HEDs Architects

What HEDs Architects does

HEDs Architects (legal name: HEDs Architects; operating as Hays+Ewing Design Studio) is a privately held, women-owned architecture firm headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia. Founded by Christopher Hays in 2004 and joined by co-founder Allison Ewing in 2006, the firm operates with a 1-10 employee headcount as a boutique practice delivering site-responsive, sustainable architecture across residential, commercial, institutional, and mixed-use project types. The partners bring credentials from Yale M.Arch programs and prior design roles at Renzo Piano Building Workshop, Cesar Pelli, and William McDonough + Partners; Ewing holds the AIA's highest membership honor (FAIA).

The firm's core technology centers on passive and high-performance green design, including passive solar orientation, natural ventilation, Passivhaus envelope standards achieving HERS ratings of 15-20, FSC certified wood specification, geothermal systems, and green roof integration. Demonstrated outcomes include the Nike European Headquarters in Hilversum, Netherlands (375,000 SF corporate campus featuring what was then Europe's largest geothermal installation), the Gap Inc. corporate campus (340,000 SF with green roofs achieving 30% energy reduction), the IBM Amsterdam headquarters, and the Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies at Oberlin College (a LEED Pilot project and AIA Top Ten Green Buildings honoree). The firm has received the American National Design Award from Cooper Hewitt and recognition from AIA at the national and regional levels.

HEDs generates revenue through professional services fees (percentage-based, hourly, or fixed) on commissioned projects, with multi-year engagement cycles typical of architectural practice. Distribution is direct via design competitions, professional referrals, and client engagement across the United States, Canada, and Europe. Customer segments span residential homeowners, developers, educational/cultural institutions, and corporate/commercial clients including Nike, Gap, IBM, Herman Miller, Oberlin College, and Habitat for Humanity. The firm maintains a multi-channel marketing presence through its website, social platforms, and earned media in design publications, though it has no external funding, no M&A activity, and no disclosed financial metrics.

Name

HEDs Architects

Legal name

HEDs Architects

Website

https://hedsarchitects.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

HEDs Architects is a privately held, women-owned boutique architecture firm in Charlottesville, Virginia, delivering sustainable and high-performance green design across residential, commercial, institutional, and mixed-use projects for corporate, educational, nonprofit, and individual clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

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

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC), Luxury Whole-Home Renovation (High-End Finishes & Custom Build) (HSAPAEAI)

Keywords

• Sustainable architecture services
• Green building design
• Residential architecture design
• Commercial architecture design
• Passivhaus consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlottesville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Professional architecture services including design, planning, project management, and construction administration for residential, commercial, institutional, and mixed-use projects. Revenue generated through percentage-based fees, hourly rates, or fixed fees depending on project scope.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

HEDs Architects provides architectural design and planning services across residential, commercial, and cultural/educational project types, with a distinct specialization in green and sustainable design. The firm delivers full-service architecture—from schematic design through construction administration—integrating passive solar, Passivhaus, natural ventilation, FSC certified materials, geothermal systems, and green roof technology. Projects range from single-family custom homes and multi-family communities to corporate campuses, mixed-use developments, and LEED-certified institutional facilities.

Product overview

HEDs Architects (Hays+Ewing Design Studio) is a women-owned architecture firm offering a comprehensive portfolio of architectural services organized into three core practice areas: residential architecture (houses and communities), commercial architecture (corporate campuses, factories, mixed-use), and cultural/educational architecture. The firm specializes in green and sustainable design, offering consulting services in Passivhaus standards, net-zero energy design, and LEED certification. Projects range from single-family homes to large-scale mixed-use developments and institutional buildings, with a consistent focus on sustainable best practices including passive solar design, FSC certified materials, and energy-efficient envelope systems. The practice also provides master planning services for sustainable community development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Architecture Services Single and multi-family residential design services including houses and communities, featuring sustainable and green design solutions such as net-zero homes, Passivhaus-compliant buildings, and affordable housing developments. Targeted at individual homeowners, residential developers, and community builders.
• Commercial Architecture Services Commercial building design services including corporate campuses, factories, mixed-use developments, and office spaces with a sustainable design focus. Targeted at corporations, manufacturers, developers, and commercial enterprises.
• Cultural and Educational Architecture Services Design services for cultural institutions, educational facilities, museums, community centers, and civic buildings, including LEED-certified and sustainability-focused facilities. Targeted at universities, schools, museums, cultural organizations, and nonprofit institutions.
• Master Planning and Community Design Urban planning and community design services including sustainable community master plans, rain gardens, pedestrian-friendly streetscapes, and mixed-use development planning. Targeted at developers, universities, and institutional clients.
• Green and Sustainable Design Consulting Sustainable design expertise and consulting covering Passivhaus standards, net-zero energy design, FSC certified wood specification, passive solar strategies, and low-energy solutions. Targeted at clients seeking sustainability-driven design guidance integrated into architectural projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• HERS rating of 20 achieved (80% reduction vs. typical home)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Nelson-Byrd Woltz Landscape ArchitectsnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Orchard Downs Community project for University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, combining HEDs architecture with landscape design expertise for sustainable 160-acre community planning.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Lake|Flato Architects: San Antonio-based sustainable architecture firm of comparable size specializing in residential, cultural, and commercial projects with regional and national reach, similarly recognized with AIA honors and book/press coverage - a closely matched boutique peer.
• KieranTimberlake: Award-winning boutique architecture firm with comparable emphasis on sustainable envelope design, building science research, and integrated design process across residential, cultural, and institutional typologies - similar size and ethos.
• William McDonough + Partners: Direct progenitor and peer: HEDs' founders previously led design at William McDonough + Partners, which pioneered the same cradle-to-cradle, biomimicry, and high-performance sustainable architecture that HEDs now offers - operating in identical philosophy and segment.
• CookFox Architects: New York-based firm focused on sustainable, biophilic, and high-performance design with strong cultural/institutional and residential portfolio - aligns with HEDs' design philosophy and project mix.
• Mithun: Integrated design firm with strong sustainability practice spanning residential, education, and cultural work, similarly known for design excellence awards and biophilic principles - closely matched values and typology.
• BNIM Architects: Mid-size sustainable design firm with deep expertise in high-performance buildings, net-zero design, and Passivhaus standards, serving residential, educational, and commercial clients across the US - directly comparable technical focus.

Broad incumbents

• Gensler: Largest global architecture firm with established sustainability practice serving corporate campuses, commercial, and cultural clients - directly competes for enterprise-level sustainable design commissions like Nike, IBM, and Gap.
• Adjaye Associates: Internationally recognized firm with cultural, residential, and sustainable design portfolio and similar star-architect founder profile, competing for high-design cultural and luxury residential commissions.
• Perkins&Will: Global architecture practice with significant sustainability and high-performance design capabilities across healthcare, education, commercial, and residential sectors - a much larger incumbent competing for similar institutional RFPs.

Emerging players

• McLennan Design: Passivhaus-specialist design firm focused on ultra-high-performance residential and small commercial projects - an emerging specialist competing directly in HEDs' core technical niche.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HEDS_Architects
• Facebookfacebook.com/HaysEwingDesignStudio
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/heds-hays-ewing-design-studio
• Instagraminstagram.com/heds_architects
• Pinterestpinterest.com/aewing_heds

Compliance6 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 HEDs Architects