Brimming with a vibrant culture, eclectic cuisine, iconic landmarks, diverse neighborhoods, and an undying creative spirit, New York pulses with unmistakable energy. A historically melting-pot city, New York is a place where dreams find a shape and aspirations meet opportunities. Undoubtedly, this city is also renowned for its unique architectural landscape. For those lucky to live in this exciting city, and seeking the expertise of an architectural firm to contribute to the city’s iconic architectural scene, the list below comprises eight of New York’s top options to choose from. Our team evaluated and selected each of these firms based on their prestigious awards, extensive experience, and impressive portfolios.
BKSK Architects
230 West 38th St, 16th Floor New York, NY 10018
Established in 1985, BKSK Architects, a 50-person New York-based design firm, champions meaningful, thoughtful, and beautiful architecture. Its design philosophy focuses on the built and natural environment, asserting that what is constructed, the process of construction, and the usage of the structure hold meaning and consequence. The firm’s leadership team, composed of six partners including George Schieferdecker, Harry Kendall, and Joan Krevlin, brings together diverse expertise, each with a unique approach to architecture. Their affiliations, certifications, and civic involvements underscore their commitment to architectural excellence.
Over its 37-year history, BKSK has been recognized numerous times with awards such as the 2023 American Institute of Architects (AIA) New York (NY) Design Award, Merit, and the 2023 AIA New York State Design Award, Merit. Featured in numerous press outlets like AIANY Oculus and Elle Decor and certified by organizations like AIA and the US Green Building Council (USGBC), BKSK Architects offers a compelling blend of design insight, environmental consciousness, and recognized quality.
FXCollaborative
1 Willoughby Square, 7th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201
FXCollaborative, an architectural firm based in New York, offers expertise in architecture, interiors, and planning, striving to create responsible, intelligent, and beautiful designs. With a holistic approach that combines client aspirations, an urban sensibility, and a deep appreciation for the craft of building, it handles diverse projects that include office towers, multi-family residences, cultural facilities, and educational institutions. The firm, led by Managing Partner Guy Geier, has established a reputable presence in the architectural field over its 44-year history.
FXCollaborative is known for its projects like The David Rockefeller Creative Arts Center and Columbia University Business School, both recognized with prestigious awards: the AIA Education Facility Design Award and the Chicago Athenaeum Green GOOD DESIGN Award. The firm’s work has also been featured in esteemed press outlets like the New York Times and Architect’s Newspaper. Accredited by associations such as the AIA and USGBC, FXCollaborative ensures a seamless blend of intelligent design, urban sensibility, and respect for the building craft.
KG+D Architects
285 Main St, Mount Kisco, NY 10549
With a longstanding presence in the architectural field spanning over 70 years, KG+D Architects has a well-established reputation for delivering top-notch planning, architectural design, interior design, and construction administration services. With a rich history of providing clients with superior services, the mid-sized firm specializes in design for educational, municipal, and commercial/industrial campuses and facilities. Impressively, in the past 15 years, it has planned and constructed projects valued at more than $700 million throughout the lower Hudson Valley.
Under the leadership of President Russell Davidson, KG+D Architects has grown significantly, upholding the design philosophy of “Listen, Imagine, Build.” This has led it to be recognized as the 2022 Firm of the Year by AIANY and be featured in esteemed press outlets like Westfair Communications and Dezeen. These recognitions reflect the firm’s dedication to innovative, cost-effective, and sustainable solutions, as well as its prominent industry impact.
WORKac
156 Ludlow St, 3rd floor, New York, NY 10002
Influential in shaping landscapes with a profound focus on environmental and social aspects, WORKac, co-founded by Amale Andraos and Dan Wood, is committed to crafting new possibilities for the future. With a history starting in 2003, it has left its imprints across the US and globally, emphasizing the cultural, climatic, and historical elements of architecture. Specializing in public, cultural, and civic projects, the firm aims to use its architecture to redefine how people live, work, and collectively experience the world.
