aww Architekten

What aww Architekten does

aww Architekten AG is a privately held Swiss architecture and urban planning firm headquartered at Eichstrasse 25 in the Binz-Quartier of Zürich, founded in 1972 as atelier ww Architekten SIA AG. The firm provides full-service architectural and general planning services across all project phases — from preliminary study through to construction realization — serving private real estate developers, cantonal and municipal governments, pension funds, healthcare organizations, cooperatives, and corporate clients. Its project portfolio spans residential developments (including cooperative housing and high-rise towers), healthcare and senior-care facilities, educational institutions, mixed-use urban redevelopments, commercial buildings, and specialized facilities such as the BMW Sauber F1 wind tunnel in Hinwil. Geographic reach extends across Switzerland (Zürich, Northern, Bern, Eastern, Central, and Southern Switzerland/Ticino), Liechtenstein, and southern Germany (Baden-Württemberg).

The firm operates as an interdisciplinary practice of approximately 50 architects, draftspersons, interns, and trainees, led by a five-person executive team (Geschäftsleitung): Tobias Auch (execution, general planning, contracts), Axel Beck (design and communications), Isabella Ernst (HR, finance, administration), Michael Frey (design and acquisition), and Tobias Neumann-McClean (execution, quality management), with Jürg Glesti on the Verwaltungsrat. Core technical methodology is BIM (Building Information Modeling), deployed for project planning and execution as documented in projects such as the Giessenturm in Dübendorf. Revenue is generated exclusively through project-based professional service fees calculated according to Swiss architectural fee scales, with the bulk of commissions acquired by winning open or invited architectural competitions — a process the firm treats as a quality-assurance mechanism rather than a marketing channel. Recent first-prize competition wins include Schützegärte Laufenburg and Quartier Messmerbrüel Sargans (2026), and major ongoing mandates include the 50,000 m² Integra Square Wallisellen, the 42,800 m² Sicherheitszentrum Rothenburg for Kanton Luzern, the 78,000 m² Salmenpark Rheinfelden for PSP Swiss Property, and Dialogo Massagno in Ticino.

Name

aww Architekten

Legal name

aww Architekten AG

Website

https://aww-architekten.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

aww Architekten AG is a Zürich-based Swiss architecture and urban planning firm founded in 1972, delivering full-service architectural and general planning across all project phases to real estate developers, cantonal governments, pension funds, and corporate clients in Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and southern Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Architectural Services (54131), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

Keywords

• Architectural services
• Urban planning
• General planning
• Building design
• Architecture competitions

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Services: Fees generated from classical architectural mandates and general planning services across all project phases from preliminary studies through to construction realization. Revenue is project-based and calculated according to architectural fee scales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

aww Architekten is a Zürich-based architecture and urban planning firm providing full-service classical architectural and general planning services. The firm accompanies clients through all project phases from preliminary study to realization, and acquires the majority of its commissions through winning open and invited architectural competitions.

Product overview

aww Architekten is an architecture and urban planning firm based in Zürich, founded in 1972. The firm provides comprehensive architectural services across all project phases from preliminary study to realization, and also offers general planning services. Their project portfolio spans residential developments (including cooperative housing, high-rise residential towers, and multi-family buildings), mixed-use complexes, healthcare and nursing facilities, educational institutions (cantonal schools, sports halls), commercial and office buildings, and special-purpose facilities. Key projects include high-rise residential towers (Giessenturm, Integra Square, Ceres Tower), nursing homes and senior centers (LAK Pflegeheim, Seniorenzentrum IM MORGEN), educational facilities (Kantonsschule Wattwil, Kantonsschule Zimmerberg), urban redevelopment projects (Löwenbräuareal, Salmenpark), and specialized buildings (Windkanal BMW Sauber F1). The firm uses BIM (Building Information Modeling) methodology for project planning and has achieved Minergie and greenproperty certifications on various projects. They actively participate in architectural competitions, with numerous first-prize wins, and maintain collaborations with landscape architects, engineering firms, and other specialists.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architektur & Städtebau (Architecture & Urban Planning Services)

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hager Partner AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture partner for multiple projects including Baufeld 5 Bern Brünnen (Jardin project) and In der Ey Zürich
• Caretta+Weidmann Generalplaner AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeneral planning partner for projects including Obere Bänklen Kilchberg and various other developments
• Implenia Schweiz AGcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTotal contractor (TU) for Dialogo Massagno project and Ferrum AG Schafisheim; also partner for Integra Square Wallisellen project
• PSP Swiss Property AGminorOthersClient for Salmenpark Rheinfelden project
• Integra Immobilen AGcoreOthersClient and property developer for Integra Square Wallisellen high-rise project with 203 apartments
• Kanton LuzerncoreOthersGovernment client for Sicherheitszentrum Rothenburg project
• BNP Landschaftsarchitekten GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture partner for multiple projects including Schaffhauserstrasse Winterthur and Quartier Messmerbrüel Sargans
• Chaves Biedermann LandschaftsarchitektencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture partner for Quartier Messmerbrüel Sargans and Hof Chräzeren St. Gallen projects
• Degelo ArchitektenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partner for Bildungscampus Heilbronn Baufeld H competition entry 'Polyterrasse'
• Leuthard Baumanagement AGcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTotal contractor (TU) for Ersatzneubau Badenerstrasse project in Zürich
• Perita AGcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral planner and construction management for Ferrum AG Schafisheim project

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Christ & Gantenbein: Basel-based architecture practice with a similar competition-driven project acquisition model and portfolio spanning residential, cultural, and institutional buildings. Highly comparable in scale, Swiss-DACH focus, and typological range to aww.
• Burkhalter Sumi Architekten: Zürich-based architecture firm with comparable scale and a project portfolio covering residential, commercial, and public-sector commissions in Switzerland. Directly comparable given shared Zürich base, competition-led pipeline, and segment mix.
• Max Dudler Architekten: DACH-based architecture firm with comparable scale, delivering residential, cultural, and commercial projects in Germany and Switzerland. Comparable in typology, geography, and competition-led acquisition approach.
• Baumschlager Eberle Architekten: DACH-region (Swiss-Austrian-Liechtenstein) architecture firm of comparable scale delivering residential, hospitality, and mixed-use projects. Strong comparability given shared DACH footprint, multi-office structure, and competition-based pipeline.
• Gigon Guyer Architekten: Zürich-based architecture firm of comparable size and scope, active across cultural, residential, and educational buildings in Switzerland and Germany. Closest direct peer given overlapping typologies (museums, residential, mixed-use) and shared Zürich/DACH operational footprint.
• Diener & Diener Architekten: Basel-headquartered Swiss architecture firm with a long-established track record in residential, urban, and cultural projects. Comparable in scale, Switzerland-anchored delivery, and typological breadth to aww.

Broad incumbents

• Herzog & de Meuron: Globally recognized Swiss architecture firm headquartered in Basel, with comparable Swiss/DACH residential, cultural, and commercial project focus. Larger and more international, but operates on a competition-led model in many of the same segments as aww.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/aww.architekten
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aww-architekten

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 aww Architekten