Tandem

What Tandem does

The studio operates a relationship-led B2B go-to-market, engaging directly with developers, government bodies, and not-for-profits on multi-year design commissions; revenue is generated through project-based professional fees with no standardised pricing tiers and no publicly disclosed figures. Design visualisation employs VR and 3D printing tools, and the practice maintains a thought-leadership presence through the 'Tandem Talks: The Markets Podcast', industry publications, a Venice Biennale 2023 shortlisting, and active LinkedIn and Instagram channels. Operating capacity is small, with nine listed team members, a 9-day fortnight working arrangement, and geographic concentration across Melbourne, regional Victoria, and select Sydney engagements.

Name

Tandem

Legal name

TANDEM Design Studio

Website

https://www.tandem-studio.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Melbourne-based boutique architecture and urban design studio founded in 1997, serving government, property developers, and non-profits across commercial, civic, social housing, heritage, and public market sectors via project-based professional services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

Keywords

• Architecture design services
• Urban design
• Social housing design
• Masterplanning services
• Heritage adaptive reuse

Headquarters

HQ city

Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architecture and Design Services: Professional fees for architectural design, masterplanning, and project delivery across commercial, civic, education, and social housing sectors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

TANDEM Design Studio is a Melbourne-based architecture and urban design practice providing professional architectural design, masterplanning, and project delivery services across commercial, civic, education, social housing, and heritage sectors. The studio works directly with developers, government bodies, not-for-profits, and private companies on a project-by-project basis. Specialised offerings include a proprietary modular market infrastructure Kit of Parts and modular construction systems for affordable housing.

Product overview

TANDEM Design Studio is an architecture and urban design practice offering a portfolio of interconnected services rather than a unified software product. Core offerings include architectural design for commercial, residential, educational, and social housing projects, complemented by specialised offerings such as the Market Infrastructure Kit Of Parts (modular market stall system), urban masterplanning (Lennon Mills), and working arrangements consulting. The practice also develops proposals for public market infrastructure and social housing redevelopment. All offerings are service-based rather than product-based, with projects spanning Melbourne and regional areas including Geelong and Sydney.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Design Services Full-service architectural design covering urban design, public spaces, markets, schools, commercial buildings, social housing, and heritage projects. Targeted at developers, government bodies, not-for-profits, and private companies in Melbourne and regional Victoria.
• Social Housing Design Social housing redevelopment design services incorporating modular construction systems and community-focused design, exemplified by the Lionsville and Footscray Lions Cooperative Village projects. Targeted at community housing providers, not-for-profits, and housing cooperatives with limited budgets.
• Corporate Headquarters Design Commercial office design services featuring adaptive reuse and sustainable materials, exemplified by the Scalzo Foods $18 million headquarters redevelopment accommodating 130 employees with capacity to grow to 250. Targeted at commercial property developers and enterprise tenants.
• Market Infrastructure Design (Kit of Parts) Bespoke modular market stall system developed for Queen Victoria Market, featuring lockable, customisable, forklift-movable units including pallet cool stores, coolrooms, under-bench refrigeration, display refrigeration, dry storage, and secure display units. Targeted at public market operators and retail centre developers.
• Urban Masterplanning Services Strategic masterplanning for adaptive reuse of heritage buildings, warehousing, and creative industry spaces, exemplified by the Lennon Mills next-generation productivity hub in Melbourne's inner west. Targeted at developers and government bodies undertaking precinct-scale regeneration.

Quantifiable outcome

• Shortlisted for 2020 Sustainability Awards Best Large Commercial Project
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Perri ProjectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term collaboration with developer Perri Projects on multiple projects including Scalzo Foods HQ ($18M), Ferrars Street development ($30M), and Lennon Mills masterplan. Collaborative relationship where Tandem provides architectural expertise and Perri Projects handles development.
• QanstructminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBuilder for 167K Road project - family-owned builder who also built the previous headquarters 30 years ago.
• United Housing Co-operativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity housing provider partner for Lionsville social housing project. United Housing provides access to federal and state government funding pathways and manages property into the future.
• Metropol PlanningminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPlanning consultancy providing planning advice pro bono for Lionsville funding application, then engaged for project delivery.
• Legata ProjectsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProject management partner for Lionsville, providing pro bono advice during funding bid phase and appointed as project manager upon funding award.
• NH ArchitectureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Queen Victoria Market renewal project, working together to develop new Point of Sale facilities.
• Kathi HoltminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic collaborator and author/creative director for Venice Biennale Extreme Ex exhibition.
• XLAM DolomitiminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerItalian manufacturer of cross-laminated timber for Venice Biennale X-shaped installation, designed to be demountable and reassembled as touring exhibition.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• NH Architecture: Melbourne-based architecture firm of similar scale and sector focus. Directly comparable as a co-collaborator with Tandem on the Queen Victoria Market renewal, indicating overlapping client base (public markets, civic, heritage) and similar boutique operating model in the Victorian market.
• John Wardle Architects: Highly regarded Melbourne boutique architecture practice of comparable size and founder-led model. Comparable across multiple dimensions: civic and cultural work, similar fee scale, similar reputation premium, and shared Melbourne market for institutional and public-sector clients.
• Jackson Clements Burrows (JCB): Melbourne-based architecture firm of similar boutique scale, with comparable civic, residential, and educational sector portfolio. Direct peer in competing for Victorian institutional commissions and in attracting talent with a design-led culture.
• Fender Katsalidis: Australian architecture firm with comparable high-profile civic and cultural projects (museums, public buildings). Direct peer in competing for landmark Australian institutional commissions and in leveraging iconic project portfolios for brand premium.
• Bates Smart: Established Australian architecture firm with strong social housing, commercial, and heritage portfolios. Comparable in pursuing Victorian public-sector commissions and adaptive reuse projects, and is a credible competitor on social-housing-funded mandates.
• ARM Architecture: Melbourne-founded architecture practice with deep cultural, civic, and public-sector work. Comparable in pursuing public cultural institutions and large civic commissions in Australia, with similar positioning around design excellence and civic impact.
• Architectus: Australian architecture firm with strong social housing, education, and public-sector portfolio. Highly comparable given its documented leadership in community and social housing design — directly competitive for the same Big Housing Build-style government mandates that Tandem pursues.
• DKO Architecture: Australian architecture firm with multi-sector work spanning residential, commercial, and masterplanning. Comparable in mid-sized Australian architecture market positioning, particularly for urban regeneration and masterplan projects such as Lennon Mills.

Broad incumbents

• Hassell: One of Australia's largest architecture practices with broad civic, commercial, education, and infrastructure portfolios. Overlaps with Tandem across multiple sectors but competes from a much larger scale and broader geographic footprint; represents the incumbent Tandem must differentiate against on premium briefs.
• Woods Bagot: Global architecture firm with substantial Australian practice, broad sector coverage, and capacity for enterprise-scale mandates. Represents the kind of scaled incumbent Tandem cannot directly compete with on large commercial rollouts, but shares overlap on education, civic, and commercial briefs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tandem-design-studio
• Instagraminstagram.com/tandemdesignstudio
• Xx.com/tandemmelb
• Facebookfacebook.com/tandemdesignstudio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Tandem