What Danny Forster & Architecture does

Danny Forster & Architecture (DF&A) is a privately held, founder-led architecture and design firm founded in 2007 and headquartered at 520 West 27th Street in Chelsea, Manhattan. The firm operates as a multidisciplinary consortium of architects, designers, filmmakers, storytellers, technologists, curators, professors, and authors, organized around three integrated service lines: Architecture & Design Services (covering ultra-high-net-worth residential, luxury hospitality, commercial real estate, and modular construction projects), Film & Documentary Production (including the Emmy Award-winning Rising: Rebuilding Ground Zero co-produced with Steven Spielberg and the five-season series Build It Bigger), and Research & Innovation (focused on modular construction and design for manufacturing).

DF&A's core technical differentiator is its pioneering work in volumetric modular architecture — most visibly the Nomad Modular Hotel in NYC, marketed as the world's tallest modular hotel — combined with formal partnership with Berkshire Hathaway-owned MiTek Inc. to develop a nationwide modular construction platform and the MiTek Hotel Module. Underlying capabilities include BIM modeling and rendering expertise, design for manufacturing strategies led by Director Jason Buchheit, and early-stage AI exploration led by project architect Sonya Feinstein. Notable projects include Central Park Tower on Billionaire's Row, the World Trade Center Tower, Hudson Yards Marriott Autograph Collection, San Francisco Tower, Rithm Capital's Broadway commercial office, and international work spanning Abu Dhabi, the United Kingdom, Hungary, Seychelles, and Thailand.

Revenue is generated through project-based professional services fees negotiated per engagement, with no publicly disclosed pricing. The firm acquires clients through direct, principal-led engagement with property developers, luxury residential clients, hospitality brands, and institutional/tribal clients, supplemented by media visibility from its film/TV work (Discovery Channel, Spielberg collaboration) that functions as a top-of-funnel marketing channel. The firm is privately held with no evidence of external institutional investment or parent-company affiliation.

Name

Danny Forster & Architecture

Legal name

Danny Forster & Architecture

Website

https://dannyforster.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Danny Forster & Architecture is a privately held, NYC-based architecture and design firm founded in 2007, serving ultra-high-net-worth residential, luxury hospitality, and commercial real estate clients through integrated architecture, film production, and modular construction research, with a strategic partnership with Berkshire Hathaway's MiTek Inc.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Design Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Engagement & Participatory Planning (BPAHAKAO)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Modular construction design
• High-end residential architecture
• Hospitality architecture services
• Architectural film production

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: DF&A generates revenue through comprehensive architectural design services for high-end residential, commercial, hospitality, and modular construction projects. Revenue is project-based, typically involving significant design fees from conception through completion.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Danny Forster & Architecture is a multidisciplinary architecture and design firm that provides full-service architectural design for luxury residential, commercial, hospitality, and modular construction projects. In parallel, the firm produces architectural television and documentary series (such as the Emmy Award-winning Rising: Rebuilding Ground Zero) and conducts research on modular construction innovation and design for manufacturing. DF&A generates revenue through project-based architectural design fees and related film and research engagements, including a strategic nationwide modular construction platform partnership with Berkshire Hathaway's MiTek Inc.

