DLR Group
| Company type | Employee-owned |
|---|---|
| Industry | Architecture, Engineering, Interior Design, Planning |
| Founded | April 1, 1966 in Omaha, Nebraska, United States |
| Founder | Irving Dana, Bill Larson, Jim Roubal |
| Headquarters | Omaha , United States |
Area served | Worldwide (30 offices) |
Key people | Steven McKay (CEO) |
| Products | Architecture, engineering, planning, interior design services |
| Website | www |
DLR Group is an employee-owned, fully integrated design firm specializing in architecture, engineering, planning, and interior design services. Committed to enhancing human experiences through design, the company has been a pioneer in sustainable practices, embracing initiatives such as the Architecture 2030 Challenge along with the AIA 2030 Commitment and China Accord.
History
Established on April 1, 1966, in Omaha, Nebraska, the firm was originally named Dana Larson Roubal and Associates, founded by architects Irving Dana and Bill Larson together with engineer Jim Roubal after departing from Leo A Daly. The company adopted the DLR Group name in 1996.
Growth has been driven by targeted acquisitions including Lescher & Mahoney in 1974; Seattle-based John Graham and Co. in 1986, renowned for designing the Space Needle; Newman, Cavendar & Doane from Denver in 2007; KKE Architects of Minneapolis—known for work on Mall of America; WWCOT of Los Angeles in 2010; and Sorg Architects from Washington, D.C. in 2015. In 2021, DLR Group expanded its healthcare portfolio by acquiring Salus Architecture (Seattle) and Wright McGraw Beyers Architects (Charlotte), while also strengthening its K-12 education expertise through BakerNowicki Design Studio (San Diego) and Bowie Gridley Architects (Washington, D.C.). The firm maintains a presence across 30 offices worldwide.
An employee stock ownership plan was initiated in 1978, culminating in complete employee ownership by 2005. Steven McKay, RIBA, currently serves as CEO.
Services
DLR Group utilizes an integrated design approach to deliver comprehensive architectural and construction solutions. Its client base spans numerous sectors such as Civic, Justice, Federal Government, Healthcare, Higher Education, Hospitality, K-12 Education, Retail, Sports Facilities, and Corporate Workplaces. The firm's portfolio includes architecture, engineering disciplines, interior design, strategic planning, acoustical and experiential graphic design, high-performance building design, landscape architecture, lighting design, historic preservation efforts, reality capture technology, laboratory design, sustainability consulting services, and theater design.
With a strong emphasis on environmentally responsible building practices, DLR Group follows the U.S. LEED certification standards and has been an early adopter of technologies including solar thermal systems, renewable energy integration, and geothermal applications—enhancing its leadership position in sustainable construction.
Recognitions
DLR Group has consistently ranked among the leading design firms in the United States and achieved the top position in ARCHITECT magazine’s Top 50 list in 2012. Its projects have received numerous distinguished awards highlighting both innovative design and strategic excellence:
- Wayne N. Aspinall Federal Building earned the 2014 AIA COTE Top Ten award along with LEED Platinum certification.
- Cleveland Clinic Brunswick Emergency Department received the 2015 AIA Healthcare Design Award.
- Missouri Innovation Campus was honored with the American Architecture Award in 2017.
- Smithsonian American Art Museum's Renwick Gallery restoration won the 2018 AIA COTE Top Ten award.
- Triumph multifamily housing project secured the American Architecture Award in 2020.
- Both the Portland Building and Shenzhen Opera House were recipients of the American Architecture Awards in 2021.
These achievements reflect DLR Group’s significant impact on the industry and its dedication to advancing innovative architectural solutions worldwide.
Distinguished Projects
- Museum of Science and History (MOSH)
- Cleveland Museum of Natural History
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
- Museum at Bethel Woods (Woodstock)
- Smithsonian American Art Museum's Renwick Gallery
- Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia
- Restoration efforts: Maltz Performing Arts Center, Portland Building, Pittsburgh Playhouse
- St. Joseph's Health Amphitheater (Lakeview Amphitheater)
- Murphy Arts District located in El Dorado, Arkansas
- Renovation projects: Playhouse Square, Balboa Theater, Tennessee Theater
- Expansion of the Green Arts District at Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music
- SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center within Sacramento Convention Center Complex
- Master planning for the Straz Center for the Performing Arts
- Various facilities designed for the Cleveland Clinic
- Cultural institutes at the University of Florida: Institute of Black Culture and Institute of Hispanic-Latino Cultures
- Development of Cascade Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri
- Enlargement and proposed waterpark addition at Mall of America
- Educational facility projects including Canyon View High School (Arizona) and Compton High School
- Refurbishment of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
- Athletic venues: Equity Bank Park (Wichita, Kansas), TDECU Stadium, and CHI Health Center Omaha
- Transit infrastructure: LAX Automated People Mover and Chinatown station (Muni Metro)
- Hospitality projects: Canopy by Hilton Minneapolis Mills and Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel Omaha
- Lighting design contributions for St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
Office Locations
DLR Group maintains a network of 30 offices worldwide, with 28 situated throughout the United States in prominent urban centers such as Austin, Texas, Chicago, Illinois, New York City, New York, San Francisco, California, and Washington, D.C.. This broad national presence underpins its commitment to serving varied regional markets.
On the international front, DLR Group operates two offices in key global commercial centers: one in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and another in Shanghai, China, enhancing its reach and influence across the Middle East and Asian markets.