Heleo Architecture + Design

What Heleo Architecture + Design does

Heleo Architecture + Design is a five-person, founder-led architecture practice headquartered in San Diego, California with a second studio in Los Angeles, founded by Barbara Leon, AIA, NCARB and Carlos E. Hernandez, Assoc. AIA, LEED A.P. The firm operates as a traditional full-service architecture studio, delivering site feasibility and zoning analyses, as-built documentation (including virtual scanning and drone-captured point clouds), land-use entitlement and CEQA coordination, building design, permitting across multiple jurisdictions, construction administration, and interior design and FF&E procurement. Services are delivered as professional design fees on a per-project basis, with no standard pricing tiers publicly disclosed and project structure aligned to schematic design, design development, and construction document phases.

The practice differentiates through a technology-forward workflow that integrates Building Information Modeling from project inception, virtual reality presentations for client visualization, 3D-printed massing studies, drone-based as-built services, and custom Dynamo scripts for parametric facade design. Its project portfolio spans commercial, retail (including a defined cannabis retail vertical), adaptive reuse, residential, and institutional typologies. Named commissions include the World Design Capital 2024 Exchange Pavilion in Balboa Park, Insurgente Brewery in Tijuana, Sage & Fire Dispensary in Lone Pine, Urbn Leaf in Grover Beach, Sessions by the Bay (a 28,000 SF cannabis consumption lounge in National City), Izola Bakery's 12,904 SF production HQ in City Heights, the Boatyard Restaurant on Shelter Island (in partnership with Basile Studio), a 70-unit mixed-use development for Pacifica Companies in Bay Point, a 10-acre Cancer Wellness & Retreat Center, and Riverside Senior Residences.

Heleo is a private, independently held firm with City of San Diego SLBE, SBA EDWOSB, and NMSDC Minority Business Enterprise certifications, and is licensed to practice architecture across California, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, and Colorado. Revenue is generated entirely through project-based professional service fees; customers are reached through direct engagement, professional-network referrals, and competitive selection for public and institutional commissions. Geographic reach covers California, the broader southwestern United States, and cross-border work into Baja California, with no disclosed external funding, parent company, or institutional ownership.

Name

Heleo Architecture + Design

Legal name

Heleo Architecture & Design

Website

https://heleo.co

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Heleo Architecture + Design is a five-person, founder-led architecture practice in San Diego and Los Angeles delivering full-service design, entitlement, permitting, and construction administration for commercial, retail, adaptive reuse, residential, and institutional projects across California, the Southwest, and Baja California.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Design Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Interior Design Services (541410)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB), Building Information Modeling (BIM) & Digital Design Services (BPAHAKAK)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Commercial adaptive reuse
• Building information modeling
• Construction administration
• Sustainable building design

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Full-service architectural practice providing site feasibility, land use/entitlement, building design, permitting, construction administration, and interior design services. Revenue is generated through professional design fees on a per-project basis, typically structured as design phases leading to construction. Services span from schematic design through construction documents and administration.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Heleo Architecture + Design is a full-service architecture practice providing site feasibility studies, land use and entitlement services, as-built documentation (including drone and 3D scanning), building design with integrated BIM and VR visualization, permitting, construction administration, and furniture/interiors services. Projects span commercial, retail, adaptive reuse, residential, and institutional sectors across California, the southwestern U.S., and Baja California.

Product overview

Heleo Architecture + Design is an architecture and design practice offering a comprehensive suite of services organized as a unified studio model. The firm's service portfolio spans site feasibility and zoning analysis, as-built documentation (including 3D scanning and drone imaging), land use entitlement, building design (with integrated BIM, VR visualization, and 3D printing capabilities), permitting and construction administration, and furniture/interiors services. Projects are delivered across commercial, retail, adaptive reuse, and residential markets throughout California and southwestern states.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Site Feasibility Studies Research and analysis services evaluating sites, zoning incentives, and planning policies to identify viable development opportunities, including full zoning analyses, yield studies, and build potential assessments for commercial and residential clients.
• As-Built Services Documentation services including virtual building scanning to generate accurate as-built drawings, plus drone deployment for exteriors and tall structures to capture imagery and generate point clouds producing precise 3D models.
• Land Use and Entitlement Services Planning assistance engaging local planning departments and coordinating with CEQA, plus Conditional Use Permits (CUPs) and entitlements guidance through the land development process.
• Building Design Full architectural design services including rendering, virtual reality visualization, schematic design, design development, and construction documents, with BIM integration from project inception through construction administration.
• Permitting and Construction Administration Permitting services across California jurisdictions, bidding process management, construction administration through site visits and oversight, and hazardous materials permitting coordination.
• Furniture and Interiors Millwork and custom product design, furniture specification and procurement, including layouts, material selections, and installation management.

Quantifiable outcome

• Exchange Pavilion hosted 70+ community events during San Diego debut
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Basile StudiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeleo serves as Architect of Record on The Boatyard Restaurant project in collaboration with Basile Studio, who led the overall design concept. Heleo handles structural and building system upgrades, accessibility improvements, and regulatory coordination for this waterfront dining destination on Shelter Island.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Olson Kundig: A design-forward architecture practice with a similar boutique scale, mixed commercial/residential portfolio, and high earned-media visibility. Comparable in design-led positioning though larger in scale.
• Brooks + Scarpa: A Los Angeles-based architecture practice of comparable size with a similarly tech- and sustainability-forward approach and a strong adaptive reuse portfolio. Both firms compete for design-forward, mission-driven commercial and residential commissions in Southern California.
• SPF:architects: A mid-sized California architecture practice with a similar mix of retail, commercial, hospitality, and adaptive reuse work. Comparable profile in terms of design-led boutique positioning and California-market focus.
• EYRC Architects: A Los Angeles-based architecture firm of similar scale focused on commercial, mixed-use, and residential projects across California. Comparable in project typology and design-forward positioning.
• XTEN Architecture: A California-based boutique firm working across residential, commercial, and institutional projects with a strong design-led profile. Comparable in scale and project typology mix.
• Marlon Blackwell Architects: A small, design-led architecture firm with a similarly strong award profile and similar project typology mix across commercial, institutional, and residential. Comparable boutique, design-forward positioning.
• Kevin Daly Architects: A Los Angeles boutique architecture firm with strong sustainability credentials and a similar mix of residential, commercial, and adaptive reuse commissions. Comparable in firm size, design philosophy, and California-market focus.

Broad incumbents

• Gensler: A global architecture and design firm with overlapping capabilities across commercial, retail, hospitality, and adaptive reuse. Represents the large incumbent competitive set Heleo encounters on mid-to-large commercial commissions.
• Perkins&Will: A large global architecture firm with broad commercial, institutional, and adaptive reuse practice. Represents the established incumbent competitive set in California and southwestern U.S. markets.
• Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM): A global architecture and engineering firm operating across commercial, institutional, and mixed-use projects. Represents the broad incumbent competitive set for larger-scale commissions Heleo may compete on.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/heleo-architecture-design
• Instagraminstagram.com/heleo.co

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Heleo Architecture + Design