What Formed Space does

Formed Space LLC is a privately held, founder-owned boutique design-build construction firm headquartered in Chicago at 4256 N. Ravenswood Ave. The company integrates architectural design, general contracting, and construction under a single team and delivers projects through three phases — pre-construction (budgeting, scheduling, code compliance), construction execution, and closeout (punch list and documentation). Founder Conrad Szajna, who has over ten years of architecture and construction experience including prior work on the 'Modern Schools Across Chicago' program and with the Chicago Housing Authority, leads the firm.

The company serves the Chicagoland commercial and residential construction markets. Commercial work spans office build-outs (CMT, CMT 2.0, NDC HQ), hospitality venues (Ofrenda Cantina, Buttercup, Deep Red Wine), coworking (Fellowshop), specialty retail (Tufenkian flagship showroom), and personal services (Wrightwood Salon). Residential work consists of high-end single-family renovations, additions, full-gut remodels, and historic restorations. Pricing is custom and project-based with no publicly disclosed tiers, and revenue is earned on a one-time per-project basis across pre-construction consulting, general contracting, and construction management.

The business is founder-led and bootstrapped with no disclosed institutional funding, no parent company, and no subsidiaries. Operations rely on a recurring network of Chicago architecture firms (Studio Code, RANGE DESIGN, EnMasse, 34TEN, TUMU Studio, Factory Haus Architecture), design firms (Nathan Michael Design Co, Design AGN, Debaun Studio, Kennedy Mann), millwork trades (Landsor Studio), and photographers as project referral partners. The firm holds AIA Chicago Design Excellence recognition for the CMT 2.0 project, and currently lists open roles for Project Engineer, Project Manager, and Project Superintendent, indicating active hiring to support project throughput.

Name

Formed Space

Legal name

Formed Space LLC

Website

https://formedspace.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Formed Space is a founder-owned boutique design-build firm in Chicago that integrates architectural design, general contracting, and construction for commercial and residential projects across the Chicagoland area, delivered on a custom project-fee basis.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Design-Build Construction Services

NAICS

Residential Building Construction (2361), Nonresidential Building Construction (2362)

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520), General Bldg Contractors - Nonresidential Bldgs (1540)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Retail & Mixed-Use Commercial Construction (IMAFACAB), Space Planning & Workplace Design (BPAHAKAI), Residential Interior Fit-Out (Multi-Family & High-End) (IMAFANAE)

Keywords

• Design-build construction
• General contracting
• Commercial construction
• Residential construction
• Architectural design services

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Design-Build Construction Services: Formed Space generates revenue through one-time project fees for design-build construction services spanning pre-construction consulting, general contracting, and construction management. Projects include both new construction and existing renovation across commercial, residential, and hospitality sectors. Revenue is earned on a per-project basis with no recurring subscription component.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Formed Space is an integrated boutique design-build firm that combines architectural design, general contracting, and construction under one team for commercial and residential clients in the Chicagoland area. Engagements span new construction and existing renovation across offices, retail, coworking spaces, restaurants, salons, and single-family residences, delivered through three phases: Pre-Construction (budgeting, timeline, code compliance consulting), Construction (execution, subcontractor coordination, quality oversight), and Close Out (punch list, equipment documentation, handover).

Product overview

Formed Space is a boutique design-build construction company offering integrated architectural design, general contracting, and construction services for commercial and residential projects in the Chicagoland area. The company provides end-to-end project delivery through three service phases: Pre-Construction (budget setting, timeline planning, code compliance), Construction (execution, contractor coordination, quality oversight), and Close Out (punch list completion, documentation handover). No distinct product names, modules, or software offerings were identified in the source material.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Design-Build Construction Services Integrated design-build construction services for commercial and residential clients in the Chicagoland area, combining architectural design, general contracting, and construction under one team. Engagements span new construction and existing renovation across offices, retail, coworking spaces, restaurants, salons, and single-family residences, delivered across pre-construction (budgeting, timeline, code compliance), construction (execution, subcontractor coordination, quality oversight), and closeout (punch list, documentation, handover) phases.

