Strategies for Business Succession Planning in Architecture Firms
Olson Kundig expanded its ownership group in 2024
Architecture firm growth strategies must include succession planning to ensure sustainable business development. Business succession planning is crucial for architecture firms aiming to preserve their legacy while embracing growth opportunities in the decades to come. This involves strategic leadership development, building business models as part of a long-term architecture business plan tailored to new ambitions, and crafting effective communications to stay visible as a practice and promote thought leadership.
We examine the succession planning approaches of four firms with long, successful legacies: Olson Kundig, Lake Flato, Morphosis, and Haworth Tompkins.
Olson Kundig
Chicken Point Cabin, Northern Idaho – Olson Kundig
Jim Olson founded the practice in 1966, carving a niche in residential design. After Tom Kundig joined 20 years later, followed by two more partners in 2008, the firm won its first, major public project: the Lightcatcher Museum in Washington. Olson Kundig is now a 300+ firm, co-owned by 13 partners and led by a CEO and COO, that has branched out into cultural, hospitality, and institutional typologies while maintaining its residential niche.
The firm nods to its legacy with monographs authored by the founding partners and exhibitions dedicated to the work of Jim Olson. Meanwhile, it continues to embrace the new leadership with different partners appearing on podcasts and delivering university lectures to build their public profiles. Olson Kundig also actively promotes its unique studio culture with initiatives such as Thursday Night Crits, OK Works for research & development, and travel fellowships – an effective way to reinforce the firm’s relevance and shape public perception.
Lake Flato
High Meadow Residence, Aspen – Lake Falto
Ted Flato and David Lake co-founded their firm in 1984, also building a niche in residential design. The firm expanded and brought on 10 partners over almost 40 years, before announcing five additional partners in 2022. Leveraging their strong regional presence in Texas and partnering with local firms and AoRs to pursue public projects, Lake Flato is now a 150+ firm with two offices.
Prompted by the economic downturn in 2008, they reorganized themselves around five core studios to systematically chase work in target markets. To build credibility and diversify their work, the firm is enrolled in Public Architecture's 1% program, which encourages design firms to donate a minimum of 1% of their billable hours to pro bono work for nonprofit organizations. Lake Flato is also an OBO (Overseas Buildings Operations)-shortlisted firm, qualifying them to design or renovate embassies, consulates, and other diplomatic facilities worldwide.
Morphosis
Kolon One & Only Tower, Seoul – Morphosis
Michael Brickler, Thom Mayne, Livio Santini, and James Stafford founded Morphosis in 1972. Michael Rotondi joined in 1975 and left in 1991. Some of their first projects were single-family residences and competition entries for cultural projects. Today, Mayne is the only founding partner still involved as Design Director, along with four new partners announced in 2019.
The firm won its first international commercial project (Sun Tower) in Korea, led by partner Eui-Sung Yi, who joined the practice in 1992 and is responsible for the firm’s international growth ever since. The next significant project was the winning entry for an invited competition for the Hypo Alpe-Adria Bank headquarters in Austria. Morphosis has also won several commissions for civic projects in the United States through GSA’s Design Excellence program.
Haworth Tompkins
Iroko Housing, London – Haworth Tompkins
Graham Haworth and Steve Tompkins co-founded their firm in 1991. The firm established an Employee Ownership Trust in 2019, after which the co-founders stepped down in 2024. The 100+ employee-owned firm is now led by four directors. Haworth Tompkins has a founding niche in housing and cultural projects, especially theaters. The firm won its first social housing project (Iroko Housing) via an invited competition and was selected by the American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University in 2019 to design its future home on the Allston campus.
Haworth Tompkins published their first monograph to mark the firm’s 30th anniversary in 2022. They have several self-published materials dedicated to their core areas, such as performing arts, housing, education, etc.
These examples demonstrate how succession planning forms a critical component of any architecture business plan. For firms developing comprehensive business strategies, our business development services can help structure succession planning that supports long-term practice goals.
How Future-Future Can Help
Future–Future advises on how firms communicate their identity, position themselves to identify new project opportunities, cultivate new markets, and win new work. Our communications and PR efforts work in tandem with the firm's commercial objectives, delivered as part of an integrated service offering. We collaborate with architects to develop comprehensive business strategies that support successful succession planning and long-term practice growth, ensuring continuity while embracing new opportunities.
Our architecture business plan and succession strategy services include:
Strategic business planning and growth roadmapping
Succession planning strategy and timeline development
Leadership transition communications and messaging
Partnership structure and governance consulting
Market expansion and diversification strategy
Brand continuity during leadership transitions
Next-generation leader profile development
Legacy preservation and storytelling
New market cultivation and client acquisition
Thought leadership development for emerging leaders
Strategic partnership and collaboration guidance
Long-term business development planning
