Steven Harris Architects LLP

Steven Harris, Partner

A native of Northern Florida, Steven Harris is the founding partner of Steven Harris Architects LLP in New York. He was educated at New College, the Rhode Island School of Design and Princeton University. He is currently Professor of Architecture at Yale, where he has taught for more than 25 years. He previously taught at Princeton and Harvard.

Since establishing Steven Harris Architects in 1985, he has led the design of an extensive range of residential, commercial and institutional projects, with a particular fondness and skill for exploring the architectural potential of residential life. Under his direction the firm has completed projects in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Florida, California and other areas of the United States, as well as in Mexico, South Africa, Costa Rica and Croatia. Diversity is a hallmark of his prolific and innovative work: AIA award-winning projects range from a Manhattan townhouse to a bowling alley and pool hall in Queens, NYC to the southernmost private residence on the Baja Peninsula. In 2008, Harris was inducted into the Interior Design Hall of Fame.

Harris’s work is regularly featured in a variety of international publications and books. Steven Harris Architects has been included on the AD100, Luxe Gold List and Elle Decor A-list since 2012. True Life, a monograph on the firm's work, was published by Princeton Architectural Press. Harris co-edited the book Architecture of the Everyday with Deborah Berke. His insights, experiences and works have contributed much to the landscape of contemporary architecture, and he continues to lecture worldwide from seminars at Yale to The Biennale in Santiago, Chile.

When he's not in the office, Harris can be found on vintage driving rallies around the world. In the last few years, he completed the Peking to Paris Endurance Rally and came in second in the Great South American Challenge.

John Woell, Partner

John joined Steven Harris Architects LLP after moving to New York in 1995. His keen interest in residential architecture and his deep knowledge of the city’s building and landmark regulations has assisted John in guiding the firm’s extensive work in New York. He has been highly successful in working with Cooperative Boards and Building Architects and is well-versed in the historical evolution of the New York City brownstone.

John completed his Master of Architecture at Yale University, where he studied with the literary scholar Harold Bloom, the artist Frank Stella, and the philosopher Karsten Harries. A native of Minnesota, John Woell received his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Minnesota, graduating with distinction – and with a coveted thesis prize as well. John received additional instruction in architectural history and theory at the Escuela Superior de Arquitectura in Barcelona; he also has lived in Paris and Los Angeles, where he worked with Richard Meier on the design and construction of the Getty Center.

John has taught and lectured on innovative design at Yale and other universities. His prolific and skilled work has been recognized with awards from UNESCO and the AIA; he also received a grant from the Graham Foundation for his research.

An avid reader on a wide range of topics and genres and a devoted museum-goer, John’s passions also include opera, theater and traveling.

Eliot Lee, Partner

A native of Northern California, Eliot received his Bachelor of Arts in Architecture with honors from Princeton University in 1995 and his Master of Architecture from Yale University in 1998. At these two institutions Eliot studied under Elizabeth Diller, Beatriz Colomina, and Thomas Beebe, as well as Steven Harris.

Prior to joining Steven Harris Architects LLP in 1998, he was employed by various firms on both the East and West Coasts—Interim Office of Architecture, Michael Graves & Associates, and Cesar Pelli & Associates. Currently a partner at SHA, Eliot has worked as lead designer on a range of projects including residences in Ojai, Palm Springs, Los Angeles, San Diego, Napa Valley, Water Mill, Southampton, Montauk and Taipei; the Beach Volleyball and Archery venues for the NYC2012 Olympic bid; a new 9 story condominium on Bond Street; and renovations of townhouses, apartments and lofts in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Eliot is a registered architect in the state of New York. He currently resides in Brooklyn with his wife and children, and in his free time he enjoys playing classical piano and shooting the occasional round of skeet.

Abir Ahmad, Partner, LEED AP

Abir joined Steven Harris Architects in 2004. While at SHA, Abir led the firm’s specialization in New York City townhouse renovations, working on complex gut renovations with rear expansions and penthouse additions across the historic districts in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Abir also has significant experience in new construction, having worked as the lead architect on modern houses with extensive environmental considerations in Florida and New York. Additionally, Abir has been the lead architect on complex apartment combinations in New York City and the restoration of a 16th-century Croatian monastery.

Born in Ghana and raised in Pakistan, Abir earned her Bachelor of Arts from Wellesley College and her Master of Architecture from the Yale School of Architecture, graduating with the AIA Henry Adams Certificate for outstanding achievement. While at Yale, Abir participated in studios led by Zaha Hadid and Peter Eisenman and was twice nominated for the H.I. Feldman Prize. She is fluent in Hindi and Urdu.

Abir is a registered architect in the State of New York. She lives in Brooklyn and is an avid reader of Victorian literature in her free time.

Alejandro Fernandez de Mesa, Partner

Alejandro has been with Steven Harris Architects since 2010. While at SHA, Alejandro has been the lead architect on multiple new houses on the East End of Long Island with complex landscape coordination. Alejandro has also overseen extensive gut renovations of townhouses and multi-level apartments in the historic districts in New York City. Most recently, Alejandro has been the lead architect on 109 East 79th Street, a 20-story condominium on the Upper East Side and SHA’s first ground-up, multi-family building in New York City.

