DMHA

What DMHA does

DMHA is a full-service architecture and interior design firm headquartered in Santa Barbara, California, founded by Michael Holliday circa 1989 (originally as Holliday & Associates) and reorganized as a four-principal partnership in 2012 with the addition of Ed deVicente and Ryan Mills, followed by a fourth principal in 2017. The firm operates with a small core team that has expanded by approximately 300% over the past decade and serves clients across California's Central Coast, including Santa Barbara, Montecito, Goleta, Carpinteria, Buellton, Los Olivos, Isla Vista, and Ventura. Service offerings span programming and predesign, site master planning, building and feasibility analyses, architectural design, interior design, construction administration, and sustainability/LEED consulting, organized around four primary verticals: residential, commercial, mixed-use/multifamily, and hospitality, with a community-focused placemaking practice layered on top.

DMHA's core technical capabilities center on sustainable and resilient design, including Passive House consulting (Ed deVicente is a Certified Passive House Consultant since 2010), LEED advisory with over 25 years of sustainable design practice, net-zero energy design, biophilic design, and fire-resilient/wildfire-resistant architecture. The firm has conducted applied research with Lawrence Berkeley Labs and Southern California Edison on phase change drywall and energy monitoring dashboards, deployed in The Loop student housing project. Notable projects include the 155,000 SF Direct Relief Headquarters (a multi-award-winning sustainable facility), Mattei's Tavern Resort (67-key Auberge property in Los Olivos), The Goodland Hotel (158-room Kimpton renovation), The Loop UCSB student housing, the Santa Barbara Humane campus, and numerous high-end residential estates and multifamily developments.

The business model is professional services-based, with revenue earned through project-based architecture and interior design fees quoted per engagement based on scope, complexity, and square footage. Multi-year contracts run from programming through construction administration. Go-to-market is principal-led and relationship-driven, supported by community involvement, AIA participation, awards-based visibility, and a portfolio website rather than paid marketing. DMHA is privately held, has no external investors or parent company, and does not publicly disclose revenue or financial statements. Over its history, the firm has managed more than $500 million in architectural projects and accumulated an extensive awards portfolio from AIA, USGBC, the California Governor's Office, and regional industry bodies.

Name

DMHA

Legal name

DMHA

Website

https://dmhaa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

DMHA is a Santa Barbara-based, four-principal architecture and interior design firm serving California's Central Coast with full-service residential, commercial, hospitality, and mixed-use design, distinguished by deep expertise in sustainable, Passive House, and wildfire-resilient architecture.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Barbara

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architecture and Design Services: Professional services revenue from architectural design, interior design, master planning, site analysis, and construction administration for residential, commercial, hospitality, and mixed-use projects. Revenue is project-based and earned through professional service fees.
2. Sustainability Consulting: LEED consulting and Passive House consulting services provided as part of projects or independently, contributing to overall project revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

DMHA is a full-service architecture and interior design firm providing programming, master planning, architectural design, interior design, construction administration, and sustainability/LEED consulting across residential, commercial, hospitality, mixed-use, and placemaking projects. The firm emphasizes sustainable, fire-resilient, and biophilic design, with over 30 years of regional practice managing more than $500 million in constructed projects.

Product overview

DMHA is a full-service architecture and interior design firm offering a comprehensive range of services including Programming and Predesign, Site Master Planning, Building Analyses, Cost Analyses and Feasibility Studies, Architectural Design, Interior Design, Construction Administration, and Sustainability/LEED Consulting. The firm specializes in four main portfolio categories: Residential Architecture, Commercial Architecture, Mixed Use and Multifamily developments, and Hospitality Architecture. Additionally, the firm practices Placemaking—a community-focused design approach. With over 30 years of professional practice and over $500 million in architectural projects managed, the firm serves clients throughout California's Central Coast region, particularly Santa Barbara, Goleta, Carpinteria, Ventura, and the Santa Ynez Valley.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Design Award-winning architectural design service managing design and construction of projects, providing functional and innovative techniques reflecting contextual settings. For enterprise, institutional, government, hospitality, and high-net-worth residential clients on California's Central Coast.
• Interior Design Interior design services integrating clients' functional needs with thoughtful artistry, including selection of furniture, furnishings, and equipment. For residential, hospitality, commercial, and institutional clients.
• Construction Administration Detailed management of field observations, job directives, change orders, and administration during construction phase. For project owners and developers engaging DMHA for end-to-end delivery.
• Sustainability and LEED Consulting Sustainable design and LEED consulting services with over 25 years of sustainable design practice for environmentally sensitive projects. For enterprise, institutional, and residential clients pursuing LEED certification, Passive House standards, or net-zero energy outcomes.
• Site Master Planning Principal architects on master planning projects for universities, civic facilities, and government entities, including environmental studies and construction project management. For public agencies, universities, and large institutional owners.
• Programming and Predesign Services Complete in-house programming capabilities including needs analysis, space constraint reviews, and future growth projections. For enterprise and institutional clients initiating new construction or adaptive reuse projects.
• Residential Architecture Custom residential architecture portfolio including contemporary and traditional designs for homes in the Santa Barbara region, including custom estates, modern residences, equestrian ranches, and post-fire rebuilds for high-net-worth individuals.
• Commercial Architecture Commercial architecture services for office, retail, and institutional projects. For enterprise, nonprofit, and government clients such as Direct Relief, UCSB, and the City and County of Santa Barbara.
• Mixed-Use and Multifamily Architecture Mixed-use and multifamily residential development design integrating housing with commercial spaces. For real estate developers such as Mesa Lane Partners, Sares-Regis Group, and Macerich Properties.
• Hospitality Architecture Hotel and resort architecture services including renovations and new constructions for boutique hotels and resorts. For hospitality brands such as Auberge Resorts (Mattei's Tavern) and Kimpton (The Goodland Hotel).
• Placemaking Community-focused design approach creating places that foster identity, connection, and catalyze community development. For municipalities, nonprofits, and developers pursuing neighborhood revitalization and public gathering spaces.

