cohen hilberry architects
Cohen Hilberry Architects is a privately held, founder-led St. Louis architectural firm providing accessibility consulting, historic renovation, master planning, and full-service design across commercial, institutional, and residential clients.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersSt Louis, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What cohen hilberry architects does
Cohen Hilberry Architects, Inc. (CHA) is a privately held, founder-led architectural firm based in St. Louis, Missouri, founded in 1993 by Gina Hilberry and John Mike Cohen. The firm provides five core service lines: Accessibility Consulting, Architectural Design, Historic Renovation, Master Planning, and Construction Administration, applied across three portfolio categories — commercial, institutional, and residential. Its positioning is differentiated by deep regulatory expertise in ADA accessibility compliance and historic preservation, including principal Gina Hilberry's 35+ years of experience and her active roles on the ICC/ANSI A117.1 Standards Development Committee, U.S. Access Board, and U.S. Department of Justice accessibility initiatives.
The firm's business model is classic professional services: project-based fees for design, documentation, and construction administration, with no public pricing or rate disclosure. Revenue streams include architectural design, accessibility consulting, historic preservation, and master planning services, sourced from a mix of government agencies, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, commercial clients, and private homeowners. Notable engagements include the CityArchRiver Foundation ($380M, 91-acre Gateway Arch grounds renovation), Garfield Commons ($8M historic adaptive reuse for chronically homeless housing), and Therma School Lofts. Distribution is direct client engagement with no intermediaries; go-to-market relies on a 30+ year local reputation, a portfolio website, AIA St. Louis and professional network participation, and long-term advisory relationships rather than active outbound sales.
Operationally, CHA is a single-office firm with no disclosed headcount, no subsidiaries, no institutional investors, no M&A activity, and no disclosed revenue or funding events. The firm has earned multiple Landmarks Association of St. Louis Most Enhanced Landmark Awards and maintains multi-decade client relationships (e.g., Bruton Stroube Studios for 30 years, CWEN since 1987). Geographic reach is described as 'national' despite being rooted in St. Louis, with no international footprint.
cohen hilberry architects firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- cohen hilberry architects
- Legal name
- Cohen Hilberry Architects, Inc.
- Website
- https://cohenhilberry.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Cohen Hilberry Architects is a privately held, founder-led St. Louis architectural firm providing accessibility consulting, historic renovation, master planning, and full-service design across commercial, institutional, and residential clients.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
cohen hilberry architects industry classification
Industry- NAICS
- Architectural Services (541310), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Historic Preservation & Conservation Planning (BPAHAKAH), Architectural Reconfiguration & Structural Alterations (HSAPAEAB), Luxury Whole-Home Renovation (High-End Finishes & Custom Build) (HSAPAEAI)
Keywords
Where cohen hilberry architects is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- St Louis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
cohen hilberry architects business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Architectural Design Services: Professional architectural services for commercial, institutional, and residential projects including new construction, renovation, and adaptive reuse. Revenue is generated through project-based fees for design, documentation, and construction administration services.
- Accessibility Consulting Services: Inclusive design and accessibility consulting services, including compliance review, universal design criteria development, and accessibility expertise for major projects such as the CityArchRiver Foundation initiative.
- Historic Preservation Services: Historic renovation and restoration services for landmark buildings, utilizing historic tax credit programs and working with preservation agencies.
- Master Planning Services: Comprehensive planning services for municipalities, universities, and private organizations, including neighborhood master plans and transition plans.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
cohen hilberry architects product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cohen Hilberry Architects is a full-service architecture firm providing architectural design, accessibility consulting, historic renovation, master planning, and construction administration services. The firm applies these five core service offerings across commercial, institutional, and residential projects, with particular specialization in historic preservation, adaptive reuse, and inclusive/accessible design for public and private clients.
