What Waldrap AG does

WALDRAP AG is a Zurich-based architecture firm founded in 2017 by Renate Walter and Sebastian Lippok, operating under the trade name WALDRAP Architekt*innen ETH BSA SIA AG. The firm delivers full architectural services — from competition entry and feasibility studies through planning, design, and construction oversight — with a portfolio concentrated in public-sector buildings (schools, sports facilities, civic infrastructure, laboratories, cultural institutions) for Swiss municipalities, cantons, and federal agencies, alongside selective private-sector commissions. Project construction values range from CHF 8 million to CHF 82.5 million, with named clients including Stadt Zürich Amt für Hochbauten, Kanton Zürich, SBB Immobilien, Switzerland Innovation Park Biel/Bienne AG, Allreal, Geistlich Immobilia AG, and Stiftung ENTER.

The firm acquires work primarily through open and selective architectural competitions in Switzerland, with a documented track record of first-prize wins since founding (notably Schulanlage Borrweg, CHF 82.5M, in 2019, and Innovationspark Biel/Bienne, CHF 48M, in 2017). Fees follow Swiss industry norms (BKP), calculated as a percentage of construction cost or via fixed project agreements, making the model a classic professional services arrangement. The firm operates from a single office at Bernerstrasse Nord 202, Zürich, with 12 personnel (2 partners plus 10 team members); revenue is project-based and not publicly disclosed.

The firm's competitive positioning rests on the academic credentials of its founding partners (Walter holds an ETH Zürich diploma and has been guest professor at USI Mendrisio since 2023; Lippok graduated from TU Delft with the Max Taut Preis in 2008 and has been guest professor at USI Mendrisio since 2023, with guest lectures at EPFL in 2025), a stated design philosophy emphasizing contextual integration and sustainable timber construction, and recurring partnerships with structural engineers (Dr. Lüchinger+Meyer), building services engineers (Amstein+Walthert), landscape architects (Ryffel+Ryffel), and façade planners (Sutter+Weidner).

Name

Waldrap AG

Legal name

WALDRAP AG

Website

https://waldrap.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

WALDRAP AG is a Zurich-based architecture firm founded in 2017 that provides full-service design for Swiss public-sector buildings — schools, sports facilities, laboratories, and civic infrastructure — serving municipalities, cantons, and select private clients through architectural competitions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413), Architectural Services (54131)

SIC

Heavy Construction Other Than Bldg Const - Contractors (1600)

akta.pro primary industry

Project Management & Owner’s Rep Services for School Capital Projects (EDAEABAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Civil & Structural Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAA)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Public building design
• Sustainable architecture
• Timber construction
• Competition architecture

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

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 and Project Fees: WALDRAP generates revenue through architectural design services on commissioned projects. Revenue is project-based, typically structured around Swiss construction cost norms (BKP), with fees calculated as a percentage of construction costs or through fixed project agreements. Major projects range from CHF 12 million to CHF 82.5 million in construction value.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

WALDRAP AG is a Swiss architecture firm that designs and executes public and institutional buildings—including schools, sports facilities, laboratories, museums, and marinas—across German-speaking Switzerland. The firm acquires projects primarily through open and selective architectural competitions and delivers full architectural services from feasibility studies and competition entries through planning, design, and construction oversight. Major project values range from CHF 8 million to CHF 82.5 million in construction cost.

