The Office of Charles F. Bloszies

What The Office of Charles F. Bloszies does

The Office of Charles F. Bloszies is a privately held, founder-led architectural and structural engineering practice founded in 1985 and headquartered in San Francisco. The firm operates as a hybrid practice: a single principal (Charles F. Bloszies, who holds both AIA/Architect and California Structural Engineer credentials) leads integrated design-engineering engagements, eliminating the typical coordination friction between separate architecture and engineering consultants. The practice concentrates on complex urban infill, historic preservation, seismic retrofitting, and adaptive reuse of existing buildings in the San Francisco Bay Area, with a secondary specialization in modular supportive housing for homeless populations developed through its proprietary Step(x) Housing system (phased Step(0)/Step(1)/Step(2) configurations). Notable projects include the parametrically-modeled 690 Folsom Street renovation (Boston Properties), the award-winning One Kearny seismic addition, the Cathedral School for Boys expansion, 345 Brannan (Dropbox HQ), and a cluster of navigation centers for the City of San Francisco, San Mateo County, and Mountain View.

The firm earns revenue through professional services fees structured as a percentage of construction cost (industry-standard 5–12%) or hourly rates for smaller engagements, with multi-year contract cadences typical of full-service design work. Go-to-market is referral-driven and direct: private developer and institutional clients are acquired through long-term relationships and project referrals, while public-sector navigation center work is secured through competitive bidding processes with city and county governments. The practice is small (5–10 staff including the principal, a senior associate, an associate, and two designers), operates from a single office in San Francisco's Financial District, and has no external investment, parent company, or subsidiaries. Marketing is limited to earned media through trade publications (Architectural Record, ArchDaily, Dezeen) and industry awards.

Name

The Office of Charles F. Bloszies

Legal name

The Office of Charles F. Bloszies

Website

https://archengine.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Office of Charles F. Bloszies is a San Francisco-based, founder-led hybrid architecture and structural engineering firm specializing in urban infill, historic preservation, seismic retrofitting, and modular supportive housing for cities and developers across the San Francisco Bay Area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural and Structural Engineering Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Architectural Services (541310), Residential Remodelers (236118)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Structural engineering services
• Urban infill development
• Historic preservation design
• Supportive housing design

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Full-service architectural design including schematic design, design development, construction documents, and construction administration for commercial, residential, institutional, and government projects. Fees are typically structured as a percentage of construction cost or hourly rates for smaller projects.
2. Structural Engineering Services: Structural engineering design and engineering analysis, often integrated with architectural services as a hybrid practice offering.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Office of Charles F. Bloszies provides integrated architectural design and structural engineering services as a hybrid practice, specializing in the renovation, adaptation, and modification of existing buildings and the creation of contextually-sensitive urban infill structures. Services span schematic design, design development, construction documents, and construction administration for commercial, residential, institutional, and government projects in the San Francisco Bay Area, with deep expertise in historic preservation, seismic retrofitting, and rapid-deployment supportive housing through the proprietary Step(x) modular housing system.

Product overview

The Office of Charles F. Bloszies is a hybrid architecture and structural engineering firm founded in 1985 in San Francisco. The firm offers a portfolio of architectural and engineering services centered on working with existing buildings and urban infill projects. Their notable product offering is the Step(x) Housing System—a modular supportive housing concept designed to address homelessness through three phases: Step(0) temporary structures (NowHouse), Step(1) interim supportive housing (Navigation Centers), and Step(2) permanent supportive housing. The firm has completed numerous high-profile projects including the San Mateo County Navigation Center, HomeKey Mountain View, One Kearny, and 690 Folsom Street, serving clients ranging from private developers to cities and nonprofits.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Step(x) Housing: A modular housing system developed by the firm for addressing homelessness, consisting of temporary, interim, and permanent supportive housing solutions using prefabricated modules
• San Mateo County Navigation Center

Products and services

• Architecture and Structural Engineering Services Hybrid architecture and structural engineering practice specializing in renovation, adaptation, and modification of existing buildings and creation of contextually-sensitive urban infill structures, with a focus on historic preservation, seismic retrofitting, and rapid-deployment supportive housing. Services span schematic design, design development, construction documents, and construction administration.
• Step(x) Housing System A modular supportive housing system designed to address homelessness through a phased approach (Step 0, Step 1, Step 2), ranging from temporary tiny home structures to permanent supportive housing units. The system uses prefabricated modular components that can be configured in various layouts to serve different populations and site requirements, with an open-source design philosophy.