Product overview

Danny Forster & Architecture operates as a consortium of architects, designers, filmmakers, researchers, and technologists offering three integrated service lines: Architecture & Design Services (covering residential, commercial, hospitality, and modular construction projects), Film & Documentary Production (including the Emmy Award-winning Rising: Rebuilding Ground Zero and Build It Bigger series), and Research & Innovation (focused on modular construction and storytelling). The firm is particularly known for pioneering modular construction, having built the world's tallest modular hotel in New York City and partnering with Berkshire Hathaway company MiTek Inc. on a nationwide modular construction platform. Major projects include Central Park Tower, Hudson Yards Hotel, San Francisco Tower, and the World Trade Center Tower.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture & Design Services Full-service architectural design covering residential, commercial, hospitality, and modular construction projects, including high-end private homes, luxury towers, hotels, and large-scale developments.
• Film & Documentary Production Television and film production services including documentary series, architectural films, and branded content exploring architecture, construction, and urban development.
• Research & Innovation Research services focused on modular construction innovation, storytelling, and branding strategies for architecture and design.
• Nomad Modular Hotel The world's tallest modular hotel in New York City, featuring stacked modular units for rapid construction and quality-controlled prefabrication.
• MiTek Hotel Module Modular hotel module designed in partnership with Berkshire Hathaway company MiTek Inc. as part of a transformative nationwide modular construction platform.
• San Francisco Tower Modular tower designed on Market Street in San Francisco, featuring volumetric architecture and off-site construction.
• Hudson Yards Hotel 25-story Autograph Hotel tower at Hudson Yards in Manhattan, designed as a modular hospitality project.
• Downtown Brooklyn Hotel Modular hotel in Downtown Brooklyn, designed with prefabricated construction methods.
• Build It Bigger TV series hosted by Danny Forster for five seasons, featuring 45 episodes investigating pioneering building projects and their role in cities and countries.
• Rising: Rebuilding Ground Zero Emmy Award-winning six-part series co-produced with Steven Spielberg documenting the rebuilding of Ground Zero from multiple perspectives.
• How China Works Six-episode documentary series for Discovery Channel exploring modern China through close-up stories of agriculture, arts, and culture.
• 432 Park Avenue Short promotional film linking the world's tallest residential building to achievements in art and elevation, celebrating luxury architecture.
• REIMAGINING MODULAR Research initiative exploring modular construction innovation, design for manufacturing strategies, and off-site construction systems.

Named customers6 records

Segments4 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

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• MiTek Inc. (Berkshire Hathaway company)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDF&A partnered with Berkshire Hathaway company MiTek Inc. to create a transformative nationwide modular construction platform. The partnership involves long-term research collaboration on off-site construction systems and modular hotel development, including the MiTek Hotel Module.
• Steven SpielbergflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDF&A co-produced the Emmy Award-winning six-part series Rising: Rebuilding Ground Zero with Steven Spielberg, documenting the rebuilding of the World Trade Center from multiple perspectives.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Snøhetta: Snøhetta is a Norwegian-international architecture and design practice known for innovative cultural, public, and hospitality buildings globally. Comparable to DF&A for design innovation, cross-disciplinary team (architecture, landscape, interiors), and global project portfolio spanning cultural and commercial commissions.
• BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group): BIG is a globally recognized architecture firm blending innovation with high-profile commercial and residential projects. Comparable to DF&A for celebrity-led brand, innovative construction methodologies, and signature skyscraper projects.
• SHoP Architects: SHoP Architects is a NYC-based design firm known for pioneering modular construction for high-rise projects (e.g., 461 Dean Street, the world's tallest modular residential building at completion). Directly comparable to DF&A for modular architecture innovation and luxury NYC projects.
• Handel Architects: Handel Architects is a NYC-based architecture firm focused on luxury residential, hospitality, and mixed-use developments. Comparable to DF&A for high-end Manhattan residential towers and modular/innovative construction approaches.
• Studio Gang: Studio Gang is a Chicago-based architecture and urban design practice known for innovative, sustainability-focused buildings. Comparable to DF&A for design-led innovation, environmental design (LEED-certified projects), and high-profile cultural/institutional commissions.
• Adjaye Associates: Adjaye Associates is a globally recognized architecture firm led by Sir David Adjaye with significant work in cultural, residential, and commercial sectors. Comparable to DF&A for celebrity-architect brand, luxury residential projects, and cultural/institutional commissions.
• Robert A.M. Stern Architects: RAMSA is a leading NYC architecture firm specializing in luxury residential towers and classical-modernist commercial buildings. Directly comparable to DF&A for luxury NYC residential clients and high-rise tower design on Manhattan's premier corridors.
• Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF): KPF is a premier architecture firm designing many of the world's tallest and most iconic towers including Hudson Yards towers in NYC. Directly comparable to DF&A for luxury high-rise residential and commercial design on Billionaire's Row and similar trophy asset projects.

Broad incumbents

• Gensler: Gensler is the world's largest architecture and design firm with broad capabilities across commercial, hospitality, and residential sectors. Comparable to DF&A as a broad incumbent serving enterprise commercial and hospitality clients including hotel brands.
• SOM (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill): SOM is one of the world's largest and most established architecture, engineering, and urban planning firms with deep expertise in supertall towers and commercial buildings. Comparable to DF&A as a broad incumbent in the same trophy-asset architecture space, though operating at much larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/DannyForsterandArchitecture
• Instagraminstagram.com/dannyforsterandarchitecture
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/danny-forster-and-architecture

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Danny Forster & Architecture