What Architecture Research Office does

Architecture Research Office (ARO) is a Brooklyn-based architecture firm founded in 1993 that provides commissioned architectural design across educational, cultural, commercial, public, and residential sectors, with particular depth in higher education, K-12, performing arts, and adaptive reuse. The firm operates on a project-based professional services model, engaging institutional clients such as Rice University, Brown University, Riverdale Country School, Green-Wood Cemetery, The Flea Theater, the Mellon Foundation, and Knoll through direct commissions and selective local Architect of Record partnerships that extend ARO's geographic reach beyond the Northeast into Texas and the Pacific Northwest.

The firm's core technology is its research-driven design methodology, grounded in expertise in sustainable construction systems including LEED, Passive House, WELL, mass timber, and SITES standards, with documented outcomes such as a 70%+ reduction in embodied carbon via hybrid mass timber and the first NYC public school built to Passive House standards. ARO supplements project fees with a proprietary product line — the ARO Collection of acoustic felt finishes (Block, Plank, Grid, Attach, Baffle, Arc, Array, Shingle, Fold, Divide) — developed and manufactured in partnership with Spinneybeck | FilzFelt and distributed through Knoll's national showroom network.

ARO is led by three principals (Stephen Cassell, Adam Yarinsky, Kim Yao) supported by a finance director, business strategy director, studio director, and project directors, totaling 11-50 employees. The firm monetizes through two streams: professional services fees for commissioned architectural work and licensing/royalty revenue from the ARO Collection. Marketing is conducted primarily through earned media in architectural press, AIA and NYCxDesign awards, academic lectures, and a 2024 Princeton Architectural Press monograph, with no disclosed external funding or private equity ownership.

Name

Architecture Research Office

Legal name

Architecture Research Office

Website

https://www.aro.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Architecture Research Office is a Brooklyn-based architecture firm founded in 1993 that delivers commissioned design for educational, cultural, commercial, and public-sector clients, supplemented by a proprietary acoustic felt product line distributed through Knoll.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Architectural Services: Project-based professional services for commissioned architectural design including new construction, adaptive reuse, renovation, and master planning for institutional and commercial clients.
2. Product Licensing (ARO Collection): Licensing revenue from the ARO Collection of acoustic felt products manufactured and distributed through Spinneybeck | FilzFelt partnership.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Architecture Research Office (ARO) is an architecture and planning firm that provides commissioned architectural design services spanning strategic planning, architecture, and urban design across educational, cultural, public, commercial, and residential sectors. The firm also designs, develops, and licenses the ARO Collection, a proprietary line of acoustic architectural felt finishes (panels, screens, baffles, and desk solutions) co-developed with Spinneybeck | FilzFelt and distributed through Knoll. Project-based architectural services are the primary offering, with the ARO Collection providing a secondary licensing revenue stream.

Product overview

Architecture Research Office (ARO) is an architecture firm that offers architectural design services across educational, cultural, commercial, residential, and public sectors. In addition to their core architecture practice, they offer a proprietary product line called the ARO Collection—a series of acoustic, architectural felt finishes developed in collaboration with Spinneybeck | FilzFelt. The collection includes modular acoustic products such as ARO Block (tiles), ARO Plank (planks), ARO Grid (ceiling products), ARO Attach (desk solutions), ARO Baffle and ARO Arc (suspended panels), ARO Array (perforated screens), ARO Shingle (tiled panels), and portable screens ARO Fold and ARO Divide. These products are designed to provide acoustic comfort and visual interest in workspaces and are available through Knoll showrooms across the United States.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Architecture Research Office Collection: Acoustic, architectural felt finishes developed in collaboration with Spinneybeck | FilzFelt, including products like ARO Block, ARO Plank, ARO Grid, ARO Attach, ARO Baffle, ARO Arc, ARO Array, ARO Shingle, ARO Fold, and ARO Divide

Products and services

• ARO Collection

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced embodied carbon by over 70% compared to steel and concrete systems using hybrid mass timber structure
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and supporting.

