What DESIGNBRIDGE, LTD. does

DESIGNBRIDGE, LTD. is a Chicago-based architectural design firm founded in 1985 that delivers integrated architecture, interior design, and urban planning services across residential, commercial, civic, healthcare, and mixed-use typologies. The firm's portfolio emphasizes affordable and mixed-income housing, adaptive reuse, historic preservation, and community-centered projects—serving housing developers, nonprofit organizations, healthcare providers, and municipal government clients primarily across Illinois, Michigan, Florida, and Arizona. DesignBridge operates as a privately held professional services firm led by President Gabriel Ignacio Dziekiewicz and Vice President Maria Dziekiewicz, with a team of approximately 11 named professionals including licensed architects with AIA, NCARB, and LEED AP BD+C credentials. The firm is certified as a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and has received industry recognition including the 2025 Illinois Real Estate Journal Firm of the Year award and the 2026 IREJ Architect of the Year award for its President.

The firm monetizes through project-based architectural fees, with pricing determined per project based on scope and complexity and billed on multi-year contracts. It acquires work through a sales-led motion combining direct client engagement, competitive RFP submissions, design competitions, and reputation-based referrals. Notable project wins include the City of Chicago INVEST South/West RFP for the United Yards Master Plan (Back of the Yards) and high-profile collaborations including the Assemble Chicago C40 Reinventing Cities Competition with Studio Gang. The firm's competitive differentiation rests on a research-based, community-centered design process with stakeholder engagement and feedback loops, deep expertise in sustainable design (LEED Platinum achieved on Casa Querétaro), and the cultural sensitivity embedded in projects such as the Taíno symbols incorporated at 1237 N California honoring Puerto Rican community heritage. Underlying technology is industry-standard: Revit, 3D modeling, and rendering tools used by a small team of credentialed architects and designers.

Name

DESIGNBRIDGE, LTD.

Legal name

DESIGNBRIDGE, LTD.

Website

https://designbridgeltd.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

DesignBridge is a Chicago-headquartered architecture and design firm founded in 1985 that delivers integrated architecture, interior design, and urban planning services—primarily affordable housing, adaptive reuse, and community-focused projects—to housing developers, nonprofits, healthcare providers, and municipal governments across Illinois, Michigan, Florida, and Arizona.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Design Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Interior Design Services (54141)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Affordable housing design
• Historic preservation
• Adaptive reuse design
• Urban planning services

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Project-based architectural and design services for new construction, renovation, rehabilitation, and master planning projects across residential, commercial, civic, and healthcare sectors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

DesignBridge provides integrated architectural design, interior design, and urban planning services across new construction, renovation, rehabilitation, and master planning projects. The firm specializes in affordable and mixed-income housing, adaptive reuse, historic preservation, healthcare facilities, civic and community spaces, and mixed-use developments for nonprofit, government, and private developer clients. Services are delivered on a project-by-project basis through direct engagement, RFP responses, and design competitions.

Product overview

DESIGNBRIDGE, LTD. is an architecture and design firm (established 1985) offering integrated design services across three core disciplines: architecture, interior design, and urban planning. The firm operates as a collaborative practice delivering architectural services rather than a technology product company. Their portfolio includes mixed-use developments, affordable/workforce housing, historic preservation and adaptive reuse projects, healthcare facilities, and community/civic spaces. Notable project series include the Casa series (Casa Querétaro, Casa Yucatán, Casa Durango) for affordable housing, United Yards Master Plan for urban transformation, and Roosevelt Square 3B for mixed-income housing. The firm is recognized for sustainable, community-centered design with a focus on underserved neighborhoods in Chicago and surrounding regions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture Services Comprehensive architectural design services spanning new construction, renovation, rehabilitation, and master planning across residential, commercial, civic, healthcare, and hospitality typologies, delivered for developers, housing corporations, healthcare organizations, and government entities.
• Interior Design Services Interior architecture and design services integrated with building design, focusing on materiality, spatial planning, and high-fidelity interior renderings for residential, commercial, and hospitality projects.
• Urban Planning Services Master planning and urban design services including multi-phase developments, community planning, and transit-oriented design for municipal, nonprofit, and private development clients.
• Mixed-Use Development Design Design services for mixed-use buildings combining residential, commercial, and community spaces in unified developments for developers, housing corporations, and community partners.
• Affordable Housing Design Specialized design services for affordable and workforce housing developments including multifamily residential projects for nonprofit housing organizations, housing development corporations, and municipal clients.
• Historic Preservation and Adaptive Reuse Historic preservation, rehabilitation, and adaptive reuse of existing structures including landmark buildings and historic complexes for nonprofit, government, and private clients.
• Healthcare Facility Design Design services for healthcare facilities including community health centers, mental health facilities, and supportive housing for healthcare providers, mental health organizations, and social service agencies.
• Community and Civic Design Civic and community space design including community centers, educational facilities, and public realm enhancements for community organizations and municipalities.

