OUR STORY
Michael Lewis Architects combines the freshness and enthusiasm of a design atelier with a commitment to thorough professionalism. Since 1999, we have created original architecture that conveys a sense of humanism and purpose while fulfilling programmatic requirements and our clients' goals. With decades of collective experience in residential architecture, our team brings seasoned judgment and technical expertise to every project. We achieve this through close collaboration and disciplined hard work.
Our approach is to immerse ourselves in each project to discover, or generate, the central, often hidden, concept that drives a comprehensive design. A strong concept unites program, site, and budget through an economy of expression. Guided by this philosophy, we are committed to both technical proficiency and the intuitive qualities of material, space, and light.
The intimacy of our firm ensures a personal level of commitment from project inception through construction. Throughout every stage of the process, we pay scrupulous attention to detail, striving for the highest standards of craftsmanship while honoring our clients' vision. We believe the success of a project often depends on its smallest details.
At home in our Dobbs Ferry, New York studio, we draw inspiration from the beauty of the Hudson River landscape while staying connected to the creative energy of New York City.
MEET THE TEAM
Michael Lewis
Michael has practiced architecture in New York since 1985. He founded his practice after working at Beyer Blinder Belle & Associates, Smotrich & Platt, and William Ginsberg Architects. His design experience encompasses residential work, schools, corporations, and institutions, with projects ranging from new construction to the restoration and modernization of existing structures.
Lewis is also an abstract painter whose work has been exhibited in solo and group shows and has been selected for permanent institutional collections, including the Aldrich Museum.
Lewis received his Masters of Architecture and Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects and the Congress of International Modern Architects, and licensed to practice in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. He is a Leed Accredited Professional and has successfully completed the PHI Passive House Course and exam.
Michael is AIA, LEED, CPHD and registered in NY, CT and NJ.
Peter Altomare
Peter is a Registered Architect who joined Michael Lewis Architects in 2020 as a Project Manager. Previously, Peter worked in Manhattan for 15 years at a small, award-winning architecture studio specializing in Interior Architecture. He has designed and project-managed meticulously detailed renovations and additions to residential and commercial properties. Peter has also collaborated with specialized woodworking and metalworking craftsmen to design furniture.
He grew up in Paris, France, surrounded by some of the greatest examples of art and architecture. He has studied the work of Alvar Aalto in Finland and Louis Kahn throughout the United States. Peter graduated from Wentworth Institute of Technology in 2005 with an accredited Bachelor of Architecture degree.
Peter is a registered architect in both New York and Colorado. He resides in the Beechmont neighborhood of New Rochelle with his family. in his spare time, Peter is a volunteer ice hockey coach with the New Rochelle Lightning and NYR Learn to Play program.
Chris Boyer
Chris is a registered architect, a member of the AIA, and a LEED Accredited Professional. With more than 30 years of experience, he has worked on multi-family residential, hospitality, and commercial projects in New York City and the Metro Area. His expertise includes new construction, renovation, and adaptive reuse projects.
Chris joined Michael Lewis Architects in 2023 to be part of his community after working at Ennead, fka Polshek Partnership Architects, and at Beyer Blinder Belle Architects and Planners. At BBB, he led several high-profile projects. He collaborated with renowned architects Jean Nouvel on the 100 Eleventh Avenue Condominium and Herzog & de Meuron on the Public Hotel on Chrystie Street.
Chris has worked as a project architect and project manager throughout his career, showcasing his versatile skill set and comprehensive understanding of the architectural process. He is passionate about creative design and is committed to delivering exceptional architectural services. Chris holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from The Pennsylvania State University.
Pete Gulick
Pete joined Michael Lewis Architects in 2021 and has been collaborating with Mike and the studio since 1989.
With over 30 years of experience as an architect, Pete has designed, drawn, managed, and delivered projects across a wide range of scales. His work spans furniture design, apartments, townhouses, and New York City rooftop additions, including the former William Randolph Hearst penthouse overlooking the Hudson River (“San Simeon East”), as well as houses in Tuxedo Park, residences along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, a family estate on the private island of Mustique in the Caribbean, and a 155-foot expedition yacht.
He grew up in Sloatsburg, New York, and worked as a carpenter and ski instructor before studying art and architecture at Pratt Institute. He is a licensed architect and an avid fisherman in the state of New York.
Brandon Stewart
Brandon joined Michael Lewis Architects in 2013, bringing with him a broad skill set gained from well known architectural practices in Manhattan and Brooklyn and a sharp design sense honed in the studios of the Cooper Union School of Architecture. His education in the most urban of environments, combined with growing up in the wide open spaces of the Western US, has helped Brandon form a unique concept of space that lends itself well to the intimate scale brought to all projects at Michael Lewis Architects.
Drawing on more than a decade with the firm as a Registered Architect and one of its senior designers, Brandon is valued not only for his design leadership and project management, but also for the deep institutional knowledge and technical expertise that make him a trusted resource for clients and colleagues alike. When not designing homes for others, Brandon can often be found restoring his own—a carefully preserved 1899 pioneer home that continues to teach him lessons about craftsmanship and thoughtful renovation, a passion he shares with his art historian wife and their two daughters.
Mason Kelly
Mason grew up in Buffalo, New York, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University at Buffalo. He later completed his Master of Architecture at the University of Houston.
He works across a range of architectural software platforms to support design development, drawing production, and 3D visualization. Mason assists with preparing project drawings, developing digital models, and documenting existing conditions for renovation projects.
With a strong technical foundation and a collaborative approach, he brings energy, curiosity, and a willingness to take on new challenges, making him a valuable asset to the team at MLA. He is currently working toward architectural licensure.
A longtime Manchester United fan, Mason enjoys playing intramural soccer on weekends and exploring New York City.
Judy Subrize
Judy has been an integral part of the studio for more than 10 years, overseeing bookkeeping with her characteristic energy, organization, and care. Her experience and attention to detail help keep the many moving parts of the office running smoothly.
Outside the studio, Judy enjoys spending time with her family and creating home decor from repurposed and reimagined treasures. In 2026, she welcomed not one, but two new grandchildren, making this a particularly special time for her and her family.
Keko