A conversation about practice legacy
You built more than
a body of work.
You built trust, judgment, client relationships, and a reputation that took decades to earn. If you are beginning to think about what comes next, I would value a private conversation about carrying that work forward—with care.
Arick J. Dyrdal, AIA, NCARB
President, Design Build Architects
The intention
Not to erase what you built.
To learn it, strengthen it, and continue it.
Architecture firm succession planning and valuation
A confidential succession path shaped around your practice.
If you are considering architecture firm succession planning, valuing your practice, or how to sell an architecture firm without abandoning the relationships behind the work, the answer does not have to be an abrupt handoff. We can explore a confidential ownership transition, gradual succession, mentorship period, practice acquisition, or continued advisory role built around what you want to preserve.
A non-traditional path forward
Legacy deserves
more than a transaction.
I came to architecture through building. That path gave me practical fluency, but not the traditional apprenticeship inside a long-established architecture office. The judgment behind a respected practice cannot be downloaded or bought—it has to be earned. I am looking to earn that knowledge through a non-traditional path: working alongside an architect who wants what they built to keep meaning something.
- 01
Preserve what matters
Your name, reputation, project archive, client relationships, and ways of working deserve to be understood before anything changes.
- 02
Create a transition that fits
A path could involve mentorship, continued involvement, phased succession, or a future acquisition. There is no predetermined structure.
- 03
Add capacity thoughtfully
DBA brings construction knowledge, high-performance design, modern systems, and a growing team—without treating efficiency as a substitute for judgment.
Who I hope to meet
An established practice.
A respected local legacy.
Sole practitioners and small firms with decades of client trust.
Architects considering retirement, a reduced role, or a gradual transition.
Practices rooted in Greater Boston, the North Shore, and surrounding communities.
People who care who carries the relationships—not only who buys the assets.
Architecture firm succession FAQ
Questions about transitioning
an architecture practice.
How can I sell my architecture firm while preserving its legacy?
A thoughtful transition can account for your clients, archive, staff, name, and desired level of involvement. We begin with what you want to protect, then consider a structure that supports it.
What factors shape architecture firm valuation?
Valuation may consider recurring client relationships, backlog, profitability, staff, leadership continuity, project archives, reputation, and the transition support you are willing to provide. A formal valuation may also require qualified financial and legal advisors.
Can I retire gradually instead of selling all at once?
Yes. The path may include mentorship, phased succession, a reduced role, continued project involvement, or a future acquisition. There is no predetermined structure.
What kinds of practices are a fit?
We are especially interested in sole practitioners and small established architecture firms in Greater Boston, the North Shore, and surrounding New England communities.
Is the first conversation confidential?
Yes. An initial conversation is private, exploratory, and without obligation.
Private, exploratory, no obligation
We do not need to know
the final shape yet.
A first conversation can simply be about your practice, what you are proud of, and what you hope will endure. I will treat it with discretion.