What tec design does

A-Tec Design is a privately held, founder-owned architectural practice headquartered in Newquay, Cornwall, United Kingdom, operating under the leadership of principal Daren Thomas since CIAT membership in 2004. The firm provides professional architectural design services across two principal segments: bespoke residential builds and commercial projects, with a technical specialization in Passivhaus (Passive House) design, sustainable construction, and energy-efficient building methodology. Service offerings include architectural drawings, planning applications, building regulations applications, sustainable material and energy efficiency consulting, and the integration of renewable systems such as air source heat pumps and photovoltaic panels. The practice is one of only a small number of Certified Passive House Designers in Cornwall and uses specialized Passivhaus design software alongside systems like Logix Insulated Concrete Forms.

The firm operates a sales-led, project-based professional services model with a free initial consultation and site visit, followed by competitive no-obligation quotes. Its geographic reach is described as Cornwall and England, with delivery conducted directly from the single Newquay office (9 Treninnick Hill, TR7 2JS). Distribution is via direct client engagement supported by a content marketing website, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram; the firm maintains professional memberships in CIAT, Passive House UK, Timber Development UK, and the AECB. A-Tec Design also delivers pro bono design services to wildlife and animal welfare charities, including St Francis Home for Animals, The Barn Owl Trust, and Prickles & Paws Hedgehog Rescue Centre, with Daren Thomas serving as a Trustee on construction matters for the latter.

Name

tec design

Legal name

A-Tec Design

Website

https://a-tecdesign.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Short description

A-Tec Design is a Newquay, Cornwall-based architectural practice led by Daren Thomas that provides sustainable architectural design, Passivhaus-certified builds, planning applications, and building regulations services to residential and commercial clients across Cornwall and England.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Newquay

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Professional architectural design services billed on a project basis. Services include bespoke new build, commercial and residential work, planning applications, building regulations applications, sustainable advice, energy efficiency consulting, Passivhaus design, and renewables integration.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

A-Tec Design is a professional architectural practice providing architectural design services for bespoke new builds and commercial/residential projects. The firm prepares planning applications, building regulations applications, sustainable construction advice, energy efficiency consulting, Passivhaus design, and renewables integration. Services are delivered on a project basis to clients throughout Cornwall and England, with a particular emphasis on ultra-energy-efficient and resilient building design.

Product overview

A-Tec Design is an architectural practice offering a unified suite of professional design services. The core offering centers on architectural design services for bespoke new builds and commercial/residential projects, supplemented by specialized Passivhaus Design services for ultra-energy-efficient construction. Additional offerings include sustainable architecture consulting, renewable energy system integration (heat pumps, solar PV), and energy efficiency advisory. The firm serves clients throughout Cornwall and England, operating as a single integrated practice rather than a platform with modular components.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Design Services Professional architectural design services covering bespoke new builds and commercial/residential projects, delivered on a project basis throughout Cornwall and England.
• Passivhaus Design Certified Passive House Designer service delivering ultra-energy-efficient building designs using Passivhaus design software, high-performance insulation, and on-site energy generation, conservation, and storage systems.
• Planning & Building Regulations Applications Preparation and submission of planning applications and building regulations applications for residential and commercial projects.
• Sustainable Architecture Consulting Advisory service on eco-friendly architectural design and sustainable materials and construction methods for new builds and refurbishments.
• Renewables Integration Architectural design incorporating air source heat pumps, photovoltaic panels, and on-site energy generation, storage, and conservation systems.
• Energy Efficiency Consulting Advisory service on energy efficiency measures and sustainable building materials aimed at minimizing energy consumption while preserving aesthetic value.

Quantifiable outcome

• Structures proven to survive extreme storm conditions (Goretti storm) whilst surrounding houses did not

Named customers3 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Warvena Construction LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA-Tec Design is part of the design team collaborating with Warvena Construction Ltd on Passive House projects in Newquay. They worked together on the 'Hogspital' project for Prickles & Paws Hedgehog Rescue Centre.
• St Francis Home for AnimalsminorOthersA-Tec Design has provided professional architectural services including advice and plans for the rebuild of their office facility as part of their charitable giving program.
• The Barn Owl TrustminorOthersA-Tec Design provided advice and plans for the rebuild of the Barn Owl Trust's office in Ashburton. Daren Thomas was invited to cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony of the new building.
• Prickles & Paws Hedgehog Rescue CentrecoreOthersA-Tec Design provided planning application and building regulations drawings for the design of the site and related works for the new 'Hogspital'. Daren Thomas was asked to become a Trustee in relation to the construction works.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Architype: Architype is a UK architecture practice focused on Passivhaus, low-energy, and sustainable building design. Its specialist, project-based work directly overlaps A-Tec Design's high-performance residential and commercial architecture offering.
• Bere Architects: Bere Architects is a UK practice with a strong emphasis on sustainable and Passivhaus design. Its bespoke architectural work and focus on energy-efficient buildings make it a close analogue to A-Tec Design.
• Gale & Snowden: Gale & Snowden is an architecture practice specializing in sustainable, low-energy, and ecological buildings. It directly overlaps A-Tec Design's Passivhaus, energy-efficiency, and renewables-integration services.
• Parsons + Whittley: Parsons + Whittley is a UK architectural practice known for Passivhaus and low-energy projects. It serves similar bespoke residential and small commercial clients, making it a direct peer.
• Gaia Architects: Gaia Architects is a UK ecological architecture practice focused on energy-efficient and low-carbon buildings. It overlaps with A-Tec Design's sustainability-led design, energy-conservation, and renewables proposition.
• WARM: WARM is a UK low-energy architecture practice working on Passivhaus and other high-performance buildings. Its specialist, design-led approach is directly comparable to A-Tec Design's certified Passivhaus offering.
• MawsonKerr: MawsonKerr is a UK architecture practice with a focus on sustainable and low-energy design and delivery. It competes for similar clients seeking environmentally responsible, high-performance buildings.

Broad incumbents

• FCB Studios: FCB Studios is an established UK architecture practice with substantial experience in sustainable and low-carbon building design. It is a broader incumbent, but its energy-performance and Passivhaus work overlaps A-Tec Design's specialist position.
• AHR: AHR is a large UK architecture and building-consultancy group with sustainability and building-performance capabilities. It overlaps A-Tec Design in architectural design, energy efficiency, and high-performance building work, but at much greater scale.
• Stride Treglown: Stride Treglown is a UK architecture and design practice with sustainability and building-performance capabilities. It is a broad incumbent comparable on sustainable architectural services, while serving a wider range of projects and geographies.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebooken-gb.facebook.com/ATecDesign.Truro
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/daren-thomas-19a62b29
• Instagraminstagram.com/atecdesign.cornwall

Compliance2 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 tec design