Birk Heilmeyer Und Frenzel Architekten

What Birk Heilmeyer Und Frenzel Architekten does

Birk Heilmeyer und Frenzel Architekten (BHundF) is a Stuttgart-headquartered architecture firm founded on May 1, 2005 by Liza Heilmeyer and Stephan Birk. The firm operates as a private partnership specializing in sustainable timber and wood-hybrid construction (Holzbau), with a particular focus on circular construction principles (Kreislauffähiger Holzbau) including Design for Disassembly, system separation, the shear layer model, and reversible fastener design. Technical differentiation extends to low-tech building approaches (e.g., straw bale construction for administrative buildings) and hybrid structural systems combining timber with concrete and steel, as exemplified in the HLRS III supercomputing facility at the University of Stuttgart.

The firm earns revenue through professional architectural services — concept development, design, execution planning, tendering, award supervision, and site management — on a project-by-project basis. Project acquisition is driven primarily by architectural competitions and public tenders, supplemented by direct commissions based on prior work. Customers are concentrated in the German public sector, including state and municipal governments, universities, and research institutions (e.g., Universität Stuttgart, KIT, TU Darmstadt, DLR, Pädagogische Hochschule Freiburg, Stadt Tuttlingen, Abfallwirtschaft Stuttgart). Notable ongoing engagements include the HLRS III Europe's first Exascale supercomputer center, a DLR staff restaurant and conference center in Oberpfaffenhofen, and several public schools and municipal infrastructure projects.

Go-to-market depends on maintaining a strong competition record; the firm's recent award haul includes the best architects 27 award (2026, two projects), the Holzbaupreis Baden-Württemberg 2026 (Rathausbrücke Tuttlingen), and multiple first-prize competition wins. Thought leadership is actively built through publications — including the co-authored book "Kreislauffähiger Holzbau" (Detail-Verlag, 2026) and the firm's first monograph in the "De aedibus international" series (Quart-Verlag, 2026). Strategic partnerships with structural engineering firm schlaich bergermann partner, Amsterdam-based Benthem Crouwel Architects, and Bäuerle Landschaftsarchitekten are used to compete for and deliver multi-disciplinary public commissions.

Name

Birk Heilmeyer Und Frenzel Architekten

Legal name

Birk Heilmeyer und Frenzel Architekten

Website

https://bhundf.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Birk Heilmeyer und Frenzel Architekten is a Stuttgart-based architecture firm founded in 2005, specializing in sustainable timber and wood-hybrid construction, serving public-sector clients, universities, and research institutions across Germany through competitions and direct commissions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Building Information Modeling (BIM) & Digital Design Services (BPAHAKAK)

Keywords

• Sustainable timber architecture
• Wood hybrid construction
• Circular building design
• Public sector architecture
• Architectural design services

Headquarters

HQ city

Stuttgart

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design and Planning Services: The firm earns revenue through professional architectural services, including concept development, design, execution planning, tendering, award supervision, and site management for building projects. Revenue is project-based, derived from commissioned work for public and private clients won through competitions and direct commissions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Birk Heilmeyer und Frenzel Architekten delivers full-scope architectural design and planning services — from concept development and design through execution planning, tendering, award supervision, and site management — for public-sector buildings, educational institutions, research facilities, and municipal infrastructure across Germany. The practice is differentiated by deep specialization in sustainable timber and wood-hybrid construction (Holzbau), circular building design, and low-tech approaches. Revenue is project-based, derived from commissioned work won through architectural competitions and direct commissions.

