West of West

What West of West does

West of West is a privately held architecture and design studio founded in 2016 by Jai Kumaran and Clayton Taylor, operating from offices in Portland, OR and Los Angeles, CA. The firm delivers full-service architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture for residential (single-family, multi-family, co-living, ADU/infill), commercial (creative office campuses, workplace, adaptive reuse), and retail/hospitality projects across six licensed states (OR, CA, WA, ID, TX, OH) with occasional international commissions including Tokyo. The studio generates revenue through project-based design fees on a custom, scope-driven pricing model — no public pricing tiers — and secures work via direct client engagement with developers, corporations, and government entities (revenue model: professional services).

The practice is built on a process-driven design methodology that emphasizes deep listening, materiality, craft, and sustainable construction — particularly cross-laminated timber (CLT) hybrid systems, passive house standards, and site-specific landscape integration. Notable technical differentiators include a "Soft Density" approach to urban infill housing using terraced massing and shared amenities, and one of the first hybrid CLT-steel commercial buildings in Los Angeles (6344 Fountain). With 92+ projects completed or in progress and approximately 12–15 team members (partners, studio directors, project architects, designers, interns), the firm has positioned itself in the high-design boutique segment, evidenced by AN Interior's Top 50, Architizer A+List, and multiple AIA Honor/Merit awards in 2022–2025.

The go-to-market motion is enterprise field sales through reputation, referrals, and competitive commissions rather than intermediaries or digital channels. Customer concentration leans toward a small set of repeat developers (LPC West across multiple projects, Kor Group, Bardas Investment Group) and brand clients (Garrett Leight California Optical, PUMA, Banks Journal, Undefeated, Antica Terra). Marketing relies on earned media in Dezeen, ArchDaily, NYT, LA Times, and design podcasts, supplemented by an active Instagram presence. The firm holds no external investment, has no parent company, and is wholly owned by its two founding partners.

Name

West of West

Legal name

West of West

Website

https://westofwest.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

West of West is a privately held architecture and design studio founded in 2016, with offices in Portland and Los Angeles. It delivers full-service architecture, interiors, and adaptive reuse for residential, commercial, and hospitality clients across six US states, specializing in mass timber and urban infill housing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architecture Services

NAICS

Landscape Architectural Services (541320), Residential Remodelers (236118), Nonresidential Building Construction (2362)

SIC

Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Green / High-Performance Home Construction (Net-Zero, Passive House) (IMAFABAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Luxury Whole-Home Renovation (High-End Finishes & Custom Build) (HSAPAEAI), Detached ADU (Backyard Cottage) Construction (HSAPAMAA), Whole-Home Interior Renovation (Non-Structural) (HSAPAEAC)

Keywords

• Architecture design services
• Residential architecture
• Commercial office design
• Adaptive reuse design
• Sustainable building design

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Full-service architecture and interior design services for commercial, residential, and hospitality projects. Revenue is generated through design fees for new construction, renovation, and adaptive reuse projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

West of West is an architecture and design studio that provides full-service architectural design, interior design, and landscape architecture for residential, commercial, and hospitality projects. The firm sells services including new construction design, renovation, adaptive reuse, and urban infill housing, with a focus on sustainable construction methods including CLT and passive house standards. Projects are delivered through design fees for clients such as developers, corporations, and government entities.

Product overview

West of West is an architecture and design studio that creates experience-driven buildings and interiors across residential, commercial, and retail/hospitality sectors. The firm's service portfolio includes Residential Architecture (homes, multi-family, co-living, affordable housing), Commercial Office Architecture (creative campuses, workplace environments), Retail and Hospitality Design (stores, restaurants, wineries, hotels), Interior Design, and Landscape Architecture. The studio specializes in Urban Infill Housing Solutions (award-winning ADU and density projects like Overwalk and Ladderblock), Adaptive Reuse (transforming existing structures), and Sustainable Building Design (CLT construction, passive house standards). Founded in 2016 by Jai Kumaran and Clayton Taylor, the firm is licensed to practice architecture in Oregon, California, Washington, Idaho, Texas, and Ohio, with offices in Portland and Los Angeles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Architecture Design of living spaces including single-family homes, multi-family housing, co-living developments, and affordable housing projects. Featured projects include Overwalk, Ladderblock, Portland Twenty, Echo Park Co-Living, Finch, Hunt Club House, Kenton, Garden House, and House in Four Parts. Designed for developers, housing organizations, and private clients.
• Commercial Office Architecture Design of creative office campuses and workplace environments including adaptive reuse projects. Notable projects include Eastbound (220,000 SF campus in Austin), Terminal 1 (330,000 SF project in Vancouver, WA), PUMA Studio (innovation hub), 6344 Fountain (hybrid CLT building), and Wells Fargo Tower renovation. Designed for enterprise developers and corporate clients.
• Retail & Hospitality Design Design of retail spaces, restaurants, wineries, breweries, and boutique hotels. Projects include Barrel Hall and Table in the Trees for Antica Terra winery, Banks Journal flagship store, multiple Garrett Leight optical stores, Undefeated Tokyo, and Union Food and Beverage Co. Designed for retail brands, hospitality operators, and consumer product companies.
• Interior Design Interior design services for commercial and residential projects, including lobby renovations, tenant improvements, and bespoke spatial designs. Works include 9300 Wilshire renovation, WFM office interior, and Fifth Street Market.
• Landscape Architecture Landscape design integrated with architectural projects, including outdoor terraces, courtyards, rooftop gardens, and site-specific landscape interventions for residential and commercial developments.
• Urban Infill Housing Solutions Innovative infill housing designs that maximize density while maintaining neighborhood character. Includes Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), terraced massing, and community-focused shared spaces. Award-winning projects: Overwalk and Ladderblock (winners of LA's Small Lots Big Impacts competition).
• Adaptive Reuse Design Transformation of existing structures into new functional spaces. Notable projects include Barrel Hall (sheep barn to tasting room), 6344 Fountain (adaptive reuse into workplace), and 9300 Wilshire (historic landmark renovation).
• Sustainable Building Design Sustainable construction using cross-laminated timber (CLT), passive house standards, high-performance windows, continuous insulation, and heat recovery ventilation systems. Projects like 6344 Fountain and PUMA Studio feature hybrid CLT-steel construction.

Quantifiable outcome

• 220,000 SF Eastbound project completed in Austin, TX
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered notable, project-level and flagship.

• OLINnotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 February 2025West of West partnered with OLIN to review the Los Angeles park system. This collaboration brings together two design firms to evaluate and reimagine public space in Los Angeles.
• Genslerproject-levelImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExecutive Architect on Eastbound project in Austin, TX. Provides architectural execution services alongside West of West's design leadership.
• TBG Partnersproject-levelImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLandscape Architect on Eastbound project, providing landscape design services for the 220,000 SF creative office campus.
• DLR Groupproject-levelImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExecutive Architect on Terminal 1 project in Vancouver, WA, collaborating on the double-block creative office and retail development.
• PLACEproject-levelImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLandscape Architect on Terminal 1 project, contributing to the Port of Vancouver waterfront revitalization.
• House & Robertsonproject-levelImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExecutive Architect on 6344 Fountain adaptive reuse project in Los Angeles.
• Glotman Simpsonproject-levelImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStructural Engineer on 6344 Fountain project, one of first hybrid CLT buildings in Los Angeles.
• David Stamatisproject-levelImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDesign Collaborator on Hunt Club House project in Portland, OR.
• David Stamatisproject-levelImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDesign Collaborator on Undefeated Tokyo flagship store in Shibuya.
• PUMAflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesigned PUMA Studio LA, a 20,000 SF creative and innovation hub. The studio serves as a destination for design prototyping, content creation, and brand experiences, complementing Puma's existing studios in Massachusetts and Germany.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• LEVER Architecture: Portland-based architecture firm specializing in mass timber (CLT) design, multifamily housing, and sustainable construction. Direct peer in geography, sustainability focus, and housing typology, including Urban Infill and ADU-scale work.
• Marmol Radziner: LA-based boutique architecture and design practice with comparable luxury residential, commercial, and adaptive reuse projects. Similar design-led boutique positioning and West Coast market overlap.
• Olson Kundig: Seattle-based boutique architecture and design studio of comparable size and prestige, similarly known for crafted residential, hospitality, and cultural projects with a strong signature-material approach. Highly comparable peer in scale, awards profile, and client mix.
• Skylab Architecture: Portland boutique architecture studio with comparable workplace, hospitality, and residential portfolio. Similar scale, design-led approach, and Pacific Northwest focus.
• Allied Works Architecture: Boutique architecture studio of similar size and award profile, with cultural, residential, and adaptive reuse commissions. Comparable single-principal brand model and craft-driven positioning.
• Brooks + Scarpa: Architecture firm known for innovative, sustainable, and affordable/innovative housing projects including infill and missing-middle typologies. Strongly comparable on housing-focused specialty and award recognition.

Broad incumbents

• Gensler: Global architecture and design firm; serves as executive architect on West of West's Eastbound project. Represents the large-AEC incumbent benchmark against which boutique creative direction is positioned.
• SHoP Architects: Larger New York architecture firm known for large-scale mixed-use, multifamily, and innovative housing. Comparable on large-format and innovative residential typologies, but at materially greater scale.

Regional players

• Hacker Architects: Portland architecture firm with comparable multifamily, mixed-use, and sustainable design practice. Direct regional peer competing for the same Portland and Pacific Northwest clients.
• BORA Architects: Mid-size Portland architecture firm with multifamily, workplace, and community projects. Same Pacific Northwest market and similar housing/commercial typologies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/west_of_west/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/west-of-west

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 West of West