Spaces designed to
work as hard as your business.
A full-service commercial design studio delivering restaurants, retail, offices, mixed-use developments, clinics, and hospitality venues across all five boroughs — from first concept through certificate of occupancy, with NYS-licensed architects and engineers retained directly by you handling all technical filings.
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Explore our work
Founded by Ana Kurtsikidze
16+ Years Experience
23 U.S. States
NYC · Commercial
Restaurant Design
About the Practice
Built on the belief that great design is a business asset.
ArcheA Studio is a commercial design studio based in New York City, delivering strategic design solutions for restaurants, retail spaces, offices, mixed-use developments, clinics, and hospitality venues across all five boroughs and 23 U.S. states.
We begin every commercial engagement with a deep understanding of your business — who your customers are, how your team operates, what your brand communicates, and what success looks like. Whether the project is a restaurant fit-out in Brooklyn or a mixed-use building in Queens, one team manages the full scope from feasibility through certificate of occupancy.
“The best commercial space is one your customers don’t notice — they just feel at ease, stay longer, and come back.”
— Ana Kurtsikidze, Founder & Principal Designer
16+
Years of practice
23
U.S. states served
5
NYC boroughs
What we design.
Six commercial practice areas, one integrated team. Whether the project is a restaurant fit-out in Brooklyn or a mixed-use tower in Manhattan, the approach is the same — design rooted in how your business actually works, built to code, delivered on schedule.
Restaurant Architecture
Dining spaces that create atmosphere and support efficient service.
Restaurant design in New York City demands a design partner who understands the intersection of hospitality, brand, and code compliance — working alongside the NYS-licensed architects and engineers you retain for all technical filings. ArcheA Studio designs dining rooms, bar areas, open kitchens, and full-service restaurant interiors that meet all NYC Department of Health and DOB requirements. From fast-casual concepts in Brooklyn to fine dining in Manhattan, we translate culinary vision into architecture.
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Retail & Showroom
Storefronts that sell before the door opens
Retail architecture is a direct expression of your brand. ArcheA Studio designs storefronts, boutiques, showrooms, and multi-tenant retail environments that maximize customer engagement, optimize circulation, and strengthen brand presence — with DOB filings for fit-outs across all five boroughs coordinated through NYS-licensed architects and engineers retained directly by you.
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Office & Workplace
Workplaces designed for how people actually work
Workplace design shapes how people think, collaborate, and perform. ArcheA Studio designs offices that balance open collaboration zones with focused work areas, integrate brand identity into the built environment, and meet the practical demands of modern business — tenant fit-outs, base building coordination, and DOB filings coordinated with the NYS-licensed architects and engineers retained directly by you.
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Mixed-Use Development
Residential, retail, commercial — one building
ArcheA Studio designs mixed-use buildings that combine uses within a single structure — optimizing zoning lot coverage, unit mix, ground-floor activation, and code-compliant egress. Deep expertise in the NYC Zoning Resolution and the DOB NOW permitting process — coordinated with NYS-licensed architects and engineers, retained directly by you, who prepare and file all technical documentation.
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Clinic & Medical
Clinical spaces built for workflow and compliance
Medical offices, dental clinics, urgent care centers, and physical therapy studios. We coordinate mechanical and plumbing engineers for clinical infrastructure, and the NYS-licensed architects and engineers retained directly by you handle all DOB and DOH filings — including infection control and ADA requirements specific to healthcare environments.
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Hospitality & Events
Venues that perform under pressure
Hotels, bars, rooftop venues, and multi-room event spaces — atmosphere and code compliance in equal measure. We design hospitality environments that leave a lasting impression while meeting all NYC building and fire code requirements.
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Not sure which service fits your project? Start here.
The first consultation is free — a genuine conversation, no obligation.
How a commercial project unfolds.
Every commercial project follows the same six-phase arc — though the pace and regulatory specifics vary by project type, borough, and occupancy classification. Here is what working with ArcheA Studio looks like from the first conversation to the certificate of occupancy.
01
Discovery & Feasibility
Week 1
Business objectives, site conditions, zoning constraints, and budget parameters — all established before any design investment is made. We identify obstacles early so they don’t become surprises during permitting.
02
Concept Development
Weeks 2–5
Preliminary floor plans, space layouts, and design concepts that translate your brand and operational requirements into architecture — visualized in drawings and 3D before a wall is built.
03
Zoning, Code & ADA
Week 5–6
Compliance with NYC Zoning Resolution, Building Code, energy code, and ADA standards. Occupancy classifications, egress requirements, sprinkler obligations, and any special permits — all resolved before design development begins.
04
Design Development
Weeks 7–12
Materials, interior finishes, lighting, and full MEP coordination. Brand integration, fixture layouts, and millwork detailing — all resolved and documented before construction documents are produced.
05
Permitting
Weeks 13–20
We coordinate with NYS-licensed architects and engineers — retained directly by you — who prepare the complete architectural drawing set and handle all DOB NOW filings and permit approvals. We manage agency submissions, respond to plan examiner objections, and keep structural and MEP engineers coordinated throughout the process.
06
Construction Admin
During build
Site visits, contractor submittals, RFI responses, and change order management — through certificate of occupancy. Having the design team present during construction is what ensures the built result matches the approved design.
What sets us apart.
Brand-driven design — not generic commercial interiors.
Every commercial project begins with an understanding of who your customers are, what your brand communicates, and how architecture reinforces that identity at every touchpoint. We don’t adapt catalog interiors to your business — we design from your business outward.
In commercial real estate, time is money. Lease commencement dates, opening schedules, and investor milestones are real constraints. ArcheA Studio manages the design and permitting timeline aggressively — identifying critical path items early and keeping all consultants coordinated so construction can start as planned.
