Selldorf Architects

Selldorf Architects is an architectural design practice founded by Annabelle Selldorf in New York City in 1988. The firm creates public and private spaces that manifest a clear and modern sensibility to enduring impact. Since its inception the firm’s design ethos has been deeply rooted in the principles of humanism. At every scale and for every condition, Selldorf Architects designs for the individual experience. As a result, its work is brought to life–and made complete–by those who use it.
The firm offers services in architectural design, interior design, exhibition design, master planning, landscape concepts and strategic planning.

Clients include museums, cultural institutions and universities for projects such as the expansion and enhancement of The Frick Collection, the renovation of the Sainsbury Wing and surrounding public realm improvements at the National Gallery in London, a 50,000 sf expansion of the Art Gallery of Ontario, a transformational renovation of the Wallace Collection in London, and a new Education Center and Historic Greenhouse Renovation at Harvard University’s Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection in Washington, DC. Other completed projects include the expansion and revitalization of the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, Luma Arles a new contemporary art center in the south of France, the Clark Art Institute and Neue Galerie New York. In addition, the firm has created numerous galleries for David Zwirner, Hauser & Wirth, and Gladstone Gallery amongst others, and designed exhibitions for The Jewish Museum, the Corning Museum of Glass, Frieze Masters, Gagosian, and the Venice Art Biennale.

Residential architecture, both at the scale of private homes and multi-family dwellings, has been a foundational part of the firm and continues to be an important and ongoing part of Selldorf Architects’ design exploration and work.

Additionally, the firm works on major public and civic projects including Sunset Park Material Recovery Facility on the Brooklyn waterfront, the largest of its kind in the United States, and two wastewater management buildings for the New York City Department of Environmental Protection on the Gowanus Canal.

Sustainability is a vital part of the firm’s work, with strategies such as efficient mechanical systems, daylighting, and recycled or responsibly sourced materials appearing in all projects. We believe the most sustainable environment embraces nature and utilizes materials that are real, from masonry, concrete, and wood. The results are projects that reduce their impact on the environment while demonstrating to a future generation a commitment to saving natural resources in an impactful and measurable way.

Selldorf Architects is a signatory to the AIA 2030 Sustainability Commitment Program collecting project data to improve firm metrics and inform the wider design community of successful practices. We regularly collaborate with leading Sustainability Consultant firms such as Atelier 10, Transsolar, and RDH Building Science to consistently deliver high-performing projects specific to every geographic location.

Selldorf Architects is a certified Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE).