Douglas E. Larson
Doug Larson has been in private practice in New York since 1997. He apprenticed with Peter Marino where he worked on residential projects in Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, London, Portofino, the English countryside, and even on a yacht. He was also involved with retail projects for Barney’s New York. Since being out on his own, his work has been spread across residential, retail, corporate interiors, and institutional work.
Doug believes that architecture should respond to the needs and desires of the client, but that design should also rise above basic needs to make memorable places for human activity through quality and inventive use of form, space, and materials. He is comfortable in many idioms, from modernism to classicism, and everything in between as he feels appropriate for the task at hand. The tenets common to all his projects is well thought out spaces, appropriateness and understatement. He has a particular soft spot for Swedish Grace, 1930’s classicism, Scandinavian Modernism and anything Josef Frank.
Doug grew up in the Midwest and rural Pennsylvania, attended the University of Pennsylvania where he graduated with dual degrees in design and structural engineering. After working for a year in Philadelphia, he attended the University of Michigan. He received the Raoul Wallenberg scholarship, taught architectural history for Leonard Eaton, edited the student publication “Dimensions,” and graduated with a Master’s of Architecture.
Doug is active in many not for profits including serving on the boards of the West Side YMCA, the Saint-Gaudens Memorial, Pine Plains Memorial Hall, and other New York City based arts groups. He has been active in the Blue Hill Troupe designing and painting sets and has even painted a full scale mural on the side of a building in Dutchess County NY. He lives on the Upper West Side with his family.
Leonid Kravchenko
Leonid is a licensed architect in the state of New York with over 35 years of domestic and international architectural experience. He has been a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) since 2006 and the Union of Architects of Russia (UAR) since 1993.
Leonid joined Larson Architecture Works in 2021 as a Senior Technical Architect. Previously, he worked at FXCollaborative for 16 years as a Senior Architect and Technical Lead in Urban and International Studios. His experience ranged from high-rise domestic and international mixed use, residential, and commercial buildings.
Prior to joining FXC, Leonid had his own architectural practice since 1993 with projects in Russia. He was also an Adjunct Professor of Industrial Design at the Nizhny Novgorod State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering.
Leonid’s hobbies include watercolor painting, freehand sketching, photography, and travelling. His works were displayed in several group and solo art exhibitions in Russia and New York.
Jacob Hardin
Jacob is a licensed architect in the state of New York with over ten years of experience in high-end residential, boutique commercial, and mixed-use projects. He is proficient in contemporary and traditional architecture with a focus on a tailored user experience, distinctive design, and quality materials. Prior to joining our team, Jacob worked with Erdreich Architecture, Sawyer|Berson, and Christopher Architecture & Interiors in addition to having been an independent design consultant.
When not engaged with the architectural community through architectural tours, lectures, and socials, Jacob revels in traveling, running, and biking in the idyllic countryside.
Melody Swanson
Melody began working with Doug Larson in 2012 while at his previous practice, Larson and Paul Architects. She is currently a Project Architect at Larson Architecture Works, where she primarily works on institutional projects. Melody is a registered architect in the state of New York, a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and an NCARB certificate holder. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture Degree from the College of Design at Iowa State University.
During her spare time, Melody enjoys traveling, baking and indoor gardening. She is also currently pursuing scuba certification and one day hopes to swim with manta rays.
Aura Estevez
Aura joined Larson Architecture Works pllc in January 2018. She holds a Bachelors of Architecture degree from New York City College of Technology where she had the opportunity to participate in an Urban Planning study abroad program in Paris, France. While there, she also participated in the intensive U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon competition where she was an architecture project manager and oversaw the construction of a full-size solar-powered house. Prior to LAW, she was an Assistant Project Manager, where she focused on developing full design scope for residential work in the metropolitan area and few retail stores. In her free time, Aura loves to maintain a healthy lifestyle by working out and reading about nutrition. She also enjoys traveling and exploring different cities and cultures.
Susan Wu
Susan joined Larson Architecture Works pllc in January 2018. She earned her Bachelors of Architecture degree from The Macaulay Honors College at The City College of New York where she graduated with the AIA Certificate of Merit award. Mentored by William Garrison McNeil, Susan believes architecture is the manifestation of social, environmental and urban components and takes a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach to design. Prior to joining LAW, she was a project manager and architectural designer with experience in retail design for clients such as Tiffany & Co. and Harry Winston Inc. It was there where she developed a deep interest in fine detailing and in the technical aspects of architecture.
