AWH Architects
AWH Architects is a Minneapolis-based architecture firm founded in 2011 that specializes in adaptive reuse, historic preservation, and Phius Certified Passive House design, serving commercial developers, residential clients, civic entities, and nonprofits primarily across Minnesota and the Upper Midwest.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersMinneapolis, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What AWH Architects does
AWH Architects is a Minneapolis-based architecture firm founded in 2011 that specializes in adaptive reuse, historic preservation, and Phius Certified Passive House design. The firm operates a general architectural practice serving commercial, residential, and civic end markets, with three core service pillars: Phius Certified Passive Building Design (delivered by in-house Phius Alliance certified consultants), Historic Consulting (covering Federal and State Historic Tax Credits, National Register nominations, Historic Structure Reports, Section 106 compliance, HPC applications, and grant writing), and a newer Cannabis Facility Design & Permitting line targeting Minnesota's regulated cannabis market. Beyond these named services, the firm delivers standard commercial, residential, and civic architecture including adaptive reuse, hospitality, new construction, low-barrier housing, tenant improvements, single-family, missing middle, multi-family, public buildings, and educational facilities.
The firm's underlying technical approach is performance-based and sustainability-led. Phius-certified projects target up to 80% reduction in heating and cooling energy versus conventional construction, with HERS ratings between 0 and 35 and airtightness targets at 0.6 ACH50. AWH operates under a formalized Sustainability Action Plan embedding energy modeling at early design stages, multi-stage project checklists, and post-occupancy evaluation, and is a signatory of the AIA 2030 Commitment and A&D Materials Pledge. Deliverables have included LEED Gold (Guardian Building) and NGBS Bronze (Zenith DCHS) certified projects, plus the first biosolar roof system in North America deployed on the Guardian Building.
AWH is a privately held firm with no disclosed parent company, subsidiaries, external investors, or funding rounds. It operates as a regional boutique architecture practice with project delivery concentrated across Minnesota and the Upper Midwest (Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth, Grant). Revenue is project-based professional service fees, with a quote-based pricing model determined by scope, complexity, and timeline. The firm is sales-led, acquiring clients through its project portfolio, services pages, studio showcase, insights blog, and earned media including ULI, AIA Minnesota, and Finance & Commerce awards. Notable clients include Saturday Properties, Avivo, Assembly, Riley Properties, Bohm CRE, Minneapolis Public Schools, and the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota.
AWH Architects firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AWH Architects
- Legal name
- AWH Architects
- Website
- https://awharchitects.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- AWH Architects is a Minneapolis-based architecture firm founded in 2011 that specializes in adaptive reuse, historic preservation, and Phius Certified Passive House design, serving commercial developers, residential clients, civic entities, and nonprofits primarily across Minnesota and the Upper Midwest.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
AWH Architects industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architecture Services
- NAICS
- Architectural Services (54131)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering Services (8711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB), Architectural Reconfiguration & Structural Alterations (HSAPAEAB)
Keywords
Where AWH Architects is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Minneapolis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
AWH Architects business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Architectural Design Services: Full-service architectural design for commercial, residential, and civic projects including adaptive reuse, new construction, historic preservation, and sustainable design. Revenue is generated through professional service fees for design, project management, and construction administration.
- Phius Certification Consulting: Passive house certification consulting services provided by in-house certified consultants (Phius Alliance members). Includes energy modeling, climate-specific design, and certification testing.
- Historic Consulting Services: Historic preservation consulting including tax credit applications, National Register nominations, Historic Structure Reports, conditions assessments, Section 106 compliance, and grant writing assistance.
- Cannabis Facility Design and Permitting: Specialized design and permitting services for cannabis cultivation, processing, and retail facilities in Minnesota, including zoning consultation, code compliance, and regulatory navigation.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom architectural services with project-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
AWH Architects product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AWH Architects is a Minneapolis-based architecture firm providing full-service architectural design, historic preservation consulting, and Phius certified passive house consulting for commercial, residential, civic, and adaptive reuse projects. Core offerings include Phius Certified Passive Building Design, historic consulting (tax credit applications, NRHP nominations, Section 106 compliance, Historic Structure Reports), and specialized cannabis facility design and permitting in Minnesota.
