Selldorf Architects, located at Manhattan’s Union Square, has acquired an international reputation for work that is quintessentially modern, sensitive to context and program, and thoughtful in execution. Established by Annabelle Selldorf in 1988, the firm’s portfolio encompasses a wide range of projects, including cultural, institutional, commercial, and high-end retail and residential work. Selldorf Architects has particular expertise in the specific demands of cultural and art-related projects, having completed numerous gallery, exhibition, and studio spaces, as well as museums, art foundations, and collectors’ homes. Selldorf Architects also offers full interior design services. In 2004, the firm incorporated Vica www.vicadesign.com, a separate company dedicated to classically modern and traditionally handcrafted furnishings—including casegoods, tables, and seating—as well as light fixtures and hardware.

Clients include private foundations and cultural institutions, such as the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, affiliated with New York University; the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, in Williamstown, Massachusetts; and the Neue Galerie New York: Museum for German and Austrian Art, in Manhattan. In addition, the firm has designed internationally known galleries such as the Hauser & Wirth Galleries in Zurich, London and New York; and the Gladstone Galleries, Michael Werner Gallery and David Zwirner gallery, in Manhattan. Earlier work includes studios for artists such as Jeff Koons, David Salle and Not Vital. Retail clients include Abercrombie & Fitch, Gant, Rubin Chapelle, Barneys New York, and M Z Wallace. Selldorf Architects has completed several mixed-use buildings and recently finished work on two new condominium buildings in Chelsea. The firm has also designed many private residences of high quality and distinction.

Selldorf Architects LLC is certified by New York City as a women-owned business enterprise (WBE).

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Selldorf has long demonstrated a keen understanding of architecture’s impact on the environment. Even before Selldorf Architects was hired to construct its first entirely green building, the firm incorporated sustainable design ideas through adherence to some very basic tenets of responsible architectural design, such as proper siting, creating a small footprint, using recycled and/or green materials, and taking advantage of opportunities for renovation and adaptive reuse.

Selldorf’s commitment to sustainability is evidenced by the fact that the firm employs 12 LEED-accredited architects out of 28 professional staff, or almost 33% of the staff. In-house training includes seminars on energy-efficient building design, green roofs, and environmental health.

Selldorf recently completed two significant projects requiring that the buildings be sustainable and LEED-certified. The first, an 18-story mixed-use building in Toronto, combines 154,000 sf of residential space with 19,500 sf of commercial space. In addition to a green roof at the podium level, we developed a sustainability master plan with the client and consulting engineers Arup. The second project, a new 12,000 sf building in Lower Manhattan, combines residential and commercial office space. Both the client and Selldorf Architects are committed to creating a building that is responsive to environmental concerns. The building façades are clad in brick and an innovative use of traditional architectural terra cotta, and incorporate exterior solar shading. The green roof includes a planting plan by High Line landscaper Piet Oudolf, while the runoff water will be recycled for irrigation.

Design Awards
2007: McGraw-Hill Construction’s New York Construction, Best Interior Fit-Out, Institute for the Study of the Ancient World
2006: Cooper-Hewitt National Design Awards, Interior Design Award, Finalist
2006: McGraw-Hill Construction’s New York Construction, Best Residential, The Urban Glass House
2004: American Federation of Arts, Visionary Award, Neue Galerie New York: Museum for German and Austrian Art
2002: Renaissance Awards, New York City, Neue Galerie New York: Museum for German and Austrian Art
2001: The New York Landmarks Conservancy, Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award, Neue Galerie New York: Museum for German and Austrian Art