WORKac

What WORKac does

WORKac is a New York City-based architecture and urban design firm founded in 2003 by principals Amale Andraos and Dan Wood. The firm delivers architectural design, masterplanning, interior design, and exhibition design services across residential, commercial, cultural, institutional, and public-sector project types, with completed work spanning North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Its design methodology centers on ecological integration, adaptive reuse of existing structures, and the intersection of nature and built environment, exemplified by speculative projects such as P.F.1 (Public Farm 1), Nature-City, and 49 Cities.

The firm operates as a project-based professional services practice, generating revenue through negotiated design fees on commissioned work. Projects are sourced through direct client commissions, competitive bidding, and invited design competitions (including a 2008 MoMA PS1 Young Architects Program win). WORKac serves a diversified client base that includes museums, public libraries, universities, fashion brands, creative agencies, municipal governments, and private individuals, with notable clients such as Diane von Furstenberg, Anthropologie, RISD, Kew Gardens Hills Library, Mexico City's PILARES program, and Interbank Peru. Distribution relies on a portfolio-driven website, social media presence, publication of books and exhibitions, and reputation-based referrals rather than outbound sales.

WORKac is a privately held partnership with no disclosed external funding, no parent company, and ownership concentrated in the two principals. The firm is recognized with over 50 industry awards including multiple AIA citations, ArchDaily Building of the Year, and a Progressive Architecture Award, and operates a flagship "Superfriends" consortium with SCAPE, Studio Zhu-Pei, and SLAB to pursue large-scale international masterplans.

Name

WORKac

Legal name

WORKac

Website

https://work.ac

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

WORKac is a New York-based architecture and urban design firm founded in 2003, delivering ecological, adaptive-reuse, and mixed-use projects across cultural, institutional, commercial, and public-sector clients worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Design Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Architectural Services (541310), Interior Design Services (541410), Interior Design Services (54141)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Space Planning & Workplace Design (BPAHAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

ADU Design, Architecture & Engineering (HSAPAMAF), Landscape Construction & Hardscaping (Patios, Retaining Walls, Outdoor Structures) (IMAIAIAE)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Urban masterplanning
• Interior design
• Exhibition design
• Sustainable building design

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Professional fees generated from architectural design, masterplanning, interior design, and exhibition design services for commissioned projects across institutional, commercial, residential, cultural, and public sectors

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

WORKac is an architecture and design firm that provides professional architectural design, urban masterplanning, interior design, and exhibition design services. Its portfolio includes residential, commercial, cultural, institutional, and public-sector projects, with particular emphasis on integrating ecological systems, adaptive reuse of historic structures, and innovative public-space programming. The firm also engages in speculative urban design research and participates in design competitions.

Product overview

WORKac is an architecture and design firm based in New York City, led by principals Amale Andraos and Dan Wood. The firm specializes in architectural design, urban planning, and exhibition design across residential, commercial, cultural, and public projects. Their portfolio includes libraries, museums, performance spaces, office interiors, retail environments, educational facilities, and speculative urban design projects. WORKac does not offer software products or SaaS offerings; their services are architectural design and consulting rather than technology products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Design Services Comprehensive architectural design services covering residential, commercial, cultural, institutional, and public-sector projects, including new construction, additions, and interior renovation. Targeted at institutional clients, cultural organizations, government entities, real estate developers, and high-end private clients.
• Urban Masterplanning Large-scale urban and masterplanning services for city governments, real estate developers, and urban planners, including speculative proposals and built masterplans integrating density, ecological systems, and public space.
• Interior Design Interior design services for residential, retail, office, gallery, and showroom environments, integrated within the firm's broader architectural practice.
• Exhibition Design Design of exhibitions, installations, and performance spaces for museums, galleries, biennials, and arts organizations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Kew Gardens Hills Library serves over 500 visitors daily
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, notable and supporting.