Product overview

Waldrap AG is an architecture firm (WALDRAP Architekt*innen ETH BSA SIA AG) based in Zurich, Switzerland, founded in 2017 by Renate Walter and Sebastian Lippok. The firm specializes in architectural design and project execution across multiple building typologies including educational facilities, residential complexes, sports facilities, public buildings, and infrastructure projects. Their portfolio spans from competition entries and feasibility studies through to planning, design, and construction management. Key project categories include school buildings (Schulanlagen), residential developments, sports facilities (Sporthallen), and specialized buildings such as laboratories, museums, and harbors. The firm's projects range from urban developments in Zurich to regional projects across German-speaking Switzerland, with building areas typically between 2,000-20,000 m² and budgets from approximately 12-82 million CHF.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Design Services for Public Buildings Complete architectural design and project oversight services for public sector clients including schools, sports facilities, civic infrastructure, and laboratories. Acquired primarily through architectural competitions and delivered from feasibility studies through construction oversight, with project values typically ranging from CHF 12 million to CHF 82.5 million.
• Architectural Design Services for Innovation and Research Facilities Architectural design services for innovation parks, research facilities, technology campuses, and laboratory buildings. Key projects include Switzerland Innovation Park Biel/Bienne (20,200 m², CHF 48M) and KOYO office and laboratory building for Geistlich Immobilia AG (11,600 m²). Targeted at innovation parks, research institutions, and technology companies requiring specialized research environments.
• Architectural Design Services for Cultural and Public Leisure Buildings Architectural design services for cultural institutions, marinas, public leisure facilities, and museums. Projects include Marina Tiefenbrunnen Zürich (CHF 38M) and Enter Technikwelt Solothurn, Switzerland's largest interactive museum for analog and digital technology (10,000 m²). Targeted at cultural foundations, yacht clubs, and public leisure facility operators.
• Architectural Competition Entry Services Competition entry and selective study commission services for Swiss municipalities, cantons, and government bodies. WALDRAP participates in open and selective architectural competitions, as well as invited competitions for private clients, with competition wins serving as the primary client acquisition mechanism. Recent 2025-2026 wins include Höhere Baute Rothrist, Zentrum für Labormedizin St. Gallen, and Schul- und Sportanlage Bubikon.

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple 1st prize competition wins since 2017 including major public projects valued at CHF 12M to CHF 82.5M

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Stiftung ENTERcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021WALDRAP designed the Enter Technikwelt Solothurn, Switzerland's largest interactive museum for analog and digital technology (10,000 m²). The project involved complex stakeholder coordination including retained industrial halls and extensive sustainability measures.
• Switzerland Innovation Park Biel/Bienne AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017WALDRAP won the open competition and subsequently designed the 20,200 m² Innovationspark Biel/Bienne for applied research and development. The five-story building (2017-2021) represents a flagship project in the firm's portfolio, developed in close collaboration with the client.
• Dr. Lüchinger+Meyer Bauingenieure AGcoreTechnology or IntegrationStructural engineering partner frequently engaged on WALDRAP projects including Innovationspark Biel/Bienne, Schulanlage Borrweg, Marina Tiefenbrunnen, and numerous competitions. Provides specialized structural engineering for complex architectural projects.
• Ryffel + Ryffel AGmajorTechnology or IntegrationLandscape architecture partner for multiple WALDRAP projects including Schulanlage Widen, Dreifachsporthalle Stans, and various competition entries.
• Amstein + WalthertmajorTechnology or IntegrationBuilding services engineering (HLKSE) partner engaged across numerous WALDRAP projects including ZGSZ, SBB Zürich Oerlikon, Schulanlage Widen, and various competition entries.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Snøhetta: Internationally recognised practice with strong public-sector and cultural commissions across Europe. Comparable on competition-led GTM and emphasis on contextual, sustainable design philosophy aligned with Waldrap's stated approach.
• BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group): Global architecture practice with strong portfolio of public, educational, and innovation-park projects. Comparable on typology (innovation parks, education buildings) and competition-led growth model.
• Herzog & de Meuron: Basel-headquartered global architecture firm with strong Swiss public-sector portfolio and consistent competition wins in cultural and civic typologies. Provides a benchmark for the upper end of Swiss-headquartered, competition-driven practices.
• David Chipperfield Architects: Internationally established practice with deep expertise in cultural and civic architecture, including Swiss and broader European public commissions. Compares on typology (museums, civic buildings) and competition-led model, but operates at significantly larger scale and geographic reach.

Direct peers

• Max Dudler Architekt: German/Swiss architecture firm with strong track record in cultural, civic, and public building competitions. Compares on typology, competition-led GTM, and DACH-region project base.
• Caruso St John: European architecture practice with comparable focus on civic, cultural, and public-realm projects and competition-led project acquisition. Similar firm size and typology focus make it a closely comparable mid-size peer.
• E2A Architekten: Zurich-based architecture studio where both Waldrap founders previously worked. Operates in the same Swiss public-building niche with a similar competition-driven GTM, making it the most directly comparable peer in scale, typology, and client base.

Emerging players

• Studio Gang: Sustainability-focused architecture studio with strong civic and cultural portfolio and competition-based acquisitions. Comparable on emphasis on contextual design and sustainable construction methods, though operating from the US.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/waldrapzurich
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/waldrap-ag

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 Waldrap AG