Product overview
Cohen Hilberry Architects is a full-service architecture firm offering a unified service portfolio centered on five core offerings: Accessibility Consulting, Architectural Design, Historic Renovation, Master Planning, and Construction Administration. These services are applied across three portfolio categories—Commercial, Institutional, and Residential—encompassing projects ranging from private residences and retail spaces to civic institutions and urban master plans. The firm specializes in historic preservation and adaptive reuse, with particular expertise in inclusive and accessible design. Projects include Bruton Stroube Studios, Bowood Farms, Theresa School Lofts, Garfield Commons, CityArchRiver accessibility consulting, and the World's Fair Pavilion restoration.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 30 years of operating history with clients engaging for 10, 20, and 30 years
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use cohen hilberry architects
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments4 records
cohen hilberry architects technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
cohen hilberry architects partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- CWEN Business Community Improvement DistrictcoreLong-standing partnership dating to 1987 when Cohen Hilberry developed the original master plan for Central West End North neighborhood. The firm continues to work with CWEN on design standards, streetscape improvements, and neighborhood enhancement projects.
- Randy Burkett Lighting Design, Inc.supportingCollaborated on Central West End North master plan project for lighting improvements and design standards implementation.
- Ten8 (Signage and Graphic Designers)supportingPartnered on Central West End North neighborhood master plan for signage and wayfinding design standards.
- Friends of Eliestoun LLCcoreCohen Hilberry conducted detailed documentation, program development, and cost estimation for the $852,642 historic stabilization project of 7,000 sq ft 1890s Shingle-Style mansion on Mississippi River bluffs.
- Metropolitan Design/Build IncsupportingCollaborated on Eliestoun feasibility study and renovation planning for historic mansion preservation.
- T.A.P. EngineerssupportingEngineering partner for Eliestoun historic renovation feasibility study.
- Restoration St. LouiscoreDeveloper partner for Theresa School Lofts — 1902 school building converted to 35 loft apartments using historic tax credits.
- BSI ConstructorssupportingGeneral contractor for Theresa School Lofts renovation project.
- Forest Park ForevercoreCohen Hilberry provided historic documentation, design/construction drawings, and construction administration for World's Fair Pavilion restoration. Forest Park Forever raised $1.1 million for the project.
- BSI ConstructorssupportingGeneral contractor for Garfield Commons — $8 million, 40,000 sq ft historic school renovation completed in 2014.
- Peter and Paul Community ServicescoreClient for Garfield Commons — nonprofit purchased vacant Garfield Elementary School to create 25 apartments and services for chronically homeless individuals.
- CityArchRiver FoundationcoreCohen Hilberry serves as accessibility and inclusive design consultants for the $380 million, 91-acre CityArchRiver Foundation project at the Gateway Arch grounds. Firm reviews drawings, develops inclusive design criteria, and moderates the Universal Design Group.
- National Park ServicecorePartner agency for CityArchRiver project overseeing Arch grounds renovation and historic preservation requirements.
- Great Rivers GreenwaycorePartner organization for CityArchRiver project involved in greenway and trail development around the Arch grounds.
- Michael Van Valkenburgh AssociatescoreLandscape architecture firm leading design for CityArchRiver Foundation 91-acre park renovation project.
- William P. Wischmeyer (Design Architect)supportingDesign architect collaborating on 2011 Bruton Stroube Studios renovation of 1914 Willys-Overland Automobile Company building.
- H3 StudiosupportingDesign partner for private residence at Chase Park Plaza — 5,032 sq ft custom condominium renovation.
- BSI Constructors Inc.supportingGeneral contractor for private residence at Chase Park Plaza renovation.
- Grand Center, Inc.supportingHost venue partner for Circus Flora summer performances in Grand Center neighborhood.
- U.S. Access BoardcoreCohen Hilberry, through principal Gina Hilberry, participates in U.S. Access Board activities and accessibility standards development.
