What Gortemaker Algra Feenstra does

Gortemaker Algra Feenstra (G.A.F.) is a Dutch architectural firm founded in 1920, headquartered in Rotterdam with a regional office in Brussels. The firm specializes in healthcare architecture, with 87+ healthcare projects (56 hospitals, 14 residential care, 12 psychiatric facilities, plus social-medical care) representing its largest vertical, alongside education (28 projects), offices (10), and utility/infrastructure (16 projects). G.A.F. serves enterprise and government clients — including AZ Diest, Rijnstate Ziekenhuis, Deventer Ziekenhuis, Centre Hospitalier Emile Mayrisch (CHEM), Penta Hospitals International, Politie Hilversum, and Brussels Airport — delivering projects that range from compact outpatient hubs (13,000 m²) to large hospital complexes (121,000 m²) across the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Slovakia, and China.

The firm's core technology stack combines 3D modeling, Building Information Modeling (BIM), and Virtual Reality visualization (HTC Vive and Google Cardboard) into the design process from project inception. Proprietary differentiators include the Design Lab methodology (a participatory design approach using 'Users as Designers' workshops, moodboard sessions, and 'Designers as Users' shadowing) and the Early Design Configurator, an algorithmic floor-plan generator developed within the EU Horizon 2020 STREAMER research project. G.A.F. also conducts Evidence-Based Healthcare Design research with partners including TNO and BNA Onderzoek, and holds ISO 14001 environmental management certification.

G.A.F. operates a project-based professional services revenue model, earning design fees tied to project phases and complexity. Distribution is direct-to-client via competitive tendering and long-term relationships, primarily in the Netherlands and Belgium, with international projects delivered through joint ventures and consortia such as Dutch Health Architects (DHA, with EGM architecten) and the SWG consortium (SWECO/G.A.F./SWAA). The firm is led by three founding partners (Roelof Gortemaker, Maurits Algra, Femke Feenstra) with general director Pim IJsendoorn, CFO Gert-Jan Groeneveld, and four additional directors, and is privately held with no external equity investors.

Name

Gortemaker Algra Feenstra

Legal name

Gortemaker Algra Feenstra

Website

https://gaf.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1920

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Gortemaker Algra Feenstra is a 1920-founded Dutch architectural firm specializing in healthcare (87+ projects), education, and infrastructure design, serving enterprise and government clients across the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Slovakia, and China via direct tender and joint ventures.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Rotterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

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: Project-based architectural design services including concept design, design development, technical documentation, and construction supervision. Revenue is generated through fees tied to project phases and complexity. The firm serves healthcare, education, office, and residential sectors with projects ranging from small renovations to large hospital complexes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Gortemaker Algra Feenstra is an architectural design agency that provides design, research, and visualization services for built environment projects. The firm primarily specializes in healthcare architecture including hospitals and care institutions, and also delivers projects in parking infrastructure, education, and commercial real estate. Services span concept design, technical documentation, construction supervision, design research, and VR-based visualization.

Product overview

Gortemaker Algra Feenstra is an architectural firm offering comprehensive design services through a unified practice. The core offering centers on architectural design for healthcare facilities, residential care, office buildings, and parking infrastructure. Supporting services include the proprietary Design Lab Methodology for participatory design, Virtual Reality Visualization for immersive client experiences, and Research & Evidence-Based Design services developed with academic partners. The firm also employs the Early Design Configurator algorithmic tool from the STREAMER research project for energy-efficient healthcare building layouts. Together, these services form an integrated architectural practice combining traditional design expertise with technology-enabled visualization and evidence-based research methodologies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Design Services Comprehensive architectural design services including concept design, technical documentation, and construction supervision for healthcare, parking, education, commercial, and mixed-use projects. Serves public and private sector clients across the Netherlands and Belgium.
• Healthcare Architecture Specialized architectural design services for hospitals, academic medical centers, care institutions, and laboratory facilities. Designed for healthcare organizations seeking evidence-based and research-driven facility design.
• Design Research Research services applying the firm's Design Lab methodology to inform evidence-based architectural decisions. Supports clients in validating design choices through data and analysis.
• VR Visualization Services Virtual reality visualization services that enable clients and stakeholders to experience proposed architectural designs immersively before construction. Supports stakeholder alignment and design validation.
• Parking Architecture Services Architectural design services for parking infrastructure, including public and commercial parking facilities. Designed for municipal authorities, developers, and commercial clients.
• Education and Commercial Architecture Architectural design services for educational institutions, office buildings, hospitality, and mixed-use developments. Serves both public sector institutions and private developers.

