AC Architects Cambridge
AC Architects Cambridge is a small, Cambridge-based architectural practice (founded 1997, 1-10 employees) delivering conservation and low-energy sustainable design across residential, education, healthcare, commercial, and heritage projects in the East Anglia region.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersCambridge, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What AC Architects Cambridge does
AC Architects Cambridge Ltd is a private architectural practice headquartered at 33-35 Victoria Road, Cambridge, UK. Founded in 1997 and operating with 1-10 employees, the firm provides professional architectural services across residential, commercial, education, healthcare and recreation, conservation, and sustainability projects, with a geographic focus on Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk. Its client base spans Cambridge University colleges, schools, GP surgeries and hospices, housing associations, heritage and listed-building owners, and a long tail of individual residential clients.
The practice's core technical proposition is the combination of historic-building conservation expertise with low-energy sustainable design. It specifies super insulation, passive ventilation, thermal mass, passive solar design, rainwater collection, solar thermal panels, photovoltaic panels, air-source heat pumps, and underfloor heating as appropriate to each project. Conservation work is delivered in partnership with Historic England, Local Planning and Conservation Officers, and Archaeology Departments, allowing the firm to navigate listed-building and conservation-area regulation. The portfolio includes more than 80 documented projects and has been recognised through regional and national awards, including LABC Building Excellence Awards (2017 finalist, 2025 regional winner), RIBA East Spirit of Ingenuity (2007), Green Apple Awards (2007, 2008), RHS Chelsea Flower Show Bronze (2007), and SCDC Historic Building Conservation (2003).
The business model is fee-based professional services: each engagement is scoped and priced per project through direct client consultation and (for institutional work) competitive tender, with pricing not publicly disclosed. The go-to-market is sales-led, relying on direct client engagement, referrals, regional reputation, sponsorship of professional bodies such as the Cambridge Association of Architects, and a recently established digital presence via the firm's website and Instagram account. Director Anne Cooper leads the practice, and there is no evidence of external investment, parent company, or subsidiary structures.
AC Architects Cambridge firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AC Architects Cambridge
- Legal name
- AC Architects Cambridge Ltd
- Website
- https://acarchitects.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- AC Architects Cambridge is a small, Cambridge-based architectural practice (founded 1997, 1-10 employees) delivering conservation and low-energy sustainable design across residential, education, healthcare, commercial, and heritage projects in the East Anglia region.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
AC Architects Cambridge industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural Services
- NAICS
- Architectural Services (54131), Architectural Services (541310)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Historic Preservation & Conservation Planning (BPAHAKAH)
Keywords
Where AC Architects Cambridge is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cambridge
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
AC Architects Cambridge business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Architectural Services: Professional architectural services for residential, commercial, conservation, education, and healthcare projects including design, project management, and feasibility studies
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
AC Architects Cambridge product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AC Architects Cambridge is a small architectural practice delivering architectural design, building conservation, and low-energy/sustainable building services. The firm serves residential, commercial, education, healthcare and recreation, and heritage conservation clients primarily across Cambridge, East Anglia, Norfolk, and Suffolk in the United Kingdom.
Product overview
AC Architects Cambridge is an award-winning architectural practice offering comprehensive architectural design services across multiple sectors. The firm operates as a single unified practice providing residential (new builds, refurbishments, extensions), commercial (office planning, workspace design), education (schools, colleges, sports facilities), healthcare and recreation, conservation (heritage buildings, listed structures), and sustainability services. The practice specialises in combining innovative design with environmentally friendly low energy solutions, incorporating technologies such as solar thermal, photovoltaic panels, heat pumps, rainwater harvesting, and MVHR systems. The firm serves clients including colleges (Murray Edwards College, Gonville and Caius College), schools, healthcare facilities, and residential clients across Cambridge and East Anglia.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Architectural Design Services
Companies that use AC Architects Cambridge
Customer profileNamed customers21 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
AC Architects Cambridge technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
AC Architects Cambridge partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Cambridge Association of Architects (CAA)coreAC Architects are proud sponsors and members of the Cambridge Association of Architects. CAA organises professional events for architects in the Cambridge region, providing networking opportunities and professional development.
