THE NEW OLD
We design for the 21st century.
Yet, many of our projects engage with, or even reconfigure, the structures of the past.
To create a truly contemporary architecture, we don’t ignore history. We acknowledge it—reinterpreting it, reworking its forms, its functions, its textures. We find a language that speaks both of where we’ve been and where we’re headed.
For years, we’ve reshaped landmarks—post offices, train stations, warehouses, hotels—integrating them with new purpose while preserving their stories. In these transformations, the past is not discarded, but re-contextualized within the present, enveloped in designs that are unmistakably modern.
But our attention extends beyond iconic structures. We look to the fragments, the forgotten traces—ruins, industrial detritus, outdated infrastructure. When creating contemporary spaces, we delve into the history of the place itself: its layers, its abandoned narratives, the ghosts of what once stood. We juxtapose the old with the new, melding materials, methods, and meanings, creating an architecture that acknowledges its origins while reflecting the present.
We are known for our innovations in contemporary architecture. But we are also known for saving the past. For us, these aren’t separate pursuits—they are two sides of the same coin.
We draw from history, but we embrace the ideals of the present: sustainability, diversity, resilience. Memory and modernity intertwine to shape the architecture of today.
PROJECTS:
EMPIRE STORES | BRONX POST OFFICE | SILO CITY | J+K RESIDENCE | MACY’S HERALD SQUARE
BRONX POST OFFICE Bronx, NY
Our transformation of Thomas Harlan Ellet’s art deco masterpiece on the Grand Concourse contrasts heavy masonry with a translucent polycarbonate rooftop addition and gardens, while restoring the historic lobby and Ben Shaun WPA murals.
SILO CITY Buffalo, NY
Our design is transforming the largest collection of historic grain elevators in the world into a new center for arts, culture, residences, hotel, maker space, and education while transforming industrial bridges to connect gardens in the sky.
J+K RESIDENCE New York, NY
This vertical “townhouse in the sky” features a contemporary zinc and glass addition complementing 19th century cast iron architecture of the Gilsey House, a landmarked former hotel, while adding multi-level interiors and rooftop gardens.
MACY’S HERALD SQUARE New York, NY
Stripping away layers of “false history” of one of NYC’s most iconic buildings we uncover original fabric, restore façades, tear out walls and open windows to bring the Outside In, while adding a contemporary layer of design that speaks to our time.
NIAGARA FALLS BRIDGE Niagara, Ontario
STUDIO V developed the architectural language of the development to relate to Niagara Falls as a major gateway and symbol for the nation of Canada. This idea is developed through the use of local landscape elements, an ice rink, and indigenous materials.
EMPIRE STORES DUMBO, NY
A contemporary glass and steel courtyard slicing through seven abandoned 19th century warehouses reconnects a community to its waterfront and rises vertically through staircases and bridges to a dramatic rooftop public park.
WATERTOWN AMPHITHEATER Watertown, NY
Our design creates a contemporary outdoor 5000-seat amphitheater and community Center for the Arts, contrasting local stone with cross laminated timber, growing out of the complex topography of an historic Olmsted Park.