Product overview

Birk Heilmeyer und Frenzel Architekten is an architectural firm offering architecture and timber construction services. The firm provides architectural design from concept through execution, with particular expertise in sustainable timber construction (Holzbau). Services include building design, project planning, and construction management for various typologies including educational institutions, public buildings, residential complexes, and infrastructure projects. The firm works extensively with public institutions, state-funded construction (Landes- und Zuwendungsbau), and has published technical resources on circular timber construction.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Design and Planning Services Full-scope architectural services from concept through execution, including concept development, design, execution planning, tendering, award supervision, and site management for public-sector buildings, educational institutions, research facilities, and municipal infrastructure clients in Germany.
• Sustainable Timber and Wood-Hybrid Construction (Holzbau) Specialized architectural design and engineering services for buildings using timber, wood-hybrid (timber-concrete-steel), and low-tech construction methods, including circular timber construction (kreislauffähiger Holzbau) with reversible connections and Design for Disassembly, for public-sector and institutional clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• The HLRS III supercomputer center waste heat recovery can supply up to 50% of heating energy needed by all university buildings on the Vaihingen campus.

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• schlaich bergermann partnercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStructural engineering partner on the Rathausbrücke Tuttlingen project, which won the Holzbaupreis Baden-Württemberg 2026. The firm designed and engineered the timber, concrete, and steel bridge structure in close collaboration with Birk Heilmeyer und Frenzel Architekten. This is a flagship project combining architectural and structural engineering expertise.
• Benthem Crouwel ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational architecture partnership from Amsterdam collaborating on the HLRS III high-performance computing center project at the University of Stuttgart. The joint venture combines local architectural expertise with international experience in research campus design.
• Bäuerle LandschaftsarchitektenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture partner for the Kreisschulzentrum Offenburg competition, which the joint team won in 2024. The collaboration integrates landscape planning with architectural design for the district school center.
• plus+epp IngenieureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering firm for which Birk Heilmeyer und Frenzel provides execution planning, tendering, award supervision, and site management for the renovation of the Multihalle Mannheim's timber shell structure. The collaboration supports heritage conservation of the iconic Frei Otto structure.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hild und K Architekten: Munich-based practice with comparable typology mix (cultural, educational, residential) and active in public competitions. A relevant direct competitor in the southern German market.
• Barkow Leibinger: Berlin-based practice with strong research and innovation building portfolio (similar to BHundF's HLRS work) and active competition participation. Comparable typology in research/institutional architecture.
• Hascher Jehle Architektur: Berlin-based architecture firm of similar scale with a comparable public-sector profile (cultural, educational, infrastructure projects). Like BHundF, it competes in German architectural competitions and serves institutional clients, making it a direct competitor for the same commissions.
• Allmann Sattler Wappner Architekten: Munich-based mid-size practice competing for German public-sector competitions across education and infrastructure, with comparable timber and sustainability emphasis in selected projects.
• Sauerbruch Hutton: Berlin-based mid-size firm with strong sustainability credentials and a public-sector portfolio (cultural, civic, educational buildings). Comparable typology and ESG positioning make it a relevant peer for competition overlap.
• Baumschlager Eberle: Austrian/Swiss firm with explicit sustainability and timber focus, plus comparable mid-size scale. Operates in the same DACH public-competition market and shares the low-tech / ecological construction ethos.
• Heinle, Wischer und Partner: Stuttgart-rooted practice with deep education and public-sector track record in Baden-Württemberg. Directly competes with BHundF for university, school, and municipal commissions in the same regional market.
• Behnisch Architekten: Stuttgart-headquartered firm with strong sustainability orientation and significant public-sector portfolio (schools, universities, research facilities). Comparable to BHundF in regional base, typology mix, and ESG positioning.

Broad incumbents

• HPP Architekten: Established German incumbent with broader portfolio (offices, sports, healthcare, education) and greater scale than BHundF. Competes head-to-head for large public commissions and is a useful scale benchmark.

Others

• schlaich bergermann partner: Structural engineering partner on BHundF's award-winning Rathausbrücke Tuttlingen. Listed here as an ecosystem partner/competitor-adjacent firm: it engineers the timber and hybrid structures that BHundF designs, illustrating where the firm sources capabilities rather than competing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/birk-heilmeyer-und-frenzel-architekten

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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