Yu & Associates Collaborative

Name

Yu & Associates Collaborative

Legal name

Yu & Associates Collaborative

Website

https://yuacollab.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413), Other Specialized Design Services (54149)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Multi-Family Residential Construction (Apartments, Condos, Townhomes) (IMAFABAB), Detached ADU (Backyard Cottage) Construction (HSAPAMAA)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Interior design services
• Custom residential architecture
• Multi-family residential design
• Commercial and cultural architecture

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Full-service architectural and interior design services including schematic design, design development, construction documents, bidding, and construction administration. Revenue is generated through professional service fees based on project scope, complexity, and construction budget.
2. Interior Design Services: Residential interiors, commercial build-outs, furniture fixtures and equipment (FFE) selection, and branding/graphic design assistance provided as part of comprehensive design projects or standalone engagements.
3. Consulting Services: Hourly design consulting, permit document preparation and submission, and sustainability/LEED certification advisory services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Yu & Associates Collaborative is a full-service architectural and interior design studio delivering integrated design services from project planning through construction administration. The firm specializes in custom single-family residential projects (including ADUs), multi-unit and multi-family residential developments, commercial architecture and interiors, and cultural and civic design projects for communities, educational institutions, and civic entities.

Product overview

Yu & Associates Collaborative is a full-service architectural and interior design studio offering integrated services including project planning, full-service architecture, interior design, permitting support, and consulting services. The firm specializes in custom single-family residential projects (including ADUs), multi-unit and multi-family developments, commercial architecture and interiors, and cultural and civic design projects. The core service modules work together as a comprehensive design offering, guiding clients from initial project planning through feasibility studies, schematic design, design development, construction documents, permitting, and construction administration. The firm also provides specialized consulting for LEED certifications and sustainability strategies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Full-Service Architecture Comprehensive architectural services from schematic design through construction administration, including design development, construction documents, bidding support, and construction oversight for projects across residential, commercial, cultural, and civic sectors.
• Interior Design Residential interiors, commercial build-outs, furniture, fixtures and equipment (FFE) selection, and branding and graphic design assistance for projects of various scales.
• Project Planning Services Initial phase services including site selection, feasibility studies, programming and test fit, and renderings and 3D visualization to establish the project foundation.
• Permitting Support Permit document preparation, permit submission and coordination, self-certification for applicable projects, and express permit processing.
• Consulting Services Hourly design consulting, LEED and building certifications guidance, and sustainability strategies for projects.
• Custom Single-Family Residential Architecture Custom residential design services for single-family homes including new construction, whole-house renovations, and accessory dwelling units (ADUs), serving individual homeowners and families.
• Multi-Unit and Multi-Family Residential Development Multi-family residential architecture including townhomes, condominiums, high-rise developments, and missing middle housing solutions, serving real estate developers.
• Commercial Architecture and Interior Design Commercial interior design, retail build-outs, office spaces, and commercial new construction projects for business clients.
• Cultural and Civic Design Cultural institutions, community centers, religious facilities, educational buildings, and public infrastructure projects for universities, civic entities, and nonprofits.

Named customers6 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

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Booth HansencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing collaboration on large-scale cultural and institutional projects. Wei Yu worked at Booth Hansen before founding Yu & Associates Collaborative, and the firm continues to partner with Booth Hansen on significant projects including the Illinois Street Residence (ISR) Dining Hall, Bosworth Dev, and 320 West Erie high-rise development. Booth Hansen serves as the architecture firm while Yu & Associates Collaborative contributes to design development.
• Burhani Design ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-design architects for the Bosnian Educational & Cultural Center of America (BECCA) project. Yu & Associates Collaborative serves as Design Architect alongside Burhani Design Architects, with Purohit Architects as Architect of Record.
• Purohit ArchitectssupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitect of Record for the BECCA project, handling permitting and construction administration while Yu & Associates Collaborative provides design architect services.
• Nia ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign collaboration with Nia Architects on the Missing Middle Chicago design competition project. Folarin Ijelu, now Senior Architectural Designer at Yu & Associates Collaborative, previously worked closely on-site with Nia Architects.
• Fern StudiossupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterior design collaborator on multiple residential projects including Loleta Residence and Maywood Home, providing interior design services while Yu & Associates Collaborative handles architecture.
• Folarin IjelusupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign Collaborator on the On Olive Residence project in St. Louis, bringing expertise from affordable multi-family housing and healthcare architecture background. Folarin is now a Senior Architectural Designer at the firm.

Scale indicators1 record

Broad incumbents

• HOK: Global architecture, engineering, and planning firm competing for large institutional, healthcare, and cultural projects in Chicago. Represents the broader incumbent competitive set for institutional commissions.
• Perkins&Will: Major global architecture firm with a strong Chicago presence and deep institutional/healthcare/education portfolio. Competes for the same cultural, civic, and institutional projects in Chicago.
• Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture: Global architecture firm where founder Wei Yu previously worked; designs supertall towers, large-scale cultural, and commercial projects worldwide. Operates at a vastly larger scale but overlaps in high-rise residential and institutional architecture.
• Studio Gang (Studio Gang Architects): Award-winning Chicago-based architecture practice known for design-led cultural, civic, and high-rise residential work. Competes for premium institutional and multi-family commissions in the Chicago market.

Direct peers

• Nia Architects: Chicago-based design firm collaborating with Yu & Associates Collaborative on Missing Middle housing design competitions. Comparable in residential, multi-family, and civic architecture with a focus on community-oriented design.
• Lamar Johnson Collaborative: Chicago-based architecture and interior design studio working across residential, hospitality, and commercial interiors. Comparable mid-size firm with similar multi-sector project mix and Chicago focus.
• Booth Hansen: Long-established Chicago architecture firm and active strategic partner of Yu & Associates Collaborative on cultural, institutional, and high-rise projects including ISR Dining Hall and Bosworth Dev. Directly comparable in multi-family, cultural, and commercial architecture serving Chicago clients.
• Pappageorge Haymes Partners: Chicago architecture firm specializing in multi-family residential, mixed-use developments, and urban infill housing. Comparable in residential and multi-family project types with deep Chicago developer relationships.
• JGMA (Juan Gabriel Moreno Architects): Chicago architecture firm where Yu & Associates team member Tori Charmoli previously worked on O'Hare Terminal 5 and educational projects. Comparable mid-size Chicago studio with strong cultural, civic, and transportation portfolio.
• bKL Architecture: Chicago architecture firm with multi-family, residential, and institutional experience including large-scale developments. Comparable in multi-unit residential and mixed-use architecture serving Chicago developers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yu-associates-collaborative

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

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 Yu & Associates Collaborative