Following our previous visit to Laney LA, we are moving our Meet Your Next Employer series to New York City this week to explore the work of WORKac.

Co-founded by Amale Andraos and Dan Wood, the firm has amassed a portfolio that includes public, cultural, and civic projects. The firm describes its ethos as using “the power of architecture and design to engage environmental and social concerns, and to create new possibilities for the future.” Last year, Archinect covered the firm’s success in the 2023 AIANY Design Awards.

Over on Archinect Jobs, the firm is currently hiring for a Senior Architect to join their New York City team. For candidates interested in applying for a position or anybody interested in learning more about the firm’s output, we have rounded up five projects in New York by WORKac that exemplify the firm’s ethos.

Kew Gardens Hills Library, New York, NY

The new Kew Gardens Hills Library branch integrates an existing structure with a contemporary design aimed at enhancing community pride and functionality. Serving over 500 visitors daily, the library features a core of stacks and service areas surrounded by bright, open spaces. A green roof reduces runoff and serves as a visible neighborhood landmark, while the facade combines rippling glass, fiber-reinforced concrete, and a structural beam, showcasing the library’s activities. At the main corner, a monumental design emphasizes its civic importance, while a smaller peak at the children’s section offers scaled-down views to engage young visitors.

Learn more on the Kew Gardens Hills Library's Archinect project page.

Adams Street Library, Brooklyn, NY

The Adams Street Library is the Brooklyn Public Library’s first new branch in over two decades, designed to address the needs of the Dumbo, Vinegar Hill, and Farragut Houses communities. Community outreach highlighted a demand for children’s programming, leading to a design that prioritizes children’s spaces with areas for learning, reading, and views of Brooklyn Bridge Park. The library includes a teens’ area with new collections, technology, and programming, while flexible multipurpose rooms support community gatherings, equipped with stackable furniture, whiteboards, and a kitchenette.

Learn more on the Adams Street Library's Archinect project page.

The Stealth Building, New York, NY

The Stealth Building saw a gut renovation and a two-and-a-half-story penthouse addition, designed to remain invisible from street-level sightlines, as required by the city’s Landmarks Commission. The penthouse’s crenelated roof form fits within the “shadow” cast by neighboring pediments, featuring a secluded sunken terrace and a hot tub within the old elevator bulkhead. Four lower-floor simplex apartments are organized around a central kitchen/bathroom core with a sleeping loft and greenhouse atop. The restored 1857 cast-iron façade includes new fractal-inspired Corinthian capitals, blending modern artistry with historic design.

Learn more on The Stealth Building's Archinect project page.

Edible Schoolyard PS216, Gravesend, NY

The Edible Schoolyard Project, initiated by activist chef Alice Waters in Berkeley, integrates organic gardening and cooking into public school curricula. Since 2009, WORKac has designed spaces for the program in New York City, fostering environmental awareness through architecture. At PS216, a former half-acre parking lot became a dynamic teaching garden. The design features three interconnected elements: a blue rubber “systems wall” displaying sustainable infrastructure, including a water reclamation cistern; a “decorated shed” housing the kitchen classroom, and offices; and a greenhouse for year-round gardening.

Learn more on the Edible Schoolyard PS216's Archinect project page.

Diane Von Furstenberg HQ, New York, NY

Diane von Furstenberg’s headquarters in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District combines preserved historic facades with a contemporary six-story structure housing flagship retail, performance venues, offices, a design studio, and a private penthouse. A prominent diagonal staircase, the “stairdelier,” connects the building’s spaces while serving as both a functional and sculptural element. The staircase integrates a heliostat mirror and approximately 3,000 Swarovski crystals suspended on steel cables, which provide structural support and refract light throughout the interior. The design features double-height voids and a faceted penthouse studio on the roof. The penthouse contrasts the historic facades below, highlighting the studio’s presence in the urban landscape.

Learn more on the Diane Von Furstenberg HQ's Archinect project page.

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.