Schley Nelson Architects

What Schley Nelson Architects does

Schley Nelson Architects is a privately held professional services firm founded in 1991 and headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan, providing architecture, planning, interior design, and imaging services to clients in the healthcare/dental, commercial/non-profit, residential, and government sectors across Michigan, Northern Ohio, and Northern Indiana. The firm operates with 1-10 employees and runs on a project-based, custom-pricing model where each engagement is scoped individually based on square footage, complexity, and service mix; documented project budgets range from roughly $1.2 million for nonprofit offices to approximately $10 million for institutional projects such as a women's shelter.

The firm's core methodology is described as evidence-based design combined with 3D visualization and rendering (aerial views, interior renderings, building massing studies, material studies), supported by coordinated multi-service delivery across architecture, interior design, planning, and imaging. Underlying capabilities include design, construction document preparation, bidding assistance, construction administration, cost estimating, feasibility and land use studies, Certificate of Need support, master planning, signage and wayfinding design, and relocation management. No AI/ML, software product, or proprietary technology platform is disclosed.

The go-to-market model is consultative and relationship-driven: 75% of work is sourced through direct referrals or repeat clients, and 85% of projects involve complex user-system work such as hospital units, mental health facilities, fire stations, and civic buildings. Distribution runs entirely through direct client engagement with no intermediaries, supported by a website portfolio, LinkedIn presence, and embedded relationships with regional general contractors, MEP engineers, and owner's representatives who recur across projects (Cornerstone, AVB, Miller-Davis, Christman, Frederick Construction, Prein&Newhof, Comprehensive Engineering, Capital for Compassion). Industry recognition includes a 2022 AIA Southwest Michigan Merit Award and a 2009 Society of Critical Care Medicine Honorable Mention.

Name

Schley Nelson Architects

Legal name

Schley Nelson Architects

Website

https://schleynelsonarchitects.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Schley Nelson Architects is a privately held Kalamazoo, Michigan architecture firm founded in 1991 (1-10 employees) providing evidence-based architecture, planning, interior design, and imaging services to healthcare, commercial, nonprofit, residential, and government clients across Michigan, Northern Ohio, and Northern Indiana.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Interior Design Services (54141)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Healthcare facility planning
• Interior design services
• Building visualization renderings
• Master planning services

Headquarters

HQ city

Kalamazoo

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. Architecture and Design Services: One-time professional services revenue from architecture, planning, interior design, and imaging services for specific projects. Projects range from healthcare facilities to residential homes, with budgets ranging from approximately $1.2 million to $10 million for major projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Schley Nelson Architects provides expert architecture, planning, interior design, and 3D imaging services across healthcare and dental, commercial and non-profit, residential, and government markets. The firm applies evidence-based design and human-centered research to deliver projects from feasibility studies and master planning through construction documentation and administration. Project scopes range from residential homes to multi-million-dollar healthcare, civic, and institutional facilities primarily across Michigan, Northern Ohio, and Indiana.

Product overview

Schley Nelson Architects is an architecture firm offering a coordinated suite of professional services. Their core offerings include Architecture Services (design, construction documents, administration), Planning Services (master planning, feasibility studies, strategic facility planning), Interior Design Services (space planning, finish selection, wayfinding), and Imaging Services (3D visualization, renderings). The firm specializes in healthcare and dental, commercial and non-profit, residential, and government markets, with over 30 years of experience in human-centered design.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture Services Expert architecture services covering design, programming, construction document preparation, bidding assistance, construction administration, and cost estimating, delivered to healthcare, commercial, non-profit, residential, and government clients in Michigan, Northern Ohio, and Indiana.
• Planning Services Strategic facility and master planning services including feasibility studies, land use analysis, site selection studies, Certificate of Need (CON) support services, and expert witness services for institutional, healthcare, and civic clients.
• Interior Design Services Interior design services including programming and space planning, finish and furniture selection with bid documents, signage and wayfinding design, artwork and window treatment consultation, and relocation management, integrated with architecture and planning delivery.
• Imaging Services 3D visualization and rendering services including aerial views, fly-bys, interior renderings, building massing studies, and building material studies to support design concept visualization and client communication.

