services firm founded in 2009 that delivers custom residential and commercial design projects primarily across Western Montana, with additional projects in Utah and Hawaii. The firm operates a four-phase service model — Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Documents, and Construction Administration — anchored on face-to-face client engagement, site visits, conceptual sketches, high-quality renderings, and construction administration through to project completion. Its portfolio spans custom mountain residences, lake houses, farmhouses, cabins, commercial offices, churches, university facilities, and luxury resort work, with a multi-project ongoing relationship with Paws-Up Resort since 2010–2011 (Bull Barn conference center, glamping tents, dining pavilions), a 19,578 sq ft modern church for Faith Lutheran in Great Falls, MT, and student organization space at the University of Montana.
The firm is led by Principal Architect Nicholas Cole (NCARB/AIA certified) and operates with a small specialist team that includes a project manager, a 3D artist, and additional team members. Its core capabilities center on site-responsive design methodology, sustainable building integration (photovoltaic panels, green roofs, geothermal heating/cooling, energy-efficient systems), and a tightly integrated design-to-construction process delivered in collaboration with regional general contractors such as Bateman Building Company, Gallatin Building Company, Gooden Construction, and Sletten Construction. Revenue is generated through project-based professional services fees on residential and commercial commissions; pricing is quote-based and project-specific, with no public rate card.
The business model is a regional, sales-led professional services practice. Distribution relies on direct client engagement via website inquiries, phone, and in-person consultations, supplemented by a portfolio-driven content marketing approach and word-of-mouth referrals. The firm is small, privately held, and founder-operated, with no disclosed external investors, parent company, or non-architect brand extensions, and primarily competes on personalized service, regional expertise in Western Montana architecture, and a multi-decade track record of delivered projects.
NC Design Studio firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- NC Design Studio
- Legal name
- NC Design Studio
- Website
- https://ncdesignstudio.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- NC Design Studio is a privately held Missoula, Montana-based architectural services firm founded in 2009, delivering custom residential and commercial design across Western Montana, Utah, and Hawaii through a four-phase process from schematic design to construction administration.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
NC Design Studio industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural Design Services
- NAICS
- Architectural Services (541310)
- SIC
- Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders (IMAFABAE)
Keywords
Where NC Design Studio is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Missoula
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
NC Design Studio business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Architectural Design Services: Professional architectural services delivered through four main phases: Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Documents, and Construction Administration. Revenue generated through project-based professional fees for residential and commercial building projects.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
NC Design Studio product offering
Product offeringCore offering
NC Design Studio provides architectural design services for residential and commercial clients in Western Montana. Engagements follow a four-phase project process—Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Documents, and Construction Administration—delivering site-responsive, sustainable designs ranging from custom homes, mountain estates, and lake houses to commercial offices, churches, and luxury resort facilities.
Product overview
NC Design Studio is a Missoula, Montana-based architecture firm offering residential and commercial architectural design services. The firm provides a four-phase service model: Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Documents, and Construction Administration, guiding clients from initial planning through project completion. Their residential portfolio spans custom homes, mountain estates, lake houses, farmhouses, and cabins across Western Montana, while commercial work includes offices, churches, and luxury resort facilities such as event barns and glamping accommodations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Residential Design Services Architectural design services for residential properties including custom homes, mountain retreats, lake houses, farmhouses, cabins, and multi-unit residential buildings throughout Western Montana, featuring sustainable and site-responsive design approaches.
- Commercial Design Services Architectural design services for commercial buildings including offices, churches, hospitality venues, and resort structures such as event halls and glamping accommodations.
Quantifiable outcome
- Long list of highly successful projects for a young architecture firm since 2009
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use NC Design Studio
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
NC Design Studio technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
NC Design Studio partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Gooden Construction Inc.minorContractor partner for the 6 Mile Meadows development, combining efforts with NC Design Studio to build and design four custom homes with stone and rustic materials in Huson, MT.
