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Architecture Research Office – ARO
ARO : Contemporary American Architects Practice
post updated 29 March 2026
ARO – Key Projects
Cooper-Hewitt National Design Awards: 2009
Architecture Design Finalist
Key Projects by ARO, alphabetical:
U.S. Armed Forces Times Square Recruiting Station, New York, NY, USA
Date built: 1999
photo : David Joseph
Martha’s Vineyard House, Chilmark, MA, USA
Date built: 2005
picture : Thomas Brodin
Corrulamp-1 lamp prototype
Date built: 2006
image : ARO
School of Architecture addition, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
Date built: 2007
photograph : Paul Warhol
Qiora Store & Spa, New York, NY, USA
Date built: 2000
photo : David Joseph
Motown Center, Detroit, MI, winning competition entry, USA
Date built: 2003
photo : Jacques Pottle
Packard Hall Art & Music Building Addition, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO, USA
Date built: 2005
image : Elizabeth Felicetta
Colorado House, Telluride, CO, USA
Date built: 1999
picture : Paul Warchol
Union Square North expansion, New York, NY, USA
Date built: –
rendering: ARO
“On the Water, Palisades Bay: The 2007Ð8 AIA Latrobe Prize”, New York, NY
Date built: 2009
photo: ARO
Research study – ARO with Guy Nordenson Associates and Princeton University
More buildings by Architecture Research Office online soon
Location: 170 Varick Street, New York, NY 10013, United States of America
ARO – Practice Information
Architecture Research Office (ARO) based in Manhattan
Website : www.aro.net
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Architecture Research Office (commonly known as ARO) is a prominent architectural practice based in New York City, known for its rigorous research‑driven design process and finely resolved contemporary architecture.
Overview:
Founded in 1993 by partners Stephen Cassell and Chris Lasch, ARO has developed a reputation for designing buildings that are both conceptually thoughtful and highly attuned to materiality, craft, and urban context. The firm’s work spans cultural, residential, institutional, and commercial projects, with an emphasis on spatial clarity, structural expression, and careful integration of building systems. ARO’s approach is rooted in architectural research—each project evolves from deep exploration of program, site, and context, often resulting in architecture that feels precise and purposeful.
Design Approach:
ARO distinguishes itself through:
Research‑first methodology: design grounded in inquiry and analysis rather than stylistic imposition
Material and tectonic precision: emphasis on high‑quality detailing and craftsmanship
Urban intelligence: sensitivity to the city fabric—how buildings relate to their surroundings, streets, and public life
Clear spatial organization: architecture that expresses structure, circulation, and function transparently
Notable Projects:
Some of ARO’s most respected works include:
– Camden Public Library and Community Arts Center (New Jersey): a civic building combining transparency, material tactility, and public engagement
– 1245 Atlantic Avenue (Brooklyn): a mixed‑use residential building that reinterprets townhouse typologies at scale
– Roscoe Village Residences (Chicago): innovative residential infill responding to neighborhood context
– David Rubenstein Forum (University of Chicago): a cultural and event space integrating historic and contemporary fabric
Recognition:
ARO has received numerous awards from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and other bodies for design excellence, and its work is widely published and exhibited internationally. The firm’s buildings are often cited as exemplars of contemporary architectural rigor.
Summary:
Architecture Research Office (ARO) is a New York–based architectural studio that combines analytical rigor, material refinement, and formal clarity to produce distinctive contemporary architecture across scales and programs. Their research‑oriented design process and careful execution make them one of the most influential practices in the U.S. architectural scene.
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Manhattan Architectural Designs
New York Architecture Designs – chronological list
New York City Architecture Designs – architectural selection below:
Brooklyn Bridge Competition Design
image courtesy of architects
Brooklyn Bridge Design by DXA studio
277 Fifth Avenue Building, NoMad, NYC
Architects: Rafael Viñoly
SAR Academy, Orthodox Jewish Day School, Jesselson Campus, 655 West 254th Street Riverdale, NY 10471, USA
Design: architects Esther Sperber and Hila Stern
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Buildings / photos for the Architecture Research Office page welcome