About
Atkin Olshin Schade Architects is an award winning architecture, interiors, and planning firm that designs vibrant and sustainable places.
We approach design as a means to give life and purpose to new and existing buildings. We celebrate the culture and history of the buildings, sites, and institutions we work with and explore the possibilities of their contemporary context and use. We are inspired by the diversity of our clients and the ambitions and circumstances of every project we undertake.
Since our founding in 1979, we have worked with academic, religious, and cultural institutions, as well as communities and individuals, to create significant new buildings and transformative renovations. Each project we undertake thoughtfully addresses our client’s current and future needs while embracing the character of their physical and cultural settings.
We are dedicated to environmental and cultural stewardship. From each project’s conception, we balance sustainability with design, craft, and historical and ecological context. As an AIA 2030 Commitment signatory firm, we lead by example and are working toward carbon neutral buildings and renovations within the next decade. Learn more about sustainability at AOS.
Our future-oriented preservation approach is as grounded in the life of contemporary communities as it is in caring for buildings of the past. We believe that preservation is compatible with new uses and improvements that enrich significant structures of all eras.
Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, our collaborative team provides clients with the highest quality service, while creating places that enrich and sustain the lives of those who use them.
People
Awards
2023
- American Architecture Awards Honorable Mention for Philadelphia Contemporary Gallery
- AIA Philadelphia Merit Award | Unbuilt for Philadelphia Contemporary Gallery
- Keystone Chapter ABC Award of Excellence for Beaver Athletics & Wellness Center
- AIA Pennsylvania Design Award Finalist for Philadelphia Contemporary Gallery
- AIA Pennsylvania EPiC Firm Recognition for Firms Fostering Emerging Professionals
- Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, Grand Jury Award for The Academy of Music
2022
- Brick in Architecture Bronze Award, Education (K-12) for Scanlan Campus Center
- AIA Pennsylvania COTE Citation for Philadelphia Contemporary Gallery
- ABC Eastern Pennsylvania Best Institutional Project for DCCS Dining Hall & Student Center
- AIA Pennsylvania EPiC Firm Recognition for Firms Fostering Emerging Professionals
- Traditional Building Magazine Design Profile for Scanlan Campus Center
- ICAA New England Bulfinch Award for Scanlan Campus Center
2021
- 10,000 Friends of PA Commonwealth Project Award for McCartney Street Housing
- AIA Pennsylvania 50 Year/Timeless Award for Philadelphia Museum of Art
- AIA Pennsylvania EPiC Firm Recognition for for Firms Fostering Emerging Professionals
- AIA Pennsylvania Honor Award for Allentown Arts Park Pavilion
- ICAA Bulfinch Award, Sketch Category for "Late Afternoon" Watercolor
- College Consensus Best Dorms for Bryn Mawr College
- ATAS International, Project of the Year, Third Place for McCartney Street Housing
- AIA New Mexico Firm of the Year Award for 2021
2020
- AIA Pennsylvania Honor Award for Richards Medical Research Labs
- AIA Pennsylvania EPiC Firm Recognition for Firms Fostering Emerging Professionals
- AIA Pennsylvania Honor Award for The Met
- Docomomo US Modernism in America Citation of Merit for Richards Medical Research Labs
- ABC Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter Excellence in Construction Merit Award for Temple Adath Israel
- ABC Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter Excellence in Construction Merit Award for Episcopal Academy Dining Hall
- Delaware County Heritage Commission Preservation Award for Lansdowne Theater Facade Restoration
- Preservation Pennsylvania, Construction Award for Rehabilitation for Richards Medical Research Labs
- Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, Grand Jury Award for First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia
2019
- AIA Santa Fe Design Excellence Innovation Award for Siler Yard Arts + Creativity Center
- GBCA Best Historic Preservation Project for Richards Medical Research Laboratory
- AIA Philadelphia Honor Award for The Philadelphia Metropolitan Opera House
- AIA Philadelphia Merit Award for Richards Medical Research Labs
- Architect's Newspaper Best of Design Restoration & Preservation Award for Owe’neh Bupingeh
- AIA Tri-State Architectural Excellence in Design Bronze Award for Richards Medical Research Labs
- Building Design+Construction Reconstruction Bronze Award for The Philadelphia Metropolitan Opera House
- Outstanding Design: Residential, American School & University Architectural Portfolio for SouthSide Commons
- 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania Commonwealth Award for SouthSide Commons
2019 cont.
