What Stanton Architecture does

Stanton Architecture is a privately held, San Francisco-based architecture firm founded circa 1980 that provides full-service architectural, master planning, and interior design services. The firm operates across six practice areas: hospitality (hotels and resorts), restaurants and food service, commercial office buildings, residential (single-family, multi-unit, and ADUs), adaptive reuse of existing structures, and mixed-use developments. Its service delivery spans the full project lifecycle from concept through construction, with documented experience executing projects for major hotel chains, REITs, restaurant groups, federal agencies, and developers.

The firm is led by its founding principal, Michael Stanton, FAIA, who served as the 75th President of the American Institute of Architects in 1999 and received a lifetime achievement award from AIA California Council in 2010. The firm has won awards from the California Heritage Council, California Preservation Foundation, and Pacific Coast Builders Conference, with notable recognition for adaptive reuse work. The company maintains a portfolio of 50+ clients and 100+ projects across hospitality brands (Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, Kimpton, Accor, Hard Rock, Wyndham, Choice, Radisson), REITs (DiamondRock, RLJ Lodging Trust), restaurant groups (Big Night Restaurant Group), government (GSA), and developers. Geographic reach extends across the San Francisco Bay Area, broader California, Portland, and Washington, D.C.

The business operates as a project-based professional services firm with fees tied to architectural engagements; pricing is not publicly disclosed. The firm is independently owned by its founding principal with no VC/PE backing, parent company, or subsidiaries. Technology stack consists of standard architecture and design tooling with no disclosed proprietary software, AI/ML capabilities, or API products. GTM relies on direct enterprise client engagement, an online portfolio, professional network connections through AIA, and earned media from industry awards.

Name

Stanton Architecture

Legal name

Stanton Architecture

Website

https://www.stantonarchitecture.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Stanton Architecture is a privately held, San Francisco-based architecture firm founded circa 1980 that delivers full-service architectural, master planning, and interior design for hospitality, residential, commercial, restaurant, mixed-use, and adaptive reuse projects. It serves enterprise hotel chains, REITs, restaurant groups, developers, and government clients across California, Portland, and Washington, D.C.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Interior Design Services (54141)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Hospitality architecture
• Adaptive reuse design
• Commercial building design
• Residential architecture services

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Professional architectural and design services for hospitality, residential, commercial, retail, and mixed-use projects. Services range from full architectural design to renovations and adaptive reuse projects.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Stanton Architecture is a San Francisco-based design firm providing full-service architectural, master planning, and interior design services. Its core business is project-based architectural design for hospitality, residential, restaurant, commercial, and mixed-use projects, guiding clients from concept through construction. The firm also specializes in adaptive reuse and historic preservation projects.

Product overview

Stanton Architecture offers a comprehensive portfolio of architectural and design services organized around six core practice areas: hospitality (hotels and resorts), restaurants and food service, commercial office buildings, residential (single-family and multi-unit), adaptive reuse of existing structures, and mixed-use developments. The firm operates as a full-service design practice, guiding projects from concept through construction. Their portfolio demonstrates expertise across major hospitality brands (Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt), boutique hotels, and a wide range of restaurant and residential projects in the California Bay Area and beyond.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hospitality Architecture Services Full-service architectural design for hotels and resorts, including new construction, renovations, and adaptive reuse of hospitality properties. Serves major hotel chains and boutique operators (Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, Accor, Choice, Wyndham, Radisson, Hard Rock, Kimpton, Strategic Hotels & Resorts, RLJ Lodging Trust, DiamondRock Hospitality, Highgate, Staypineapple, Oxford Lodging, Stonebridge, Kennedy Wilson).
• Restaurant Architecture Services Design services for restaurants, bars, cafes, and food service establishments, ranging from intimate wine bars to large-scale restaurant operations. Serves restaurant groups and individual operators (Big Night Restaurant Group, Andytown Coffee Roasters, Barebottle Brewing Co).
• Commercial Architecture Services Office building design and commercial space development, including new construction and tenant improvements for corporate environments. Serves developers and corporate clients (JLL, Madison Marquette, Presidio Bay Ventures, Ajax Consulting Services).
• Residential Architecture Services Design services for single-family homes, multi-unit residential buildings, townhomes, and accessory dwelling units (ADUs).
• Adaptive Reuse Services Transformation of existing buildings for new uses, including historic preservation projects, building conversions, and renovations of non-residential structures. Recognized with California Preservation Foundation Award for Large Rehabilitation, California Heritage Council California Preservation and Adaptive Re-use Award, and Pacific Coast Builders Conference Gold Nugget Award of Merit.
• Mixed-Use Development Design Integrated design services combining residential, retail, hospitality, and commercial components in single developments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple award-winning projects recognized by California Heritage Council, California Preservation Foundation, and Pacific Coast Builders Conference

