Studio GWA

What Studio GWA does

Studio GWA is a privately held, women-owned architecture, urban planning, interior design, and historic preservation firm headquartered in Rockford, Illinois with a second office in Monroe, Wisconsin. The firm serves private developers, building owners, municipalities, nonprofit and Main Street organizations, and hospitality/restaurant operators primarily across the Midwest (Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, and surrounding states). Core service lines include architecture (adaptive reuse, new construction, restoration, renovation, tenant build-out), interior design (FF&E, space planning, renderings, lighting coordination), urban planning (site planning, downtown revitalization, master and corridor planning), historic preservation consulting (Parts 1-3 Historic Tax Credit applications, Historic Structure Reports, National Register nominations), and development services (feasibility, pro forma, TIF/Brownfield/facade incentive navigation). The firm holds WBENC Women Business Enterprise certification, confirming majority women ownership, and is led by three principals — Aaron Holverson, Ashley Sarver (AICP), and Jennifer Spencer — supported by an interdisciplinary bench of architects, planners, designers, and a classically trained chef supporting restaurant design work.

The firm's commercial model is project-based professional services delivered through direct client relationships with no resellers or intermediaries. Fees are quote-based and tailored to project scope and complexity; pricing is not publicly disclosed. The firm differentiates through deep specialization in historic preservation and adaptive reuse, an interdisciplinary team that combines architecture, planning, interior design, and development advisory under one roof, and digital documentation capabilities including NavVis mobile scanning (300,000 points/sec at 5-6mm accuracy), drone aerial capture, virtual walkthroughs that reduce field verification time from days to hours, and a custom Historic Tax Credit Calculator. Notable project work includes the Rockford Public Library, Wahl Clipper corporate headquarters, Old Courthouse Center in Woodstock, IL (which secured $5M+ in state and federal Historic Tax Credits), the Keefer House Hotel, Eugene Hotel, and an architectural role on Building 5 of the Colman Yards 23-acre adaptive reuse campus.

Recent strategic activity includes the Eugene Hotel groundbreaking in 2025 — the first project where the principals acted as development partners rather than pure service providers — alongside the Monroe, WI office expansion, 2024 WBENC certification, and a cluster of 2024 AIA and Landmarks Illinois preservation awards. The firm distributes thought leadership through a YouTube vlog, active Instagram presence, journal articles, an HTC webinar series on tax credits and development finance, and participation in Congress for the New Urbanism conferences. No external funding rounds, institutional investors, or parent companies are evidenced.

Name

Studio GWA

Legal name

Studio GWA

Website

https://studiogwa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Studio GWA is a women-owned architecture, urban planning, interior design, and historic preservation firm serving developers, municipalities, and hospitality clients across the Midwest from offices in Rockford, IL and Monroe, WI.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural and Planning Services

NAICS

Interior Design Services (54141), Interior Design Services (541410)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable/Green Building & LEED Consulting (BPAHAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders (IMAFABAE)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Historic preservation consulting
• Urban planning services
• Interior design services
• Adaptive reuse design

Headquarters

HQ city

Rockford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Services - Architecture: Full-service architectural design services including new construction, adaptive reuse, restoration, renovation, and tenant build-out for commercial, municipal, residential, and mixed-use buildings of all sizes. Revenue is generated through project-based fees for design, documentation, and construction administration services.
2. Urban Planning Services: Comprehensive planning services including site planning, facility needs assessments, downtown revitalization planning, master planning, corridor planning, and comprehensive planning for governments and developers.
3. Interior Design Services: Interior design services including FF&E selection and coordination, renderings, space planning, material selection, construction administration, and lighting coordination for hospitality, corporate, and residential projects.
4. Historic Preservation Consulting: Historic preservation services including Historic Tax Credit consulting (Part 1 through Part 3 applications), Historic Structure Reports, National Register nominations, and preservation design guidelines development.
5. Development Services: Strategic guidance for development projects including building use strategy, feasibility studies, pro forma support, and assistance with grants, incentives, and tax credits (Historic Tax Credits, TIF Districts, Brownfield incentives, facade grants).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Studio GWA provides architecture, urban planning, and interior design services with a specialty in historic preservation and adaptive reuse. The firm serves developers, building owners, municipalities, and public agencies on commercial, civic, and hospitality projects, supported by digital documentation and tax credit analysis capabilities.

Product overview

Studio GWA is an architecture, urban planning, and interior design firm offering a comprehensive suite of services centered on historic preservation and adaptive reuse. The firm's core service offerings include Architecture Services (adaptive reuse, new construction, restoration, renovation), Interior Design, Urban Planning, Historic Preservation, Development Services, and Historic Tax Credit Consulting. The firm specializes in commercial, retail, mixed-use, and multi-family residential projects, with particular expertise in historic renovation projects utilizing federal and state Historic Tax Credits. Services are delivered through collaborative studio environments and are complemented by specialized offerings in kitchen/restaurant design and community engagement workshops.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture Services Full architectural design services for new construction, renovation, and adaptive reuse projects, serving developers, building owners, municipalities, and public agencies.
• Interior Design Services Interior design services including space planning, finish selection, and FF&E specification for commercial, hospitality, civic, and residential clients.
• Urban Planning Services Urban planning and master planning services for municipalities, public agencies, and private developers working on community-scale and district projects.
• Historic Preservation Services Specialty preservation and adaptive reuse services for historically significant buildings, including documentation, restoration design, and regulatory compliance support.
• Development Services Development advisory and entitlement services supporting clients through feasibility, permitting, and project execution phases.
• Historic Tax Credit Consulting Consulting services supporting clients pursuing federal and state historic rehabilitation tax credits, including eligibility analysis and documentation.
• Kitchen Design Services Specialized kitchen and ancillary space design services, typically delivered as part of broader renovation and adaptive reuse projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40% energy savings with geothermal heating and cooling systems (Old Courthouse Center)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.

