What RAAD Studio does

RAAD Studio is a privately held, future-focused architectural design practice founded in 2004 by James Ramsey in New York City. The firm operates as a multi-disciplinary studio uniting architects, designers, inventors, engineers, and craftspeople to deliver residential, commercial, and public-space projects, with a particular specialization in art installations and urban public-space interventions addressing climate challenges. Its technical differentiator is a proprietary solar daylighting platform—originating in Ramsey's NASA satellite optics work on the New Horizons and Cassini missions—which channels sunlight into underground and otherwise enclosed spaces, deployed through systems including Fresnel Reflector arrays and NASA-inspired sunlight transmission optics. Signature deployments include the Lowline (a proposed underground park on Manhattan's Lower East Side), the Seoul Daylighting initiative with the Seoul City Mayor's Office, and the Paddington Station daylighting design beneath London's Westway highway.

The firm earns revenue through project-based professional services—architectural design, interior design, lighting design, and construction administration—priced on a custom-quote basis per engagement rather than through standardized fee schedules. Customer segments include high-net-worth residential clients (the primary vertical, including fashion and private-investor clients), real estate developers seeking differentiated design, and government or municipal clients pursuing innovative public-space solutions. Go-to-market is sales-led and reputation-driven, relying on earned media coverage in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, Architectural Digest, and others, alongside industry awards including AIA, Architizer A+, ASLA, IES, and a Fast Company World's 50 Most Innovative Companies recognition in 2017. The firm has established a wholly-owned subsidiary, RAAD Solar, to commercialize its daylighting technology, signaling an emerging productization path alongside its core bespoke design services.

Name

RAAD Studio

Legal name

RAAD Studio

Website

https://raadstudio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

RAAD Studio is a boutique New York architecture practice founded in 2004 by ex-NASA engineer James Ramsey, specializing in residential, commercial, and public-space design using proprietary NASA-inspired solar daylighting technology. The firm serves high-net-worth residential clients, real estate developers, and municipal governments on bespoke projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Design Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Architectural Services (54131), Landscape Architectural Services (541320)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Building Information Modeling (BIM) & Digital Design Services (BPAHAKAK)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Interior design services
• Solar daylighting systems
• Urban public space design
• Art installation design

Headquarters

HQ city

West New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: RAAD Studio generates revenue through comprehensive architectural and design services for residential, commercial, and public projects. Services include full architectural design, interior design, space planning, and construction administration. Revenue is project-based with fees calculated per engagement.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

RAAD Studio is a future-focused architectural design practice that delivers full-service architecture, interior design, art installations, and urban public space design for residential, commercial, and public-sector clients. The firm combines sweeping design gestures with proprietary green technology—particularly NASA-inspired solar daylighting systems—to transform challenging environments (underground spaces, highway underpasses, dense urban lots) into light-filled, functional spaces. Projects are delivered on a commissioned, project-by-project basis with services spanning space planning, lighting design, architectural visualization, and construction administration.

Product overview

RAAD Studio is a future-focused architectural design practice founded in 2004 that operates as a single unified service offering—architecture and design services—rather than a platform or software product. The firm specializes in residential homes and interiors, art installations, and urban design projects that address climate challenges. Their signature capability is proprietary solar daylighting technology, notably demonstrated in The Lowline (underground park in NYC), Seoul Daylighting projects, and Paddington Station design. The portfolio includes diverse projects ranging from private residences (Chelsea Townhouse, Soho Penthouse, Beach House) to commercial buildings (The Sebastian condo, Chelsea Office Building) to public installations (Seoul Biennale, Superpier).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture and Design Services Full-service architectural and interior design offering covering residential, commercial, and public space projects. Services include space planning, architectural visualization, lighting design, and construction management for projects ranging from private residences to large-scale urban interventions.
• The Lowline World's first underground park project in Manhattan's Lower East Side, deploying proprietary solar technology to transmit sunlight to underground spaces. Founded by RAAD Studio as a grassroots urban innovation initiative and accompanied by demonstration facilities including Lowline Lab and Lowline Lab 2.
• Paddington Station Daylighting Public space design beneath London's Westway highway using fresnel reflector system technology to redirect natural sunlight, creating a futuristic wetlands beneath the highway overpass.
• Seoul Daylighting Urban public space initiative in Seoul, South Korea, using proprietary solar technology to introduce natural light into underground spaces, transforming them into underground parks year-round. Includes five proposals developed in partnership with the Seoul City Mayor's Office.

Quantifiable outcome

• Units sold above asking price before completion
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Seoul City Mayor's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRAAD Studio has an ongoing relationship with the Seoul City Mayor's Office involving multiple urban public space projects. The firm is working on five proposals to transform underground spaces in Seoul into parks filled with greenery, using their proprietary solar daylighting technology. This is part of a broader initiative to stipple downtown Seoul with this advanced form of public space.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group): Globally prominent architecture firm defined by technology-driven, sustainability-oriented design. Comparable to RAAD on the integration of proprietary technical concepts (e.g., solar/optical innovation) into the design brand.
• Snøhetta: Internationally recognized architecture and design practice known for sustainability-forward public projects (SFMOMA expansion, Oslo Opera House). Comparable on cross-disciplinary practice, sustainability focus, and signature cultural/urban commissions.
• Adjaye Associates: Internationally recognized architecture firm with strong cultural and public-sector portfolio (Smithsonian NMAAHC). Comparable to RAAD on profile-driven brand, award recognition, and signature civic/institutional commissions.
• Studio Gang: Architecture and urban design practice with strong sustainability and ecological narrative (Aqua Tower, Writers Theatre). Comparable to RAAD on integration of environmental thinking into design language and award-recognized public profile.

Direct peers

• MOS Architects: Small, experimental NYC architecture practice known for technology-driven, research-based design. Comparable to RAAD on boutique scale, NYC base, and integration of novel technical systems into architectural work.
• SHoP Architects: NYC-based architecture practice of comparable size and profile, known for tech-forward design and high-profile urban projects (Barclays Center, Atlantic Yards). Closest direct peer given shared NYC base, scale, and willingness to integrate proprietary technology into architecture.
• Olson Kundig: Boutique architecture practice known for custom-crafted residential and small commercial projects with strong material and technical identity. Comparable to RAAD on boutique scale, premium residential focus, and integration of custom technical craft into design.
• Diller Scofidio + Renfro: NYC-based interdisciplinary architecture practice known for blending technology, art, and architecture (The Shed, High Line). Comparable to RAAD on NYC base, art-architecture integration, and willingness to take on unconventional public-space commissions.
• James Corner Field Operations: Landscape and urban design firm behind the High Line and other large public-space interventions. Comparable to RAAD in combining signature public-space projects (Lowline for RAAD, High Line for Field Ops) with a design-led, mission-driven positioning.

Emerging players

• Heatherwick Studio: London-based design studio combining architecture, product design, and public art (Coal Drops Yard, Little Island). Comparable to RAAD on the art-architecture hybrid model and signature public-space work in London.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/raadstudio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 RAAD Studio