Meet Section Co.

Today Section Co. is officially open for business 🙌

What started as a thought exercise on how artificial intelligence might work in the context of architecture has grown into Section Co., a licensed architecture firm and applied AI lab. We're licensed to practice architecture in Colorado, Kentucky, Utah and Wisconsin, with Florida and Texas coming soon.

Do what you love

It's the oldest advice there is, and it's how Section Co. came to be. For me, the work I love comes down to three things: designing tenant improvement projects, designing financial institution branches, and pushing software engineering to its limits.

Starting a firm where all three blend together has been a dream of mine for quite a while.

Why an architecture firm and an AI lab

I believe the cost of drawing intelligence will fall to near-zero by 2030. What does that mean for architects, interior designers and brokers? Honestly, I'm not sure. Nobody is yet.

The only way I know to find out is to live in that future early. Running real projects as a licensed firm keeps the software honest, because it has to hold up on drawings that get permitted and built. Building my own software keeps the firm honest, because every hour I spend is one I ask whether a machine should be spending instead. Somewhere between the two is where the value in this industry is heading, and I want to be standing there when it arrives.

What services does Section Co. offer?

Section Co. specializes in both workplace design and financial institution design. I've spent a 15+ year career focused on only those two product types, so that's what I'm building Section Co. around.

Workplace design

We design corporate office renovations and tenant improvement projects, with full architectural and interior design from planning through permit. More on our workplace work.

For landlords and listing brokers, we have Burvo, a dedicated test fit service that delivers fast, architect-reviewed test fits to keep lease deals moving.

It's our first step toward what we call autocomplete for architecture.

Financial institution branch design

I've designed and managed award-winning branches for banks and credit unions, from renovations to new locations, including the parts that usually slow a branch down, like site approvals and ITM conversions. More on our branch work.

Radically transparent pricing

Section Co. charges one fixed fee, known before any work begins: 45 days of asking rent for offices, or $19 or $29 per square foot for branches, with a $3,995 minimum.

Accurately pricing architecture is a challenge. Having served as both a project manager and a principal architect, I have seen firsthand that inaccurate fees usually stem from two issues: a lack of contingency planning and a misunderstanding of business financials. That's why it can be like pulling teeth to get a fixed price out of an architecture firm.

Section Co. does it differently. By providing radically transparent, fixed pricing up front, we ensure that the risk of delivery is ours, not yours. Here's what that looks like:

Know your rent or your square footage, and you know your fee.

For example, an 8,000 SF office at $25/SF/yr asking rent comes to about $24,700. Renovating a 3,400 SF branch comes to $64,600, and building a new 3,400 SF branch comes to $98,600.

Delivering at these prices is precisely where our in-house software proves its value.

Come along

Have an office or branch project coming up, or a lease deal that needs a test fit? We'd love to hear from you. Email [email protected] or text (855) 455-2200.

Not ready yet? Follow along as we write down what we learn in Research, on LinkedIn, or on X.

Let the adventure begin! 🥂

– Austen Conrad, Founder & CEO