Quantifiable outcome

• Direct Relief Headquarters recognized with Green New Building Design Award by USGBC Central Coast chapter
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Santa Barbara HumanecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2025Four-year partnership for campus transformation project. DMHA designed over 40,000 SF of state-of-the-art facilities for this nonprofit animal welfare organization. Phase One broke ground August 2025.
• Mesa Lane PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloper partner for The Loop mixed-use student housing project in Isla Vista, California. This was the first mixed-use student housing development of its kind in Isla Vista.
• Studio CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterior design partner for The Goodland Hotel renovation (158 guestrooms) and The Landsby hotel project. Studio Collective provided interior design services while DMHA served as Executive Architects.
• AvroKocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterior design partner for Mattei's Tavern Resort (67 rooms) in Los Olivos. DMHA served as architects with AvroKo providing interior design services.
• CJM::LA (Courtney Jane Miller)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture partner on multiple projects including Direct Relief Headquarters, Mattei's Tavern Resort, and The Goodland Hotel. Known for drought-tolerant and bioswale landscape design.
• ARCO Design BuildcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral contractor partner for Direct Relief Headquarters project (155,000 SF distribution center and headquarters). ARCO Design Build executed the construction of this award-winning sustainable facility.
• Vernon ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral contractor for Spyglass Ridge Residence project. Vernon Construction worked on this fire-rebuild modern residence in the Santa Barbara foothills.
• NorthStar ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral contractor for The Goodland Hotel renovation and Mattei's Tavern Resort projects. Key partner for hospitality projects in the region.
• Conceptual Motion CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitect of Record for Yanonali Lofts project in the Santa Barbara Funk Zone. Gerhard Mayer served as AOR while DMHA contributed architectural design.
• Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit community partner. DMHA has contributed design efforts and supports through professional services for Habitat for Humanity projects.
• Kids Helping KidsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit community partner. DMHA donates design efforts and portion of company profits to support this organization.
• Santa Barbara Rescue MissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit community partner receiving DMHA design and financial support.
• AIA Santa Barbara Sustainability CommitteeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEd deVicente served as chair of AIA Santa Barbara's Sustainability Committee, focusing on educating architects on sustainable solutions and electrification initiatives.
• Brooks, Scarpa, Huber Architects (BSH)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld-class architectural partnership for Music Academy of the West Music Education Center in downtown Santa Barbara. DMHA serves as local anchor with BSH leading design.
• Ashley Vance EngineeringcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStructural and civil engineering partner on multiple projects including Direct Relief, Mattei's Tavern Resort, and Modern Vineyard House.
• Henry Lenny Design StudiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsulting architects on Biergarten project and MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR adaptive reuse. Henry Lenny helped execute historic preservation and adaptive reuse projects.

Scale indicators22 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• AvroKo: Hospitality interior design firm that partnered with DMHA on the Mattei's Tavern Resort; highly comparable in luxury-hotel design scope and boutique-firm operating model.
• Studio Collective: Boutique hospitality-focused interior design firm that partnered with DMHA on The Goodland and The Landsby hotels; direct comparator in DMHA's core hospitality scope and similar boutique-firm profile.
• Brooks + Scarpa: Architecture firm that partnered with DMHA on the Music Academy of the West; comparable sustainability-forward, award-winning practice with direct collaboration on California institutional projects.
• ShubinDonaldson: Santa Barbara–based architecture firm with comparable practice across residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects on the California Central Coast, competing for the same HNW clients, developers, and institutional RFPs as DMHA.
• designARC (SLO): Central Coast architecture firm operating between San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara with similar regional practice spanning civic, commercial, and residential work—direct overlap of geography and client segments.
• Scheurer Architects: California-based full-service architecture and interior design firm with comparable mid-sized practice and project mix across residential, hospitality, and commercial work, including multifamily and mixed-use.
• Aidlin Darling Design: Small California architecture studio recognized for sustainability-driven, environmentally responsible design of residences and cultural projects—similar scale, mission, and technical orientation to DMHA.

Regional players

• Kenneth Haggard & Associates: Long-tenured Santa Barbara residential and custom-home architecture practice competing directly with DMHA for high-net-worth clients in Montecito, Santa Barbara, and the Santa Ynez Valley.

Broad incumbents

• Marmol Radziner: Established California architecture and design firm widely recognized for sustainable modern residential and hospitality projects; broader portfolio but overlapping on luxury residential, sustainability credentials, and California clientele.
• Olson Kundig: Renowned residential and hospitality architecture firm; a larger, more global player but highly comparable on custom-luxury residential craft, principal-led boutique model, and award-winning design work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/DMHAarchitects
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dmhaa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 DMHA