What CD Architects does

CD Architects (legal entity: Construction Design Architects Ltd) is a RIAS Chartered Architectural practice founded in 2009 by Managing Director Grant Johnston and headquartered in Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland. The firm delivers end-to-end architectural services across three core lines — Domestic (homeowners seeking extensions, conversions and new-build houses), Residential (multi-unit housing, flatted developments and estates for property developers), and Commercial (offices, retail, leisure, education and industrial sectors). Supporting services include interior design, development consultancy, feasibility studies, planning and building warrant applications, in-house CAD imagery and 3D animation for planning submissions and marketing packs, design-and-build delivery, contract administration, and construction-phase site inspection. The practice is ARB-registered and RIAS Chartered, with a named team of approximately 8 professionals covering Managing Director, Associate Director, Senior Architect, Senior Architectural Technician, Project Architect, Architectural Technologist, Part 2 Architectural Assistant, and Office Administrator.

The firm's underlying technical capability centres on conventional architectural CAD, 3D modelling, CGI rendering, sunlight/shadow analysis and animation, with no disclosed AI/ML tooling, proprietary platform or API surface. Geographic footprint is concentrated in Scotland's Central Belt with occasional projects in England; delivery is from a single studio at The Old School Business Centre, Airdrie.

The business operates on a project-based professional services model: quote-driven fees tailored to scope and complexity, multi-year contract cadence on larger engagements, and no publicly disclosed pricing tiers or subscriptions. Go-to-market is sales-led with the overwhelming majority of work sourced through repeat business, referrals and recommendations from existing clients, colleagues and contractors. Customer mix is heterogeneous — enterprise (John Dewars & Sons, Braehead Shopping Centre), government (East Renfrewshire Council, Visit Scotland), SMB contractors (R Taylor & Sons, Dickie & Moore, McTear's), education (Hamilton College, Hillside School), and charitable (Waterside Miners Charitable Society). The firm is privately held by founder Grant Johnston with no external institutional investors, no subsidiaries, no disclosed M&A activity and no funding rounds.

Name

CD Architects

Legal name

Construction Design Architects Ltd

Website

https://cd-architects.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CD Architects is a RIAS Chartered Architectural practice in Airdrie, Scotland, delivering architectural design, planning, interior design, consultancy and construction services to homeowners, residential developers, and commercial/institutional clients across Scotland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Architectural Services (54131), Interior Design Services (54141), Interior Design Services (541410)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB), Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders (IMAFABAE)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Residential architecture
• Commercial architecture
• Building design planning
• Construction administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Airdrie

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

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. Professional Architecture Services: Fees for professional architecture services including architectural design, interior design, development consultancy, feasibility studies, planning and building warrant applications, site inspection services, contract administration, and construction services. Revenue is generated through project-based professional service fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CD Architects is a RIAS Chartered Architectural practice delivering professional architectural design, planning, interior design, development consultancy, and construction services across Scotland. The firm operates three core service lines — Domestic Architecture (house extensions, alterations and new build homes), Residential Architecture (multi-unit housing developments, flatted developments, housing estates), and Commercial Architecture (offices, retail, leisure, education, industrial sectors) — supported by end-to-end project services from feasibility and planning applications through contract administration and construction oversight.

Product overview

CD Architects is a RIAS Chartered Architectural practice offering a comprehensive range of professional architecture services. The practice provides three core service lines: Domestic Architecture Services for house extensions, alterations, and new builds; Residential Architecture Services for multi-unit housing developments, flatted developments, and housing estates; and Commercial Architecture Services covering offices, retail, leisure, education, and industrial sectors. These core offerings are supported by additional professional services including Interior Design, Development Consultancy, Feasibility Studies, Planning & Building Warrant Applications, In-house CAD Imagery and Animation, Design & Build Services, Construction Services and Inspections, and Contract Administration. The practice serves clients across the Central Belt of Scotland and wider, operating from their base in Airdrie, Lanarkshire.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Domestic Architecture Services Architecture services for domestic-scale projects, from house extensions and alterations to new build homes, with a personal approach creating designs with a true sense of belonging at a domestic scale.
• Residential Architecture Services Residential architecture services covering multi-unit housing developments, flatted developments, and housing estates, with spaces carefully considered for each client to make every project unique.
• Commercial Architecture Services Commercial architecture services encompassing offices, retail, leisure, education, and industrial sectors, with environmental, landscape and societal needs at the heart of design.
• Interior Design Services Interior design services offered alongside architectural design to create cohesive spaces from conception through completion.
• Development Consultancy Strategic advisory services guiding clients through development opportunities, market analysis, and project feasibility.
• Feasibility Studies Assessment of project viability including identification of needs and objectives, business case development, and constraint analysis.
• Planning and Building Warrant Applications Submission and management of planning applications and building warrant regulations applications, including attendance at local authority planning hearings.
• In-house CAD Imagery and Animation In-house 3D computer-generated models and CGI images for planning approval, including sunlight and shadow modelling, and marketing packs for clients.
• Construction Services and Site Inspections Site inspection services and construction phase oversight including valuation and payment facilitation for clients.
• Contract Administration Administration of building contracts including facilitating agreements, assessing payments, and managing handover and completion procedures.

