Preservation Studios
Preservation Studios is a Buffalo-based historic preservation consulting firm founded in 2002 that helps property owners, developers, and municipalities navigate National Register nominations, federal/state historic tax credit applications, and Section 106/14.09 compliance, with offices in Buffalo and Long Island.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersBuffalo, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Preservation Studios does
Preservation Studios is a privately held, Buffalo-based historic preservation consulting firm founded in 2002 by Tom Yots that provides end-to-end advisory services to property owners, real estate developers, municipalities, and non-profits navigating federal and state historic preservation programs. Its core service lines include Historic Preservation Certification Applications (Parts 1, 2, and 3), National Register of Historic Places nominations, tax credit planning and transaction structuring, historic building surveys, Section 14.09 and Section 106 compliance reviews, project management, and AIA-Continuing Education workshops. The firm reports cumulative results of $1.4 billion in preservation and rehabilitation projects advanced, $474 million in historic tax credits generated, 8,400 properties surveyed, and 3,775 National Register listings across its history.
The business is built on credentialed domain expertise rather than proprietary technology: the team comprises architectural historians, urban planners, and project managers with graduate degrees from SUNY Buffalo, Columbia University, University of Massachusetts Amherst, and the University at Buffalo, plus an R.P.A.-credentialed archaeologist. Revenue is generated through project-based consulting engagements with no publicly disclosed fee schedule; the firm offers free initial consultations to convert prospects and uses educational content (blog, webinars, workshops) as a top-of-funnel funnel. Its go-to-market is primarily sales-led and community-led, with partnerships through Preservation Buffalo Niagara and similar regional organizations.
The firm has remained private, organically grown, and capital-light, with no disclosed venture, private equity, or institutional backing. It operates from a Buffalo headquarters and a Long Island regional office opened in 2023, serves markets in New York, Florida, and California, and has 8-10 employees. Its competitive position rests on long-standing SHPO and NPS relationships, deep regulatory compliance expertise, and a track record that has produced multiple 2025 industry awards.
Preservation Studios firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Preservation Studios
- Legal name
- Preservation Studios LLC
- Website
- https://preservationstudios.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Preservation Studios is a Buffalo-based historic preservation consulting firm founded in 2002 that helps property owners, developers, and municipalities navigate National Register nominations, federal/state historic tax credit applications, and Section 106/14.09 compliance, with offices in Buffalo and Long Island.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Preservation Studios industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Historic Preservation Consulting
- akta.pro primary industry
- Historic Preservation & Conservation Planning (BPAHAKAH)
Keywords
Where Preservation Studios is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Buffalo
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Preservation Studios business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Preservation Consulting Services: Professional consulting fees for historic preservation advisory services including National Register nominations, tax credit applications, and Section 106/14.09 compliance reviews.
- Educational Workshops: Free educational workshops and webinars for homeowners and commercial entities on historic tax credit opportunities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Free consultation |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Preservation Studios product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Preservation Studios is a full-service historic preservation consulting firm that prepares Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Applications (Parts 1, 2, and 3), National Register of Historic Places nominations, historic building surveys, and Section 14.09/Section 106 compliance reviews. It also provides tax credit planning, project management coordination with preservation agencies, and AIA-accredited education and workshops. The firm serves commercial property owners, developers, municipalities, and non-profits navigating federal and state preservation regulations.
Product overview
Preservation Studios is a full-service historic preservation consulting firm offering a unified portfolio of services centered on historic preservation and rehabilitation. The core offerings include Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Applications (Parts 1, 2, and 3), Tax Credit Planning Services, and National Register Nominations, supported by Historic Building Surveys, Section 14.09 and Section 106 Review compliance services, Project Management coordination, and Education/Workshops. These services work together to help property owners, developers, and municipalities navigate the historic preservation process from initial significance evaluation through completed rehabilitation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Applications Comprehensive assistance with Historic Preservation Certification Applications including Part 1 (Evaluation of Historic Significance), Part 2 (Description of Rehabilitation Work), and Part 3 (Description of Completed Work) for obtaining historic tax credits. Intended for commercial property owners, developers, and municipalities pursuing federal/state historic tax credits.
- Tax Credit Planning Services Strategic planning services including tax credit modeling, transaction structuring, and project budgeting to maximize historic rehabilitation tax credit benefits for property owners and developers.
- National Register Nominations Preparation of nominations for listing in the National Register of Historic Places for individual structures, multiple property listings, and historic districts. Intended for property owners, municipalities, and non-profits seeking formal historic designation.
- Historic Building Surveys Reconnaissance-Level and Intensive-Level surveys to document historic building resources and assess their significance for preservation planning purposes. Used by municipalities and property owners for cultural resource documentation.