$25K
Maximum per-violation fine for incomplete or incorrect DOB filings in NYC
02
NYC regulatory expertise — coordinated under one roof
Occupancy changes, special permits, landmarks review, DOH approvals for food service, and DOB NOW filings. Commercial projects in NYC face some of the most complex permitting environments in the country. ArcheA Studio coordinates all of it — the NYS-licensed architects, engineers, and filing consultants retained directly by you prepare the submissions; we keep every consultant aligned and every timeline on track.
03
ROI-focused — design that pays for itself
Commercial architecture is an investment. We optimize usable square footage, reduce construction waste through precise documentation, and make material and layout decisions that hold value over time. The goal is a space that performs financially, not just aesthetically.
04
One firm, full scope — no handoffs
From feasibility through certificate of occupancy, ArcheA Studio manages the entire project under one roof. We coordinate the NYS-licensed architects and engineers you retain directly, so there’s no gap between the design team and the technical team. One model, one point of accountability for design.
175K
Permit Applications Filed · NYC DOB · 2024
New York City’s commercial real estate market continues to evolve rapidly — with restaurant openings, retail repositioning, office reconfiguration, and mixed-use development driving sustained demand for experienced commercial architects. The quality of your permit filing directly determines whether your project opens on time or sits in plan review for months.
175K+
DOB applications 2024
$25K
Max fine per violation
4–8wk
Typical fit-out review
6–12%
Architecture fee range
MANHATTAN
BROOKLYN
QUEENS
S.I.
BRONX
N
Where We Work
Every borough. Every commercial type.
ArcheA’s commercial practice covers the full geography of New York City. Manhattan from Midtown and the Financial District to SoHo, Tribeca, the Upper East Side, and Harlem. Brooklyn from Williamsburg and DUMBO to Park Slope, Bushwick, Brooklyn Heights, Greenpoint, and Bed-Stuy.
Commercial work extends into Queens (Astoria, Long Island City, Flushing, Forest Hills), the Bronx (Fordham, Riverdale, Pelham Bay), and Staten Island (St. George, New Dorp, Todt Hill) — and beyond NYC into Westchester, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Texas, Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and 14 additional states.
Manhattan
Brooklyn
Queens
The Bronx
Staten Island
Westchester
+ 22 more states
Common questions.
The questions that come up most often in commercial project consultations — answered directly. If yours isn’t here, ask us. We’ll tell you the honest answer, including when the process is harder than you expect.
Do I need a commercial architect for a restaurant renovation in NYC?
Yes. Any renovation that changes the layout, use, or structure of a commercial space in New York City requires professionally sealed architectural drawings filed with the NYC Department of Buildings. Restaurant projects also require coordination with the NYC Department of Health for food service approvals. ArcheA Studio handles both the DOB filing and the DOH coordination as part of a single integrated service.
How much does commercial architecture cost in New York City?
Commercial architecture fees in NYC typically range from 6–12% of construction cost, depending on project type, scope, and complexity. Tenant fit-outs and straightforward retail renovations tend to be on the lower end. Mixed-use new construction and specialized clinic or hospitality projects sit higher in that range. ArcheA Studio provides a detailed fee proposal after an initial consultation — once we understand the project’s scope and permitting requirements.
How long does it take to permit a commercial project in NYC?
A straightforward tenant fit-out with no change of occupancy can move through DOB NOW review in 4–8 weeks. Projects involving occupancy changes, special permits, or landmarks review can take 3–9 months. ArcheA Studio provides realistic timeline projections at the outset and manages the process proactively — identifying what will slow the filing before it does.
What is a change of occupancy and when does it matter?
A change of occupancy occurs when a space converts from one use category to another — retail into a restaurant, warehouse into office space, or office into a medical clinic. In NYC, this triggers additional DOB review, often requiring upgraded egress, sprinklers, and accessibility features, and may involve special permits. ArcheA Studio identifies occupancy implications at the feasibility stage so there are no surprises during plan review.
Can ArcheA Studio design a medical or dental clinic in NYC?
Yes. ArcheA Studio has direct experience designing medical offices, dental practices, urgent care facilities, and physical therapy studios in New York City. Clinical spaces require specialized knowledge of infection control, plumbing and medical gas requirements, ADA accessibility, and coordination with relevant oversight agencies — all managed as part of our full-service commercial practice.
Does ArcheA Studio handle ADA compliance for commercial projects?
Yes. ADA compliance is integrated into every commercial project from the earliest design phase. For existing commercial spaces undergoing renovation, we assess the scope of required accessibility upgrades and incorporate them efficiently into the design. Accessible design is good design — and it protects your business from liability that can arise years after the project is complete.
What boroughs does ArcheA Studio serve for commercial projects?
All five NYC boroughs — Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island — as well as Westchester County and commercial projects across 23 U.S. states. We have completed commercial architecture work in neighborhoods from Midtown Manhattan and the Financial District to Williamsburg, Astoria, Long Island City, and beyond.
Let’s talk about what you’re trying to build.
Whether you are opening a restaurant, renovating an office, developing a mixed-use building, or designing a clinic in New York City — the first conversation is free. No obligation, no sales pitch. Just an honest discussion about what’s possible and what it takes.
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Call +1 929 327 8002
Email
info@archea.us
Phone
+1 929 327 8002
Web
archea.us
ArcheA Studio · Commercial Architect NYC · Restaurant Architect · Retail Space Architect · Office Space Architect · Mixed-Use · Clinic Design · All Five Boroughs
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ArcheA Studio — NYC
Commercial
Architecture
Design & permitting · New York City
ArcheA Studio — NYC
Retail & Office
Spaces
Brand-driven design · All five boroughs
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