Mission

Dattner Architects, Carbon Copy Skyscraper, North America

Dattner Architects is a mission-driven, women-owned design firm. Our work focuses on civic spaces and the urban experience. We transform environments and strengthen communities through engaged collaboration, thoughtful programming, and creative design.

Dattner Architects’ foundation is civic architecture. Our designs for transit, schools, libraries, housing, healthcare, parks and recreation facilities, and community centers enrich the urban fabric with distinctive, innovative, and inspiring buildings—positively impacting countless residents.

We believe each project must belong to its place and time, tread lightly on the environment, and inspire its users. The process of engagement with stakeholders shapes our projects and how we work. Through an exchange of ideas with clients, interdisciplinary teams of consultants, public agencies, and communities, we maintain a holistic design approach, leading to creative solutions.

Dattner Architects Past & Present

1964

Dattner Architects founded in New York City

After studies at the Architectural Association in London and MIT, serving in the US Army Corps of Engineers, and working for seven leading NYC Architecture firms, Richard founds Richard Dattner AIA Architect.

1966

Adventure Playground in Central Park

Commissioned by the Estee and Joseph Lauder Foundation, the Adventure Playground helps spark a revolution in creative design for play

1969

Publication of Richard Dattner’s book Design for Play

The publication of Design for Play and the design of the Adventure Playground leads to play and recreation commissions around the US and overseas.

1970

Estee Lauder Laboratories in Melville

The beginning of a 56-year relationship with a small cosmetic firm, now a global company—with projects completed in NY, Canada, the UK, Belgium and Switzerland.

1978

Riverbank State Park

Design begins for what will become the 3rd most used State Park in New York, and the only one built on the roof of a pollution treatment plant.

1984

Public School PS 234

Dattner Architects is selected by a parent and teacher committee to design this now legendary community school in Lower Manhattan.

1993

Asphalt Green Swim Center

A triangular site adjoining a former asphalt plant is developed into the largest Olympic pool in New York City—a venue to teach generations of youth how to swim.

1992

Democratic National Convention

The design of a truly ‘democratic’ setting for the 1992 DNC Convention in New York City—with an urban amphitheater connecting the podium with the convention floor.

2003

West 72nd Street Subway Station

An iconic headhouse surrounded by a reimagined public space replaces the infamous “Needle Park” on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, a sign of New York’s recovery and rebirth.

2004-2020

Steiner Studios

The beginnings of a growing east-coast film empire at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Steiner Studios is now the largest film studio complex outside of Hollywood.

2005

Bronx Library Center

The Bronx’s main library is also the city’s first public LEED Silver project and the most frequently used branch library in the New York Public Library system.

2001-2006

Hudson River Park, Segments 6 &7

A major advance in the development of one of the most popular city parks and the transformation of the former industrial waterfront.

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2012

Via Verde—The Green Way

The winning entry in a world-wide competition, this much-published project set a new standard for mixed income urban housing.

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2015

7 Line Extension, Hudson Yards Station

The first new subway line in decades is completed. A complex undertaking that joins the far West Side and Hudson Yards to Times Square and Grand Central.

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2015

Manhattan District 1/2/5 & Salt Shed

This LEED Gold project reinvents a traditionally utilitarian typology into a dramatic, ecologically friendly civic landmark.

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2017

The HUB

This 54-story skyscraper furthers the transformation of Downtown Brooklyn into one of the city’s new residential and cultural centers.

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2020

Alafia

Part of New York State’s Vital Brooklyn initiative, this large-scale masterplan lays out a new affordable housing neighborhood based on themes of social, environmental, and physical well-being.

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2021

Santaella Gardens

Dattner Architects' first completed Passive House project.

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2024

Majority Women Ownership

Dattner Architects is recognized as a WBE by The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Dattner Architects is a mission-driven, women-owned design firm creating engaging and impactful architecture.

Mission

Mission

Mission

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