What Sam Architects does

SAM ARCHITEKTEN AG is a Swiss architecture firm founded in 1958 by Dolf Schnebli in Agno, Ticino, and currently headquartered at Hardturmstrasse 173, Zürich with a secondary office in Agno. Under its current legal form (SAM ARCHITEKTEN AG since 2019), the firm is led by three partners — Sacha Menz (also an ETH Zurich professor), Andrea Gubler, and Christoph Schneider — and a management team of four associates. It employs approximately 30-35 staff and operates as a full-service architecture practice spanning design, planning, project management, construction supervision, renovation, heritage restoration, and urban planning for cultural, healthcare, corporate, education/research, public, and residential clients in Switzerland and selectively abroad (Germany, Liechtenstein, USA historically).

The firm's core technology is Building Information Modeling (BIM) methodology applied to complex projects (Werkhofareal Uster, Arch_Tech_Lab AG), complemented by digital fabrication and sustainability-focused construction approaches such as Minergie-P-Eco standards, wood-concrete hybrid systems, and photovoltaic façades. Its revenue model is professional services, with project fees custom-quoted based on scope, complexity, and duration rather than standard tiers. Go-to-market is dual-channel: winning public and private architectural competitions (the primary acquisition path) and repeat/selective commissions from established institutional clients. Marquee commissions include the FIFA World Football Museum (2009-2015), Swiss Re Klubhaus (2016-2020), Kunsthaus Zürich renovation (1997-2005), Empa co-operate research campus (2019-2024), Kantonspolizei Aargau police building (completed 2025), and ongoing Zentrum Schluefweg (Kloten) and ShopVille Zürich projects. The firm is privately held with no external investment, no subsidiaries, and no disclosed revenue.

Name

Sam Architects

Legal name

SAM ARCHITEKTEN AG

Website

https://samarch.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SAM ARCHITEKTEN AG is a privately held Swiss architecture firm founded in 1958, providing full-service design, planning, renovation, and urban planning for cultural, healthcare, corporate, education, and public sector clients, primarily acquired via architectural competitions in Switzerland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architecture Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Architectural Services (54131), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Engagement & Participatory Planning (BPAHAKAO), Civil & Structural Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAA)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Urban planning services
• Heritage building renovation
• BIM architectural coordination
• Sustainable building design

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Professional architectural services including design, planning, project management, and construction supervision for residential, commercial, institutional, and public sector projects in Switzerland and internationally

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SAM Architekten provides full-service architectural and design services encompassing urban planning, architectural design, project management, and construction supervision for residential, commercial, cultural, healthcare, educational, and public-sector projects. The firm acquires engagements through architectural competitions and selective tenders, and operates BIM-based coordination for complex building typologies. Its portfolio spans new construction, heritage-sensitive renovation, adaptive reuse, and large-scale campus and urban developments across Switzerland and selectively internationally.

Product overview

SAM ARCHITEKTEN AG is a Swiss architectural firm founded in 1958, offering comprehensive architectural and design services. The firm provides architecture and design services, competition design services, renovation and restoration services, and urban planning and master planning. Their portfolio spans residential, commercial, mixed-use, cultural, healthcare, educational, and public building projects, with notable works including the FIFA World Football Museum in Zürich, the Empa Forschungscampus in Dübendorf, and the Swiss Re Klubhaus. The company operates as a full-service architecture firm rather than a product-based company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture and Design Services Full-service architectural firm providing design, planning, project management, and construction supervision for residential, commercial, cultural, healthcare, educational, and public buildings across Switzerland and internationally.
• Competition Design Services Participation in architectural competitions and design studies for public buildings, hospitals, schools, museums, urban developments, and mixed-use projects.
• Renovation and Restoration Services Specialized renovation, restoration, and adaptive reuse services for existing and heritage buildings, often in coordination with heritage preservation authorities.
• Urban Planning and Master Planning Services Urban design and master planning for campus developments, city quarters, and large-scale mixed-use projects, often integrated with the firm's architectural commissions.

Quantifiable outcome

• FGCZ laboratory building achieved DGNB/SGNI Gold certification for sustainable laboratory buildings
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ImpleniacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2024SAM Architekten works with Implenia as general contractor/construction partner on major projects including the Empa Forschungscampus (Design-Build approach) and the Police Building Aarau. The partnership combines architectural design with construction execution expertise.
• Flora Ruchat-RoncatiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Flora Ruchat-Roncati on the EPFL Campus-Erweiterung 'Quartier Nord' project (1993-2006)
• Vittorio Magnago LampugnaniminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Vittorio Magnago Lampugnani for städtebauliche (urban planning) aspects on SBB Areal Bellinzona project
• Team 5 (Freiraum Baumanagement AG, P.5 Ltd.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeneral planning team (Team 5) for Swiss Re Klubhaus project including Freiraum Baumanagement AG and P.5 Ltd. interior architecture
• Colombo+Casiraghi ArchitettiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Colombo+Casiraghi Architetti on EOC Ospedale Civico Bellinzona competition (2nd place)
• Bearth & Deplazes ArchitektenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on selective study Gartensiedlung Frohburg project

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Snøhetta: Multidisciplinary architecture and design firm with strong sustainability credentials and cultural/institutional portfolio. Comparable as a practice combining academic-style rigor with sustainability focus and competition-driven project acquisition, though at larger scale.

Broad incumbents

• David Chipperfield Architects: Global architecture firm renowned for cultural and heritage restoration projects (e.g., Neues Museum Berlin). Comparable in heritage-preservation expertise and museum/cultural institution portfolio, at larger scale.
• Foster + Partners: Global architecture firm with extensive cultural, healthcare, and public-sector portfolio including museums and research facilities. Comparable in institutional client mix and competition-driven acquisition, though at much larger scale.
• Herzog & de Meuron: Swiss-headquartered architecture firm with strong cultural and institutional portfolio and global reach. Comparable as a Swiss practice working across museums, healthcare, and public-sector projects, though at significantly larger scale.

Direct peers

• Burckhardt+Partner: Swiss architecture firm of comparable size with similarly broad portfolio across cultural, healthcare, education, and public-sector projects. Closely comparable in market positioning, service breadth, and competition-based GTM in Switzerland.
• Stücheli Architekten: Zurich-based Swiss architecture firm with comparable size and cultural/institutional portfolio. Direct peer in Swiss architecture competition market with similar project typologies.
• EM2N Architekten: Zurich-based Swiss architecture firm of comparable size with focus on cultural, public, and educational buildings. Similar mid-size Swiss practice profile with competition-based acquisition.
• Christian Kerez Architekt: Zurich-based architecture practice with strong academic and ETH connections. Directly comparable in Swiss mid-size practice profile, and SAM associate Michael Haller previously worked there.
• Diener & Diener Architekten: Basel-based Swiss architecture firm known for cultural, residential, and urban-planning projects. Comparable as a mid-size Swiss practice with strong competition record and academic ties.
• Pool Architekten: Zurich-based Swiss architecture firm of comparable size with portfolio across cultural, educational, and public-sector projects. Similar competition-based GTM in the Swiss market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sam-architekten-ag
• Instagraminstagram.com/samarchitekten
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Sam Architects