Design Develop, LLC

What Design Develop, LLC does

Design Develop, LLC is a privately held architecture firm headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia, with a second studio in Baltimore, Maryland. The firm provides full-service architectural design spanning residential, commercial, retail, educational, institutional, mixed-use, and industrial project types, delivering work from concept through construction administration. Its client base is diversified across government agencies (notably Region Ten Community Services Board), nonprofits (Camp Holiday Trails, Arc of the Piedmont, Limitless Horizons Ixil), residential developers (Rialto Beach, Belmont Heights infill projects), private homeowners, and construction partners (Martin Horn).

The firm's core technology stack centers on in-house 3D point cloud scanning (LIDAR) — a capability it built in 2019 with equipment, software, extensive training, and a dedicated field technician. Complementary tools include Building Information Modeling (BIM) for comprehensive project documentation and coordination, plus Sketchup, Lumion, and Twinmotion for high-fidelity 3D modeling, rendering, and virtual reality presentations. The firm also offers adjacent services beyond design, including entitlement and zoning navigation, master planning, and owner's representation, positioning itself as a full-lifecycle architecture partner rather than a design-only provider.

Design Develop generates revenue through professional service fees on architectural engagements, supplemented by standalone 3D scanning services offered to external clients in engineering, contracting, education, and historical preservation markets. Pricing is quote-based with no publicly disclosed rate cards, and projects typically span multiple-year contract durations. Business development is sales-led, driven by direct client engagement, a high rate of repeat engagements (14 projects with Region Ten since 2012), referrals from construction partners, and community involvement — including pro bono international school design in Guatemala via the Building Goodness Foundation partnership.

Name

Design Develop, LLC

Legal name

Design Develop LLC

Website

https://designdevelopllc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Design Develop, LLC is a privately held architecture firm operating studios in Charlottesville, VA and Baltimore, MD. It provides full-service architectural design, in-house 3D point cloud scanning, entitlement navigation, and owner's representative services to residential, commercial, institutional, nonprofit, and government clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAHAKAA

Architectural Design Services

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Architecture, Design & Planning Services

SECONDARYBPAHAKAB

Interior Design Services

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Architecture, Design & Planning Services

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• 3D point cloud scanning
• Building information modeling
• Master planning services
• Owner's representation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlottesville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Full-service architecture firm providing end-to-end design services from concept to construction administration. Revenue generated through professional fees for architectural design, master planning, entitlement services, and owner's representation.
2. 3D Scanning Services: Provides in-house 3D point cloud scanning services to architecture clients as well as building and construction services, engineers, contractors, schools, historical societies, nonprofits, building managers, and homeowners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Design Develop, LLC is a full-service architecture firm providing end-to-end architectural design from concept through construction administration, complemented by in-house 3D point cloud (LIDAR) scanning, master planning, entitlement/zoning services, and owner's representation. The firm serves residential, commercial, institutional, educational, and mixed-use clients across Charlottesville, VA and Baltimore, MD.

Product overview

Design Develop, LLC is an architecture design firm offering a unified suite of services centered on architectural design, supplemented by 3D point cloud scanning technology, planning, entitlement, and owner's representative services. Their core architecture practice spans multiple building typologies including residential, commercial, retail, educational, institutional, mixed-use, and industrial projects. The firm differentiates itself through in-house 3D point cloud scanning capabilities (invested in 2019) that enhance design accuracy for existing structures, while their entitlement and planning services help clients navigate regulatory processes in Charlottesville and Baltimore markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture Services Full-service architectural design spanning multi-family, residential, commercial, retail, educational, community, institutional, mixed-use, and industrial project types, covering all phases from concept through construction administration.
• 3D Point Cloud Scanning In-house 3D point cloud scanning service using LIDAR technology to capture accurate as-built data for renovation and record drawings, eliminating manual measurement guesswork. Available to architecture clients as well as building and construction services, engineers, contractors, schools, historical societies, nonprofits, building managers, and homeowners.
• Entitlement Services Navigation of city and county entitlement processes in Baltimore and Charlottesville, including local regulations, permitting, and zoning requirements to streamline project approvals.
• Planning Services Comprehensive master planning services creating holistic solutions that meet immediate client needs while positioning projects for long-term success.
• Owner's Representative Services Acting as client advocate throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring needs are met and issues resolved while keeping projects on schedule and within budget.