Product overview
AWH Architects is an architecture firm offering a portfolio of specialized services centered on adaptive reuse, historic preservation, sustainable design, and Phius Certified Passive House consulting. The firm's core services include Phius Certified Passive Building Design for residential and commercial projects, Historic Consulting with expertise in tax credits and NRHP nominations, and Cannabis Facility Design & Permitting for Minnesota. Service categories span Commercial (Adaptive Reuse, Hospitality, New Construction, Low-Barrier Housing, Workplace), Residential (Single-Family, Lake Homes, Missing Middle, Multi-Family), and Civic (Public Spaces, Historic Preservation, Educational Facilities, Solar Arrays). The firm demonstrates its capabilities through a project portfolio including adaptive reuse developments like Zenith DCHS, Sanctuary Lofts, Avivo Village, and the Thorp Building, as well as sustainable campus projects like Edison Green Campus and the Guardian Building.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Phius Certified Passive Building Design Phius Certified Passive House design service for single-family homes, multi-family residences, and commercial projects (both new and existing), focused on maximizing energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and comfort while achieving up to 80% less energy consumption for heating and cooling compared to conventional construction.
- Historic Consulting Comprehensive historic preservation consulting including Historic Tax Credit Consulting (Parts 1–3), National Register of Historic Places Nominations, Historic Structure Reports, Section 106 Review & Compliance, Heritage Preservation Commission Applications, Grant Writing, and Adaptive Reuse Feasibility Studies.
- Cannabis Facility Design & Permitting End-to-end cannabis facility design and permitting services in Minnesota including cultivation and processing facility design, dispensary and retail space planning, zoning consultation, security system design, and sustainability strategies.
- Commercial Architecture Services Commercial architecture services covering adaptive reuse, hospitality, new construction, low-barrier housing, tenant improvements, and workplace design for commercial property developers and owners.
- Residential Architecture Services Residential architecture services covering single-family homes, lake homes, missing middle housing, and multi-family residential design.
- Civic Architecture Services Civic architecture services covering public spaces and buildings, historic preservation, educational facilities, and solar arrays for public sector and civic clients.
Quantifiable outcome
- Phius buildings achieve up to 80% less energy consumption for heating and cooling vs. conventional buildings
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use AWH Architects
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
AWH Architects technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
AWH Architects partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Saturday PropertiescoreSaturday Properties is a key development partner for multiple AWH projects including Zenith DCHS (adaptive reuse of Old Central High School into 122 apartments) and Maytag Building rehabilitation. Saturday Properties leads real estate development while AWH provides architectural design and historic preservation expertise.
- Urban EcosystemscoreUrban Ecosystems collaborated with AWH Architects on the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota Grant campus project, providing landscape and ecological design expertise for the 25,000 SF wildlife rehabilitation facility.
- Ancoats LLCsupportingAncoats LLC collaborated on the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota Grant campus project as a project partner.
- Green Your Bottom LinesupportingGreen Your Bottom Line served as sustainability consultant on the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center project and as a partner on the Avivo Village project, providing expertise in environmentally conscious design.
- White Earth NationcoreWhite Earth Nation partnered with AWH Architects on the Avivo Village project, bringing tribal expertise and collaboration to the low-barrier housing development for individuals experiencing homelessness.
- Greiner ConstructioncoreGreiner Construction served as the general contractor for Avivo Village (48,600 SF, 100-person housing) and Guardian Building restoration projects, working closely with AWH on construction delivery.
- Lazor OfficesupportingLazor Office collaborated with AWH Architects and Minneapolis Public Schools on the Edison Green Campus project, providing architectural design collaboration for the sustainable campus transformation.
- Windsor EngineeringsupportingWindsor Engineering provided engineering services for the 3333 Hennepin project, contributing to the sustainable design with solar array and geothermal systems.
- MBJ EngineerssupportingMBJ Engineers provided engineering services for the 3333 Hennepin project and Guardian Building restoration, supporting sustainable and historic preservation design objectives.
- BRCsupportingBRC (presumably a restoration contractor) collaborated with AWH Architects on the Guardian Building restoration, providing specialized masonry and historic restoration expertise.
- SustologysupportingSustology provided sustainable building expertise for the Guardian Building project, contributing to the LEED Gold certification achievement.
- AD Green RoofsupportingAD Green Roof provided the innovative biosolar roof system for the Guardian Building, the first of its kind in North America, combining solar energy generation with vegetative roofing.
- Architrave StonecarvingsupportingArchitrave Stonecarving provided historic stone restoration services for the Guardian Building, contributing to the meticulous preservation of the 1892 structure.
- Stoneworks Architectural PrecastsupportingStoneworks Architectural Precast provided architectural precast elements for the Guardian Building restoration project.