- Sletten Construction CompanyminorGeneral contractor for Faith Lutheran Church project, a 19,578 sq ft modern facility with 378-seat sanctuary in Great Falls, MT.
- Gallatin Building CompanyminorGeneral contractor for Flathead Modern Farmhouse project in Polson Bay, MT. NC Design created two modern farmhouses utilizing geothermal heating and cooling systems.
- Bateman Building CompanyminorGeneral contractor for Briar St Residence renovation project in Missoula, MT. The 2,750 sq ft project involved deconstruction of a 1940s era house with salvaged materials used throughout the new reconstruction.
- Paws-Up ResortcoreOngoing partnership with 37,000 acre luxury resort for multiple projects including Bull Barn conference center (10,000 sq ft), glamping tents (2010), and dining pavilions. Multiple projects designed to create elegant high-end experiences within rustic Montana setting.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights3 records
NC Design Studio competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- HKS: Global architecture firm offering services across residential, commercial, and hospitality sectors. Operates as a broad incumbent with much larger scale than NC Design Studio.
- Perkins&Will: Global architecture firm offering comprehensive design services including residential, commercial, and institutional work. Operates as a broad incumbent with significant overlap in commercial and institutional design capabilities.
- Gensler: Global architecture firm operating across multiple sectors including residential, commercial, and hospitality. Larger and broader portfolio than NC Design but offers overlapping architectural services in some commercial and hospitality segments.
- HOK: International architecture firm with diverse portfolio spanning multiple sectors. Provides overlapping commercial and residential design capabilities as part of its broader practice.
Direct peers
- Olson Kundig: Boutique architecture firm specializing in high-end residential and custom homes. Comparable in scale, design philosophy, and emphasis on distinctive site-responsive residential architecture.
- Lake|Flato Architects: Architecture firm with strong residential and resort design portfolio. Comparable boutique size, sustainable design orientation, and contextual design approach to NC Design Studio.
- Aidlin Darling Design: Architecture firm specializing in residential and small-scale commercial projects. Comparable boutique scale and emphasis on design quality and contextual site-responsive architecture.
- Anderson Mason Dale Architects: Regional architecture firm with comparable residential and commercial design capabilities. Similar boutique scale and emphasis on custom design work across the Western US market.
- Bohlin Cywinski Jackson: Architecture firm with strong residential and commercial design practice. Similar in scale and design sophistication, with comparable portfolio of custom residential and small commercial projects.
- Cushing Terrell: Montana-headquartered architecture and engineering firm with similar regional focus and multi-sector practice. Comparable in size and market positioning to NC Design Studio, serving residential and commercial clients across the Western US.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
NC Design Studio social profiles
Digital presenceNC Design Studio financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
NC Design Studio leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
NC Design Studio funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
NC Design Studio 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 NC Design Studio
What does NC Design Studio do?
NC Design Studio provides architectural design services for residential and commercial clients in Western Montana. Engagements follow a four-phase project process—Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Documents, and Construction Administration—delivering site-responsive, sustainable designs ranging from custom homes, mountain estates, and lake houses to commercial offices, churches, and luxury resort facilities.
Is NC Design Studio a public or private company?
NC Design Studio is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was NC Design Studio founded?
NC Design Studio was founded in 2009. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is NC Design Studio based?
NC Design Studio is headquartered in Missoula, United States, in the North America region.
How does NC Design Studio make money?
One revenue line is on record: architectural Design Services.
Who are NC Design Studio's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are HKS, Perkins&Will, Gensler and HOK. Direct peers are Olson Kundig, Lake|Flato Architects, Aidlin Darling Design, Anderson Mason Dale Architects, Bohlin Cywinski Jackson and Cushing Terrell.
Does NC Design Studio have an API?
No public API is recorded for NC Design Studio.
What industry is NC Design Studio in?
NC Design Studio's product category is Architectural Design Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAA, Architectural Design Services, with a secondary code of IMAFABAE, Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders. Its NAICS code is 541310 and its SIC code is 1700.