Young America Creative, Llc
Young America Creative is a five-person boutique architectural practice in Berkeley and Santa Cruz, California, founded in 2011 by Meghan Dorrian and Brian Friel, delivering full-service custom residential and hospitality design for affluent homeowners and mid-market food and beverage operators across California, Seattle, and Washington D.C.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersSanta Cruz, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Young America Creative, Llc does
Young America Creative is a boutique architectural practice founded in 2011 by Meghan Dorrian and Brian Friel, operating from offices in Berkeley and Santa Cruz, California. The firm of approximately five team members delivers full-service architectural design across custom single-family residential projects (new ground-up homes, gut remodels, additions, ADUs) and commercial hospitality interiors and exteriors (restaurants, coffee shops, bars, breweries, taprooms, and test kitchens). Clients are primarily mid-market and affluent California homeowners along with hospitality operators, with selected projects extending into Seattle and Washington D.C.
The practice uses ArchiCAD for BIM 3D modeling and documentation, and is distinguished technically by experimental methods including steam bending applied within a digital production workflow, demonstrated by the Timber Seasoning Shelter at Hooke Park in England. Revenue is generated through quote-based professional services fees negotiated per project, covering all phases from concept through construction administration. Marketing is portfolio-driven through a website, Instagram presence, annual newsletter, and earned editorial features in Dwell and Architectural Digest, with referrals and direct client engagement serving as the primary demand channels.
Young America Creative, Llc firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Young America Creative, Llc
- Legal name
- Young America Creative
- Website
- https://thisisya.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Young America Creative is a five-person boutique architectural practice in Berkeley and Santa Cruz, California, founded in 2011 by Meghan Dorrian and Brian Friel, delivering full-service custom residential and hospitality design for affluent homeowners and mid-market food and beverage operators across California, Seattle, and Washington D.C.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Young America Creative, Llc industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural Services
- NAICS
- Architectural Services (54131), Architectural Services (541310), Interior Design Services (54141)
- SIC
- Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB)
Keywords
Where Young America Creative, Llc is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Santa Cruz
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Young America Creative, Llc business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Architectural Design Services: Young America Creative generates revenue through professional architectural services, providing custom single-family residential design and commercial/hospitality interior and exterior architectural services. Projects span from new ground-up construction to full gut remodels and additions, with services covering all phases of design and construction administration.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | Competitive salary for employed positions (Junior Designer) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Young America Creative, Llc product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Young America Creative is a boutique architectural practice providing custom architectural design and project delivery for single-family residential clients (new homes, remodels, additions, ADUs) and commercial hospitality operators (restaurants, coffee shops, bars, breweries). Services cover every phase of design from concept through construction administration, delivered by a small team from offices in Berkeley and Santa Cruz, California.
Product overview
Young America Creative is a multidisciplinary architectural design studio offering two primary service lines: custom residential architecture (single-family homes, remodels, additions, ADUs) and hospitality architecture (restaurants, coffee shops, bars, breweries). The firm operates from offices in Berkeley and Santa Cruz, California, serving clients throughout the Bay Area and beyond. Projects include both small-scale work like ADUs and large-scale residential and commercial developments. Notable projects include the Timber Seasoning Shelter at Hooke Park, England, demonstrating experimental timber construction techniques.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Custom Residential Architecture Architectural design and project delivery for custom single-family homes, including remodels, additions, and new ground-up construction. Projects range from small ADUs to large estate residences for affluent homeowners in California and the Pacific Northwest.
- Hospitality Architecture Design services for restaurants, coffee shops, bars, breweries, and taprooms, including new builds, gut remodels, and additions for commercial food and beverage establishments. Notable clients include Verve Coffee Roasters, Cafe Unido, Asha Tea, and Roses Tap Room.
Quantifiable outcome
- Featured in Dwell Print (November 2024) for Fair Ave residential project
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Young America Creative, Llc
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Young America Creative, Llc technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Young America Creative, Llc partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Young America Creative, Llc competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Studio Schicketanz: California-based boutique architecture practice specializing in custom sustainable residential and hospitality projects with a strong craft and material-led philosophy. Comparable boutique size, regional geography, and design values to YAC.
- Standard Architecture: Bay Area boutique practice with custom residential and hospitality interiors and small commercial work. Comparable boutique scale, project typologies, and California geography to YAC.
- Walker Warner Architects: San Francisco-based boutique architecture firm focused on custom luxury residential and select hospitality projects. Brian Friel previously worked there, and it shares the same Bay Area boutique-residential DNA and principal-led craft orientation as YAC.
- Medium Plenty: San Francisco-based architecture and interiors practice with residential and hospitality work, including restaurants and retail. Comparable boutique size, design philosophy, and Bay Area market focus.
- Aidlin Darling Design: San Francisco Bay Area architecture firm recognized for craft-driven residential and hospitality design with strong sustainability focus. Comparable Bay Area boutique positioning, project typologies, and editorial visibility.
- Studio Becker Architectural Design: Bay Area boutique firm with a residential and small hospitality portfolio emphasizing craft and contextual modernism. Similar boutique size, project typologies, and West Coast geography.
- Malcolm Davis Architecture: San Francisco boutique residential and small commercial architecture practice with a craft and contextual design ethos. Comparable scale, regional concentration, and residential-plus-hospitality project mix to YAC.
- Fougeron Architecture (AFA): San Francisco boutique architecture studio with a portfolio of custom residential and adaptive reuse projects. Brian Friel previously worked there; comparable in scale, design-led positioning, and Bay Area regional focus to YAC.
- Wirt Design Group: California residential and hospitality architecture studio with a portfolio of custom homes, restaurants, and wineries. Comparable boutique scale, hospitality/residential mix, and West Coast geography.
Broad incumbents
- Bohlin Cywinski Jackson: Established multi-office architecture firm with a portfolio spanning residential, hospitality, civic, and commercial projects. Larger and broader than YAC, but competes for the same premium custom residential and hospitality commissions in the Bay Area.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Young America Creative, Llc social profiles
Digital presenceYoung America Creative, Llc financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Young America Creative, Llc leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Young America Creative, Llc funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Young America Creative, Llc 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 Young America Creative, Llc
What does Young America Creative, Llc do?
Young America Creative is a boutique architectural practice providing custom architectural design and project delivery for single-family residential clients (new homes, remodels, additions, ADUs) and commercial hospitality operators (restaurants, coffee shops, bars, breweries). Services cover every phase of design from concept through construction administration, delivered by a small team from offices in Berkeley and Santa Cruz, California.
Is Young America Creative, Llc a public or private company?
Young America Creative, Llc is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Young America Creative, Llc founded?
Young America Creative, Llc was founded in 2011. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Young America Creative, Llc based?
Young America Creative, Llc is headquartered in Santa Cruz, United States, in the North America region.
How does Young America Creative, Llc make money?
One revenue line is on record: architectural Design Services.
Who are Young America Creative, Llc's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Studio Schicketanz, Standard Architecture, Walker Warner Architects, Medium Plenty, Aidlin Darling Design, Studio Becker Architectural Design, Malcolm Davis Architecture, Fougeron Architecture (AFA) and Wirt Design Group. Bohlin Cywinski Jackson is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Young America Creative, Llc have an API?
No public API is recorded for Young America Creative, Llc.
What industry is Young America Creative, Llc in?
Young America Creative, Llc's product category is Architectural Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAA, Architectural Design Services, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAB, Interior Design Services. Its NAICS code is 54131 and its SIC code is 7330.