▲ DEFINING ROA
return on architecture
Design that pays you back.
What is ROA?
ROA is our not-so-subtle way of flipping the script on how architecture should work.
It’s short for Return on Architecture — a mindset, methodology, and mandate to treat your built environment as a business asset, not a vanity project. It ensures every square foot earns its keep, whether that’s attracting talent, increasing throughput, expanding services, or simply making life better for the people who move through it.
Traditional architecture is dying. Good.
Too many architects design just to build temples to their own “genius.” Egos that big leave little room for planning, measuring, and optimizing how your space performs. If putting portfolios over performance is the sickness, ROA is the antidote.
▲ TRADITIONAL ARCH VS. ROA
THE TRADITIONAL APPROACH.
Designs for today’s needs
Ignores operational realities
Assumes form will follow function
Treats design as an aesthetic exercise
Engages stakeholders late
Delivers “the ask”
Measures success by awards and beauty shots
THE ROA APPROACH.
Designs for what’s next
Builds around user behavior and business goals
Proves function drives value
Treats design as a strategic investment
Aligns stakeholders from day one
Challenges assumptions to deliver better outcomes
Measures success by ROI, performance, and use
▲ ROA BY PERSONA
For profit, non-profit, and everything in between: ROA thinking is universal.
Mission-Driven Organizations
Spaces That Serve the Public
ROA helps you justify every dollar spent by tying design decisions to mission impact, community outcomes, and long-term stewardship. “Flashy” design is great, but if it doesn’t prove its value, then it’s just a show pony that could have been a workhorse.
Experiential Organizations
Design Isn’t Just a Look. It’s a Lever.
ROA transforms physical spaces into brand amplifiers and performance engines. You don’t just want people to show up, you want them to come back. Every design move serves your user experience and your bottom line, and that starts with ROA.
Entrepreneurial Ventures
Spaces Must Earn Their Keep
ROA gives you a blueprint for growth, a way to ensure your business stays fast, flexible, and financially smart. You didn’t expect an architecture firm to understand what it means to hustle, scale, and make every square foot pull its weight, did you?
▲ HOW WE MEASURE SUCCESS
A POSITIVE ROA IS A SPACE THAT:
Supports your organizations’ business goals
Enhances users’ experience
Considers financial + environmental sustainability
▲ HOW WE CALCULATE ROA
ROA = Bx + Ex + Sx
What goes into a successful architecture project?
See what we do →
