What RICE Architects does

RICE Architects (legal entity Barry Rice Architects PLLC) is a boutique, multi-disciplinary architecture firm founded in 1999 by Barry Rice and headquartered at 5 Hanover Square, Suite 1400 in New York City. The firm provides full-service architectural design across residential, commercial, hospitality, institutional, and educational project types, with stated specializations in historic preservation and restoration, adaptive reuse of landmarked structures, and sustainable/green building design that includes geothermal heating and cooling systems.

The firm's underlying technology stack is described only generically as technology that allows it to take on projects typically associated with firms many times its size; no proprietary platforms, AI/ML systems, or APIs are disclosed. Service delivery is principal-led: every project is managed by a team comprising the Principal, a Project Manager, and staff members, and the firm emphasizes hands-on, tailored client engagement.

RICE Architects generates revenue through project-based professional services fees charged to a roster of preeminent NYC luxury real estate developers (including Toll Brothers City Living, Greystone, The Related Companies, Cape Advisors, The Stahl Organization, Muss Development, East River Partners, Third Millenium, and Vesper Holdings), high-net-worth private clients, and select institutional customers such as St. Luke's School. Go-to-market is referral- and reputation-driven through architectural and real estate press coverage, an exclusive sales handling arrangement with Stribling Marketing Associates on Greystone projects, and direct developer relationships. Specific pricing is not publicly disclosed. The firm operates with a founder-owned ownership structure and no disclosed institutional investors, parent company, or private equity backing.

Name

RICE Architects

Legal name

Barry Rice Architects PLLC

Website

https://barryricearchitects.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

RICE Architects is a founder-owned, boutique New York City architecture firm founded in 1999 by Barry Rice, providing full-service design across luxury residential, hotel, institutional, and educational projects with specializations in historic preservation, adaptive reuse, and sustainable building design for preeminent developers and private clients.

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Professional architecture services for residential, commercial, hotel, institutional, and recreational facilities. Revenue is generated through project-based design fees for developers, private clients, and institutions requiring architectural services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

RICE Architects provides full-service architectural design for residential, commercial, hospitality, institutional, and educational projects. Core practice areas include new construction, renovation, historic preservation and restoration, adaptive reuse of landmarked structures, and green/sustainable building design featuring technologies such as geothermal heating and cooling systems.

Product overview

RICE Architects is a boutique architecture firm offering comprehensive architectural design services. The firm operates as a single unified service practice rather than a platform-with-modules structure. Core offerings include architectural design for residential, commercial, hospitality, and institutional projects, supplemented by specialized services in historic preservation and restoration, sustainable/green building design, and adaptive reuse of historic structures. Notable named projects serve as portfolio examples rather than distinct product lines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Design Services Full-service architectural design for residential, commercial, hospitality, institutional, and educational projects, including new construction, renovation, adaptive reuse, and historic preservation. Intended for developers, private clients, and institutions across NYC and select U.S. markets.
• Historic Preservation & Restoration

Named customers10 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

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• H. Thomas O'Hara ArchitectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with H. Thomas O'Hara Architect on projects including 21 East 96th Street, bringing combined expertise to historic building conversions.
• Jacques GrangeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with world-renowned architect Jacques Grange on 40 East 72nd Street project, where Barry Rice handled period restoration and apartment layouts while Grange contributed to interior design.
• Winter McDermott DesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterior Designer Maureen McDermott of Winter McDermott Design worked in collaboration with Barry Rice on Greystone Development projects, creating visions suitable for historic buildings.
• Stribling Marketing AssociatesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive sales handling partner for Greystone Development projects designed by Barry Rice Architects.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Beyer Blinder Belle Architects: NYC architecture firm with comparable expertise in historic preservation, residential, and institutional projects, often working alongside landmark commissions; directly competes for the same historic-district developer clients.
• Peter Pennoyer Architects: NYC boutique architecture firm specializing in classical/traditional and historic preservation design for luxury clients; closely comparable niche and Manhattan historic-district focus.
• CetraRuddy Architecture: NYC boutique architecture firm specializing in luxury residential towers and adaptive reuse in landmarked districts; operates at similar boutique scale on competing developer mandates.
• TenBerke (formerly Deborah Berke Architects): NYC boutique architecture firm with residential, cultural, and educational practice; comparable boutique scale, principal-led model, and overlap on high-end developer and institutional work.
• Morris Adjmi Architects: NYC boutique architecture practice with comparable focus on contextual residential and adaptive reuse projects in historic neighborhoods; similar boutique scale and developer client base.
• Handel Architects: NYC firm focused on luxury residential and hospitality high-rises for top-tier developers; competes head-to-head with RICE on the same Toll Brothers/Related type mandates and similar Park Avenue/Upper East Side product.
• Selldorf Architects: NYC boutique architecture firm led by Annabelle Selldorf with similar principal-led model, museum/cultural and luxury residential work, and comparable boutique scale serving high-end clients.
• SLCE Architects: NYC-based architecture firm with strong residential and mixed-use practice serving premier developers; overlapping client roster and similar high-rise luxury product positioning.

Broad incumbents

• FXCollaborative: Larger NYC architecture firm with residential, commercial, and educational practices; broader portfolio and team scale, but competes on overlapping developer and institutional mandates.
• Robert A.M. Stern Architects: Large NYC architecture firm where founder Barry Rice worked for 12 years; operates at materially larger scale on similar residential, institutional, and historic-context projects, and competes directly with RICE for premium developer mandates.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/barry-rice-architects

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 RICE Architects