Az Commercial Architect

What Az Commercial Architect does

AZ Commercial Architect operates as WDS Architecture PLLC, a boutique commercial architecture firm headquartered at 5021 N. 20th St. in Phoenix, Arizona. Founded in 2002 as Western Design Studio by Registered Architect Mike Marden, the firm provides architecture, engineering, and building permit services exclusively to small and medium-sized business owners opening commercial locations in the Phoenix metro area, spanning approximately 20 local jurisdictions. The company is a subsidiary of Marden Companies LLC, with WDS Commercial LLC Contractor serving as the wholly-owned general contracting arm that enables integrated Design-Build delivery.

The core service portfolio includes as-built/existing conditions documentation, feasibility analysis, tenant improvement drawings and permits, site planning, and ground-up new construction with full engineering coordination (civil, structural, MEP, fire, traffic). The firm's distinguishing methodology is an Integrated Design-Build contract model that provides pricing three to four times during drawing development, enabling clients to break ground at permit submission and saving an average of 30-60 days to ribbon cutting compared to traditional design-bid-build. A KB-1 level Commercial General Contractor's license, acquired in 2020 and elevated to KB-1 status in 2024, removes project size limitations and supports bonding capacity for engagements exceeding $3M.

Revenue is generated through three project-based streams: architectural services priced $5,000-$175,000+ per engagement depending on scope, general contracting services delivered through WDS Commercial LLC, and premium expedited consulting fees ($250-$520 per interaction). The go-to-market is founder-led direct sales, with 90% of business originating from phone availability, supplemented by a YouTube channel ('ContractorArchitect'), Google Business Profile ranking in the 85014 zip code, Angi/HomeAdvisor and Yelp presence, and a sustained 2021-2023 media partnership campaign. Customer base is entirely SMB, with documented engagements in food & beverage, education, healthcare, and wellness verticals across the Phoenix metro.

Name

Az Commercial Architect

Legal name

WDS Architecture PLLC

Website

https://wdsarch.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

WDS Architecture PLLC is a boutique Phoenix-based commercial architecture firm that provides architecture, engineering, and building permit services exclusively to SMB owners opening commercial locations, integrated with in-house general contracting through an Integrated Design-Build delivery model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Architecture Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Engineering Services (54133)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711), General Bldg Contractors - Nonresidential Bldgs (1540)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Design-Build / EPC General Contracting (IMAFAAAD), Civil & Structural Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAA)

Keywords

• Commercial architecture services
• Building permit services
• Tenant improvement design
• Design-build construction
• Construction drawings engineering

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Services: Project-based fees for construction drawings, engineering, site planning, feasibility studies, and building permit acquisition. Fees vary by project type and square footage.
2. General Contracting Services: Construction services through WDS Commercial LLC Contractor for Design-Build projects
3. Expedited Consulting: Premium paid services for priority engagement including same-day phone calls ($250), virtual meetings ($300), and on-site visits ($520)

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

AZ Commercial Architect (operated as WDS Architecture PLLC) is a boutique commercial architecture firm providing integrated architecture, engineering, permitting, and design-build construction services exclusively for commercial projects in the Phoenix metro area. Core offerings include construction drawings, engineering coordination, building permit acquisition, tenant improvements, site planning, feasibility analysis, and an Integrated Design-Build delivery method that accelerates project timelines.

Product overview

AZ Commercial Architect (operated as WDS Architecture PLLC) is a boutique commercial architecture firm offering integrated architecture, engineering, and permitting services exclusively for commercial projects in the Phoenix metro area. The core service portfolio includes As-Built Survey Services for existing conditions documentation, Project Feasibility Analysis to evaluate pre-lease viability, Tenant Improvement Drawings & Permits for space buildouts, and New Construction & Remodel with Site Services for ground-up projects. The firm also offers an Integrated Design-Build delivery method as a premium service that provides pricing at multiple stages during design development, accelerating project timelines. Additional Assistance Services include interior finishes specification, equipment layout coordination, health department documentation, and agency permit processing. All services are focused exclusively on commercial projects—no residential work is accepted.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• As-Built Survey Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Saves 30-60 days to ribbon cutting on average
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Strategic Advisor Board War RoomminorOthers · 1 January 2023Featured segment on 'The Power of Communication' with customers helping find niche
• Action and Ambition PodcastminorOthers · 1 December 2022Podcast interview on business providing comprehensive services to help small businesses take startup visions to brick-and-mortar
• Disrupt MagazineminorOthers · 1 December 2021Article on how entrepreneur Mike Marden is making grand openings easier for small-medium businesses
• Voyager PhoenixminorOthers · 1 November 2021Interview feature as Phoenix Hidden Gem: Mike Marden of Great Idea to Grand Opening
• Access WireminorOthers · 1 September 2021Press release coverage on 'Great Idea to Grand Opening' service for Arizona commercial real estate and building industry
• Digital JournalminorOthers · 1 March 2021Media coverage featuring Mike Marden's 'Great Idea to Grand Opening' service approach for small business owners in Phoenix

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Gensler: Global architecture and design firm with large commercial, retail, and hospitality practices. Overlaps with WDS in commercial tenant improvement but operates at vastly larger scale with institutional clients.
• DLR Group: Integrated design firm offering architecture, engineering, and planning across commercial, civic, education, and healthcare. Overlaps with WDS in integrated design-build delivery and commercial tenant improvement, but at much larger scale and broader portfolio.
• Hensel Phelps: National design-build general contractor delivering commercial, aviation, healthcare, and public projects through integrated delivery. Comparable to WDS Commercial's Design-Build model but at enterprise scale and broader geography.
• Perkins&Will: Global architecture and design firm with commercial, healthcare, and education practices. Comparable integrated architecture and engineering services to WDS, though at much larger scale.
• HKS: National architecture firm with commercial and mixed-use practices including tenant improvement scope. Comparable in commercial architecture delivery but at enterprise scale with institutional clients.
• SmithGroup: Architecture and engineering firm with integrated design-build capabilities across commercial, healthcare, and education. Comparable integrated delivery model to WDS, though at significantly larger scale and broader geography.
• Stantec: Global design and engineering firm offering architecture plus integrated design-build services across commercial, infrastructure, and community development. Comparable integrated architecture-plus-engineering delivery to WDS.

Direct peers

• BKV Group: Mid-sized commercial architecture and design firm serving retail, hospitality, multifamily, and workplace clients. Comparable to WDS as a commercial architecture firm focused on tenant improvement and buildout for SMB and mid-market clients.
• Corgan: Commercial architecture and design firm with strong tenant improvement and workplace practices. Comparable to WDS in delivering architecture plus integrated design services for commercial clients across multiple verticals.
• Ware Malcomb: Commercial architecture firm specializing in office, retail, industrial, and public-sector tenant improvements and new construction. Comparable to WDS as a commercial-focused architecture practice serving SMB and mid-market buildouts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ContractorArchitect
• Facebookfacebook.com/wdsArchitecture
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wds-architecture
• Instagraminstagram.com/contractorarchitect

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Az Commercial Architect