Named customers27 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Presidio Bay VenturescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partner on multiple projects including 777 Industrial Road in San Carlos, CA - a 165,000 square foot laboratory and office adaptive reuse project
• Ajax Consulting ServicescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerListed as client and construction manager on projects including Hotel Zetta renovation
• JLLminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReal estate services firm listed as client for hospitality projects
• Big Night Restaurant GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRestaurant group partner for multiple restaurant projects including The Cavalier, Marlowe, and other San Francisco dining venues
• Dawson Design AssociatescoreTechnology or IntegrationInterior design collaboration partner on Hotel Zetta, Hotel Zephyr, and Dirty Habit restaurant projects
• AvroKOcoreTechnology or IntegrationInterior design firm collaborated with on Bourbon Steak & The Eighth Rule at Westin St. Francis Hotel
• Jon de la CruzcoreTechnology or IntegrationAward-winning designer collaborated with on Park Tavern and Che Fico Parco Menlo restaurant projects
• General Services Administration (GSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal government client for Hotel Monaco DC project - winning entry to GSA competition
• ARCONminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral contractor on 960 Harrison Street residential project in San Francisco
• List EngineeringminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMEP engineering on La Petite Baleen swim school adaptive reuse project
• KPFFminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStructural engineering on La Petite Baleen and Hotel Zetta projects
• Tuan & Robinson Structural EngineersminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStructural engineering partner on Bourbon Steak, Wit & Wisdom, and The Lodge projects
• Robison EngineeringminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMEP engineering on Courtyard Marriott San Francisco and Wit & Wisdom projects
• Bruce Jett and AssociatesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLandscape architects on One Jefferson Street retail core and shell project

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Hornberger + Worstell: San Francisco-based boutique architecture firm with comparable hospitality, residential, and adaptive reuse focus; similar size and principal-led model make it a direct comparable to Stanton in the Bay Area market.
• WATG: Specialist hospitality architecture firm with deep relationships across global hotel chains; competes with Stanton for hotel renovation, rebranding, and new-build commissions at the enterprise level.
• ForrestPerkins: Hospitality-focused interior design and architecture firm serving luxury hotels and resorts; directly comparable in customer base, project typology, and design-led positioning.
• Studio HBA: Hospitality interior design specialist collaborating with Stanton on projects such as Hampton Inn Downtown and Courtyard Marriott SF; competes for the same brand-driven hotel design mandates.
• AvroKO: Hospitality and restaurant design firm that has collaborated with Stanton on Bourbon Steak and The Eighth Rule; shares the Bay Area hospitality/restaurant client ecosystem and design-led ethos.
• Dawson Design Associates: Interior design firm collaborating with Stanton on Hotel Zetta, Hotel Zephyr, and Dirty Habit; directly comparable for hospitality and restaurant interior commissions.

Broad incumbents

• Gensler: Largest global architecture and design firm with significant hospitality, commercial, and mixed-use practices; competes for marquee enterprise clients but at much greater scale than Stanton's boutique model.
• HOK: Global architecture incumbent with dedicated hospitality and mixed-use practices; overlaps on enterprise hotel and commercial clients but operates at significantly larger scale across multiple verticals.
• Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM): Global architecture firm with strong urban design and large-scale commercial/mixed-use credentials; competes for institutional and developer-led projects where Stanton's adaptive reuse and urban design reputation overlaps.

Emerging players

• Ken Fulk: San Francisco-based design studio collaborating with Stanton on The Cavalier and other restaurant projects; overlaps on high-end hospitality and restaurant interiors in the same Bay Area market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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 Stanton Architecture