AEC Branding Agency
Fairbuilt is a branding and web design studio that works only with architecture, engineering, and construction firms.
( Why AEC Branding Is Its Own Discipline )
AEC branding is the strategic and creative work of defining how a firm presents itself to the clients it wants, the talent it wants to hire, and the market it wants to lead. It's different from general branding because AEC firms compete on reputation, in markets where relationships drive referrals and credibility gets evaluated before the first conversation happens.
( What Weak Branding Costs an AEC Firm )
The cost of weak branding shows up specifically on projects lost to firms that look more established on paper, proposals that undersell the firm submitting them, strong candidates choosing somewhere else, referral partners who can't quite describe what you do. A focused engagement fixes the root of that, not by making the firm look different, but by making it communicate more clearly.
( Our AEC Branding Services )
Positioning before anything gets designed.
A complete identity system across logo, proposals, swag, offices, signage, and project sites, and your digital world.
A digital presence that works as a business development tool while you and your team sleep.
( AEC Firms We Work With )
Architecture firms, engineering firms, construction companies, and real estate developers nationally. We work best with growing firms serious about their next phase, navigating a leadership transition, entering a new market, or that have a gap between the quality of the work and the quality of the brand representing it.
AEC Branding Agency
( An AEC Branding Agency Founded by an Architect )
Brad spent six years practicing architecture before founding Fairbuilt. That's the difference between an agency that has to learn how AEC firms win work and one that already knows.
( AEC Branding Agency Questions )
What size AEC firm is the right fit for Fairbuilt?
Most effectively, small to mid-sized firms, typically 3 to 150 people, that are growing and ready to invest in the brand and digital presence that reflects where they're headed. We work with larger firms (150+) as an extension of their marketing team.
Can Fairbuilt help if we're not based in Portland or Oregon?
Of course! We're based in Portland with a strong footprint in the Pacific Northwest, but we work with firms nationally and every once in a while internationally. The process runs effectively remotely, with structured video sessions at key phases.
Should an AEC firm hire a specialist agency or a general B2B agency?
A specialist already knows how your firm wins work: qualifications-based selection, RFP and SOQ responses, shortlist interviews, and the difference between design-bid-build and design-build. You won't spend the engagement teaching the industry. A general agency may bring a broader range, but it often presents a project portfolio like a product catalog, which can read wrong to owners and selection committees.
How long does an AEC rebrand take?
Brand strategy takes four to six weeks. A full rebrand covering strategy, identity, and a new website takes sixteen to twenty-four weeks from kickoff to launch.
How much does AEC branding cost?
Every project is scoped individually, but brand strategy typically falls between $4,000 and $12,000 and a complete brand identity system between $5,000 and $30,000. Where a firm lands depends on its size, number of disciplines and offices, and how many places the identity has to work. A full engagement covering strategy, identity, and a website typically runs $15,000 to $80,000.
Can you handle brand, website, and proposal materials in one contract?
Yes. Strategy, identity, website, and the templates your team uses for proposals and qualifications can be scoped as one engagement, so everything comes from the same positioning instead of three vendors guessing at it.
( What AEC Clients Say About Fairbuilt )
