ACT - Accelerating Change Together

What ACT - Accelerating Change Together does

ACT (Accelerating Change Together) is an Ireland-based social enterprise and RIAI-registered architectural design practice founded in 2021 and headquartered in Ballina, Co. Mayo. The firm is structured as a Company Limited by Guarantee (CLG) under Irish law and operates as a purpose-led design practice rather than a traditional commercial studio, employing architects, urbanists, and policy specialists to deliver regenerative design solutions across four service lines: Architecture (regenerative and circular building design), Urbanism (Town Centre First Plans, public realm, and active travel), Visions & Strategy (climate transition planning and community visioning), and Impact at Scale (national engagement programmes and policy research). Its technical approach integrates Design for Disassembly (DfD) methodology, bio-material construction (including Ecococon straw panel systems), the Re-Verify performance-based verification framework for material reuse, and a three-stage co-design process (Storytelling, Visualizing Futures, Pathways to Delivery) supported by digital StoryMap repositories.

The firm's primary client base comprises Irish local authorities (Mayo, Donegal, and Wicklow County Councils), national agencies such as the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), and community-led organizations including the Ballyforan Area Transition Team and the Royal Hibernian Academy. Revenue mechanics are dual: professional fees for design, urbanism, and strategy commissions, supplemented by grant funding from Rethink Ireland, EU Horizon Europe, Community Foundation Ireland, and national government schemes — the firm reports unlocking over €5.7 million in such funding in 2025 for community-led climate adaptation and urban regeneration. Geographically, ACT operates from Ireland with growing European reach via its participation in the 23-partner EU Horizon-funded BLUEPRINT consortium, where it serves as the Irish pilot site partner in Balla, Co. Mayo. Recent award recognition — including the 2023 New European Bauhaus Prize, 2024 KPMG Rising Star, and 2026 LAMA Social Enterprise of the Year — has elevated its positioning as a leading design-led social enterprise in the Irish green transition sector.

Name

ACT - Accelerating Change Together

Legal name

ACT Accelerating Change Together CLG

Website

https://act-studio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ACT (Accelerating Change Together) is an Ireland-based social enterprise and RIAI-registered architectural design practice delivering regenerative, circular, and climate-adaptive design across architecture, urbanism, and policy — serving Irish local authorities, national agencies, community organizations, and EU consortia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regenerative Architecture and Urban Design Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Landscape Architectural Services (541320), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Engagement & Participatory Planning (BPAHAKAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Arts, Culture & Creative Placemaking Enterprises (BPAGALAO), Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC)

Keywords

• Regenerative architecture design
• Urban planning services
• Circular construction consulting
• Community-led design
• Climate adaptation planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Ballina

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: ACT provides architectural design, urban design, and planning services for community, residential, commercial, and public projects. Revenue comes from professional fees for design and project delivery.
2. Research and Strategy Consulting: ACT conducts research, develops strategies (Town Centre First Plans, Climate Adaptation Strategies, Nature Restoration Plans), and provides expert advice, generating revenue through consultancy engagements.
3. Grant Funding and European Projects: As a social enterprise, ACT accesses grant funding from organizations including Rethink Ireland, EU Horizon, Community Foundation Ireland, and government schemes to support project delivery and research initiatives. In 2025, ACT unlocked over €5.7 million in funding for community-led climate adaptation and urban regeneration.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ACT is a social enterprise of architects, urbanists and policy specialists providing regenerative architecture, urbanism, vision/strategy, and impact-at-scale services to help companies, individuals, and communities design and realize climate-positive built environment projects. Core offerings include architectural design (residential, community, commercial, cultural), urban design and Town Centre First planning, climate adaptation and transition strategy consulting, and large-scale national engagement and circular construction programs. The firm embeds regenerative design principles including Design for Disassembly, bio-material construction, and participatory co-design methodologies in every engagement.

Product overview

ACT (Accelerating Change Together) is a social enterprise operating as an RIAI-registered architectural design practice. The organization offers four core service areas: Architecture Services (building design with regenerative and circular principles), Urbanism (town planning and public realm design), Visions & Strategy (climate transition planning and community visioning), and Impact at Scale (research-driven policy work and national programs). Key projects include Scotch House (circular town centre housing), Ballyforan Community Centre (adaptive reuse), Ballina Greenest Town (comprehensive sustainability initiative), and flagship programs like Dune Action (coastal restoration workshops), Re-Verify (circular construction toolkit), and BLUEPRINT (digital-participatory urban renovation). The portfolio demonstrates expertise in design-for-disassembly, nature-based solutions, co-design methodologies, and community-led climate adaptation across Ireland and Europe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture Services
• Urbanism
• Visions & Strategy
• Impact at Scale
• Re-Verify
• BLUEPRINT Project Participation European project integrating advanced tools like Digital Twins and AI with low-tech co-design methods to help communities lead their own green transition. ACT is one of 23 partners led by University of Patras, Greece; Irish pilot site in Balla, Co. Mayo.
• Dune Action
• Community Conversations National engagement project exploring people's relationships with nature, ecological restoration and environmental change across Ireland. Developed in partnership with Hometree for the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), engaging 536+ people across 13 locations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Unlocked €5.7 million in funding for community-led climate projects in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 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

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, flagship and minor.

• HometreecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACT collaborated with Hometree (woodland restoration charity) on the Community Conversations national engagement project for NPWS. This partnership combines ACT's participatory design expertise with Hometree's environmental restoration focus.
• Habitat for Humanity Ireland - ReStorecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator on Re-Verify framework for material reuse in construction. ReStore provides expertise in salvaged building materials while ACT contributes design and regulatory framework development.
• Clean CoastsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Dune Action - Beaches and Dunes Climate Adaptation Programme. Clean Coasts brings coastal community expertise and volunteer networks to support dune restoration workshops nationwide.
• Climate Action Regional Office (CARO)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Dune Action programme bringing climate adaptation expertise and regional coordination for coastal community engagement.
• Leave No Trace IrelandmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Dune Action programme contributing expertise in responsible outdoor recreation and environmental stewardship education.
• University College DublinmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in Dune Action programme providing research expertise and student engagement for dune ecosystem assessment and restoration.
• University of GalwaymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in Dune Action programme contributing coastal science research and community engagement methodology.
• European BLUEPRINT ConsortiumflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerACT joined a major European initiative (BLUEPRINT - Building Living Urban Ecosystems through Participatory Renovation and Innovation Tools) with 23 partners led by University of Patras, Greece. The project integrates Digital Twins, AI, and co-design methods for climate-neutral neighbourhood renovation.
• Atlantic Technical University (ATU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution partner collaborating on sustainable development and research initiatives.
• Údarás na GaeltachtaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGaeltacht development authority partnership for projects in Gaeltacht areas.
• Woodland Trust Northern IrelandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental charity partnership for woodland restoration and tree-planting initiatives.
• University of GalwayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for research collaboration on environmental and sustainability topics.
• UCD Centre for Irish Towns (CfIT)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose collaboration on multiple projects including Ballina Greenest Town, Ripple NEB Prize project, and creative climate action initiatives. CfIT provides academic research support and policy expertise.
• Royal Hibernian Academy of ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClient and cultural partner for RHA West project - ACT is designing an outpost of the RHA in Ballina to engage wider audience with arts and culture.
• Mayo County CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary local authority partner on numerous projects including Ballina Greenest Town, Balla Town Centre Strategy, and co-founding partner for Irish BLUEPRINT pilot.
• Local Enterprise OfficeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment support agency partnership for enterprise development and local business engagement.
• New European BauhausflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Commission initiative partnership - ACT participates in NEB Festival and has won the NEB Prize, aligning their work with the movement to combine sustainability, aesthetics, and inclusivity.
• Heritage CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatutory body partnership for heritage conservation and restoration projects.
• Donegal County CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal authority partner for Pathway to Resilience 2050 project in An Fál Carrach/Gort an Choirce Decarbonising Zone.
• Leave No Trace IrelandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental education organization partnership for responsible outdoor recreation and environmental stewardship.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• White Arkitekter: Major Scandinavian architecture firm with deep sustainability practice and Nordic circular economy focus. Overlaps with ACT in regenerative design philosophy but operates at significantly larger scale across Nordic and European markets with broader sector mix.
• McCullough Mulvin Architects: Established Irish architecture practice with strong portfolio in cultural, educational, and heritage projects plus Irish town masterplans. Comparable to ACT in Irish context and cultural/heritage regeneration work but at significantly larger scale and broader portfolio.
• Purcell: UK heritage and conservation architecture practice with sustainability retrofit expertise. Comparable to ACT in adaptive reuse and heritage-sensitive regeneration work such as RHA West and Ballyforan Courthouse Retrofit, but at significantly larger scale.
• Scott Tallon Walker: One of Ireland's largest architecture firms with expertise across healthcare, education, commercial, and sustainability sectors. Overlaps with ACT in Irish architecture market but operates across broader portfolio including commercial real estate and large institutional commissions.

Direct peers

• Feilden Fowles: UK architecture practice recognized for sustainability-led cultural and education buildings using low-carbon materials with strong community impact focus. Comparable to ACT in mission-driven sustainability approach and small practice scale with award-winning profile.
• Studio Bark: UK-based regenerative architecture practice focused on low-carbon, bio-based construction and community-led design. Directly comparable to ACT in mission, emphasis on circular materials, and small practice scale combined with high-profile recognition.
• Mikhail Riches: Award-winning UK architecture practice specializing in sustainable housing and community-focused design including Stirling Prize-winning housing. Comparable to ACT in mission-driven sustainability emphasis and design award recognition in a small practice footprint.
• Architype: Welsh/UK architecture practice specializing in Passivhaus, sustainable, and regenerative design across education, community, and cultural buildings. Closely comparable to ACT in combining professional architectural registration with mission-driven sustainability focus and community-sector clients.
• Mæ Architects: Norwegian architecture practice recognized for circular economy, regenerative design, and adaptive reuse projects. Directly aligned with ACT's Design for Disassembly methodology, circular construction research, and community-led regeneration approach.

Others

• The Glass-House Community Led Design: UK charity supporting community-led design through advice, mentoring, and enabling services. Comparable to ACT's community engagement and co-design methodology but operates as a charitable enabler rather than a building design practice, making it a thematic peer rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@act2242
• Facebookfacebook.com/AcceleratingChangeTogether
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/actstudio
• Instagraminstagram.com/acceleratingchangetogether

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 ACT - Accelerating Change Together