What Formation Architects Inc. does

Formation Architects Inc. is a privately held architectural services firm founded in 2005 and headquartered in Highland, Illinois. The firm operates with a small delivery team of 1–10 employees and is led by Director Matt Galligos, an NCARB-certified architect. It offers eight core service lines: architectural programming and design, additions and renovations, design-build delivery, building envelope and roof improvements, construction observation, building assessments, RFP writing, and health/life safety surveys. The practice holds architectural licensure across five states and is prequalified with the Illinois Capital Development Board, positioning it to compete for both private-sector and state-funded public work.

The firm serves a diversified customer base spanning K-12 education, industrial and manufacturing, commercial and retail, religious and historical preservation, and municipal and civic clients. Named referenceable projects include The Old Wicks Factory, NuWay Fabrication Lab, All Saints Academy, and collaborative work with Luna and Associates and Contegra Construction Company. Delivery is executed through a project-based fee model anchored by partnerships — most notably a design-build relationship with Contegra Construction and a co-located operating arrangement with Foresight Services that bundles architecture with envelope and paving disciplines.

Revenue mechanics follow a conventional professional services model: fees generated per project across programming, design, and construction observation phases, supplemented by advisory engagements such as building assessments, RFP preparation, and code compliance surveys. There is no disclosed subscription, SaaS, or recurring revenue component, and no AI, proprietary technology platform, or significant capital structure is referenced in the available data. The firm's competitive posture rests on regulatory credentials, multi-vertical project experience, twenty years of operating history, and embedded delivery partnerships rather than technology differentiation.

Name

Formation Architects Inc.

Legal name

Formation Architects, Inc.

Website

https://formationai.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Formation Architects Inc. is a privately held Illinois architectural firm founded in 2005, providing eight core design, renovation, and assessment services to K-12, industrial, commercial, religious, and municipal clients across a five-state Midwest footprint under Director Matt Galligos.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (236220), Industrial Building Construction (23621)

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

New School Construction (Greenfield Builds) (EDAEABAA), Office & Corporate Building Construction (IMAFACAA), Hospitality & Entertainment Venue Construction (IMAFACAC)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Design-build delivery
• Building assessments
• Construction observation
• Building envelope improvements

Headquarters

HQ city

Highland Park

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Architectural Services: Formation Architects generates revenue through professional architectural service fees. Services are project-based, including architectural programming and design, additions and renovations, design-build services, construction observation, building assessments, envelope and roof improvements, health and life safety surveys, and RFP writing. Revenue is derived from one-time project fees rather than recurring contracts, with project scope ranging from small renovations to large commercial and institutional construction.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Formation Architects provides professional architectural design services across the full project lifecycle — from feasibility studies, schematic design, and construction documentation through construction administration. The firm also delivers design-build services, additions and renovations, building envelope and roof improvements, construction observation, building assessments, RFP writing, and health and life safety surveys for clients across commercial, educational, industrial, and adaptive reuse project types.

Product overview

Formation Architects Inc. is an architectural services firm offering a comprehensive suite of services organized as eight distinct but complementary offerings. The core services include Architectural Programming and Design (covering full project lifecycle from feasibility to construction administration), Additions and Renovations, Design-Build Services, Envelope and Roof Improvements, Construction Observation, Building Assessments, Request for Proposal Writing, and Health and Life Safety Surveys. These services work together to guide clients from initial concept through project completion, with Design-Build Services providing an integrated approach that combines design and construction under one team.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Programming and Design Comprehensive architectural design services spanning feasibility studies, pre-design, schematic design, construction documentation, bidding and negotiation, and construction administration for clients across commercial, educational, and industrial projects.
• Additions and Renovations Services for expanding existing spaces through new room additions and renovations including modern upgrades, functional improvements, and aesthetic enhancements, designed for property owners seeking to update or expand existing buildings.
• Design-Build Services Integrated design and construction services delivered with a single point of contact, a collaborative approach, and overlapping design and construction phases for cost and time efficiency. Delivered in partnership with vetted contractors such as Contegra Construction Company.
• Envelope and Roof Improvements Building envelope assessments, roof inspections and repairs, energy efficiency upgrades, waterproofing, and façade restoration services, delivered with direct access to building envelope professionals at Foresight Services.
• Construction Observation Quality assurance and compliance verification through regular site visits, progress reporting, and issue resolution during construction projects, ensuring alignment with design intent and contractual requirements.
• Building Assessments Comprehensive evaluations including property condition assessments, seismic risk evaluations, energy efficiency assessments, structural and retrofit assessments, and climate risk resilience assessments for property owners and institutions.
• Request for Proposal Writing Professional RFP writing services for municipalities and school districts, particularly supporting the Illinois Design-Build project delivery method.
• Health and Life Safety Surveys Safety evaluations including fire safety assessments, occupant safety evaluations, hazard identification, regulatory compliance verification, and emergency preparedness planning for building occupants.

Quantifiable outcome

• Met 100% of program needs identified by school board and construction committee for All Saints Academy project
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Foresight ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormation Architects shares office space with Foresight Services, creating a collaborative environment that enhances their expertise in building envelope services and site paving. This co-location enables integrated service delivery for clients requiring envelope and roof improvements alongside architectural design services.
• Contegra Construction CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContegra Construction Company has been a valued partner on design-build projects with Formation Architects. The partnership combines architectural design and construction expertise from project inception, ensuring efficient realization of client visions and collaborative achievement of project goals. Formation Architects highly recommends Contegra for future project pursuits.
• Luna and AssociatesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLuna and Associates has worked on numerous projects with Formation Architects over multiple years. The relationship involves collaboration on building envelope product offerings, with Luna's team finding Formation Architects professional, thorough in design considerations, and open to considering new products as they develop.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• FGM Architects: Oak Brook, IL-headquartered architectural firm specializing in K-12 education, public safety, and municipal projects. Strong overlap with Formation's primary K-12 and civic client segments and Illinois/Midwest geographic footprint.
• Christner Inc. St. Louis architectural firm with comparable Midwest regional focus and institutional/commercial project portfolio. Similar scale and service mix to Formation's commercial and educational work.
• Mackey Mitchell Architects: St. Louis-based regional architecture firm of comparable size doing commercial, educational, and adaptive reuse work across the Midwest. Directly comparable in scale, geography, and project mix to Formation Architects.
• Legat Architects: Chicago-area architectural firm with strong K-12 education practice. Comparable focus on Illinois school district clients and educational facility design, additions, and renovations.
• Ratio: Indianapolis-based design, architecture, and engineering firm with design-build delivery model. Comparable Midwest regional focus and integrated design-build service offering for institutional and commercial clients.
• Wendel Companies: Midwest-based architecture, engineering, and energy services firm with integrated design-build capabilities. Comparable regional Midwest footprint and multi-disciplinary service offering to Formation's practice.
• Wight & Company: Illinois-based integrated design and construction firm with design-build delivery model, serving education and commercial clients. Directly comparable integrated delivery model and Midwest institutional client base.

Broad incumbents

• DLR Group: Large national architecture and engineering firm with extensive K-12, civic, and commercial practices across the U.S. Operates broadly in Formation's categories at a much larger scale, representing competitive pressure from a deeper-resourced incumbent.
• HOK: Global architecture and design firm with broad practice across commercial, institutional, and civic sectors. Represents the largest end of the competitive spectrum for the same client base Formation serves.
• CannonDesign (formerly Cannon): National architecture, engineering, and consulting firm with strong education and healthcare verticals. Larger incumbent competing for the same Illinois institutional RFPs that Formation pursues.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/formation-architects-inc

Compliance3 records

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 Formation Architects Inc.