Shakespeare Gordon Studio celebrated its 20-year anniversary in 2023, reflecting its principals' deep and ongoing commitment to their architectural practice and the city in which they practice. Our studio is invested in its projects not only as designers who take pride in our work but as members of the communities where our designs are realized. 

The firm was originally founded by Amy Shakespeare in 2003 as Redtop Architects and was known as Shakespeare, Gordon, Vlado: Architects from 2017-2023. We've grown and evolved over the years, adding depth, experience and capacity while maintaining the advantage of focus and unified endeavor of a smaller-sized office.

Shakespeare Gordon Studio is a 18-person office located in the Gowanus neighborhood of Brooklyn and specifically focuses on work within New York City, primarily for public and non-profit clients. It is our mission to create architecture that has an enduring positive effect on its users and on the physical landscape of our city. Our work is defined by its playfulness, elegance and public-spirited nature, which is expressed across a wide range of typologies and uses. We approach each project with care, compassion and a sophisticated understanding of its social purpose and urban context.

Amy Shakespeare

Mark Gordon

Ashima Chitre

Ana Sucena

Sean Kennedy

MỹDung Nguyễn

Jae Choi

Amy Atzmon

Britta Gordon

Charlie Liu

Claire Hicks

Inez Kozak

Josh Orner

Li Jin

Lisa Liang

Margaux Thys

Teresa Lawlor

Zhangzheng Yang

We are pleased to introduce Shakespeare Gordon Studio, the next chapter of our architecture practice.

We have a new look and a new website, but we aren’t a new firm. Instead, see this announcement as a renewal – of our commitment to our clients, to our staff, to our design community, and to our city. The core values and architectural sensibilities that have always guided our work remain central to our practice. And what hasn’t changed is our commitment to providing design excellence and exceptional service to our clients, and to strengthening the built environment of our city through uplifting, inspired architecture.

We hope that our new name emphasizes the continued contributions of the talented studio of architects and designers that we lead, and we recently 

. We’re also growing, with three new designers joining us in the first half of 2024. Their energy and talent make us even more excited for what the future holds.

We invite you to look around our new website – we think it’s excellent. This transition inspired us to update our graphics to better reflect the identity of our firm and to showcase our projects. Thank you to 

 for lending us their graphic design and web development expertise.

Introducing Shakespeare Gordon Studio

We’re happy to announce that Ashima Chitre and Ana Sucena (formerly Associates) have been made Senior Associates. These titles reflect Ashima and Ana’s years of dedicated commitment, generous leadership,and design expertise. Two of the firm’s longest team members, they are an integral part of SGS, leading many of our most highly awarded projects and mentoring junior staff. And while Sean Kennedy’s title as Director of Construction Administration isn’t changing, we’d in the same way like to recognize his role at SGS as an essential leader, both in the field and in our office. We are privileged to have Ashima, Ana and Sean’s continued support as we enter this new chapter in the firm’s history. Congratulations to Ashima, Ana and Sean!

Ashima Chitre and Ana Sucena made Senior Associates, Sean Kennedy recognized as Director of Construction Administration

We’re pleased to announce that Jae Choi and MỹDung Nguyễn have been made Associates! These new titles recognize their years of exceptional design work and project leadership at our firm. Both Jae and MỹDung joined our staff in 2018 and have played major roles in some of our most complex and innovative projects. From intricate space planning at educational institutions, to dynamic and transformative affordable housing projects, they do it all. Their enthusiasm, rigor, and care for their work inspires our entire office. We are excited to honor their immense contributions to the firm with these promotions. Congratulations to MỹDung and Jae!

Jae Choi and MỹDung Nguyễn made Associates

SGS enjoyed welcoming two NYC high school students to our office this week as part of the Center for Architecture Discover Architecture program. Kaylee and Ella visited construction sites for our institutional and residential projects, interviewed young architects on our staff about their experiences in the field, researched an exciting design opportunity in Puerto Rico, and more. We wish them the best for their spring semester and future architectural endeavors. Thank you for being with us this week!

SGS hosts high school students through AIANY's Discover Architecture Program

As of the beginning of this year, Nicole Vlado Torres has stepped down from her position of Principal as she shifts her focus towards policy and advocacy in affordable housing, an evolution of her important work at SGVA. We are grateful for Nicole’s years of dedication and immense contributions to our firm, and we look forward to celebrating her future pursuits. We are pleased that Nicole will continue to be a valued collaborator with us going forward.

At the same time, we are also excited to announce the next chapter of our firm as Shakespeare Gordon Studio. What hasn’t changed is our commitment to providing design excellence and exceptional service to our clients, and to strengthening the built environment of our city through uplifting, inspired architecture.

We're starting 2024 with some big changes...

We competed for the first time in the yearly Pumpkitecture pumpkin carving competition at the Center for Architecture, as part of AIANY's Archtober. Our design was inspired by the Ninth Street Bridge/Culver Viaduct near our office in Brooklyn, which carries the G and F trains over the Gowanus Canal. We carved subway cars out of mini cucumbers and used our pumpkin's guts to represent the canal water below, and we also included the historic Kentile Floors sign that was once a neighborhood landmark. Thank you to our carving team and to the Center for Architecture for hosting us! We enjoyed seeing the creativity of fellow architecture firms at work, and we look forward to participating again in the future. 

SGVA participates in AIANY's Pumpkitecture

We’re incredibly honored to be chosen as one of twenty New York City architecture firms who’ll be working on public building projects in the city, and in great company! 

SGVA on NYC’s DDC Architects List

HPD selects Shakespeare Gordon Studio for 100-units of affordable senior housing to be developed by WSFSSH and built by Procida. 

Shakespeare Gordon Studio is an award-winning New York City-based, women-owned business that pursues inventive and thoughtful solutions to architectural design challenges at all scales, for a wide variety of clients and project types.

The Team

Amy Shakespeare

Mark Gordon

Ashima Chitre

Ana Sucena

Sean Kennedy

MỹDung Nguyễn

Jae Choi

Amy Atzmon

Britta Gordon

Charlie Liu

Claire Hicks

Inez Kozak

Josh Orner

Li Jin

Lisa Liang

Margaux Thys

Teresa Lawlor

Zhangzheng Yang

Studio News

Introducing Shakespeare Gordon Studio →

Ashima Chitre and Ana Sucena made Senior Associates, Sean Kennedy recognized as Director of Construction Administration →

Jae Choi and MỹDung Nguyễn made Associates →

SGS hosts high school students through AIANY's Discover Architecture Program →

We're starting 2024 with some big changes... →

SGVA participates in AIANY's Pumpkitecture →

SGVA on NYC’s DDC Architects List →

Shakespeare Gordon Studio wins RFP for Highbridge Site →

Firm History