Trotter & Associates Architects, LLC

What Trotter & Associates Architects, LLC does

Trotter & Associates Architects, LLC, operating as Trotter · De Foe Architects, is a regional architecture firm founded in 1985 by Thomas B. Trotter Sr. and headquartered in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The firm provides full-service architectural design for hospitality, commercial, residential, and educational clients in the Great Smoky Mountains region of East Tennessee. Named project clients include Hilton Garden Inn, Holiday Inn, Anakeesta, SmartBank, and the National Park Service's Oconaluftee Visitor Center. The firm is led by two principal architects — Tom Trotter and Jay De Foe — who together hold more than 65 years of combined experience, and the firm maintains a documented strong repeat client base.

The firm delivers architectural services across five sequential phases: pre-design and programming, design, construction documents, bidding and negotiation, and construction administration. Core production tools include SketchUp for 3D modeling and design visualization, computer-aided drafting (CAD) for construction documents, and traditional hand-drawn watercolor renderings for client presentations. The firm coordinates with civil, structural, electrical, mechanical, landscape, and signage consultants on a project basis. Project credentials include LEED Gold (Oconaluftee Visitor Center), LEED Silver (Hilton Garden Inn Gatlinburg), TSBA School of the Year for Excellence in Architectural Design (Pittman Center Elementary), and the 2008 Gatlinburg EDRB New Building Excellence Plaque Award.

Trotter & De Foe generates revenue through professional services fees, structured on a project-based, quote-and-negotiation model with pricing not publicly disclosed. The firm sells directly to clients — primarily enterprise hospitality operators, commercial developers, government agencies, and residential clients — concentrated in the Great Smoky Mountains region. The firm maintains a light marketing presence through organic social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube) and community events, with no external funding, no parent company, and a small staff of 7 employees. The current scope is regional with no disclosed geographic expansion plans.

Name

Trotter & Associates Architects, LLC

Legal name

Trotter & Associates Architects LLC

Website

https://trotterarchitect.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Trotter & Associates Architects, LLC (Trotter · De Foe Architects) is a 7-person regional architecture firm in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, providing full-service design for hospitality, commercial, residential, and educational clients in the Great Smoky Mountains region since 1985.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310)

SIC

Real Estate (6500)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Commercial building design
• Hospitality facility design
• Residential architecture services
• Construction document preparation

Headquarters

HQ city

Gatlinburg, Tennessee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Services: Full-service architecture firm providing design, documentation, and construction administration services. Revenue is generated through professional services fees for project-based work including pre-design consultation, design development, construction document preparation, bidding assistance, and construction observation/administration.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Trotter & Associates Architects, LLC is a full-service architecture firm providing professional design, documentation, and construction administration services delivered across five sequential phases: Pre-Design & Programming, Design, Construction Documents, Bidding and Negotiation, and Construction Administration. The firm serves hospitality, commercial, residential, and education sector clients in the Great Smoky Mountains region of East Tennessee, generating revenue through project-based professional services fees.

Product overview

Trotter & Associates Architects, LLC (also known as Trotter · De Foe Architects, LLC) is an architecture firm offering comprehensive architectural services organized into five sequential phases: Pre-Design & Programming, Design, Construction Documents, Bidding and Negotiation, and Construction Administration. The firm specializes in three project sectors: Education, Residential, and Hospitality/Commercial. The Design phase utilizes SketchUp software for 3D modeling and computer-aided drafting technology for construction documents. Services are delivered through a team of licensed architects with LEED accreditation, supporting both sustainable and traditional design approaches.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pre-Design & Programming Services Consultation and programming phase identifying client space and functional needs, including site feasibility studies, zoning and building code review, master planning, and preliminary cost estimating for hospitality, commercial, residential, and education projects.
• Design Services Architectural design development using sketches, detailed drawings, and SketchUp software to create three-dimensional computer models for client review and presentation purposes.
• Construction Documents Preparation of detailed construction drawings and specifications for permitting, pricing, and construction, including coordination with engineering consultants for structural, mechanical, plumbing, and electrical systems.
• Bidding and Negotiation Services Assistance with organizing the competitive bidding process, conducting pre-bid meetings, responding to contractor questions, analyzing bids, and preparing construction contracts.
• Construction Administration Services Construction observation and administration including site visits, review and certification of contractor payment applications, and project close-out inspections.

Named customers7 records

Segments4 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

One partnership is on record.

• Civil, Structural, Electrical, Mechanical, Landscape, and Signage ConsultantscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe firm has developed long-term relationships with civil, structural, electrical, mechanical, landscape, and signage consultants who provide specialized engineering services for projects as needed. These consultant relationships allow the firm to provide comprehensive project services from feasibility through construction.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture: Southeast regional architecture firm with offices across the Carolinas and Tennessee, serving K-12/higher education, healthcare, commercial, and residential clients — directly overlapping Trotter's sector portfolio and Southeastern geography.
• Sanders Pace Architecture: Knoxville, Tennessee regional architecture firm offering design services across commercial, residential, and institutional sectors; comparable in scale and service breadth to Trotter within the East Tennessee market.
• LS3P Associates: Mid-sized Southeast-headquartered firm delivering architecture, interiors, and planning across commercial, residential, education, and hospitality sectors — comparable services and regional Southeast footprint.
• BarberMcMurry Architects: Knoxville, Tennessee-based regional architecture firm of comparable size serving commercial, residential, institutional, and hospitality clients across East Tennessee — directly overlapping Trotter's geography and sector mix.
• Liollio Architecture: Asheville, North Carolina-based regional firm specializing in hospitality, residential, and community design in a mountain tourism market that closely mirrors the Great Smoky Mountains context Trotter serves.

Broad incumbents

• DLR Group: Large national integrated design firm with full architecture practice across hospitality, civic, education, and commercial markets — operates as a much larger, diversified competitor with regional Southeast offices.
• HKS, Inc. National architecture practice with a deep hospitality portfolio and strong presence in commercial, civic, and education sectors — competes with Trotter for marquee hospitality and institutional commissions but at significantly greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/TrotterArchitec
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/trotterarchitect
• Facebookfacebook.com/trotterarchitect
• Instagraminstagram.com/trotterdefoearchitects
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/trotter-&-associates-architects-llc

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Trotter & Associates Architects, LLC