We are a New York-based architecture and design firm that specializes in building, creatively restoring, reconfiguring, and designing public and private spaces on a variety of scales.
Sarah Jacoby
Sarah Jacoby
Photo by Ty Cole
Since founding the firm in 2014, Sarah has worked many different project types, including new construction, renovation, houses, brownstones, and apartments that all meet the ever-changing needs of her clients. Before launching SJA, Sarah worked in several leading firms, including Adjaye Associates, SOM, and Rogers Marvel, designing and building residential, commercial, and public projects throughout the New York City region and around the U.S.
Born and raised in Venice, California, Sarah Jacoby brings a West Coast fascination with light and space coupled with a deep appreciation of New York’s unique architectural history. She carefully listens to her clients, and her ability to translate their unique interests and desires into designed environments has resulted in an ever-expanding list of successful projects on a variety of scales. She designs to build, bringing passion for resolving what might seem to be insurmountable architectural problems.
After graduating magna cum laude from Harvard College with a degree in History and Science, Sarah earned her Masters in Architecture from the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University, where she received the Alpha Rho Chi medal, honoring her leadership, service and professional promise.
Sarah is licensed in the states of New York, California, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, NCARB-certified for licensing in other states, and LEED certified. SJA is designated by New York City as a Women Business Enterprise (WBE).
Our Team
Chris Norton Riley, RA
Senior Architect
Harvard Graduate School of Design
M. Arch
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
B. Arch
Chris works across the SJA portfolio, managing design and construction on diverse projects, including apartment renovations in Brooklyn Heights and the Upper East Side, townhomes in Brooklyn, and houses in Connecticut and California. Chris enjoys in-depth collaboration with our clients and working through challenging obstacles to provide exceptional design solutions.
He has written for publications such as the New York Review of Architecture, PLAT, and San Rocco, and has served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at New York City College of Technology and Columbia University GSAPP.
Meg Anderson
Senior Architect
University of California, Berkeley
M. Arch
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
B. Arch, Studio Art & Environmental Studies
Meg comes to SJA with a passion for craft and implementing design strategies across project types. During her time at the firm, Meg has worked to support construction administration, project management, and design on a range of residential projects across Brooklyn. Prior to joining the team, Meg worked with a boutique furniture company, where she applied her keen attention to detail and craft that she brings to SJA. In addition to studying architecture, Meg has a background in art and environmental studies.
Alice Volpi
Senior Architectural Designer
Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London
Sapienza Università degli Studi di Roma
Alice is a Senior Architectural Designer at SJA, bringing a rich international perspective shaped by her upbringing in Rome and professional stints in Buenos Aires and New York City. After completing her architectural education at Sapienza Università degli Studi di Roma, Alice joined SJA in 2020. Alice blends a NYC sensibility with her own Italian background and taste. Her expertise spans project management, design conceptualization, and construction administration. In addition to her professional career, Alice is dedicated to theoretical research and recently completed her postgraduate studies at the Bartlett School of Architecture.
Sinead Danagher
Draftsperson
Harvard College
B. A. History of Art and Architecture
Sinead works across the firm's portfolio of projects to help bring forth our clients' visions to life. With a background in fine arts museums and galleries, Sinead brings an appreciation for intentional curation and prioritizes professionalism and clarity in her work with the goal of a successful design program for each project she supports. She continues to build her knowledge of craft and design through furniture and object fabrication in her and other artist’s studios across New York City.
Gabriela Enid Dávila Rivera
Junior Designer
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
M. Arch
University of Puerto Rico School of Architecture
B. Environmental Design
Gabriela brings a thoughtful eye to SJA, interrogating how spaces respond to and respect culture, environment, and people. No matter how small the design gesture, she carefully considers the broader context. Her experiences growing up in Puerto Rico informed her approach as a designer, and how she navigates the relationship between architecture and power. At SJA, Gabriela works with a wide range of clients on a diverse selection of the firm's ongoing projects.