A Brooklyn native and a natural humorist, Susan’s meticulous attention to detail is a driving force in her lifestyle and in her passion for education and design. In her free time, she likes to learn musical instruments, travel and integrate with different cultures.
Andrew Kim
Andrew Kim joined Larson Architecture Works in 2021 and works primarily on the office’s residential projects. Andrew studied architecture at Yale University, from which he holds a Master of Architecture and a Bachelor of Arts. As a designer, he draws upon his time building, teaching, and traveling in those programs in addition to his prior experience crafting high-end residences in a variety of scales and architectural idioms.
Megan Mroz
Megan Mroz joined Larson Architecture Works pllc in 2017. At LAW, she provides support in all aspects of day to day function, manages marketing efforts and creates advertising materials. Prior to her joining the team, she worked at a post-production house in Michigan. Megan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Michigan State University. In her free time, she enjoys reading, exploring the city, and spending time with her friends and maltipoo pup, Luna.
Victoria Larson
Since 2013, Victoria Larson has run her own communications company representing the state of Saxony and the state of Baden-Württemberg in the USA as well as media work for various cultural projects. She is delighted also to be working with Larson Architecture Works pllc. Prior to this, Victoria was Head of Public Relations for the German National Tourist Office North America for nine years, an economics and business book editor at Texere and worked for six years at Institutional Investor creating and programming conferences and roundtables on business, finance and infrastructure topics. Victoria received her B.A. from Trinity College in Hartford and her M.A. in International Affairs and Economics from the School for Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins. She earned a second M.A. in Publishing from the School for Continuing Education at New York University. She is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). In her free time, Victoria enjoys spending time with her family and friends, playing tennis, photography and travel.
Conor Incledon
Conor began working with Doug Larson in May of 2014, after a chance encounter in Pine Plains. Prior to joining LAW, Conor worked for numerous residential architects in upstate New York, where he developed a keen understanding of Hudson Valley’s unique design vernaculars. In the office, Conor specializes in digital modeling and rendering, and aides in the drafting and administration of both residential and institutional projects. Conor’s work at LAW is driven by a constant desire to learn more from the practice, and to better understand the process of creating unique and inspired design. Conor received a Bachelor’s of Architecture degree from the Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture in New York.
Nora Kempainen
Nora joined Larson Architecture Works in 2021. She maintains regular contact with clients, manages the office communications, supports the staff with printing and proposals, and works with photography and graphics for advertising and promotion. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Neuroscience with a minor in English from Colby College. Outside of the office, Nora enjoys photography, traveling, and trying out new recipes.
Erik Foss
Erik received his Master’s of Architecture from Virginia Tech’s College of Architecture and Urban Studies in 2020. He had the opportunity to study in Riva San Vitale, Switzerland from where he could travel and study the architectural works of antiquity as well as the modern “masters.” His grandfather’s farm in the mountains of Telemark, Norway, has instilled a strong appreciation for the vernacular wood construction of Norwegian folk communities, and their planning as it relates to the harsh environment. Erik also refers to his time as a carpenter’s helper to aid him in his work as it relates to construction.
Taylor Naftali
Taylor joined Larson Architecture Works in September of 2021 as a Project Designer. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Tulane University where she had the privilege of proposing an affordable housing scheme to the Neighboring Housing Services (NHS) of New Orleans. Outside of the office, Taylor enjoys baking and traveling around the world. She has a personal goal of visiting all seven continents.
Russell Ettinger
Russell is a recent graduate from Virginia Tech’s College of Architecture and Urban Studies program, receiving his B. Arch in May of 2021. While at Virginia Tech, Russell helped design and maintain community projects in Blacksburg and Clifton Forge. And, through his study abroad at the University College of Dublin, Russell learned new architectural techniques. He is currently a Project Designer at Larson Architecture Works. Outside of the office, Russell enjoys the outdoors, exploring and cooking new cuisines. You can also catch Russell at an open mic or commercial bar playing music for audiences across Manhattan.