Quantifiable outcome

• 23,784 SF Region Ten Headquarters delivered ahead of schedule
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Building Goodness FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024Long-term partnership providing pro bono architectural services for school construction in Guatemala. DD Founder Bob Pineo serves on BGF Board of Directors and Development Committee. Firm has participated in multiple volunteer trips and designed Limitless Horizons Ixil school (Phase I 2022, Phase II 2025).
• Martin HorncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 February 2024Primary construction partner on multiple projects including Region Ten Louisa clinic and Downtown Charlottesville headquarters. Collaboration on Region Ten projects since 2012 with 14 completed mental wellness facilities.
• Line and GrademinorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction management and oversight partner on projects including Arc of the Piedmont and Region Ten Louisa clinic.
• Dunbar StructuralminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStructural engineering partner on Region Ten Louisa clinic project.
• MEI EngineeringminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering services partner on Region Ten Louisa clinic project.
• Foxchase DesignminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerInterior design partner on 1930s historic estate renovation project, providing pitch-perfect interior design with timeless finishes and modern functionality.
• Greer & AssociatesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction services partner on 1930s historic estate renovation project, providing execution on details and collaborative problem-solving during demolition.
• Urban Oasis Community ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBaltimore studio partnership with community organizer Arica Gonzalez to design community space in Panway neighborhood, including rotating art exhibits, organic garden, and subterranean restaurant.
• Limitless Horizons IxilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit educational organization in Guatemala. DD provided pro bono architectural services for Phase I (completed 2022) and Phase II (completed Spring 2025) of school campus serving 120 students annually in Chajul, Guatemala.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• BeeryRio Architecture + Interiors: Charlottesville, VA-based design firm providing architecture and interior design services for residential, commercial, and institutional clients. Comparable in size, geography, and integrated architecture/interiors delivery to Design Develop.
• Reader & Swartz Architects: Washington, DC-area architecture firm focused on residential, commercial, and adaptive reuse projects. Comparable custom residential and renovation practice, serving an adjacent Mid-Atlantic market.
• Wiencek + Associates Architects: Washington, DC-based architecture firm specializing in custom residential, renovation, and small-scale institutional projects. Comparable small-firm, design-led, multi-typology practice serving the Mid-Atlantic.
• Council-Brock + Associates: Charlottesville, VA-based architecture firm offering multi-family, residential, commercial, and institutional design across Central Virginia. Closest head-to-head local peer to Design Develop with similar size, multi-typology portfolio, and regional client base.
• Quinn Evans Architects: Mid-Atlantic and Midwest architecture firm with strong adaptive reuse, historic preservation, and institutional portfolios. Comparable practice in adaptive reuse and community-focused institutional design.
• VMDO Architects: Charlottesville, VA-headquartered architecture firm specializing in educational, institutional, and community-oriented design. Strong design philosophy overlap with Design Develop's institutional and community-focused work.
• David Jameson Architect: Virginia-based architecture firm with a custom residential, historic renovation, and adaptive reuse focus. Strong overlap with Design Develop's residential and historic property work.
• Bonstra | Haresign Architects: Washington, DC-based architecture firm with a portfolio of urban infill, residential, and mixed-use projects. Comparable mixed-use, infill, and missing middle housing orientation to Design Develop.
• Glave & Holmes Architecture: Richmond, VA-based architecture firm with a multi-typology portfolio spanning residential, commercial, educational, and adaptive reuse projects. Comparable Virginia-based regional peer with similar full-service architectural practice.
• Hickok Cole Architects: Washington, DC-based architecture and design firm with multi-family, mixed-use, commercial, and institutional work. Comparable multi-typology portfolio serving the Mid-Atlantic region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/DesignDevelop6
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/design-develop-llc
• Instagraminstagram.com/design.develop.llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Design Develop, LLC