1.0Market Snapshot
- 13,075
- Architecture and spatial-planning offices in 2024 (BFS STATENT: 12,843 architecture offices and 232 spatial-planning offices, NOGA 71.11.01 and 71.11.02). Landscape architects are counted with landscaping.
- 55,590
- Employees of architecture and spatial-planning offices in 2024 (BFS STATENT), 44,539 full-time equivalents; 40.8% are women, one of the highest shares in construction.
- +6.3%
- Growth in employees from 2020 (52,275) to 2024 (55,590), BFS STATENT; +21% since 2011 (45,900) and +1.4% in 2024. The number of offices rose only 1.8% since 2020.
According to Val Index analysis of Swiss commercial-register and federal data (2026), Switzerland counts 13,075 architecture & planning companies — Architecture and spatial-planning offices in 2024 (BFS STATENT: 12,843 architecture offices and 232 spatial-planning offices, NOGA 71.11.01 and 71.11.02). Landscape architects are counted with landscaping..
2.0Industry Overview
Architecture offices design buildings and lead their planning, tendering and construction management; spatial planners prepare zoning and development plans for municipalities and cantons. In 2024 BFS counted 13,075 such offices with 55,590 employees (STATENT): 12,843 architecture offices and 232 planning offices. The sector is very fragmented — an average of 3.4 full-time equivalents per office — yet it is growing: employment rose 6.3% from 2020 and 21% since 2011, while the number of offices grew only 1.8% since 2020, so existing practices are getting larger. With 40.8% women, it is among the most diverse parts of construction.
3.0Industry Health Check (SWOT)
- Employment up 21% since 2011
- Very small offices: 3.4 full-time equivalents on average
- Densification and renovation of the building stock
- Slower permitting and objections delay projects
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Architecture & Planning business valuation in Switzerland
- Statutory Multiple (EBITDA)
- 3.0 - 5.0×
- Deal Multiple (EBITDA)
- 4.0 - 6.5×
- Market Trend
- Stable
Indicative ranges based on market research. Actual multiples vary by company size, growth, and market conditions.
8.0Regional Clusters
Zurich
3,022 architecture and planning offices with 13,945 employees in 2024 (BFS STATENT), the most of any region; EM2N is registered in Zurich.
Western Switzerland
2,878 offices with 12,236 employees; Itten+Brechbühl has branches in Lausanne and Geneva.
Eastern Switzerland
1,792 offices with 6,615 employees, small on average (3.7 per office).
Northwestern Switzerland
1,588 offices with 7,862 employees, the largest on average (5.0 per office); Herzog & de Meuron, Christ & Gantenbein and Burckhardt are registered in Basel.
Bern and Solothurn
1,470 offices with 6,968 employees; Itten+Brechbühl is registered in Bern.
Central Switzerland
1,345 offices with 5,648 employees.
Ticino
968 offices with 2,307 employees, the smallest on average (2.4 per office).
Sources
9.0Frequently Asked Questions
▶How much is an architecture firm worth in Switzerland?
ValIndex's multiples table puts Swiss architecture and planning at 4.0–6.5× EBITDA in transactions and 3.0–5.0× EBITDA on statutory valuations. General planners with a broad team, a full project pipeline and public framework contracts sit at the upper end; small offices built around one architect sit lower.
▶What drives the value of a Swiss architecture practice?
Buyers price: (1) the project pipeline and signed mandates; (2) the depth of the team beyond the founders; (3) competition wins and reputation; (4) client mix between public and private; (5) general-planning and BIM capability; (6) dependence on key people.
▶How big is the Swiss architecture sector?
In 2024 BFS counted 13,075 architecture and spatial-planning offices with 55,590 employees (44,539 full-time equivalents). Employment is up 6.3% since 2020 and 21% since 2011.
▶Who are the main architecture firms in Switzerland?
Well-known practices include Herzog & de Meuron, Christ & Gantenbein and Burckhardt Architektur in Basel, EM2N in Zurich and Itten+Brechbühl in Bern. Most of the 13,075 offices are small.
▶What are the key trends in Swiss architecture and planning?
Five trends: (1) practices growing while the number of offices stays flat; (2) a vacancy rate below 1%; (3) rising public building investment; (4) subsidised energy renovation that needs planning; (5) consolidation among general planners.
▶What are the main risks when buying a Swiss architecture firm?
The main risks are: (1) dependence on founding architects; (2) a thin project pipeline; (3) liability for planning errors; (4) fee pressure in tenders; (5) delays in permits. Due diligence should check signed mandates, professional liability insurance, staff and work in progress.
▶How does the housing shortage affect architects?
The vacancy rate fell to 0.93% on 1 June 2026, the sixth decline in a row, with only 45,493 vacant dwellings (BFS). A tight market supports demand for new housing, densification and conversions, all of which need architects, though permitting and objections can slow projects.
▶Where are Swiss architecture firms located?
Using BFS figures for 2024: Zurich has the most offices (3,022, with 13,945 employees), followed by Western Switzerland (2,878; 12,236), Eastern Switzerland (1,792; 6,615), Northwestern Switzerland (1,588; 7,862), Bern and Solothurn (1,470; 6,968), Central Switzerland (1,345; 5,648) and Ticino (968; 2,307).