Quantifiable outcome

• LEED Platinum certification achieved for Casa Querétaro affordable housing project
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

38 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• 2im GroupminorOthers · 1 January 2026Collaborator on 1237 N California affordable housing project in Humboldt Park.
• Maestros VenturesminorOthers · 1 January 2026Collaborator on 1237 N California affordable housing project.
• Site Design GroupminorOthers · 1 January 2026Collaborator on 1237 N California affordable housing project.
• Virgilio & AssociatesminorOthers · 1 January 2026Collaborator on 1237 N California affordable housing project.
• Design Group JEDIminorOthers · 1 January 2026Collaborator on Hilliard Homes historic preservation and rehabilitation project.
• Element Energy ConsultingminorOthers · 1 January 2026Energy consulting collaborator on Hilliard Homes project.
• Klein & HoffmanminorOthers · 1 January 2026Structural engineering collaborator on Hilliard Homes project.
• Linn-MathesminorOthers · 1 January 2026Contractor on Casa Durango affordable housing project.
• BOWA ConstructionminorOthers · 1 January 2026Contractor on Roosevelt Square 3B mixed-income housing project.
• Ujamaa ConstructionminorOthers · 1 January 2026Contractor on ReVive Center for Housing and Healing project.
• Path ConstructionminorOthers · 1 January 2026Contractor on 1237 N California affordable housing project.
• Escarpita ConstructionminorOthers · 1 January 2026Contractor on Watt Tieder law firm office renovation.
• ATMI PrecastminorOthers · 1 January 2026Precast concrete supplier on Casa Durango project.
• SMP GroupminorOthers · 1 January 2026Collaborator on Casa Durango affordable housing project.
• Greenprint PartnersminorOthers · 1 January 2025Sustainability collaborator on Bellwood Gateway project.
• Lighting DigestminorOthers · 1 January 2025Lighting design collaborator on Bellwood Gateway.
• Wells ConcreteminorOthers · 1 January 2025Precast concrete supplier on Casa Yucatán project.
• City of Chicago INVEST South/WestcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025DesignBridge won the INVEST South/West RFP competition for the United Yards Master Plan, a transformative multi-phase development in the Back of the Yards neighborhood.
• Blackwood GroupminorOthers · 1 January 2024Contractor on Thresholds Center for Mental Wellbeing project.
• Eco-AchieversminorOthers · 1 January 2023Collaborator on Canvas at Leland Plaza affordable housing project in Lincoln Square.
• Shiner AcousticsminorOthers · 1 January 2023Collaborator on Canvas at Leland Plaza project.
• Spaceco Civil Engineering and SurveyingminorOthers · 1 January 2023Collaborator on Canvas at Leland Plaza project.
• The Engineering StudiominorOthers · 1 January 2023Collaborator on Canvas at Leland Plaza project.
• Quest Design GroupminorOthers · 1 January 2021Project collaborator on The 801 mixed-use development in Oak Park.
• Tom HarrisminorOthers · 1 January 2021Project collaborator on The 801 mixed-use development.
• Applied Ecological ServicescoreOthers · 1 January 2021Key collaborator on Assemble Chicago C40 Reinventing Cities Competition project.
• Center for Neighborhood TechnologycoreOthers · 1 January 2021Key collaborator on Assemble Chicago C40 competition project.
• Studio GangcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Strategic design collaborator on Assemble Chicago C40 Reinventing Cities Competition.
• Thornton TomasetticoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2021Engineering collaborator on Assemble Chicago C40 competition project.
• Calibrate CoachingminorOthers · 1 January 2021Collaborator on Assemble Chicago C40 competition.
• Engage Civil EngineeringminorOthers · 1 January 2021Civil engineering collaborator on Assemble Chicago.
