SPAN Architecture’s Selected Projects

History of SPAN Architecture

SPAN Architecture LLC is an award-winning international architecture and design studio, co-led by Karen Stonely AIA LEED AP and Peter Pelsinski AIA LEED AP, rooted in New York City. From the start, their practice has oscillated between the natural world and the man-made: they design buildings, interiors, custom furniture, lighting, hardware, art, and graphics—all under one roof.

Their projects cover a wide array of typologies: from residential and high-end retail to commercial and mixed-use development. SPAN’s portfolio reflects a strong commitment to reinvigorating place—whether ground-up construction or adaptive reuse—and to experimenting with new building techniques and design details. Recognized by many prestigious awards (e.g. Architecture MasterPrize, FX International Interior Design Awards, and Architizer A+) and featured in major publications such as Architectural Digest, SPAN has built a reputation for design that is both thoughtful and elevated.

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Company Culture at SPAN Architecture

SPAN Architecture operates like a collaborative design laboratory. Their projects are born through active dialogue: client, craftsmen, artisans, and designers all contribute to a narrative that becomes integral to the final work. They take pride in designing across scales—from the technical minutiae of fixtures and furniture to complex masterplans—believing that the small details often define the character of spaces.

As a collective, SPAN is personable, grounded in our collective attitude and approachable, delivering responsible design that is thoughtful and elevated.

Sustainability is embedded early in their design process. At SPAN, environmental performance isn’t an afterthought: it’s part of schematic design, with sustainability reports and collaboration with consultants to ensure that goals are met. While they strive for innovative and inventive design, they describe their approach as evolutionary rather than revolutionary—rooted in responsibility to clients, community, and context.

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Architect-US is proud to collaborate closely with SPAN Architecture, a firm that consistently seeks out talented, forward-thinking designers to strengthen its team. Through our Job+J1 Visa Program, we’ve been able to connect the firm with exceptional young professionals from around the world, such as Stanislaw Gulkowski!

Stanislaw Gulkowski

Stanislaw Gulkowski graduated with a Master of Architecture from Politecnico di Milano in 2018, building on a Bachelor of Architecture from Warsaw. Originally from Poland, he gained international experience through internships in Warsaw, Vienna, London, and Milan, as well as freelance interior design projects. With a strong foundation in architecture, interiors, and visual arts, he brought a global perspective shaped by both his design work and international experiences.

SPAN Architecture’s Selected Projects

August Moon – Maine

August Moon is a restored coastal retreat in Maine, originally built in the 1960s for Brooke Astor. Reimagined by SPAN Architecture, the design honors the site’s natural beauty with interlocking volumes, planted roofs, and locally sourced materials like cedar, Douglas fir, and stone. Expansive windows and custom interiors create a constant dialogue with the surrounding forest and bay, blending mid-century heritage with contemporary craft.

Found Space – New York

“Found Space” began with a hidden discovery in a Park Avenue penthouse: SPAN unearthed a little-known void once used for storage and water tanks, tucked away above existing floors. What was once neglected turned into opportunity—by navigating NYC building codes and rethinking access, the architects expanded the 1,200 sq ft apartment into a nearly 10,000 sq ft triplex with amazing light and views. The result is a sky-home that feels almost surreal—connected to Central Park, with vertical windows, glass facades that vanish in daylight, and terraces that capitalize on the height and exposure. SPAN’s work here illustrates their “architectural detective” mindset: finding the unused, reimagining its potential, and turning it into something breathtaking.

The Core Club – New York

The Core Club is a private, forward-thinking club designed to feel more like a sculptural, immersive space than a typical members’ lounge. SPAN fused elements of museum elegance, retail drama, and residential warmth to create a place that feels at once intimate, vibrant, and distinctly modern. Key design features include a signature Chevron “Core Pattern” motif that runs throughout the interiors, rich custom detailing, dramatic lighting installations, and art-driven interiors—each space, from library to spa to screening room, invites discovery. Behind the design was a push to break away from stuffy tradition and build somewhere memorable, timeless, and decidedly of its moment.

We will be posting more projects by SPAN Architecture in the upcoming weeks and months, so keep an eye out for more of their incredible work! Every Friday we will be posting a new Featured Company, so join us again next week!