Named customers15 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Deconstruct ArchitecturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeconstruct Architecture serves as the architect for Ofrenda Cantina, a Mexican bar and restaurant project. Formed Space provides construction services while Deconstruct Architecture provides architectural design, representing a collaborative design-build partnership for commercial hospitality projects.
• Design AGNcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign AGN serves as designer for the Ofrenda Cantina commercial project. The partnership involves collaborative design input between Design AGN's design services and Formed Space's construction execution for the Mexican bar and restaurant build-out.
• Nathan Michael Design CocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNathan Michael Design Co provides design and photography services for multiple Formed Space projects including Buttercup café/cocktail bar. Nathan Michael Design Co also designed the Formed Space brand identity. The firm operates as a recurring creative partner across commercial and residential projects.
• Kennedy ManncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKennedy Mann serves as architect for the Wrightwood Salon commercial project. The partnership combines Kennedy Mann's architectural vision with Formed Space's construction execution for a product and people conscious salon design.
• Studio CodecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudio Code serves as architect for multiple residential projects including Evergreen (private residence remodel) and Fellowshop (coworking transformation). Studio Code is a recurring strategic design partner on Formed Space projects, combining architectural design with Formed Space's construction capabilities.
• RANGE DESIGNcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRANGE DESIGN serves as architect for several Formed Space projects including NDC HQ (commercial office transformation), Logan Square Residence (residential addition), and Virginia (full-gut interior remodel). RANGE DESIGN is a primary architectural design partner across both commercial and residential project types.
• EnMasse Architecture and DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnMasse Architecture and Design (also listed as EnMasse) serves as architect for Fellowshop, CMT 2.0, and Fremont Townhouse projects. The firm is a recurring strategic design partner contributing architectural vision across Formed Space's commercial and high-end residential portfolio.
• 34TENcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner34TEN serves as architect for Deep Red Wine (hospitality project) and Clock Tower (residential lobby renovation). The firm brings postmodernist and industrial aesthetic sensibilities that align with Formed Space's high-craft construction approach.
• TUMU StudiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTUMU Studio serves as architect for the Bloomingdale residential project, a comprehensive renovation featuring custom millwork, cantilevered kitchen islands, and luxury sauna. The partnership showcases Formed Space's capability in high-end residential construction.
• Factory Haus ArchitecturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFactory Haus Architecture serves as architect for the Tufenkian Artisan Carpets Chicago flagship showroom project. The partnership combines Factory Haus's architectural vision with Formed Space's construction execution to create a distinctive retail environment.
• Landsor StudiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandsor Studio provides millwork services for multiple Formed Space projects including Ofrenda Cantina, Buttercup, Evergreen, and Fremont Townhouse. The firm is a recurring millwork partner contributing custom woodwork and fabrication for high-craft interior finishes.
• Wazny VisualsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWazny Visuals serves as photographer for multiple Formed Space projects including Ofrenda Cantina, Wrightwood Salon, Evergreen, NDC HQ, Logan Square Residence, and Fellowshop. The firm documents completed projects for portfolio and marketing purposes.
• James John JetelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJames John Jetel serves as photographer for the Virginia residential project and Deep Red Wine hospitality project. The firm provides professional photography that supports Formed Space's project documentation and portfolio presentation.
• Debaun StudiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDebaun Studio provides interior design services for the Tufenkian Artisan Carpets Chicago flagship showroom project. The firm works in collaboration with Factory Haus Architecture and Formed Space to deliver a personalized luxury retail environment.
• Dustin HalleckminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDustin Halleck serves as photographer for the Bloomingdale residential project. The firm provides professional project photography supporting Formed Space's portfolio and marketing materials.
• Ross FloydminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoss Floyd serves as photographer for the CMT 2.0 project — an award-recognized transformation of a West Loop financial services workspace. The project received an AIA Chicago Design Excellence Citation or Merit Award, with Ross Floyd's photography supporting the award submission.
• Tony SoluriminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTony Soluri serves as photographer for the Tufenkian Artisan Carpets Chicago flagship showroom. The firm provides professional photography that captures the distinctive tarnished metallics and darker textures of the showroom design.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Hobbs Architects + Builders: Boutique integrated design-build firm offering architecture and construction under one roof for custom residential and light commercial projects — the closest model analog to Formed Space in terms of boutique positioning and integrated service delivery, though operating in a different metro.

Regional players

• Bulley & Andrews: Chicago-based construction manager and design-build firm specializing in commercial, healthcare, cultural, and hospitality builds — directly comparable in Chicago geography and in delivering integrated design-build services for high-craft commercial interiors.
• Skender Construction: Chicago-based design-build firm combining construction with modular/off-site manufacturing for commercial and healthcare clients — competes with Formed Space in Chicago's commercial design-build segment while adding a manufacturing-led delivery innovation.
• Leopardo Companies: One of Chicago's largest employee-owned general contractors and design-build firms, offering integrated construction services across commercial, healthcare, hospitality, and residential sectors — overlapping heavily with Formed Space's design-build delivery model at significantly larger scale within the same Chicagoland geography.
• W.E. O'Neil Construction: Chicago-headquartered general contractor with deep design-build capabilities across commercial, hospitality, and multi-family residential — directly comparable to Formed Space's integrated delivery approach and project mix, though operating at materially larger scale.
• Power Construction: Chicago general contractor and construction manager with design-build delivery on commercial, healthcare, and corporate interior projects — operates in the same Chicagoland market as Formed Space and competes for similar office build-out and tenant improvement work.

Broad incumbents

• Gilbane Building Company: National design-build and construction management firm with established Chicago operations spanning commercial, education, and hospitality — provides integrated delivery at a scale and geographic reach that frames Formed Space's boutique positioning.
• Walsh Construction: Major Chicago-headquartered general contractor with design-build capabilities across commercial, healthcare, and transportation sectors — competes with Formed Space in the broader Chicago construction market while operating at significantly larger scale on institutional and commercial work.
• Mortenson Construction: Large national design-build, construction management, and general contracting firm with active Chicago presence — represents the broad incumbent against which boutique design-build firms like Formed Space compete on smaller, design-sensitive commercial interiors.

Others

• Deconstruct Architecture (referral partner context): Chicago architecture firm that partners with Formed Space as architect on hospitality projects like Ofrenda Cantina — included because the partnership structure (architect + Formed Space as builder) exemplifies how boutique design-build teams compete against integrated firms like Formed Space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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 Formed Space