Indiana Business Advisors Facilitates Sale of Peterson Architecture to Michael Graves Architecture

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – August 11, 2026 – Indiana Business Advisors (IBA) is pleased to announce the successful sale of Peterson Architecture, a Noblesville-based architecture and planning firm founded by Darren Peterson, AIA, to Michael Graves Architecture (MG), a nationally and internationally recognized multidisciplinary design firm headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey.

The transaction represents an important next chapter for Peterson Architecture and its team, while giving MG an established presence in Indiana and additional capabilities across several key markets.

Since its founding in 1996, Peterson Architecture has developed a diverse practice serving clients across municipal, public safety, retail, industrial, medical, and community-focused projects. Under Peterson’s leadership, the firm built its business around practical design solutions, strong client relationships, and a collaborative approach to serving clients.

The partnership with MG provides an opportunity for Peterson Architecture to build on that foundation while becoming part of a larger multidisciplinary platform with expanded resources and a broader geographic reach.

For Darren Peterson, the transaction also represents the opportunity to transition the firm he built into a new stage of growth.

“Jamar Cobb-Denard and his team at Indiana Business Advisors were very professional and made the process smooth and timely. They brought more offers and more value than I expected and, quickly, got me an incredible deal with the perfect partner,” said Darren Peterson, AIA, Managing Principal of Peterson Architecture.

Indiana Business Advisors represented Peterson Architecture in the sale, with Jamar Cobb-Denard serving as Lead Advisor.

Rather than approaching the transaction as a one-buyer process, IBA’s Sell-Side team took the business to market with a targeted strategy designed to generate interest from qualified buyers and create competitive tension.

The result was significant buyer engagement:

• 50+ Confidential Information Memorandums (CIM) distributed to qualified prospective buyers
• 4 Letters of Intent (LOI) received for consideration
• A successful transaction with Michael Graves Architecture

The process allowed Peterson Architecture to evaluate multiple opportunities and ultimately select a partner that aligned with the firm’s future direction.

“Transactions like this demonstrate why preparation, positioning, and a competitive sale process matter,” said Jamar Cobb-Denard of Indiana Business Advisors. “Darren had built a strong company with an excellent reputation, and our goal was to make sure the market recognized that value. We are thrilled to have helped him find the right partner for the next chapter of Peterson Architecture.”

Michael Graves Architecture is a multidisciplinary architecture and design practice founded in 1964 by AIA Gold Medalist Michael Graves. The firm provides architecture, product design, interior design, master planning, graphic design, branding, and related strategic services to clients across a broad range of industries.

With the addition of Peterson Architecture, MG gains an established Indiana operation and a team with significant regional experience across multiple markets.

The transaction also establishes a connection between MG and Indiana, where Michael Graves was born. For Peterson Architecture, the partnership creates an opportunity to combine its regional expertise and client relationships with the resources and reach of a larger design organization.

Learn more about Michael Graves Architecture at michaelgraves.com.

Founded in 1996 by Darren Peterson, AIA, Peterson Architecture is a full-service architecture and planning firm based in Noblesville, Indiana. The firm has served clients across a variety of markets, including municipal, public safety, retail, industrial, medical, and community development.

Peterson Architecture is licensed in 48 states and has developed a reputation for customizing architectural and engineering services around each client’s specific needs and project goals.

Darren Peterson has also been an active civic leader in Central Indiana, contributing his time and expertise to community, arts, and economic development organizations.

Learn more about Peterson Architecture at petersonarchitecture.com.

Indiana Business Advisors is Indiana’s largest and most experienced business brokerage firm, specializing in Main Street and Lower Middle Market transactions.

Since 1981, IBA has helped business owners navigate the complex process of buying and selling companies across a range of industries, including business services, consumer products, manufacturing, and distribution.

With 16 brokers and more than 220 years of combined experience, IBA brings together valuation expertise, targeted marketing, buyer outreach, transaction guidance, and collaborative deal execution to help business owners maximize their opportunities when it is time to sell.