Crawford & Stearns
Crawford & Stearns is a Syracuse, NY-based architecture and historic preservation firm founded in 1979, providing restoration, adaptive reuse, and preservation planning services to municipalities, religious institutions, museums, and non-profits across nine U.S. states.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1979
- HeadquartersSyracuse, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Crawford & Stearns does
Crawford & Stearns, Architects and Preservation Planners, PLLC is a privately-held professional services firm founded in 1979 in Syracuse, New York, specializing in the architectural restoration, preservation, and adaptive reuse of historically and culturally significant properties. The firm operates as a Professional Limited Liability Company (PLLC) with a stable team of approximately seven personnel, including three licensed architects (one LEED-accredited), a senior preservation planner, a designer, an architectural intern, and an office administrator. Multiple staff hold Federal 36 CFR 61 qualifications in Architecture, Architectural History, and Historic Architecture, which is the regulatory credential required for publicly funded historic preservation work.
The firm's core offerings span condition assessments, historic structure reports, restoration planning, contract document preparation, construction administration, historic preservation tax credit consulting, and materials conservation consulting across nine vertical segments: religious institutions, municipal buildings, museums and historic sites, Adirondack/Great Camps, residential adaptive reuse, Main Street revitalization, and cultural heritage sites. Project scale ranges from sub-$500K preservation contracts to $9M rehabilitations. Client concentration is distributed across municipalities, religious institutions, non-profits, and private property owners in New York State and nine other states, leveraging public and private funding sources including EPF, EQBA/Bond Act, Save America's Treasures, IMLS, and NYS HCR programs.
The business model is project-based professional services, with fees determined by scope, project complexity, and funding source requirements. The firm distributes via direct engagement, RFPs, referrals, and partnerships with preservation organizations (Preservation League of NYS, SHPO, NPS, AARCH, Canal Society of NYS), with no disclosed marketing budget or external sales infrastructure. The firm has accumulated over 30 regional and national preservation awards between 1996 and 2022. There are no funding rounds, no institutional investors, no M&A activity, and no subsidiaries, reflecting a closely-held partnership structure led by Principal Randall T. Crawford.
Crawford & Stearns firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Crawford & Stearns
- Legal name
- Crawford & Stearns, Architects and Preservation Planners, PLLC
- Website
- https://crawfordstearns.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1979
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Crawford & Stearns is a Syracuse, NY-based architecture and historic preservation firm founded in 1979, providing restoration, adaptive reuse, and preservation planning services to municipalities, religious institutions, museums, and non-profits across nine U.S. states.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Crawford & Stearns industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Historic Preservation Architectural Services
- NAICS
- Architectural Services (541310)
- SIC
- Real Estate (6500)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Historic Preservation & Conservation Planning (BPAHAKAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Historic Home Renovation & Preservation (HSAPAEAG), Renovation, Remodeling & Tenant Improvements (General Contracting) (IMAFAAAE)
Keywords
Where Crawford & Stearns is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Syracuse
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Crawford & Stearns business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Architectural and Preservation Consulting Services: Project-based professional services fees for architectural design, preservation planning, condition assessments, historic structure reports, construction administration, and compliance consulting. Revenue derived from direct client engagements with municipalities, religious institutions, museums, non-profits, and private property owners on restoration, preservation, and adaptive reuse projects.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Crawford & Stearns product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Crawford & Stearns is an architecture and historic preservation firm that delivers professional consulting, design, and project management services for the restoration, rehabilitation, and adaptive reuse of architecturally, historically, and culturally significant properties. The firm provides conditions assessments, historic structure reports, contract document preparation, construction administration, and regulatory compliance consulting under Secretary of Interior's Standards, working primarily with National Register-listed buildings owned by municipalities, religious institutions, non-profits, and private owners.
