Gradient Architecture
Gradient Architecture is a Brooklyn-based boutique architecture and design firm founded in 2006 that provides residential, commercial, cultural, and exhibition design services using parametric modeling and digital fabrication. It serves homeowners, developers, hospitality operators, and cultural institutions primarily across the New York metropolitan region.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersBrooklyn, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Gradient Architecture does
Gradient Architecture PLLC is a boutique architecture and design firm founded in 2006 by Ben Krone in Brooklyn, New York. The firm operates without limitations on project scale or typology and serves clients across four primary segments: high-end residential (gut renovations, townhouses, brownstones, lofts, multi-unit developments); commercial and hospitality (hotels, restaurants, bars, retail spaces, office interiors); cultural and institutional (museums, memorials, public installations); and exhibition design. Notable clients include the Guggenheim Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art (via Jaime Krone's concurrent roles), Ronald McDonald House (in partnership with Spotify), Bloomingdale's, The Fat Radish, Estela, and Lola's, as well as a base of individual residential clients across Brooklyn and Manhattan.
The firm's core technical differentiator is its use of parametric modeling, computer-aided precision tools, and CNC-driven digital fabrication to produce high-end design at cost-effective price points. Documented proprietary capabilities include parametrically linked facade systems, custom thermoformed Corian surfaces produced via CNC-routed molds, parametric design and fabrication of furniture, and treatment of architectural elements as furniture objects to compress approval timelines. The team of approximately five includes Ben Krone (principal; ex-SHoP Architects; teaches at Penn and Columbia), Jaime Krone (Director of Exhibition Design; current Guggenheim role and former Met role), Peter Hanby (ex-Olson Kundig and Hutker Architects), and Hans Villamayor (specialist in digitally-generated design).
The business model is professional-services based: revenue is generated through design fees, project management, and construction administration, supplemented by one-off revenue from custom furniture and productized offerings such as Gradient Furniture, Micro Loft compact studios, and Pop Shop Modular units. Pricing is custom-quoted per project with no publicly disclosed rate cards. The go-to-market is sales-led, relying on direct client relationships, competitive project bids, press coverage (NY Times, Brooklyn Magazine, NY YIMBY), and portfolio-driven referrals rather than paid marketing. Ownership is entirely founder-controlled with no institutional investment disclosed.
Gradient Architecture firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Gradient Architecture
- Legal name
- Gradient Architecture PLLC
- Website
- https://gradientarch.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Gradient Architecture is a Brooklyn-based boutique architecture and design firm founded in 2006 that provides residential, commercial, cultural, and exhibition design services using parametric modeling and digital fabrication. It serves homeowners, developers, hospitality operators, and cultural institutions primarily across the New York metropolitan region.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Gradient Architecture industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural Design Services
- NAICS
- Architectural Services (54131), Architectural Services (541310), Interior Design Services (541410), Interior Design Services (54141)
- SIC
- General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB), Space Planning & Workplace Design (BPAHAKAI), Residential Interior Fit-Out (Multi-Family & High-End) (IMAFANAE), Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders (IMAFABAE)
Keywords
Where Gradient Architecture is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brooklyn
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Gradient Architecture business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Architecture and Design Services: Full-service architecture and design firm providing architectural services for residential, commercial, cultural, and hospitality projects. Revenue generated through design fees, project management, and construction administration.
- Custom Furniture Design and Production: Design and production of custom furniture pieces such as media cabinets and furniture systems (e.g., Gradient Furniture hi-fi cabinet)
- Exhibition Design: Specialized exhibition and installation design services for museums and cultural institutions
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Gradient Architecture product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Gradient Architecture is a Brooklyn-based full-service architecture and design firm providing architectural services for residential, commercial, cultural, and exhibition projects. The firm uses computer-aided precision tools, parametric modeling, and digital fabrication to produce high-end design at cost-effective prices. It also designs and produces custom furniture pieces such as media cabinets and modular furniture systems.
Product overview
Gradient Architecture PLLC is a full-service architecture and design firm founded in Brooklyn, New York in 2006, specializing in high-end design through computer-aided precision tools and manufacturing processes. The firm's core offering spans residential architecture (gut renovations, new constructions, townhouses, brownstones, lofts), commercial architecture (hotels, restaurants, retail, office spaces), cultural architecture (memorials, public installations), and exhibition design (museums, immersive environments). Notable projects include the LIC Hotel, Park Slope Townhouse, 123 House (featured in New York Times), and the Gullivers Gate Airport exhibition. The firm also produces custom furniture and offers parametric facade design services, operating without limitations of project scale or typology with emphasis on craft, materiality, and innovation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Residential Architecture Full-service residential architecture including gut renovations, new constructions, additions, townhouses, brownstones, lofts, and multi-family housing projects across Brooklyn and the New York area, serving homeowners, property developers, and individuals.
- Commercial Architecture Commercial architecture services including hotel design, retail spaces, restaurants, bars, office interiors, and mixed-use developments for restaurant owners, hotel developers, and retail brands.
- Cultural Architecture Cultural architecture including memorials, exhibition design, museum spaces, and public installations serving cultural institutions, museums, and memorial projects.
- Exhibition Design Exhibition design services including museum installations, airport mockups, and immersive environments for cultural institutions such as the Guggenheim Museum.
- Gradient Furniture Custom furniture design including solid walnut media cabinets with integrated ventilation systems, designed and produced for individual client specifications.
