This is the definitive publication on New York design firm Architecture Research Office (ARO).

When it was established, ARO represented a new breed of firm—one of the first to be defined by its purpose rather than by a last name or an eponymous acronym. Architecture. Research. Office. documents the firm’s ethos and culture that has quietly shifted the architectural field’s outlook on how to practice. For the first time, this book meticulously compiles ARO’s diverse body of work, spanning cultural and educational institutions, public and commercial buildings, and residences.

Over 30 of its most significant projects are presented alongside seven principles that guide its practice. Writer and curator Brooke Hodge’s introduction describes ARO’s philosophy and culture, while a conversation with partners Stephen Cassell, Kim Yao and Adam Yarinsky offers perspectives on the challenges and opportunities of leading a firm committed to continuous learning. Architecture. Research. Office. provides an extensive set of precedents to inspire others—including other designers and the next generation of architects—to address the social and environmental challenges of our time.

Founded in 1993, ARO is one of the country’s most sought-after architecture studios and the 2020 recipient of the prestigious American Institute of Architects (AIA) Firm Award—the highest honor given to any architecture practice—as well as the AIA New York State Firm of the Year Award and the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award for Architecture. Notable projects include the renewed Rothko Chapel and Campus, the boathouse in Brooklyn Bridge Park and the world’s largest LGBTQ+ synagogue, Congregation Beit Simchat Torah.