Alejandro was born in Miami, FL, to Spanish parents. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Virginia, after which he worked at the Miami office of Arquitectonica. Alejandro earned his Master of Architecture from the Yale School of Architecture, where he studied under Deborah Berke and Peter Eisenman. During his studies, Alejandro interned at Mangado & Associados in Pamplona, Spain, where he was on the shortlisted design team for the Glasgow School of Art expansion.

Alejandro is a registered architect in the State of New York. He lives in Brooklyn and is fluent in Spanish.

Kevin Blusewicz, Principal

Kevin Blusewicz holds degrees in architecture from the University of Maryland, College Park, and the Yale School of Architecture, where he studied under Thomas Beeby, Tod Williams, and Billie Tsien.  Throughout his academic and professional career, he has developed a unique passion for the dynamic layering of history and social constructs on the built environment, having explored these issues in cities ranging from Phnom Penh to Rome. In his spare time, Kevin continues to expand on this interest through travels abroad and constant exploration at home in New York City.

Kevin joined Steven Harris Architects in 2011. He has worked on several townhouses in the West Village, Chelsea, and the Upper East Side and apartments on Park Avenue and Central Park West. He has recently completed a 6,900 sq.ft. home on an abandoned quarry in Westchester County. He is a licensed architect in the State of New York and lives in the West Village.

Andrea Mason, Design Director

Originally from Amherst, Massachusetts, Andrea completed her undergraduate thesis in German and Architecture at Barnard College. She earned her Master of Architecture from the Yale School of Architecture, where she studied with Thomas Beeby, Steven Harris, and Jesse Reiser and was awarded the Moulton Andrus Award and the Drawing Prize.  

Prior to joining SHA, Andrea worked on the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, the Brooklyn Museum of Art entry renovation, and Marc Jacobs stores in Hong Kong, Japan, New York, and Los Angeles. At SHA, she has overseen the firm’s expansion into retail design and led the design of Barneys New York and Dolce & Gabbana boutiques in St. Barths and Rome. Additionally, she has worked on multiple private residences in New York City.

Andrea is a registered architect in the State of New York and a devoted collector of Italian light fixtures.

Francesco Galetto, Senior Associate

A native of Washington, DC,  Francesco attended Vassar College, where he studied Art History and Urban Studies. After working for Daniel Libeskind in Zurich he returned to resume his studies at Yale under Robert A.M. Stern and Deborah Berke, where he was awarded the Charles Gwathmey Scholarship.

Francesco joined SHA in 2013, and has since been part of the expansion into retail design at the firm – he has contributed to the Barneys Chelsea Flagship, Madison Ave, and Beverly Hills projects, as well as Dolce & Gabbana stores in St. Barts and Rome. Francesco has also overseen the design and construction of several residential projects in Boston and the Hamptons. 

When Francesco is away from SHA, he can be found walking around town and making pasta with his dog Arancino. 

Peter McInish, Senior Associate

Originally from Alabama, Peter studied architecture and interior architecture at Auburn University, where he graduated summa cum laude as an Honors Scholar with Distinction and received the AIA Henry Adams Medal, among other prizes.

After working on residential projects throughout the country for McAlpine, he earned a Master of Architecture at Yale, where he studied under Robert A.M. Stern and Sir David Adjaye and was a teaching fellow for Alec Purves and Steven Harris.

Peter joined SHA in 2016 and has worked on projects that have ranged in scale from a high-rise development in Manhattan to private residences in New York, Maine, Florida, and South Carolina. 

Peter is a registered architect and lives in Chelsea.

Andrea Leung, Senior Associate

Andrea attended Yale, where she completed her undergraduate thesis under Steven Harris’s tutelage, graduating summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with distinction in the architecture major.

She returned to Yale for her Masters in Architecture, where she co-edited Perspecta 48: Amnesia. The publication considers the uses and abuses of history and ignites a debate about the role of memory in architecture. 

During her time at SHA, she has worked on the Barneys New York Chelsea Flagship as well as Barneys New York on Madison Avenue and in Los Angeles. Andrea has also worked on the Dolce & Gabbana store in St. Barts and private residences in New York and India.

She is a registered architect in the State of New York and California and is fluent in Cantonese.

Leo Stevens, Senior Associate

Leo was born in Jackson, Mississippi, and completed his undergraduate thesis at Yale College with Steven Harris, graduating with distinction.  He resumed studies under Peter Eisenman and Robert A. M. Stern at the Yale School of Architecture, where he received his Master of Architecture degree and was awarded the Alpha Rho Chi Medal.

Prior to joining the firm, Leo was an associate at Robert A.M. Stern Architects in New York and worked with the Office for Metropolitan Architecture on projects in London and the United Arab Emirates.  While at SHA, he has served as the project architect on the reconstruction of a Paul Rudolph townhouse in New York, along with the other residential projects in Peru and Croatia.

