A growing New York suburb that embraces diversity, New Rochelle is a popular summer destination known for its waterfront. The seventh-largest city in the state, New Rochelle is a modern urban fit for a wide range of commerce, with a downtown that seamlessly blends stunning high-rise buildings with local shops and restaurants for curious tourists.
In this list of the best commercial architects in the region are firms known for creating influential designs that embody the vibrance of New York while elevating brand reach, interconnection, and innovation. Plying years of distinct experience, these firms have completed projects in every arena—from retail and hospitality spaces to offices and warehouses—each earning prestigious industry recognition over many decades.
Newman Architects
300 York St., New Haven, CT 06511
Newman Architects is a firm that designs around gathered information. Established in 1964, the company has delivered transformative projects across towns, cities, and rural settings. Utilizing an intellectual approach to design, the firm has been recognized with a multitude of honors from the American Institute of Architects (AIA), including the Excellence in Development Design award and the Project Excellence award, as well as the WBC Craftsmanship Award for Athletic Fields and Playgrounds. Newman’s award-winning portfolio shines with highlights such as the Ninth Square Historic District, in New Haven—a project that rehabilitated virtually all four to six-story buildings within the three-block district and sited new mixed-use structures on vacant lots, breathing new life into the community. The highest new apartment building has a 12-story tower and protruding wings, making it a prominent landmark, and the regenerative beauty of the neighborhood as a whole earned the Newman team honors from the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation.
Granoff Architects
330 Railroad Ave., Greenwich, CT 06830
Granoff Architects integrates four architectural disciplines—residential, commercial, landscape, and interior design. Founded in 1989, the firm is known for crafting timeless projects fit with modern elements, as displayed in the Watermark Pointe development, below. Over the decades, the company has been featured in a host of publications, including Greenwich Magazine, At Home, CTC&G, and Home & Garden. With a portfolio that ranges from unique individual homes to multi-family developments, corporate offices, and beautiful landscapes, the Granoff team has established a reputation for its commitment to quality craftsmanship and has received numerous industry honors, including the 2018 Connecticut and Greenwich Preservation Award, the National Association of Home Builders Green Award, and a HOBI award, among many others.
Papp Architects, P.C.
188 East Post Rd., White Plains, NY 10601
Papp Architects, P.C., prides itself on adaptability in this rapidly changing market. Since its establishment in 1953, the firm has created an extensive portfolio encompassing commercial, multi-family, restaurant, and mission-critical sectors. A notable example of the team’s eye toward community development is the NBW Tower, in New Rochelle. Originally designed as the headquarters of the National Bank of Westchester (now Chase), this high-rise has served as a market stimulant in a once-dormant area of the city center. Clad with two shades of limestone, the structure boasts a commissioned bas-relief sculpture in the design, adding beauty and enrichment that transcends function. This project and others have spurred the transformation of New Rochelle and earned the firm recognition across the region, with features in Westfair Communications, LoHud, and Westchester Magazine and honors such as the AIA Westchester and Hudson Valley Design’s Adaptive Reuse Award.
Keller/Eaton Architects
425 Mount Pleasant Ave., 2nd Fl., Mamaroneck, NY 10543
Established in 2012, Keller/Eaton Architects is known for trademark designs that are both strong and innovative, fitting neatly into the area’s history and context. The firm is deeply collaborative, building a responsive relationship with each client and driving quality that earns recognition industry-wide. Honored with a Westchester Home Design Award, a HOBI Award, and numerous other accolades, the company has also appeared in New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Luxist features. Among its numerous eye-catching commercial projects is the corporate office for Bessemer Venture Partners, which incorporates richly hued materials like Vermont Slate, burled wood, opaque glass, and satin chrome to improve workplace mood and flow.
Optimus Architecture
187 East Market St., Ste. #180, Rhinebeck, NY 12572
Founded in 1992, Optimus Architecture advocates for Planetree and LEED design principles, taking a full-spectrum approach that accommodates the needs of both client and community. Optimus’s focus on form and functionality reaches across boundaries, with projects in healthcare, residential, and commercial sectors (including work for companies like I. M. Pei & Partners, ADD Inc., Cambridge Seven, and IBM). Recognized time and again for exceptional attention to detail, the team takes inspiration from founder (now consulting architect) David A. Souers, leveraging decades of experience in commercial and architecture, residential development, and design/build with nationally recognized firms.
Nicholas L. Faustini Architect P.C.
77 Remsen Rd., Yonkers, NY 10710
Established in 2009, Nicholas L. Faustini Architect, P.C., has built a phenomenal portfolio of single-family and multi-family residences as well as commercial, institutional, and municipal projects. The firm seamlessly integrates architectural ideology with commercial know-how, under the management of founder Nicholas Faustini, who holds masters in both architecture and business administration. Combining this depth in finance and technology management, Faustini and team bring pragmatic efficiency and creative latitude to the forefront, ensuring immediate project success and long-range client satisfaction.
KTM Architect
700 Fenimore Rd., 2nd Fl., Mamaroneck, NY 10543
KTM Architect has been working with business and home owners since 2011. From house remodels to multi-family developments and new-business fit-outs, the firm has continually extended its range, earning recognition from Westchester Magazine, LoHud, and Inside Self Storage. Among its notable projects, the Trilogy Café shows the team’s creative capabilities put to work. Main architectural features include an elevated lounge area, a full kitchen, and beautiful herringbone tile floors. The vibrant orange tones incorporated into the furnishings and equipment stir the energy of this ground-floor retail space, which now hums with customer buzz.
LEAP Architecture
New York, NY
Big ideas and measurable results are the products of LEAP Architecture’s seven years of service in the architectural industry. The firm’s experience in residential and commercial projects has gained a strong reputation across the state, thanks to media exposure such as a recent Times Union feature and distinctions that include the Capital Region Builders & Remodelers Association’s 2016 Best in Building award. The CapCity Coworks project at 11 N. Pearl is a perfect example of the firm’s commitment to the motto “creating healthy spaces.” Set inside an Art Deco building, this fresh modern design emphasizes the WeWork model for developing collaborative workspaces that inspire and energize. With LEAP Architecture, success begins with aesthetic craft and embraces sustainable quality.
Steven Secon Architect
145 Palisade St., Ste. #403, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
Steve Secon Architect has been in the industry for 21 years. During this time, the firm has completed over 400 projects for the residential, landscape, and commercial sectors. Regardless of the project type, the company provides its clients with an array of services that extend across architectural, interior, and landscape design and include inspections, construction monitoring, and peer reviews. The firm’s projects are guided by the expertise of company principal Steven Secon, who is a member of the AIA, Building Officials and Code Administrators, and U.S. Green Building Council. With a background in fine arts, product design, construction, and architecture from both local and foreign perspective, Secon infuses knowledge and experience into his team leadership, ensuring he and his associates are navigators who take value, utility, and appearance to heart.
David A. Tetro Architect, P.C.
302 Lewis Ave., Yorktown Heights, NY 10598
David A. Tetro Architects, P.C., has been providing clients in and around New York with personalized architectural services for over 20 years. These rich decades have included both residential and commercial projects, with portfolio depth that includes restaurants, offices, and institutional buildings across Westchester, Rockland, Orange, and Putnam counties. The firm’s approach highlights a sophisticated, personalized attention to detail that renders every client space grand and unique. The firm’s services are guided by company principal David Tetro—an active member of several major industry organizations and a LEED-accredited professional who drives design strategies that hinge on sustainability.
