Following last week’s visit to Massachussets-based I-Kanda Architects, we are moving our Meet Your Next Employer series to New York this week to explore the work of Architecture Research Office.

From their studio in Brooklyn, the firm has built a portfolio that, in their words, “unites beauty and form with strategy and intelligence.” In September, we reported on the firm’s plans for the Frederic Church Center for Art and Landscape in Upstate New York, while in May, the firm was part of a wider team behind the design of a Brooklyn high school campus with a hydroponics greenhouse and outdoor teaching spaces.

Over on Archinect Jobs, the firm is currently hiring for a Junior Designer to join their Brooklyn office. For candidates interested in applying for the position, or anybody interested in learning about the firm’s output, we have rounded up four masonry cultural buildings by Architecture Research Office that exemplify the studio’s ethos.

Dia Chelsea, New York City, NY

Part of ARO’s upgrades and expansion of the Dia Art Foundation’s locations, the new Dia:Chelsea seeks to expand street-level exhibition spaces behind new brick facades while uniting three existing buildings. One gallery, located in a former marble factory, retains its exposed brick wall, while a retractable metal panel door enables the handling and installation of large-scale work within the gallery. Meanwhile, an adjoining second gallery space will retain its distinctive vaulted, wood roof, white walls, and tall glass doors.

“Extending Dia’s history of revitalizing buildings for contemporary art, the design honors the industrial vernacular of each structure and of the neighborhood itself, while creating a seamless experience for visitors in rejuvenated, luminous spaces,” the firm explains. “In each exhibition space, new, upgraded, and insulated skylights—matching the design of the originals—allow natural light to enter the galleries.”

University of Washington Tacoma, Milgard Hall, Tacoma, WA

For the new Milgard Hall at the University of Washington Tacoma, ARO combined a brick facade with a mass-timber glulam structural system. The resulting 55,000-square-foot building hosts a lab wing, fabrication shops, flexible collaborative spaces and classrooms, and an outdoor Science Court.

“Exterior materials mediate between the historic warehouse structures nearby, the modern urban context of downtown Tacoma, and the surrounding campus,” the firm explains. “Local brick is used on the north and east sides of the building, which house the classrooms and faculty offices, while profiled metal panels on the south and west correspond to the lab spaces visible from the Prairie Line Trail.”

Rothko Chapel Campus, Houston, TX

ARO undertook a renewal of the Rothko Chapel building alongside an expansion of its campus in order to realize painter Mark Rothko’s original vision and mission of social action. The resulting plans see a new north campus connected to the chapel, including the Suzanne Deal Welcome House, the Energy House, and a relocated guest house. While the chapel is “intended for introspection as a sanctuary for contemplation,” the campus is designed to “invite the outside world in.”

“The design challenge was two-fold,” the firm explains. “To restore the sense of awe that visitors experience in the presence of Mark Rothko’s fourteen monumental paintings; and to create a new campus which is grounded in both the singular power of the Chapel and the unique character of the neighborhood without overwhelming them.”

Tate Library, Bronx, NY

For their renovation of the Tate Library at Ethical Culture Fieldston School in the Bronx, ARO sought to “transform the signature 1970 building into a learning commons that is the hub for the entire campus.” The new interior prioritizes openness and spaciousness, with greater access to books and technology, and multiple modes of teaching and learning.

Maintaining the integrity of the original stone and concrete building, the exterior renovation includes new windows with bird-friendly glazing and a new main entrance facing the campus quadrangle. Inside, new technology infrastructure, environmental systems, and LED lighting enhance the user experience and meet evolving future needs, while custom glass fiber-reinforced gypsum ceilings integrate lighting and maintain continuity within the space.

Meet Your Next Employer is one of a number of ongoing weekly series showcasing the opportunities available on our industry-leading job board. Our Job Highlights series looks at intriguing and topical employment opportunities currently available on Archinect Jobs, while our weekly roundups curate job opportunities by location, career level, and job description.