Leo is a registered architect in the State of New York and is an avid collector of rare books and journals on early modernism.

Mark Gettys, Associate

Mark received his Masters in Architecture from the Yale School of Architecture, where he was awarded the Drawing Prize and nominated twice for the H.I. Feldman Prize. While at Yale, Mark studied under Greg Lynn and Alejandro Zaera-Polo. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Architecture, summa cum laude, from Clemson University.

Prior to joining SHA, Mark worked as an associate at Diller Scofidio + Renfro, where he oversaw numerous high-profile, ground-up residential and cultural projects, including the Victoria and Albert Museum (London), Columbia Business School (NYC), and private residences (St Barts and Los Angeles). He has also studied at the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities in Genoa and worked at Studio Fuksas in Paris. Since joining SHA, Mark has worked on private residences in Manhattan and the Berkshires, MA.

Mark is a licensed architect in the state of New York and fluent in French. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, visiting museums, and running.

Diana Lui, Associate

Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Diana completed her Bachelor of Architecture at Carnegie Mellon University, where she studied under Vivian Loftness and Art Lubetz and focused on applications of innovative technologies in sustainable housing.

While at Carnegie Mellon, Diana interned at KPF, where she helped develop the master plan of Korea’s first “smart city” in Songdo, Korea. After graduating, she joined Richard Meier & Partners, where she worked on the Seamarq hotel in Korea, The Surf Club in Miami, 685 First Avenue Tower in New York City, and the Montagnola Residence in Switzerland. Since joining SHA in 2018, Diana has been working on the firm's high-rise developments in Manhattan.

Diana is a registered architect in the State of New York, LEED AP, and fluent in Cantonese. Outside of SHA, she can be found dedicating time to various arts and architecture organizations, painting, testing new recipes, and traveling.

Matt Zuckerman, Associate

Matt is a New York native, and completed his undergraduate thesis at Yale College under Steven Harris, graduating cum laude with distinction in Architecture. Matt returned to Yale for his Masters in Architecture, where he studied under Robert A.M. Stern and Marianne McKenna, and founded the school’s organization of LGBTQ+ students.

Prior to joining SHA, Matt was a project architect at Thomas Phifer and Partners, where he led the design and detailing of a range of public and cultural projects, including the Mies van der Rohe Building at Indiana University and the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw. Matt has also worked for David Chipperfield Architects in London and Deborah Berke Partners in New York, where he co-edited the firm’s first residential monograph, House Rules. Since joining SHA, Matt has worked on private residences in Manhattan, Southampton, Amagansett and Water Mill.

Matt is a licensed architect in the State of New York. After hours, he can be found in Fort Greene Park playing fetch with his dog Jeff.

Alex Sassaroli, Associate

Alex joined SHA in 2008, after earning his Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from Yale College. He returned to SHA in 2015 having earned his Master of Architecture from the Yale School of Architecture, where he studied under Deborah Berke and Peter Eisenman. While at Yale, Alex was selected by the faculty to participate in a drawing seminar in Rome, Italy, and traveled to the UK to study British landscape gardens at the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art. He also served as a teaching assistant to Alec Purves and Steven Harris.

At SHA, Alex has worked on a range of residential projects throughout New York City, Connecticut, and the Hamptons, including apartment combinations, townhouse renovations, and new construction. His completed projects include a house on the water in Greenwich, CT, a poured-concrete house on Flying Point Road in Water Mill, NY, and townhouses in Greenwich Village and West Village.

Outside of work, Alex enjoys traveling, reading, and cooking with seasonal ingredients from the neighborhood farmer's market.

Born and raised in Washington D.C., Charles attended Yale College, where he studied Global Affairs and Architecture and graduated with distinction in both majors. At Yale, he received multiple fellowships for travel and design work, including the Yale College Public Service Research Grant, which helped him design public art for a mutual-aid organization in Athens, Greece. As part of his coursework he also conducted statistical analysis for the United States Special Operations Command and co-authored a 120-page report utilized by the Biden administration. Upon graduating, Charles was awarded the Harvey Geiger Travel Fellowship, which he used to travel the American Midwest and work on an upcoming book on the architecture of organic farms.

Charles is a LEED-accredited professional. At SHA, he assists with a broad range of tasks including construction documentation, visualization, and communications. He has assisted with most projects at the firm.

Charles has created music videos for the band October Project and sings for the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus. In his spare time, you can find him making his roommates dinner and ragging on the New York Yankees.

Hailing from Long Island, Madeline was salutatorian at her high school before she matriculated at Yale College, where she majored in architecture and graduated in 2022. While at Yale, Madeline twice received the Light Fellowship for East-Asian Language Study, which she used to study Korean at Seoul National University. As one of Yale’s First Year Counselors, she mentored twelve younger undergraduates, and as a writing tutor at Yale’s Poorvu Center, she reviewed term papers for many more.

At SHA, Madeline assists with drawings, presentations, and project visualization. She is fluent in Spanish and conversational in Korean. In off hours, you can find her baking, knitting, and trying out restaurants near her apartment on the Upper West Side.