What Johnsen Schmaling Architects does

Johnsen Schmaling Architects is a privately held architecture firm founded in 2003 and headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The firm operates with a 5-person team and delivers design services across four primary verticals: residential architecture (single-family homes, lake houses, urban infill), commercial architecture (offices, retail, mixed-use), hospitality architecture (restaurants, bars, hotels), and public/civic architecture (memorials, amphitheaters, pavilions, visitor centers). The bulk of the portfolio is private residential, with notable civic commissions including the National WWI Memorial in Washington DC and the Pabst Mansion Visitor Center in Milwaukee positioning the firm beyond its regional base.

The firm's technical differentiation centers on sustainable design and material craft. Projects pursue high-performance building envelopes with R-45 wall and R-65 roof insulation values, passive solar design, natural ventilation, and the use of recycled, low-VOC, and cradle-to-cradle certified materials. The O-S House in Racine, Wisconsin achieved LEED Platinum certification, making it one of the first LEED Platinum homes in the Upper Midwest. Material expertise combines natural products (cedar, concrete, weathering steel) with engineered high-performance systems (poly-ash siding, aerogel-filled glazing). Adaptive reuse of existing structures is a documented secondary specialization.

The business model is project-based professional services. Fees are tied to project scope, complexity, and scale and are not publicly disclosed. Demand is generated through a portfolio website, professional referrals within architecture and design networks, and earned media coverage in industry publications. The firm has no public listing, no venture funding, no parent company, and no disclosed institutional ownership; it appears to be independently owned by its principals. Operating geographies span Wisconsin, California, North Dakota, and Washington DC despite the small team size.

Name

Johnsen Schmaling Architects

Legal name

Johnsen Schmaling Architects, Inc.

Website

https://johnsenschmaling.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Johnsen Schmaling Architects is a 5-person Milwaukee-based architecture firm founded in 2003, designing sustainable residential, commercial, hospitality, and civic projects across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable/Green Building & LEED Consulting (BPAHAKAG)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Sustainable building design
• Residential architecture
• Adaptive reuse design
• Green building design

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Johnsen Schmaling Architects is a boutique architectural design firm providing custom design services across residential, commercial, hospitality, and public/civic project typologies. The practice specializes in sustainable/green building design (including LEED Platinum-certified work) and adaptive reuse of existing structures, with emphasis on site-responsive architecture, high-performance building envelopes, and integration of natural and engineered materials.

Product overview

Johnsen Schmaling Architects is an architecture firm offering design services across residential, commercial, hospitality, and public/civic sectors. The firm specializes in sustainable and green building design, including LEED Platinum-certified projects, and adaptive reuse of existing structures. Their portfolio includes private residences, restaurants, bars, memorials, amphitheaters, pavilions, visitor centers, and mixed-use developments. The firm focuses on environmentally responsible architecture with emphasis on sustainable materials, energy efficiency, and site-responsive design.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Architecture Design and architecture of private residences including single-family homes, multi-story dwellings, lake houses, rural retreats, urban infill homes, and adaptive residential projects for private homeowners.
• Commercial Architecture Design of commercial spaces including office buildings (e.g., Indie Capital Office), retail environments, dental and specialty clinics (e.g., Bayshore Dental, Mantel Ortho), and mixed-use developments for business owners and developers.
• Hospitality Architecture Design of hospitality venues including restaurants, bars, hotel and lodge facilities (e.g., Belay MKE, Downtown Bar, Egg Harbor Lodge I and II, Adventure Rock) for hospitality operators and developers.
• Public/Civic Architecture Design of public buildings and civic spaces including memorials (e.g., National WWI Memorial), amphitheaters, pavilions (e.g., Tennis Pavilion, Parts House Pavilion), and visitor centers (e.g., Pabst Mansion Visitor Center) for government entities and public institutions.
• Sustainable/Green Building Design Sustainable architecture incorporating LEED certification (including LEED Platinum on the O-S House), high-performance building envelopes with R-45 and R-65 insulation values, passive solar design, natural ventilation, renewable and low-VOC materials, and environmentally responsible building practices applied across project types.
• Adaptive Reuse/Historic Preservation Renovation and transformation of existing structures, including historic buildings and industrial facilities, converting them into contemporary residential, commercial, or civic uses while retaining and reinterpreting original character.

Quantifiable outcome

• R-45 and R-65 insulation values achieved in walls and roof respectively for high energy efficiency
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 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

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• BNIM Architects: Kansas City firm with deep expertise in high-performance sustainable design, including LEED Platinum projects. Directly comparable niche focus and credentialed sustainability positioning.
• Studio Gang: Chicago-based architecture practice known for environmentally responsive design across residential, civic, and cultural projects. Comparable to Johnsen Schmaling in sustainability ethos and emphasis on material/site responsiveness, though larger in scale.
• Robert A.M. Stern Architects: Renowned practice with extensive custom residential architecture portfolio. Directly comparable on high-end residential commissions and a portfolio-driven brand.
• Bohlin Cywinski Jackson: Multi-office boutique firm with a portfolio spanning custom residences, public/civic, and cultural projects. Similar boutique-scale practice model with comparable residential and institutional typologies.
• Mahlum: Architecture practice with strong residential and public/institutional portfolio, including civic and educational work. Comparable mix of residential depth and civic commissions.
• Olson Kundig: Seattle-based boutique architecture practice recognized for custom residences, hospitality, and material-driven design. Overlaps directly with Johnsen Schmaling on high-craft residential work and material innovation.
• Lake|Flato Architects: San Antonio-based boutique firm specializing in sustainable residential, civic, and adaptive reuse projects. Closely aligned with Johnsen Schmaling on green-building credentials and a residential/civic portfolio mix.

Broad incumbents

• HGA: National architecture and engineering firm with comparable residential, civic, and cultural project types. Broader incumbent with deeper bench strength but similar project mix.
• Snøhetta: Global architecture practice with strong sustainability credentials and material/site-responsive design approach. Comparable design philosophy but operates at a much larger scale with broader typologies.
• Perkins&Will: Large global architecture firm with a significant sustainable design portfolio and LEED-certified work. Overlaps with Johnsen Schmaling on sustainability positioning but serves a far broader client base and project scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/johnsen-schmaling-architects

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Johnsen Schmaling Architects