Quantifiable outcome

• 75% of work comes from direct referrals or repeat clients
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers17 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Cornerstone ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerServed as Construction Contractor for the Kalamazoo County Expo Center project. The project required a new expo hall, main entry, and exhibition space with Art Deco theme. 34,830 sf, $3.5 million, completed 2012.
• Prein&NewhofcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCivil Engineering partner for the Kalamazoo County Expo Center project, providing civil engineering services for the expo hall development.
• Miller-DaviscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction Management partner for Kalamazoo Community Foundation project. Delivered state-of-the-art office space with flexible meeting spaces. 15,756 sf, $1.2 million, completed 2014.
• SKP DesigncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerInterior Design partner for Kalamazoo Community Foundation project, collaborating on office interior design.
• ChristmancoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction Manager for Henry Ford CUB Unit project at Henry Ford Jackson Hospital. 16,350 sf, 2009.
• AVBcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction partner for Paw Paw Fire Department project - new fire station with five-stall apparatus bays and multiple functional spaces. 20,000 sf, completed 2023.
• The Barton GroupcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOwner's Representative for Paw Paw Fire Department project, providing project oversight.
• Cornerstone CMcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProject management partner for OnPoint Community Mental Health conversion project. Converted 36,000 sf big-box store into community mental health facility. $5.95 million.
• Comprehensive EngineeringcoreTechnology or IntegrationMEPFPS Engineering Services (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Fire Protection) for OnPoint Community Mental Health project.
• Frederick ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction partner for PNC Arcadia Headquarters project - Regional office redesign in historic Arcadia Commons. 11,652 sf.
• Hansen Building and Design CorpcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProject Developer for Zhang Financial new two-story brick building in Portage, MI. Also collaborated on Motson Dental Clinic project. 11,700 sf for Zhang Financial, 4,073 sf for Motson Dental.
• Capital for CompassioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOwner Representative for Kalamazoo Gospel Ministries women's shelter project. Three-story, 47,000 sf building with 32 apartments. $10 million, 2022.
• Commercial ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction partner for Kalamazoo Gospel Ministries women's shelter project, awarded 2022 AIA Southwest Michigan Merit Award.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• SmithGroup: Large national architecture and engineering firm with a major healthcare practice and Detroit office. Competes for the same Michigan health system clients (Henry Ford, Ascension) but at a much larger scale and broader portfolio.
• HKS Architects: National architecture firm with one of the largest healthcare practices in the U.S. Direct competitor for large hospital systems, particularly for tower additions and complex clinical projects analogous to Schley Nelson's Henry Ford work.
• HGA Architects and Engineers: National architecture and engineering firm with deep healthcare specialization. Competes for complex user-system healthcare projects (similar to Schley Nelson's CUB Unit work) at a broader geographic and scale footprint.
• Stantec: Global architecture, engineering, and consulting firm with strong healthcare and community development practices in the U.S. Midwest. Competes for similar institutional clients across healthcare, government, and education sectors.
• CannonDesign: Major healthcare-focused architecture firm with evidence-based design practice. Competes for the same enterprise healthcare systems that form Schley Nelson's core client base, at significantly larger scale and with broader capabilities.

Direct peers

• Byce & Associates: Kalamazoo-based architecture, engineering, and planning firm operating in Western Michigan. Direct local competitor with similar service breadth (architecture, engineering, planning) and comparable client base in healthcare and institutional markets.
• Progressive AE: Grand Rapids, MI architecture and engineering firm serving healthcare, commercial, education, and government markets. Comparable regional competitor offering integrated design services with similar vertical mix to Schley Nelson.
• TowerPinkster: Michigan-based architecture, engineering, and interior design firm with a similar multi-disciplinary service model and broad vertical coverage including healthcare, education, government, and commercial — directly comparable as a same-region competitor of comparable scale.
• Integrated Architecture: Michigan-based full-service architecture firm with strong presence in healthcare, education, and senior living. Comparable mid-market regional competitor with similar evidence-based design positioning.
• Hobbs+Black Architects: Michigan-based architecture firm providing design services across healthcare, education, commercial, and civic markets. Similar scale and regional footprint with comparable project types including complex institutional buildings.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/schleynelsonarchitects
• Xx.com/schleyarchitect

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Schley Nelson Architects