- Parametric Facade Design Computer-aided precision facade design using parametric modeling to create facades with digitally-generated patterns, parametrically linked elements, and custom configurations for buildings.
- Micro Loft Compact studio apartment conversion design featuring flexible live-work spaces with CNC-cut parametric designs, sleeping lofts, and custom millwork for urban residential clients.
Quantifiable outcome
- Completed renovations on extremely tight budgets while maintaining high design standards
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Gradient Architecture
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Gradient Architecture technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Gradient Architecture partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- FRAMEWORK ArchitecturecoreCollaboration on LIC Hotel project in Long Island City. Gradient is designing the 50,000 s.f. hotel in partnership with FRAMEWORK Architecture.
- SpotifycoreGradient partnered with Spotify to design the Music Experience Space for Ronald McDonald House in NYC, creating a space for children to find inspiration through music.
- SHoP ArchitectsminorGradient collaborated with SHoP Architects on the 127 Madison Ave project, a 12-story 21,000 s.f. residential development.
- Westmill CapitalminorGradient is working with Westmill Capital to develop the Georgetown Powerhouse (6,000 s.f. interior and 7,000 s.f. exterior) into a restaurant and market.
- Greenblatt-WexlerminorCompetition entry for Atlantic City Holocaust Memorial was produced in collaboration with graphic design firm Greenblatt-Wexler.
- Five Visual ArtistsminorProject To Surface is a collaboration between five visual artists and Gradient Architecture, using fabrication tools to render artists' concepts into three-dimensional form.
- Ena Swansea (Painter)minorCollaboration with painter Ena Swansea on the Goyesque Festival Arena Floor design in Arles, France.
- Gradian Health SystemsminorDesigned 5,000 s.f. office space and custom furniture for Gradian Health Systems office.
- Ben Towill and Philip WinserminorRestaurant interior fit out executed in collaboration with The Fat Radish restaurant owners Ben Towill and Philip Winser.
- Chef Suzanne CuppsminorLola's restaurant designed for chef Suzanne Cupps in FlatIron.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Gradient Architecture competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Olson Kundig: Boutique architecture firm specializing in high-end custom residences and craft-driven design. Comparable in scale and typology focus on premium residential; Gradient's Peter Hanby previously worked at Olson Kundig.
- SHoP Architects: NYC-based architecture firm known for high-end residential, commercial, and cultural projects using advanced digital fabrication. Directly comparable: Gradient's founder Ben Krone spent seven years at SHoP, and the two firms co-designed 127 Madison Ave.
- nARCHITECTS: NYC-based architecture firm working across residential, commercial, and cultural projects with a design-research orientation. Comparable boutique size, NYC base, and typology mix including cultural work.
- Hutker Architects: Boutique residential and commercial architecture firm on the East Coast. Comparable boutique scale and high-end residential focus; Peter Hanby worked at Hutker before joining Gradient.
- Deborah Berke Partners: NYC architecture firm specializing in residential, cultural, and educational projects with a craft-driven sensibility. Comparable boutique scale, premium positioning, and NYC cultural-institution portfolio.
- Work Architecture Company: NYC architecture firm focused on civic, cultural, and residential projects with socially engaged design. Comparable boutique scale and NYC base with similar typology overlap in residential and cultural work.
- BKSK Architects: NYC boutique architecture firm with residential, commercial, and institutional work. Comparable in size, geography, and typology mix, including residential gut renovations and cultural projects.
- FRAMEWORK Architecture: Architecture firm collaborating with Gradient on the LIC Hotel project. Comparable in boutique scale and typology, including hospitality and mixed-use development.
Emerging players
- Snarkitecture: NYC design practice working at the intersection of architecture, art, and installation with notable retail and exhibition commissions (e.g., retail installations, museum experiences). Comparable cultural-installation and parametric-design orientation to Gradient's exhibition practice.
Broad incumbents
- Handel Architects: Larger NYC architecture firm with a substantial residential and hospitality practice including large multi-family developments. Overlaps with Gradient on residential and hotel typologies but operates at greater scale and broader portfolio.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Gradient Architecture social profiles
Digital presenceGradient Architecture financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Gradient Architecture leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Gradient Architecture funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Gradient Architecture M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Gradient Architecture
What does Gradient Architecture do?
Gradient Architecture is a Brooklyn-based full-service architecture and design firm providing architectural services for residential, commercial, cultural, and exhibition projects. The firm uses computer-aided precision tools, parametric modeling, and digital fabrication to produce high-end design at cost-effective prices. It also designs and produces custom furniture pieces such as media cabinets and modular furniture systems.
Is Gradient Architecture a public or private company?
Gradient Architecture is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Gradient Architecture founded?
Gradient Architecture was founded in 2006. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Gradient Architecture based?
Gradient Architecture is headquartered in Brooklyn, United States, in the North America region.
How does Gradient Architecture make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Architecture and Design Services are the primary driver. The others are custom Furniture Design and Production and exhibition Design.
Who are Gradient Architecture's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Olson Kundig, SHoP Architects, nARCHITECTS, Hutker Architects, Deborah Berke Partners, Work Architecture Company, BKSK Architects and FRAMEWORK Architecture. Snarkitecture is listed as an emerging player. Handel Architects is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Gradient Architecture have an API?
No public API is recorded for Gradient Architecture.
What industry is Gradient Architecture in?
Gradient Architecture's product category is Architectural Design Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAA, Architectural Design Services, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAB, Interior Design Services. Its NAICS code is 54131 and its SIC code is 1520.