• Superfriends (SCAPE, Studio Zhu-Pei, SLAB)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term collaborative partnership on large-scale masterplan projects including Weifang Masterplan and Beijing Horticultural Expo Masterplan. Superfriends team integrates landscape architecture, architecture, and urban planning expertise.
• Balmori Associates Landscape ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaboration on landscape integration projects including Wild West Side, Sylvan Visitor Center, and Riverside planning proposals. Combines architectural and landscape architecture expertise.
• Daily Tous les JourscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative collaboration on the Village Lab exhibition in Montreal, focused on sustainable, people-centric community building through participatory activities and public engagement.
• IUA Ignacio Urquiza ArquitectosflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on PILARES public space projects in Mexico City, designing community-oriented spaces for education, culture, and neighborhood exchange in vulnerable areas.
• Ant Farm (Chip Lord and Curtis Schreier)notableStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on 3.C.City project for Chicago Architecture Biennial, building on Ant Farm's 1970s polemical explorations to address today's global context with floating city concept.
• Archi UnionsupportingTechnology or IntegrationCollaboration on Yangpu United project in Shanghai, working on urban design proposal for ex-industrial district transformation.
• Alice Waters/Edible Schoolyard ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership since 2009 to bring Edible Schoolyards to New York City students, integrating organic gardening and cooking into public school curricula with architectural learning tools.
• Creative TimecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple collaborations with public arts group Creative Time on installations including Information Hub, Media Outpost, and exhibition designs.
• Wieden+KennedynotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Nature-City project for MoMA's Foreclosed exhibition, producing promotional commercials for the suburban alternative's benefits.
• New York MagazinesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned speculative Locavore Fantasia project for vacant lot in lower Manhattan, exploring vertical farming integration with residential.
• Maria CornejosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on EDGE-ucation Pavilion, developing camouflage pattern for roof with fashion designer.
• Eric Sanderson (Wildlife Conservation Society)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on ecological design elements including Nature-City and EDGE-ucation Pavilion, ensuring native habitat restoration and environmental sensitivity.
• Ignacio Urquiza ArquitectosflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on multiple Pilares projects in Mexico City, designing public community spaces for education and culture in underserved neighborhoods.
• Fritz HaegsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Wild West Side park project and contributions to Above the Pavement—the Farm! book on urban agriculture.
• MoMA PS1coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWon 2008 Young Architects Competition for P.F.1 (Public Farm 1), creating off-grid biodegradable half-acre farm from cardboard tubes.
• Alice WaterssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerContribution to Sylvan Visitor Center project collaboration with Alice Waters on restaurant and garden elements.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SO-IL (Solid Objectives - Idenburg Liu): New York-based architecture firm of comparable size focused on cultural, institutional, and residential projects with experimental and contextual design approaches; directly comparable mid-sized competitor with overlapping client base in museums, education, and public sector.
• nARCHITECTS: Small-to-mid New York architecture firm with comparable scale and a focus on public-interest projects, sustainability, and community-oriented design; directly comparable in typology, size, and target clients.
• MOS Architects: New York-based experimental architecture practice with similar scale and an emphasis on speculative research, cultural commissions, and public installations; comparable in firm size, design approach, and competition-led visibility.
• Studio Gang: Mid-sized US architecture firm with strong civic, cultural, and sustainability-led portfolio; comparable in typology of clients (museums, libraries, public buildings) and emphasis on ecological design.

Broad incumbents

• Snøhetta: Globally recognized architecture and design firm with cultural, civic, and masterplanning projects similar to WORKac; a much larger incumbent competing for many of the same library, museum, and public-sector commissions.
• OMA (Office for Metropolitan Architecture): Internationally prominent architecture firm led by Rem Koolhaas with deep cultural, civic, and masterplanning portfolio; competes directly for high-profile institutional clients and large-scale urban projects that WORKac also targets.
• BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group): Major global architecture firm with strong cultural, civic, and masterplanning practice; larger and better-capitalized incumbent competing for similar institutional clients and speculative urban design commissions.
• KieranTimberlake: Mid-to-large US architecture firm with strong cultural, educational, and civic portfolio; comparable in typology of clients (universities, museums, public buildings) but with significantly greater scale.

Emerging players

• SCAPE Landscape Architecture: Landscape architecture and urban design firm that is a WORKac partner (Superfriends consortium); operates in the same urban ecology and masterplanning niche with overlapping project types like Beijing Horticultural Expo.
• Balmori Associates: Landscape architecture and urban design firm collaborating with WORKac on multiple projects; comparable niche focus on integrating ecological systems into urban infrastructure and masterplanning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/workac
• YouTubevimeo.com/user2625204
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/workac
• Instagraminstagram.com/work.ac

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about WORKac