What CO Adaptive does

CO Adaptive is a full-service architecture and building practice founded in 2011 by Ruth Mandl and Bobby Johnston, headquartered at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The firm provides integrated design and construction services spanning Passive House architecture, adaptive reuse of existing buildings (including industrial and historic structures), low-carbon construction, deconstruction and material salvage, and construction management. In 2021 it launched CO Adaptive Building, a wholly-owned construction arm intended to reunite architectural design with on-site craftsmanship, and in 2026 it began monetizing salvaged materials through the Orbit Exchange Marketplace under its SPARC deconstruction initiative with NYC EDC. The firm's technical stack combines Passive House Planning Package (PHPP), life cycle and embodied carbon analysis, thermal imaging, blower door and airtightness testing, Flixo thermal bridge analysis, WUFI hygrothermal simulation, LiDAR-based existing-conditions scanning, mass timber/CLT installation, and Design for Disassembly methodology. Since 2019 the firm has maintained a foam-free insulation pledge across all projects.

The firm generates revenue primarily through project-based professional services fees for architectural design and construction management, with a secondary transaction-based stream from sales of salvaged and deconstructed building materials. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Customer segments are diversified across residential (passive house residences, townhouse and multi-family renovations), arts & cultural (Mercury Store theater, Architectural League of NY installations), commercial (adaptive reuse of industrial buildings), and public/government clients (NYC Department of Cultural Affairs' Materials for the Arts, NYC EDC, Buttermilk Labs on Governor's Island). The firm is NYC WBE-certified and operates as a privately held practice with no disclosed external investors; marketing is conducted primarily through earned media (Architectural Record, Dezeen, NYT, Metropolis, ArchDaily), academic teaching engagements, and industry awards rather than paid channels.

Notable signature projects include the Mercury Store Timber Adaptive Reuse Theater (first commercial adaptive reuse use of CLT in NYC), the MFTA Designer-in-Residence artist studio (built entirely from reclaimed materials), the Greenpoint Performing Arts Adaptive Reuse, and the Hunter-Bellevue SPARC deconstruction initiative. The firm has won the MASterworks Award for Best Adaptive Reuse (2023), Architectural Record Design Vanguard (2022), AZ Awards Winner and People's Choice in Adaptive Reuse (2022), MoMA Architecture Now exhibition inclusion (2019), and was named an Emerging Voice by the Architectural League of NY (2026).

Name

CO Adaptive

Legal name

CO Adaptive

Website

https://coadaptive.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CO Adaptive is a Brooklyn-based full-service architecture and building practice delivering Passive House design, adaptive reuse, deconstruction, and low-carbon construction services across residential, arts & cultural, commercial, and public sector clients in New York City. Founded in 2011.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Architecture and Construction Services

NAICS

Residential Remodelers (236118), Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (236220), Nonresidential Building Construction (2362), Interior Design Services (54141)

SIC

Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders (IMAFABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Whole-Home Interior Renovation (Non-Structural) (HSAPAEAC), Commissioning, Retro-Commissioning & Controls Tuning (BPABAGAL)

Keywords

• Sustainable architecture services
• Adaptive reuse design
• Passive house design
• Deconstruction services
• Low carbon construction

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

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, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Architecture and Design Services: Full-service architecture and building practice providing design and construction services for adaptive reuse, passive house, residential, commercial, and public projects. Revenue generated through project-based fees for design, construction management, and general contracting services.
2. Deconstructed Materials Sales: Sale of salvaged and deconstructed building materials such as glazed ceramic block from deconstruction projects. Materials are cataloged and made available for purchase through direct contact or Orbit Exchange Marketplace.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CO Adaptive is a full-service architecture and building practice specializing in sustainable design and construction, with a focus on Passive House-certified residences, adaptive reuse of existing buildings, low-carbon and mass timber (CLT) construction, deconstruction, and the integration of foam-free, healthy materials. The firm combines an architectural design studio (founded 2011) with its construction arm, CO Adaptive Building (founded 2021), to deliver integrated design-build projects for residential, commercial, arts & cultural, and public-sector clients primarily in New York City.