- Open Eco Homes / Cambridge Carbon FootprintminorAC Architects is a proud sponsor of Open Eco Homes events, which showcase sustainable home projects in the Cambridge area. The practice has been involved with several Open Eco Homes projects.
- RIBA EastminorRIBA East (Royal Institute of British Architects) representatives visited AC Architects to discuss ongoing projects, the practice, and its future. RIBA provides ongoing support to the practice.
- Gonville and Caius College, CambridgecoreAC Architects Cambridge Ltd were appointed by Gonville and Caius College for the refurbishment of their Aston Webb building. The practice worked with the College and Conservation Officer on the sensitive modernisation scheme.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
AC Architects Cambridge competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Levitt Bernstein: Architectural practice with established heritage/conservation and sustainable housing expertise, including work for housing associations and educational clients. Comparable client mix and sustainability positioning.
- Haworth Tompkins: Mid-sized UK architectural practice combining conservation/retrofit expertise with sustainability-focused design across cultural, education and residential sectors. Similar dual emphasis on heritage and low-energy outcomes.
- Cullinan Studio: UK practice recognised for sustainable, context-driven architecture across education, housing and heritage. Comparable small-to-mid size and sustainability + heritage positioning to AC Architects.
- Mikhail Riches: Award-winning London practice focused on sustainable architecture and Passivhaus-standard residential and education projects. Comparable emphasis on low-energy design quality and education sector.
- Pollard Thomas Edwards (PTE): UK architectural practice with strong heritage, housing-association and education portfolios and a sustainability-oriented design ethos. Comparable cross-sector mix and conservation expertise.
- Proctor & Matthews: Birmingham-based practice known for conservation-led, contextually sensitive and sustainability-focused architecture across education, housing and heritage projects. Comparable conservation-plus-sustainability positioning.
- Feilden+Mawson: Cambridge-based architectural practice with a strong portfolio in heritage, conservation and education projects across East Anglia. Closely comparable to AC Architects on geography, sector mix (colleges, schools, conservation) and studio size.
Broad incumbents
- John McAslan + Partners: UK architecture practice with significant heritage and conservation work (e.g., Battersea Power Station) alongside education and cultural projects. Larger-scale competitor in the conservation/heritage niche.
- Allies and Morrison: Large London-headquartered practice with broad portfolio across conservation, education and commercial sectors. Larger and broader than AC Architects but competes for similar heritage and institutional clients.
- Purcell: UK-wide architecture practice specialising in heritage and conservation work, including listed buildings and historic environments. Larger and broader in geography than AC Architects, but a clear competitor for conservation-led commissions.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
AC Architects Cambridge social profiles
Digital presenceAC Architects Cambridge financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AC Architects Cambridge leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
AC Architects Cambridge funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AC Architects Cambridge M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about AC Architects Cambridge
What does AC Architects Cambridge do?
AC Architects Cambridge is a small architectural practice delivering architectural design, building conservation, and low-energy/sustainable building services. The firm serves residential, commercial, education, healthcare and recreation, and heritage conservation clients primarily across Cambridge, East Anglia, Norfolk, and Suffolk in the United Kingdom.
Is AC Architects Cambridge a public or private company?
AC Architects Cambridge is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was AC Architects Cambridge founded?
AC Architects Cambridge was founded in 1997. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is AC Architects Cambridge based?
AC Architects Cambridge is headquartered in Cambridge, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does AC Architects Cambridge make money?
One revenue line is on record: architectural Services.
Who are AC Architects Cambridge's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Levitt Bernstein, Haworth Tompkins, Cullinan Studio, Mikhail Riches, Pollard Thomas Edwards (PTE), Proctor & Matthews and Feilden+Mawson. Broad incumbents are John McAslan + Partners, Allies and Morrison and Purcell.
Does AC Architects Cambridge have an API?
No public API is recorded for AC Architects Cambridge.
What industry is AC Architects Cambridge in?
AC Architects Cambridge's product category is Architectural Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAA, Architectural Design Services, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAH, Historic Preservation & Conservation Planning. Its NAICS code is 54131.