When taking into account architecture, landscape, and ecological systems, WORKac strives to amalgamate resolute realism with polemical optimism. This unique approach has resulted in the firm earning industry recognition from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and Architectural Digest. With a robust portfolio of highly acclaimed projects, WORKac has also been a recurring name in influential press outlets like AZURE and Metropolis.
Bates Masi + Architects
132 North Main St, 2nd Floor, East Hampton, NY 11937
For over half a century, Bates Masi + Architects LLC has remained a prominent architectural firm rooted in New York City and the East End of Long Island. The firm’s approach focuses on extensive research into material, craft, and the environment, which leads the team to create distinctive solutions for diverse clients. It showcases an expansive project portfolio that includes urban and suburban residences, schools, offices, hotels, restaurants, retail facilities, and more, across the United States, Central America, and the Caribbean.
The firm has earned its reputation under the leadership of principals Paul Masi and Harry Bates, who both bring their unique expertise and extensive academic backgrounds to their work at the firm. Bates Masi + Architects’ prowess in the field is reflected in its numerous accolades, such as being named in the Ocean Home Top 50 Coastal Architects for several consecutive years. The company’s notable projects have also found acknowledgment in esteemed publications like The New York Times and Architectural Record.
O’Neill Rose Architects
147 11th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215
Established in 2008, O’Neill Rose Architects is a Brooklyn-based architectural firm that prioritizes a versatile approach to shaping spaces that embody its clients’ aspirations. Guided by founders Devin O’Neill and Faith Rose, who are both Yale Graduate School of Architecture alumni, the firm crafts each project mindful of its unique physical, cultural, and historical context. Whether its work unfolds in urban or rural landscapes, its commitment to integrating architecture with its site and surrounding remains unwavering.
O’Neill Rose Architects’ commitment to excellence has led it to earn an impressive array of accolades, including the SARA New York State Design Award and the AIANY Design Award. Over the years, the firm has also been featured in publications like Livingetc, RUM, and Interior Design. This successful trajectory of 14 years reflects the firm’s commitment to quality, detail, and transformative design—qualities that have come to define O’Neill Rose Architects.
Young Projects
68 Jay St, #302, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Young Projects is an architecture and design firm based in New York City, renowned for its diverse portfolio encompassing buildings, interiors, furniture, and material prototypes. The studio’s creations stem from a meticulous examination of geometric patterns, textures, and spatial intricacies, resulting in architecture that embraces a captivating sense of ambiguity. Young Projects’ innovative approach is further fueled by its experimental exploration of methods, which include pushing the boundaries of traditional fabrication techniques: hand-pulling plaster, chipping concrete, cultivating crystals, and even burning and melting materials.
Over the years, Young Projects has been recognized for its innovative design ethos, winning awards such as the Best of Practice Award from The Architect’s Newspaper, Architect Magazine Honor Award, Merit and Citation Awards from the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and the coveted Design Vanguard Award by Architectural Record. The firm’s pioneering work has also been featured in respected publications such as Architectural Digest, Architectural Record, NY Magazine, Dwell, and Wallpaper*, further affirming its strong standing in the architecture industry over the past 13 years.
MOS Architects
226 W 135th St, New York, NY 10030
Founded in 2005 by Hilary Sample and Michael Meredith, MOS Architects is a New York-based studio with an international presence. With a primary focus on educational facilities, arts venues, campus planning, housing structures, and private residences, it strives for architecture that is as pioneering as it is practical and accountable. In order to achieve this, each project begins with investigating generic building types and vernacular construction, as well as analyzing the project’s fundamental requirements. This process ensures a design approach that is sensitive to materials and performance, allowing the design to seamlessly integrate building form and function.
MOS Architects’ commitment to innovative and responsible design has resulted in it receiving numerous accolades, including Cooper Hewitt’s National Design Award and several AIANY Design Awards. With significant features in esteemed publications like Wallpaper Magazine, The New York Times, and Dwell, MOS Architects has established a robust reputation over the past 17 years.