• Spinneybeck | FilzFeltcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaboration developing and manufacturing the ARO Collection of acoustic architectural felt products. The partnership creates a line of acoustic panels, screens, baffles, and architectural finishes sold through Spinneybeck | FilzFelt distribution network.
• DLANDstudioflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with landscape architecture firm DLANDstudio on Rising Currents proposal for MoMA exhibition, creating a two-part ecological infrastructure system to protect Lower Manhattan from rising sea levels and storm surges.
• KirkseycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHouston-based Architect of Record for Rice University School of Business project. Kirksey serves as the local architect of record while ARO provides design leadership.
• Michael Van Valkenburgh AssociatescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture firm providing landscape design for Green-Wood Cemetery Education and Welcome Center project.
• Walter B. Melvin ArchitectssupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHistoric greenhouse exterior restoration architect for Green-Wood Cemetery project, working directly with the owner on restoration of the Victorian greenhouse.
• ColloqatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign justice organization engaged to lead the design team and community through Design Justice training for the Launch Expeditionary Learning Charter School project, centering community members' visions in the design process.
• SCAPEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture and urban design firm leading the larger 7-acre site redevelopment at Floyd Bennett Field for Launch Expeditionary Learning Charter School campus.
• Reed HilderbrandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture collaboration on Long Dock Park project, which received a three-star rating from the Sustainable Sites Initiative.
• Open (graphic design studio)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGraphic design studio providing environmental graphics for Riverdale Country School Upper Learning Building project.
• KnollflagshipOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerFurniture and workplace design collaborations including showroom designs, office designs, and licensing of ARO Collection products. Multiple Knoll locations designed by ARO including New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Houston, and Washington D.C.
• Cas HolmansupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesigner collaborating on custom-designed play roof equipment for Saint Ann's School project.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Snøhetta: Globally recognized research-driven architecture firm with deep sustainability and adaptive reuse credentials, similar academic ties and cultural-sector work. Larger scale and broader geographic reach position it as a broader incumbent in the same design philosophy niche.
• Studio Gang: Architecture and urban design firm with comparable sustainability focus, research methodology, and cultural-civic portfolio. Larger scale and broader geographic presence make it a broader incumbent in the same design philosophy.

Direct peers

• Olson Kundig: Seattle-based architecture firm of similar size with comparable design-led, materials-driven, residential and cultural portfolio. Similar approach to integrating commissioned work with product collaborations and brand identity.
• MASS Design Group: Research-driven architecture firm with explicit social impact orientation, comparable in its focus on sustainability, civic engagement, and institutional clients. Similar methodology of integrating research into design across education, cultural, and public projects.
• Ennead Architects: NYC-based architecture firm serving cultural, educational, and institutional clients with similar scale and prestige positioning. Comparable in delivering award-winning university, library, and civic projects with similar fee structures and client mix.
• Handel Architects: NYC-based architecture firm with comparable institutional, cultural, and large-scale urban project portfolio. Similar scale and direct engagement model with developers, universities, and public agencies.
• MOS Architects: NYC-based, research-driven small architecture firm with parallel methodology of experimental, contextual design. Similar boutique scale, academic ties, and reputation for innovative cultural and institutional commissions.
• Deborah Berke Partners (TenBerke): NYC-based architecture firm of similar size with strong cultural, educational, and adaptive reuse practice. Directly comparable in client base (universities, cultural institutions), boutique scale, and award pedigree.
• KieranTimberlake: Philadelphia-based architecture firm of comparable size with a parallel research-driven, sustainability-focused practice (mass timber expertise, net-zero projects, similar academic affiliations). Directly comparable in scale, methodology, and institutional client mix.
• Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects: NYC-based architecture firm with similar institutional and cultural client profile and comparable design sensibility. Similar scale, prestige positioning, and project mix including libraries, cultural, and educational commissions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/Architecture.Research.Office
• Xx.com/AROstream
• Facebookfacebook.com/ArchitectureResearchOffice

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Architecture Research Office