• Baumgartner's (Restaurant)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Chris and Tyler Soukup, developers of the Eugene Hotel project, are associated with Baumgartner's restaurant. The Eugene Hotel project represents an expansion for the Soukups' hospitality business into boutique hotel development, with Studio GWA serving as architect and development partner.
• Redevelopment ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudio GWA partnered with Redevelopment Resources on the Resilient Baraboo economic resiliency plan, developing a framework for downtown revitalization and South Boulevard corridor study. The partnership combined Studio GWA's planning and design expertise with Redevelopment Resources' economic development capabilities to deliver comprehensive community planning services.
• Engberg Anderson ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudio GWA worked with Engberg Anderson Architects on the Hart Interim Library project, performing interior and exterior renovations along with furniture and systems layout. The partnership combined both firms' architectural expertise to transform a former detention center into an inviting community library space.
• Region 1 Planning CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudio GWA partnered with Region 1 Planning Council as lead firm on the Keith Creek Corridor Study, a comprehensive vision for mobility, redevelopment, recreation, and watershed management. The partnership provided local expertise and planning coordination across the 14+ mile drainage area.
• The Lakota GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudio GWA collaborated with The Lakota Group on the Keith Creek Corridor Study, providing urban design and planning expertise for the multi-faceted, equity-centered plan addressing corridor resiliency and economic development.
• Strand AssociatesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudio GWA partnered with Strand Associates on the Keith Creek Corridor Study, integrating engineering and technical analysis capabilities with the planning and urban design components of the comprehensive corridor study.
• Hey & AssociatesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudio GWA collaborated with Hey & Associates on the Keith Creek Corridor Study, contributing planning and community engagement expertise to the multidisciplinary team addressing watershed improvements and redevelopment.
• Hunden Strategic PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudio GWA teamed up with Hunden Strategic Partners to assist the City of Sterling in its riverfront redevelopment efforts for the Lawrence Brothers and Stanley-National complexes. The partnership conducted market analysis and financial feasibility studies to identify viable uses and gap financing requirements.
• J. Jeffers & CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudio GWA is providing architectural design services for Colman Yards, a major 23-acre mixed-use redevelopment project where J. Jeffers & Company serves as Master Developer. Studio GWA is delivering architectural services for Building 5 as part of the campus-wide endeavor.
• Space Architects + PlannersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudio GWA is working alongside Space Architects + Planners at Colman Yards, where Space serves as Master Planner and architect for Buildings 4 and 9. The partnership coordinates architectural and planning services across the 10-building campus redevelopment.
• Fehr GrahammajorTechnology or IntegrationStudio GWA partnered with Fehr Graham for environmental and civil engineering services on the Colman Yards project, providing essential technical infrastructure expertise for the historic campus redevelopment.
• IMEGmajorTechnology or IntegrationStudio GWA partnered with IMEG for MEP engineering services on Colman Yards Building 5, providing mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering coordination for the 161,000 square foot residential conversion.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Legat Architects: Chicago-area architecture firm with broad practice spanning education, civic, and commercial projects across the Midwest. Broad incumbent given larger scale and broader portfolio than Studio GWA's preservation-heavy niche.
• Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates: National engineering and architecture firm renowned for historic preservation, building science, and structural investigation work. Broad incumbent given shared preservation expertise but much larger national footprint and engineering-led model.
• HGA (Hammel, Green and Abrahamson): Minneapolis-based national architecture, engineering, and planning firm with Midwest origins and broad portfolio including civic, healthcare, and cultural projects. Broad incumbent given significantly larger scale and national footprint.

Emerging players

• Hunden Strategic Partners: Chicago-based real estate consulting firm specializing in market analysis, financial feasibility, and incentive advisory for development projects. Emerging/complementary peer given partnership on the City of Sterling riverfront redevelopment where each contributed overlapping planning and feasibility expertise.

Direct peers

• Wight & Company: Illinois-based architecture, engineering, and planning firm serving public and private clients across the Midwest. Direct peer given shared geography, integrated design-planning model, and similar civic/historic project portfolio.
• Space Architects + Planners: Chicago-based urban planning and architecture firm with focus on complex mixed-use and adaptive reuse developments. Direct peer given shared planning practice, overlapping Midwest market, and collaboration on Colman Yards master planning.
• Meyer Scherer & Rockcastle: Minneapolis-based architecture firm with integrated planning, historic preservation, and adaptive reuse practice. Direct peer given comparable Midwest positioning and cross-disciplinary service model spanning architecture, planning, and interior design.
• The Lakota Group: Chicago-based architecture, preservation, and planning firm specializing in historic preservation, adaptive reuse, and urban design. Direct peer given overlapping Midwest practice, shared adaptive reuse focus, and co-partnership on the Keith Creek Corridor Study.
• Ratio Architects: Indianapolis-based architecture firm with strong civic, library, and adaptive reuse practice. Direct peer given comparable Midwest footprint and shared focus on public-sector and preservation-driven projects.
• Engberg Anderson Architects: Milwaukee-based architecture and planning firm with comparable scope across civic, library, and historic preservation projects. Direct peer given similar Midwest positioning, project scale, and existing partnership with Studio GWA on Hart Interim Library.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@studiogwa5650
• Instagraminstagram.com/p/DaNuFoEE0Di
• Facebookfacebook.com/StudioGWA

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Studio GWA