- Section 14.09 and Section 106 Review Compliance review services for projects involving public funding or federal agencies, assisting clients in obtaining No Adverse Impact letters from SHPO and/or NPS when tax credits are not being used.
- Project Management Coordination of design and construction professionals for historic projects and liaison services to local, state, and federal preservation agencies and funding providers.
- Education and Workshops AIA-Continuing Education courses on historic design standards, commercial and homeowner tax credit information sessions, and thematic presentations at conferences and universities.
Quantifiable outcome
- Successfully advanced preservation and rehabilitation projects totaling $1.4 billion in investment
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Preservation Studios
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Preservation Studios technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Preservation Studios partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- TKS Historic Resources IncmajorNearly decade-long collaboration with TKS Historic Resources including creation of five historic districts and two cultural resource surveys throughout Western New York. TKS co-founders Karen Kennedy and Sarah Apmann bring expertise including the National Register listing of the John Coltrane House and an 11,000 property survey of the City of Yonkers. Karen Kennedy now joins as Associate Director of Architectural History.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Preservation Studios competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Beyer Blinder Belle: New York City-based architecture firm with a renowned historic preservation practice. Competes for high-profile institutional projects (e.g., Grand Central, Ellis Island) in the same Northeast market as Preservation Studios.
- Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates (WJE): Large national engineering and architecture firm with a dedicated historic preservation practice. Competes for larger institutional preservation and rehabilitation projects but offers broader structural and materials engineering capabilities beyond Preservation Studios' scope.
- AECOM: Global infrastructure consulting firm with a heritage and cultural resources practice covering historic preservation, Section 106 compliance, and National Register work. Represents the scaled-end incumbent that boutiques like Preservation Studios can complement but also compete against on enterprise deals.
- Goody Clancy: Boston-based architecture and planning firm with an established historic preservation practice. Comparable service mix on adaptive reuse and historic tax credit projects for institutional and developer clients in the Northeast.
Direct peers
- MacDonald & Mack Architects: Minneapolis-based preservation architecture firm specializing in historic tax credit projects, National Register nominations, and Section 106 review. Comparable boutique scale and service portfolio targeting similar developer and institutional clients.
- Architectural Resources Group (ARG): California-based historic preservation and architecture consulting firm offering National Register nominations, historic tax credit services, and cultural resource surveys. Closest direct peer — same service mix, similar boutique size, comparable client base of property owners, developers, and municipalities.
- Heritage Consulting Inc. National historic preservation consulting firm providing National Register nominations, historic structures reports, and tax credit services. Direct competitor in the same professional services niche serving government and private clients.
- John Milner Architects: Pennsylvania-based preservation architecture practice with deep historic tax credit and National Register expertise. Comparable mid-sized peer with similar government, developer, and institutional client mix.
Others
- National Trust for Historic Preservation: National nonprofit advocacy organization that shapes preservation policy and federal historic tax credit rules. Not a commercial peer but a critical ecosystem actor whose policy positions directly affect Preservation Studios' demand environment.
- Preservation Buffalo Niagara: Western New York nonprofit preservation advocacy organization founded by Tom Yots. Not a direct competitor but a close community/ecosystem partner — co-hosts workshops, refers clients, and provides regional credibility for Preservation Studios' GTM motion.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Preservation Studios social profiles
Digital presencePreservation Studios financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Preservation Studios leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Preservation Studios funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Preservation Studios 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 Preservation Studios
What does Preservation Studios do?
Preservation Studios is a full-service historic preservation consulting firm that prepares Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Applications (Parts 1, 2, and 3), National Register of Historic Places nominations, historic building surveys, and Section 14.09/Section 106 compliance reviews. It also provides tax credit planning, project management coordination with preservation agencies, and AIA-accredited education and workshops. The firm serves commercial property owners, developers, municipalities, and non-profits navigating federal and state preservation regulations.
Is Preservation Studios a public or private company?
Preservation Studios is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Preservation Studios founded?
Preservation Studios was founded in 2002. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Preservation Studios based?
Preservation Studios is headquartered in Buffalo, United States, in the North America region.
How does Preservation Studios make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Preservation Consulting Services are the primary driver. The others are educational Workshops.
Who are Preservation Studios's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Beyer Blinder Belle, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates (WJE), AECOM and Goody Clancy. Direct peers are MacDonald & Mack Architects, Architectural Resources Group (ARG), Heritage Consulting Inc. and John Milner Architects. Others are National Trust for Historic Preservation and Preservation Buffalo Niagara.
Does Preservation Studios have an API?
No public API is recorded for Preservation Studios.
What industry is Preservation Studios in?
Preservation Studios's product category is Historic Preservation Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAH, Historic Preservation & Conservation Planning.