Product overview

CO Adaptive is a full-service architecture and building practice combining design studio (est. 2011) with construction arm CO Adaptive Building (est. 2021). Their core offerings center on sustainable architecture with specialization in Passive House design, adaptive reuse of existing structures, and low carbon construction practices. The company provides integrated services spanning architectural design, embodied carbon analysis, thermal testing, deconstruction, and construction management. Notable projects include the Mercury Store theater retrofit (E131), the SPARC deconstruction initiative, and MFTA artist studio built entirely from reclaimed materials. The practice serves residential, commercial, arts/cultural, and public sector clients across New York City.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Passive House Design & Certification Full-service Passive House design achieving 80-90% reduction in active heating and cooling loads through rigorous PHPP methodology, with solar energy capture for net positive operational energy. Delivered to residential, commercial, and public-sector clients.
• Adaptive Reuse Architecture Transformation of existing buildings, including industrial spaces, into new uses while preserving embodied carbon; expertise in historic structures, metal foundries, and warehouses.
• Low Carbon Construction Sustainable building practices that reduce both operational and embodied carbon through material selection, heavy timber construction, and CLT implementation.
• Deconstruction Services Careful building disassembly focused on material salvage and reuse rather than demolition, using LiDAR scanning for existing conditions assessment and diverting materials such as glazed ceramic block and wood paneling from landfill.
• CLT & Mass Timber Construction Mass timber (CLT) structural insertions and construction for retrofit projects, including the first use of CLT on a fully commercial adaptive reuse building in NYC (Mercury Store).
• Material Salvage & Resale Sale of salvaged and deconstructed building materials, including glazed ceramic block, wood paneling, and architectural elements, made available for purchase through direct contact and Orbit Exchange Marketplace.
• Construction Management Full-service construction management delivered through the CO Adaptive Building construction arm, enabling integrated design-build delivery for clients.

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature11 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NYC EDCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026NYC Economic Development Corporation partnered with CO Adaptive for the SPARC deconstruction initiative, following NYC EDC's Circular Design and Construction Guidelines. CO Adaptive deconstructs portions of the Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing, with materials salvaged for resale and reuse.
• Materials for the Arts (MFTA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025MFTA is a division of NYC Department of Cultural Affairs. CO Adaptive designed and built an artist studio space in MFTA's Queens warehouse from entirely reused materials. This was CO Adaptive's first completed project for a NYC public agency and first project designed entirely with reclaimed materials.
• Swing StagingminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Provided reclaimed scaffolding posts from a nearby scaffolding business for use in the MFTA artist studio project.
• Net Your ProblemminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Sourced used fishing nets from fisheries in Massachusetts for the Beaux Arts Ball 2023 SEA CHANGE installation. Nets were borrowed and after the event sent to recyclers for reuse in new product manufacturing, supporting circular economy goals.
• Lobster PlaceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Locally sourced rockweed for Beaux Arts Ball installation. Rockweed was donated to local urban farms after the event to be composted, creating a fully circular material flow.
• The Architectural League of NYcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023CO Adaptive designed the installation for the Architectural League's Beaux Arts Ball 2023 SEA CHANGE at Brooklyn Navy Yard. Partnership embodies goals around material circularity and climate awareness.
• Yorke ConstructionminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2021General contractor for the Mercury Store timber adaptive reuse theater project.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ennead Architects: NYC-based architecture firm with strong cultural, institutional, and adaptive reuse portfolio. Comparable as a similarly sized NYC design practice working on cultural institutions (theaters, museums) and public-sector adaptive reuse projects.
• CookFox Architects: NYC-based architecture firm with deep specialization in Passive House, high-performance building design, and sustainability — directly comparable to CO Adaptive's core focus. Both firms serve similar NYC residential, commercial, and institutional clients with energy-efficient design expertise.
• Snøhetta: Global architecture and design firm known for sustainability leadership, adaptive reuse, and mass timber expertise. Comparable to CO Adaptive's design philosophy around low-carbon construction, creative reuse, and integrated design-build delivery.
• Handel Architects: NYC architecture firm with large portfolio in residential, commercial, and adaptive reuse including sustainability-focused projects. Comparable as a similarly positioned NYC practice serving cultural and residential clients.
• FXCollaborative: NYC architecture firm (formerly FXFOWLE) with strong sustainability practice and commercial, cultural, and institutional portfolio. Directly comparable as a mid-size NYC architecture practice serving overlapping client types with an emphasis on high-performance design.
• KieranTimberlake: Philadelphia-based architecture firm recognized for pioneering sustainable design, mass timber/CLT research, and integrated building performance. Comparable to CO Adaptive's expertise in mass timber adaptive reuse, embodied carbon analysis, and high-performance design.
• Magnusson Architecture and Planning: NYC-based architecture firm with residential, commercial, and affordable housing expertise, including sustainability and Passive House work. Comparable as a similarly sized NYC firm serving overlapping client segments with energy-efficient design focus.

Broad incumbents

• Perkins&Will: Global architecture firm with deep sustainability practice and integrated design capabilities. Overlaps with CO Adaptive on sustainability credentials and cultural/institutional client work but operates at much larger scale across many geographies.
• Buro Happold: Global engineering and consulting firm with strong sustainable design and building performance practice. Comparable to CO Adaptive's energy modeling and Passive House expertise but as an engineering consultancy rather than architecture practice.

Others

• Atelier Ten: Environmental design consulting firm specializing in building performance, Passive House design, and sustainability consulting. Comparable to CO Adaptive's embodied carbon, life cycle analysis, and Passive House expertise as a specialist sustainability consultancy serving the same client base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/co-adaptive-architecture
• Instagraminstagram.com/coadaptive
• Xx.com/coadaptive

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 CO Adaptive