Product overview
Crawford & Stearns / Architects and Preservation Planners, PLLC is a professional services firm founded in 1979 offering a comprehensive suite of historic preservation and architectural services. The firm's offerings include Historic Preservation Consulting Services, Museum Planning and Restoration, Municipal Building Services, Adirondack and Log Structure Documentation, Housing Rehabilitation and Adaptive Reuse, Religious Properties Services, Historic Structure Reports and Condition Assessments, Historic Preservation Tax Credit Consulting, and Main Street and Downtown Revitalization Programs. The firm primarily serves clients in New York State as well as Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, North Carolina, West Virginia, Ohio, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Michigan, working with National Register-listed properties utilizing various private and public funding sources.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Historic Preservation Consulting Services
- Museum Planning and Restoration
- Municipal Building Services
- Adirondack and Log Structure Documentation
- Housing Rehabilitation and Adaptive Reuse
- Religious Properties Services
- Historic Structure Reports and Condition Assessments
- Historic Preservation Tax Credit Consulting
- Main Street and Downtown Revitalization Programs
Quantifiable outcome
- $7,000,000 adaptive reuse project for Harbor Street Lofts (40 housing units)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Crawford & Stearns
Customer profileNamed customers16 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Crawford & Stearns technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Crawford & Stearns partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Klepper Hahn & HyattcoreStructural engineering firm that has partnered with Crawford & Stearns on multiple historic preservation projects including Trinity Episcopal Church masonry work, Onondaga County Courthouse restoration, and Wanakena Footbridge reconstruction. Brought in as engineers on exterior restoration, masonry, roofing, and bell tower projects.
- Community Preservation Committee (CPC)coreClient and project partner for Willard Memorial Chapel adaptive reuse feasibility assessment and EQBA tenant area rehabilitation work. CPC also working with Crawford & Stearns on NYS EPF grant projects for windows, masonry, and roofing.
- American Conservation Consortium, Ltd. (Marc Williams)coreConservation partner for IMLS-funded ReCAP conservation assessment report for Willard Memorial Chapel buildings in 2013-14. Collaborated on comprehensive conservation planning.
- Development Authority of the North Country (DANC)coreAssumed leadership role in Wanakena Footbridge reconstruction project, coordinating with Crawford & Stearns on design and engineering for the replica bridge. Key funding and project management partner.
- Wanakena Historical AssociationcoreCommunity partner in Wanakena Footbridge reconstruction, working with Town of Fine and Crawford & Stearns to restore this local landmark.
- Eagle Island, Inc.coreNon-profit owner of Eagle Island Camp (National Historic Landmark) that retained Crawford & Stearns for conditions assessment and phased restoration work. Multi-phase project funded through NYS EPF and Save America's Treasures programs.
- Adirondack Architectural Heritage (AARCH)coreNon-profit preservation organization that partnered with Crawford & Stearns on Camp Santanoni conservation planning and restoration work, including Getty Grant administration and NPS Save America's Treasures grant projects.
- Preservation League of New York StatecoreFunded Crawford & Stearns' Architectural Conservation Assessment for Log Hotel at Adirondack Museum. Ongoing partnership on preservation projects and grant funding through Northeast Heritage Economy Program.
- Canal Society of New York StatecoreOwner of Erie House Tavern at Lock 52 site that retained Crawford & Stearns as preservation consultant, compliance consultant, and preservation architect for the historic site development.
- Hartgen AssociatesminorArchaeological consulting firm that worked with Crawford & Stearns on Stage 1-B and shovel investigation at Erie House Tavern/Lock 52 site.
- University Neighborhood Preservation Association (UNPA)coreNon-profit that managed Phase One Exterior Restoration of Gustav Stickley House and contracted with Crawford & Stearns for architectural services.
- Gustav Stickley House Foundation, Inc. (GSHF)coreAdvisory non-profit pursuing fundraising for Phase 2 interior restoration of Gustav Stickley House. Working with Crawford & Stearns on concept design drawings and grant applications.
- LDS Church (History Department)coreChurch organization that retained Crawford & Stearns for Historic Structure Report and comprehensive restoration of Joseph Smith Farm, and continues to provide professional services at multiple historic sites.
- NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic PreservationcoreState agency providing grant funding (EPF, Save America's Treasures) and regulatory oversight (SHPO approval) for numerous Crawford & Stearns projects.
- National Park ServicecoreFederal agency providing Save America's Treasures grant funding and National Register program oversight for Crawford & Stearns preservation projects.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Crawford & Stearns competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Building Conservation Associates: NYC-based historic preservation consulting and architecture firm specializing in conditions assessments, restoration, and adaptive reuse. Directly comparable in specialty preservation consulting services.
- Walter B. Melvin Architects: Specialty preservation architecture firm providing restoration, rehabilitation, and adaptive reuse services for historic buildings including religious, civic, and residential properties. Comparable niche focus and project scale.
- Ann Beha Architects: Specialty preservation architecture firm with deep experience in historic restoration, rehabilitation, and adaptive reuse projects for cultural, civic, and religious clients. Comparable specialty focus.
- Jablonski Building Conservation: New York-based historic preservation and conservation firm providing masonry restoration, conditions assessments, and preservation consulting. Directly comparable services and regional focus.
- Integrated Conservation Contracting: Historic preservation firm specializing in exterior restoration, masonry repair, and conditions assessments for historic buildings including religious and institutional properties. Comparable specialty preservation services.
- Mesick Cohen Wilson Baker Architects: New York-based architecture firm specializing in historic preservation, restoration, and adaptive reuse of historic buildings. Closely comparable in geographic focus (Northeast US), service offering, and project types including religious and municipal clients.
- John Canning & Co. Specialty historic preservation, restoration, and conservation firm offering similar architectural and materials conservation services for historic properties, museums, and religious institutions. Directly comparable in niche focus and service mix.
Broad incumbents
- Beyer Blinder Belle Architects: Major New York architecture firm with extensive historic preservation practice, including major adaptive reuse projects. Much larger than Crawford & Stearns but operates in overlapping preservation and adaptive reuse space.
- Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates: National engineering and architecture firm with substantial historic preservation practice, providing structural and architectural preservation services. Larger and broader than Crawford & Stearns but operates in overlapping niche.
Emerging players
- Preservation Design Works: Specialty preservation architecture firm providing conditions assessments, restoration design, and historic preservation tax credit consulting. Comparable specialty focus on small-scale historic preservation work.
Market position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Crawford & Stearns social profiles
Digital presenceCrawford & Stearns financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Crawford & Stearns leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Crawford & Stearns funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Crawford & Stearns 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 Crawford & Stearns
What does Crawford & Stearns do?
Crawford & Stearns is an architecture and historic preservation firm that delivers professional consulting, design, and project management services for the restoration, rehabilitation, and adaptive reuse of architecturally, historically, and culturally significant properties. The firm provides conditions assessments, historic structure reports, contract document preparation, construction administration, and regulatory compliance consulting under Secretary of Interior's Standards, working primarily with National Register-listed buildings owned by municipalities, religious institutions, non-profits, and private owners.
Is Crawford & Stearns a public or private company?
Crawford & Stearns is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Crawford & Stearns founded?
Crawford & Stearns was founded in 1979. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Crawford & Stearns based?
Crawford & Stearns is headquartered in Syracuse, United States, in the North America region.
How does Crawford & Stearns make money?
One revenue line is on record: architectural and Preservation Consulting Services.
Who are Crawford & Stearns's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Building Conservation Associates, Walter B. Melvin Architects, Ann Beha Architects, Jablonski Building Conservation, Integrated Conservation Contracting, Mesick Cohen Wilson Baker Architects and John Canning & Co.. Broad incumbents are Beyer Blinder Belle Architects and Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates. Preservation Design Works is listed as an emerging player.
Does Crawford & Stearns have an API?
No public API is recorded for Crawford & Stearns.
What industry is Crawford & Stearns in?
Crawford & Stearns's product category is Historic Preservation Architectural Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAH, Historic Preservation & Conservation Planning, with a secondary code of HSAPAEAG, Historic Home Renovation & Preservation. Its NAICS code is 541310 and its SIC code is 6500.