• JAQminorOthers · 1 January 2021Collaborator on Assemble Chicago C40 competition.
• Rush University College of NursingminorOthers · 1 January 2021Healthcare partner collaborator on Assemble Chicago project.
• JJ DuffyminorOthers · 1 January 2021Contractor on The 801 mixed-use project in Oak Park.
• FH PaschenminorOthers · 1 January 2021Contractor and developer partner on Bellwood Gateway workforce housing.
• Rockey StructuresminorOthers · 1 January 2020Construction collaborator on Xquina Incubator & Cafe project in Little Village.
• Toro ConstructionminorOthers · 1 January 2020Contractor on Xquina Incubator & Cafe project.
• Power ConstructionminorOthers · 1 January 2016Contractor on Apartment in the Sky luxury residence.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• KLOA / Krueck Leendertse Olson Architecture Urban Design: Chicago-based firm with strong urban design, planning, and mixed-use development portfolios. Directly comparable to DesignBridge's planning and community-centered design services, with overlapping Chicago civic and developer clients.
• Moody Nolan: Largest African-American-owned architecture firm in the U.S., with a strong affordable housing, civic, and education practice. Highly comparable to DesignBridge as an MBE-certified firm focused on community-centered design and affordable housing delivery.
• bKL Architecture: Chicago architecture firm with strong multifamily residential, mixed-use, and civic portfolios. Comparable to DesignBridge in scale, regional focus, and typology mix, particularly across Chicago's affordable and market-rate housing markets.
• Krueck + Sexton Architects: Chicago-based design practice with established expertise in residential, cultural, and adaptive reuse projects. Overlaps with DesignBridge in community-centered design philosophy and Chicago-based project delivery.
• Landon Bone Baker Architects: Chicago architecture firm with a strong affordable and supportive housing practice across the Midwest. Directly comparable to DesignBridge in typology (multifamily affordable housing, community-focused design) and client base (nonprofit and for-profit developers, public agencies).
• OKW Architects: Chicago-area firm specializing in affordable housing, mixed-use, and community development projects. Highly comparable to DesignBridge's affordable housing and mixed-income practice, with a similar nonprofit and government developer client base.
• David Woodhouse Architects: Chicago architecture practice with a focus on residential, multifamily, and community-oriented design. Comparable to DesignBridge in residential typology and Chicago-based community design practice, with a similar client base of developers and nonprofits.
• Wheeler Kearns Architects: Chicago-based architecture studio known for community-oriented residential, civic, and adaptive reuse work. Overlaps with DesignBridge in housing, civic, and sustainability-focused typologies and serves a comparable Chicago nonprofit/developer client mix.

Broad incumbents

• Studio Gang: High-profile Chicago architecture practice with extensive civic, residential, and master planning portfolios. Comparable to DesignBridge in typology and Chicago civic engagement, but operates at significantly larger scale and broader geographic reach.
• Perkins&Will: Global architecture and design firm with a strong Chicago presence and broad healthcare, civic, and education practice. Overlaps with DesignBridge in healthcare, civic, and educational typologies but competes as a much larger incumbent with broader services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/designbridgearc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/designbridge-ltd.
• Instagraminstagram.com/designbridge

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 DESIGNBRIDGE, LTD.