- American Institute of Architects (AIA) St. Louis ChaptercoreProfessional membership and leadership in AIA St. Louis Chapter — principal Gina Hilberry actively participates in standards development and advocacy.
- Institute for Human Centered DesignsupportingProfessional connection and collaboration with Institute for Human Centered Design on accessibility and inclusive design practices.
- Starkloff Disability InstitutesupportingProfessional partnership with Starkloff Disability Institute focused on disability inclusion in design and employment.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
cohen hilberry architects competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mackey Mitchell Architects: St. Louis-based, similarly sized full-service architecture firm with comparable portfolio across commercial, institutional, and residential sectors. Closely matched in scale, geography, and service mix, including interior design capability.
- Christner Inc. St. Louis architecture firm of similar profile serving institutional, commercial, and residential clients with comparable project typologies. Direct overlap in St. Louis civic and educational work.
- Wight & Company: Mid-sized Midwestern architecture and engineering firm combining preservation, new construction, and accessibility-aligned design. Comparable integrated practice model and emphasis on adaptive reuse.
- Lord Aeck Sargent: Architecture firm historically focused on historic preservation, adaptive reuse, and community-oriented design. Closest functional analog on the preservation/heritage side of Cohen Hilberry's portfolio.
- Lake|Flato: Mid-sized architecture firm recognized for contextual, sustainability-driven design including adaptive reuse and cultural buildings. Comparable design ethos and project typology overlap.
Broad incumbents
- HOK: Global architecture incumbent with longstanding St. Louis presence and major institutional portfolio. Competes for the same civic and higher-education commissions but at vastly larger scale and broader service scope.
- Perkins&Will: Large national architecture firm with strong preservation and healthcare practices (and legacy Lord Aeck Sargent heritage work). Represents the broader incumbent category Cohen Hilberry competes against for institutional RFPs.
- HGA: Architecture and engineering firm with a dedicated historic preservation practice serving cultural and institutional clients. Overlaps with Cohen Hilberry on adaptive reuse and cultural facility commissions at greater scale.
Others
- Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates: Engineering consultancy specializing in structural and heritage preservation assessment. Frequently appears alongside preservation architects on landmark adaptive reuse projects such as those Cohen Hilberry executes.
Regional players
- BNIM: Kansas City-headquartered architecture and planning firm with strong sustainability, preservation, and civic portfolio. Regional Midwest peer sharing nonprofit and institutional client base and similar integrated design ethos.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
cohen hilberry architects social profiles
Digital presencecohen hilberry architects financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
cohen hilberry architects leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
cohen hilberry architects funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
cohen hilberry architects M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about cohen hilberry architects
What does cohen hilberry architects do?
Cohen Hilberry Architects is a full-service architecture firm providing architectural design, accessibility consulting, historic renovation, master planning, and construction administration services. The firm applies these five core service offerings across commercial, institutional, and residential projects, with particular specialization in historic preservation, adaptive reuse, and inclusive/accessible design for public and private clients.
Is cohen hilberry architects a public or private company?
cohen hilberry architects is a private company. It is currently operating.
When was cohen hilberry architects founded?
cohen hilberry architects was founded in 1993.
Where is cohen hilberry architects based?
cohen hilberry architects is headquartered in St Louis, United States, in the North America region.
How does cohen hilberry architects make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Architectural Design Services are the primary driver. The others are accessibility Consulting Services, historic Preservation Services and master Planning Services.
Who are cohen hilberry architects's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mackey Mitchell Architects, Christner Inc., Wight & Company, Lord Aeck Sargent and Lake|Flato. Broad incumbents are HOK, Perkins&Will and HGA. Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates is listed as an others. BNIM is listed as a regional player.
Does cohen hilberry architects have an API?
No public API is recorded for cohen hilberry architects.
What industry is cohen hilberry architects in?
Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAA, Architectural Design Services, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAH, Historic Preservation & Conservation Planning. Its NAICS code is 541310 and its SIC code is 8700.