About Us

James Wagman Architect, founded in 1999, is an award-winning New York City architecture firm with a reputation for high-performance, sustainable and contextually-sensitive designs.

JWA is led by Principal James Wagman, whose lifelong passion for architecture led to a formal education at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY. Since founding his eponymous firm, JWA has been responsible for some of the most compelling and innovation renovations, restorations and new buildings at landmark Manhattan addresses. Our work has been featured in various publications, including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.

When JWA had the unique opportunity to transform a Brooklyn brownstone into a completely Passive House, it was a turning point for James and his team in their evolution as Green Building architects. Our leaders are all LEED Accredited Professionals, and we are passionate advocates of Passive House design and practices as we consider it a cost-effective way to be energy efficient.

Our Approach

At JWA, we work closely with our clients to develop an understanding of their goals and the function of the space before translating their ideas into transformative environments that reflect their unique vision. We keep them educated and informed throughout the design and implementation process, taking our cues from them and interpreting their wants and needs in a way that is both functional and modern. We strive to successfully merge unique environmental, historical and contextual considerations with thoughtful, cutting edge solutions while making the experience personalized, enjoyable and fun for our clients. We also bring our expertise in Passive House and Green Building design to each project, ensuring that our design solutions are environmentally-conscious, cost-efficient, and energy-saving.

While the goals of each project may vary, our approach always remains the same.