Quantifiable outcome

• EHD Champions Award 2025 Best Health and Wellness project of the decade (Zierik7)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered major and minor.

• ArchipelagomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Archipelago on Algemeen Ziekenhuis Diest project. Archipelago serves as development partner for the hospital project located directly on River Demer in Diest, Belgium.
• Ontwerpbureau PauwelsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign partner collaboration on AZ Diest hospital project.
• License to BuildmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaboration partner with GAF on Belgian projects including Campus De Hutten and Assistentiewoningen OCMW Halle. Previously collaborated on OCMW Langemark project.
• European Union (Horizon 2020)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTREAMER project consortium partner in European research project focusing on energy-efficient healthcare building design. 20 consortium partners across 7 nationalities. GAF is task leader of two tasks within the project.
• TNOmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner on Evidence-Based Healthcare Design project and STREAMER project. Collaborates on translating scientific research into design methodologies.
• BNA OnderzoekmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership on healthcare design studies and ROUTE 53 Adaptive Dyke project. GAF participates in BNA research initiatives.
• Stimuleringsfonds Creatieve IndustrieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative Industries research fund partner for design research initiatives.
• Dutch Health Architects (DHA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture with EGM architecten forming Dutch Health Architects (DHA) for international hospital projects. DHA designed Nemocnica Bory hospital in Bratislava based on Next Generation Hospital concept.
• du Prie bouw & ontwikkelingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction contractor partner for Service- en Expertisecentrum 't Spant project in Nootdorp.
• MeroschminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction advisor on 't Spant project providing bouwadviseur services.
• SWINNminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStructural engineering partner (constructeur) for 't Spant project.
• UnicaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMain contractor (hoofdaannemer) for Rijnstate Ziekenhuis Arnhem entrance project.
• BerghegeminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction partner for Rijnstate Arnhem entrance project.
• Royal HaskoningDHVminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBuilding physics advisor (bouwfysica) for Rijnstate Arnhem entrance project.
• ABTminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStructural engineering partner (constructie) for Rijnstate Arnhem entrance project.
• SwinnminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStructural engineering partner for Deventer Ziekenhuis Women-Child Centre expansion project.
• Bureau B+BminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture partner for Woonzorgcentrum Zierik7 project, designing diverse gardens and walking routes for resident wellbeing.
• ConstructifminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction contractor (aannemer) for Zierik7 residential care center project.
• SWECO/G.A.F./SWAA Consortium (SWG)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSWG consortium partnership for CHEM Südspidol project in Luxembourg, bringing together three architectural firms for the 121,000 m² hospital complex.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• UNStudio: Dutch architecture firm with broader portfolio including healthcare projects, comparable in scale but more diversified across verticals.

Direct peers

• NBBJ: US-based architecture firm with strong healthcare and research facility practice, paralleling GAF's evidence-based hospital design approach.
• Perkins&Will: Global healthcare architecture leader with a similarly evidence-based design methodology, providing a large-scale peer for GAF's specialty focus.
• EGM architecten: Dutch architecture firm and joint venture partner in Dutch Health Architects (DHA). Directly comparable in size, healthcare specialization, and Benelux project focus.
• HKS Architects: Global architecture practice with one of the largest healthcare design portfolios, comparable in healthcare specialization.
• WATG: Architecture firm with healthcare and hospitality expertise, comparable in mixed-vertical design practice and international reach.
• HDR (Architecture): Large architecture and engineering firm with significant healthcare design practice, providing a comparable integrated-services peer.
• Mecanoo: Netherlands-based architecture firm with comparable healthcare, education, and cultural building portfolio and similar headcount scale.

Emerging players

• Sheppard Robson: UK-based architecture firm with established healthcare practice, comparable in hospital design specialization but smaller international footprint.

Others

• Royal HaskoningDHV: Dutch engineering consultancy and partner on GAF projects, adjacent in integrated design services for healthcare and infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gortemakeralgrafeenstra
• Instagraminstagram.com/gafarchitects
• Xx.com/GAFArchitects

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Gortemaker Algra Feenstra