Quantifiable outcome

• San Mateo County Navigation Center delivered at approximately $240,000 per door, significantly below typical supportive housing costs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• LifeMovescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperator partner for San Mateo County Navigation Center. LifeMoves provides homeless services and case management for residents transitioning from the navigation center to stable housing. The firm designed the facility to support LifeMoves' operational model.
• XL ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDesign-build contractor for Homekey Mountain View project. XL Construction executed the accelerated six-month construction schedule for the 48-unit prefabricated modular facility.
• Saris Regis GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partner for Homekey Mountain View Homekey project, working with City of Mountain View and the firm to deliver the rapid-deployment supportive housing solution.
• Connect HomessupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerModular housing fabricator providing prefabricated units for Homekey Mountain View. One of four fabricators coordinated by the firm for the project.
• Falcon StructuressupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerModular housing fabricator providing prefabricated units for Homekey Mountain View.
• IndieDwellsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerModular housing fabricator providing prefabricated units for Homekey Mountain View.
• Urban BlocsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerModular housing fabricator providing prefabricated units for Homekey Mountain View.
• Pankow BuilderscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDesign-build contractor for Bayview Navigation Center, a 35,000 SF facility providing 200+ beds for San Francisco's homeless population.
• G&G BuilderscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDesign-build contractor for Embarcadero Navigation Center, 47,000 SF facility with 200 beds.
• IwamotoScottsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAvant-garde architecture firm that designed the 'Lightfold' interior lobby installation at One Kearny, specifically commissioned and approved as public art.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• David Baker Architects: San Francisco-based architecture firm specializing in affordable and supportive housing, with a strong track record in modular and sustainable residential design. Highly comparable because both firms operate as boutique Bay Area practices focused on innovative housing for vulnerable populations, including navigation-center-adjacent work.
• Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects: San Francisco architecture firm with a mission-driven focus on affordable housing, social justice, education, and adaptive reuse. Comparable because both firms are small SF practices that pair design quality with social impact work, particularly in housing and community facilities.
• Page & Turnbull: San Francisco architecture and preservation firm specializing in historic preservation, adaptive reuse, and seismic retrofit of existing buildings. Comparable because both firms operate in the SF historic-preservation and structural-retrofit niche with a focus on working with existing urban fabric.
• Jensen Architects: San Francisco boutique architecture firm with a portfolio of historic preservation, adaptive reuse, and urban infill projects. Comparable because both firms are similarly sized SF-based practices known for thoughtful integration of contemporary design with existing buildings and historic context.
• EHDD: San Francisco architecture and interiors firm with deep expertise in education, civic, housing, and adaptive reuse projects. Comparable because both firms are mid-sized Bay Area practices that combine architecture with deep community and institutional engagement, particularly in schools and civic buildings.
• Handel Architects: San Francisco- and New York-based architecture firm specializing in large-scale mixed-use, multifamily residential, and adaptive reuse including office-to-residential conversions. Comparable because both firms have delivered high-profile residential conversion work (e.g., Ritz-Carlton at 690 Market) in San Francisco.
• Bohlin Cywinski Jackson: Multi-office architecture firm recognized for design quality across academic, civic, and commercial buildings, with offices in San Francisco. Comparable because both firms operate as design-led practices with rigorous technical execution, public-sector engagement, and recognition through AIA and industry awards.
• IwamotoScott: San Francisco avant-garde architecture firm known for innovative material research and parametric design. Comparable because the subject firm explicitly partnered with IwamotoScott on the One Kearny lobby interior, and both firms share SF location, small practice structure, and avant-garde design positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Mithun: Larger integrated architecture, interiors, and landscape design firm with offices in San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington DC, with deep expertise in affordable housing and sustainability. Comparable because both firms pursue design excellence in housing, education, and community buildings with strong sustainability credentials (LEED AP), but Mithun is a broader, multi-office incumbent.

Emerging players

• Studio Gang: Chicago- and San Francisco-based architecture practice known for innovative, sustainability-driven design and integrated structural thinking. Comparable as a peer because both firms are recognized for design creativity paired with structural and material innovation, though Studio Gang operates at significantly larger scale and broader national visibility.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-office-of-charles-f-bloszies
• Instagraminstagram.com/office_cfb/?hl=en

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 The Office of Charles F. Bloszies