Named customers11 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.

• Ryedale Interiors LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018CD Architects worked in conjunction with construction specialist Ryedale Interiors Ltd on the SOAR The Intu Centre, Braehead, Glasgow project. Together they won Gold at the Finishes & Interiors Sector (FIS) Awards 2018 for innovative column encasement solutions.
• Carnbroe Primary SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009CD Architects engaged with Carnbroe Primary School as part of the North Lanarkshire Schools Business Partnership. The partnership involved introduction to architecture and construction industry workshops, computer software workshops, and model making skills with senior pupils. This collaboration led to winning the 2009 Most Innovation Business Partnership Award.
• Alliance LeisurecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCD Architects worked in close partnership with Alliance Leisure, appointed by East Renfrewshire Council, to transform a low occupancy martial arts studio into a high energy functional training arena (The Grid) at Barrhead Sports Centre.
• East Renfrewshire CouncilcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEast Renfrewshire Council appointed Alliance Leisure (with CD Architects as design partner) to transform facilities at Barrhead Sports Centre. CD Architects delivered the Foundry Gym Fit-Out space branded as The Grid for community fitness use.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Page\Park Architects: Scottish architecture practice with a comparable portfolio spanning residential, education, commercial, and heritage sectors across Scotland. Both firms are similarly sized Scottish RIAS chartered practices serving overlapping client types in the same geography.
• Anderson Bell + Christie: Long-established Scottish architecture firm offering residential, commercial, education, and conservation services across Scotland. Directly comparable in geographic focus, sector mix, and chartered practice structure to CD Architects.
• Cooper Cromar: Glasgow-headquartered architectural practice delivering commercial, residential, education, and leisure projects across Scotland. Comparable in regional focus, chartered structure, and breadth of services including interior design.
• 3DReid: Scottish architectural practice with residential, commercial, education, and interiors work. Similar size and full-service offering from feasibility through contract administration, with comparable client base in Scotland.
• Reiach and Hall Architects: Edinburgh-based RIAS chartered architectural practice with comparable portfolio of cultural, education, residential, and commercial projects across Scotland. Similar scale and chartered practice profile to CD Architects.

Broad incumbents

• HLM Architects: Larger UK-wide architectural practice with offices across the UK including Scotland, covering residential, education, healthcare, and innovation sectors. Martin Ross previously worked at HLM before joining CD Architects, illustrating the talent pipeline between such larger firms and boutique Scottish practices.
• jmarchitects: Multi-office UK practice with a Scotland presence covering residential, education, commercial, and interiors work. Larger scale than CD Architects but directly comparable in service breadth and customer segments.
• Austin-Smith:Lord: UK-wide architectural practice with offices including Glasgow, delivering residential, commercial, education, and conservation projects. Comparable sector mix but larger scale than CD Architects.
• Foster + Partners: Global architecture incumbent with a London HQ and significant UK presence including commercial, residential, and education projects. Operates at vastly larger scale than CD Architects but competes for the same enterprise commercial clients in the UK.

Others

• Ryedale Interiors Ltd: Construction and finishes specialist that partnered with CD Architects on the FIS Gold-winning Braehead column encasement project. An ecosystem partner rather than direct competitor, reflecting CD Architects' integration with specialist fit-out contractors.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ConstructionDesignArchitects
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cdarchitectsltd
• Instagraminstagram.com/construction.design.architects

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 CD Architects