- Modern Heating and AirsupportingModern Heating and Air provided mechanical systems expertise for the Guardian Building, supporting the building's energy efficiency and sustainability objectives.
- Frana ConstructioncoreFrana Construction served as the general contractor for the Maytag Building rehabilitation project, working with AWH to deliver the 40,000 SF adaptive reuse with historic tax credits.
- Westwood Professional ServicessupportingWestwood Professional Services provided professional services for the Thorp Building project, a 204,000+ SF adaptive reuse of a former bomb sight factory.
- AIA (2030 Commitment)coreAWH Architects is a signatory of the AIA 2030 Commitment, a national initiative working toward carbon-neutral buildings by 2030, joining a network of firms taking measurable action on climate change through design.
- A&D Materials PledgecoreAWH Architects is a signatory of the A&D Materials Pledge, a collective industry commitment to prioritize healthier, more responsible material choices, evaluating materials through human health, climate health, ecosystem health, social equity, and circular economy lenses.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
AWH Architects competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- MSR Design: Minneapolis-headquartered architecture practice working across civic, cultural, and housing projects, including adaptive reuse work. Strong regional overlap with AWH on nonprofit, civic, and sustainability-led projects.
- Snow Kreilich Architects: Minneapolis design firm known for adaptive reuse and craft-driven architecture with strong project-based portfolio in Minnesota. Comparable regional peer sharing both geography and adaptive reuse positioning.
- Cuningham Group: Minnesota-rooted architecture firm with broad commercial, residential, and hospitality practices including adaptive reuse. Competes for similar regional developers and institutional clients.
- LHB: Minneapolis-based architecture and engineering firm engaged in adaptive reuse, civic, and housing design across the Upper Midwest. Closely comparable on regional scope and service mix.
- Hammel, Green and Abrahamson (HGA): Minnesota-based architecture and engineering firm with deep expertise in adaptive reuse, historic preservation, and sustainable design across commercial, civic, and healthcare clients. Directly comparable as a regional full-service peer in the same geography and overlapping service categories.
Emerging players
- BNIM: National architecture firm focused on high-performance, regenerative design including passive house, adaptive reuse, and AIA 2030 commitments. Comparable technical depth in sustainability-led projects.
- KieranTimberlake: Architecture firm widely recognized for research-driven high-performance and adaptive reuse design, with Phius expertise. Comparable on technical leadership in sustainability and historic-adaptive reuse projects.
- Mithun: National architecture practice with strong sustainability leadership and Phius/passive house expertise. Comparable on sustainability positioning and integrated-design philosophy, though serves broader geographies.
Regional players
- Larson Design Group: Mid-Atlantic-rooted multi-discipline practice offering architecture, historic preservation consulting, and sustainability services. Comparable on combining architecture with in-house historic/regulatory consulting services, though operating primarily in a different region.
Broad incumbents
- Perkins&Will: Large global architecture practice with a major Minneapolis studio and strong sustainability commitments including carbon-neutral design. Larger portfolio but overlaps on adaptive reuse, healthcare, and civic projects.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
AWH Architects social profiles
Digital presenceAWH Architects compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
AWH Architects financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AWH Architects leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
AWH Architects funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AWH Architects 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 AWH Architects
What does AWH Architects do?
AWH Architects is a Minneapolis-based architecture firm providing full-service architectural design, historic preservation consulting, and Phius certified passive house consulting for commercial, residential, civic, and adaptive reuse projects. Core offerings include Phius Certified Passive Building Design, historic consulting (tax credit applications, NRHP nominations, Section 106 compliance, Historic Structure Reports), and specialized cannabis facility design and permitting in Minnesota.
Is AWH Architects a public or private company?
AWH Architects is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was AWH Architects founded?
AWH Architects was founded in 2011. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is AWH Architects based?
AWH Architects is headquartered in Minneapolis, United States, in the North America region.
How does AWH Architects make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Architectural Design Services are the primary driver. The others are phius Certification Consulting, historic Consulting Services and cannabis Facility Design and Permitting.
Who are AWH Architects's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are MSR Design, Snow Kreilich Architects, Cuningham Group, LHB and Hammel, Green and Abrahamson (HGA). Emerging players are BNIM, KieranTimberlake and Mithun. Larson Design Group is listed as a regional player. Perkins&Will is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does AWH Architects have an API?
No public API is recorded for AWH Architects.
What industry is AWH Architects in?
AWH Architects's product category is Architecture Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAA, Architectural Design Services, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAB, Interior Design Services. Its NAICS code is 54131 and its SIC code is 8711.