- AIA New Mexico Unbuilt Design Award - Special Recognition for Zuni Housing Authority Needs Assessment & Inventory Mobile App
- Hospitality Design Magazine Midscale Hotel Award for Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm
- Preservation Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Public Impact Award for The Philadelphia Metropolitan Opera House
- LEED - CI Gold for Richards Medical Research Labs Phase 3
- ACE Mentor Program of Greater Philadelphia Project of the Year for The Philadelphia Metropolitan Opera House
- Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia Preservation Achievement Grand Jury Award for Richards Medical Research Laboratory
- Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia Preservation Achievement Grand Jury Award for The Philadelphia Metropolitan Opera House
- Community Design Collaborative: Outstanding Team Award for Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church: Concept Design for Museum & Addition
2018
- AIA Santa Fe Honor Award for Zuni Housing Authority Needs Assessment & Inventory Mobile App
- ICAA Trumbauer Award for Commercial Interior Design for the Heritage Center
- AIA Pennsylvania EPiC Firm Recognition for Firms Fostering Emerging Professionals
- AIA New Mexico Distinguished Architecture Citation for Wa-Di Housing
- AIA New Mexico Distinguished Architecture Merit Award for Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm
- Space Time Existence Exhibition at Palazzo Bembo, Venice Italy for Eastern State Penitentiary and Owe'neh Bupingeh Preservation Planning
- New Mexico Architecture Foundation Architecture + Community Award for Owe’neh Bupingeh
2017
- LEED - CI Silver for Richards Medical Research Labs Phase 2
- AIA Albuquerque Merit Award for Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm
- AIA Santa Fe Merit Award for Santo Domingo Housing
- AIA Santa Fe Honor Award for Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm
- CONTeXT Design Profile for The Samuel S. Fleisher Art Memorial
- Blueprint Digital Magazine Case Study for Atkin Olshin Schade Architects
- AIA Pennsylvania Recognition for Firms Fostering Emerging Professionals
2016
- LEED Silver for Miller Campus Center, SMU at Taos
- AIA Pennsylvania Recognition for Firms Fostering Emerging Professionals
- Faith and Form Liturgical/Interior Design Award for Temple Adath Israel
- IES Philadelphia Edwin F. Guth Memorial Award for Lighting Design for Temple Adath Israel
- CDC Play Space Design Award Winner for Bright Futures Chutes and Ladders
- ULI Rouse Awards for Excellence Winner for North Philadelphia Law Center, Community Legal Services
2015
- LEED Gold for Ruffatto Hall, University of Denver
- ULI Rouse Awards for Excellence Finalist for North Philadelphia Law Center, Community Legal Services
- CODA Merit Award for Temple Adath Israel
- ABC Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter Merit in Construction Award for Temple Adath Israel
- AIA Philadelphia Design Merit Award for Temple Adath Israel
- ABC Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter Excellence in Construction Award for Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church
2014
- LEED Gold for Community Legal Services North Philadelphia Law Center
- Harvard Kennedy School Honoring Nations Awardee for Owe'neh Bupingeh Preservation Project
- National Trust/ACHP Award for Federal Partnerships in Historic Preservation for Owe'neh Bupingeh Preservation Project
- AIA New Jersey Design Merit Award for Brown Hall at Princeton University
2013
- AIA Western Mountain Region Award of Excellence for Owe'neh Bupingeh Preservation Project
- American Planning Association/HUD Secretary's Opportunity & Empowerment Award for Owe'neh Bupingeh Preservation Project
- GBCA Award for best commercial project under $10 million for North Philadelphia Law Center, Community Legal Services
2012
- Social Economic Environmental Design Award for Owe'neh Bupingeh Preservation Project
- New Mexico Cultural Properties Heritage Preservation Award for Owe'neh Bupingeh Preservation Project
- Environmental Design Research Association Award for Owe'neh Bupingeh Preservation Project
- Affordable Housing Finance Readers Choice Award for Owe'neh Bupingeh Preservation Project
- AIA Pennsylvania Silver Medal for Owe'neh Bupingeh Preservation Project
- Preservation Alliance Award for Arch Street United Methodist Church
2011
- ASID Education/Museum Interior Design Award for the Heritage Center
- ASID Commercial Historic Preservation Award for the Heritage Center
- AIA Pennsylvania Award (Built) for Anne d'Harnoncourt Sculpture Garden and Parking Facility at the Philadelphia Museum of Art
- Faith and Form Award for Saint Paul's Episcopal Church Renovations in Indianapolis, IN
- AIA Santa Fe Honor Award for Owe'neh Bupingeh Preservation Project
- AIA Philadelphia Merit Award for Owe'neh Bupingeh Preservation Project
2010
- LEED Silver for Kewa Safety Complex
- LEED Gold for SMU in Taos Student Casitas
- Associated Builders and Contractors Award for Episcopal Academy Residences
- Palladio Award for Saint Paul's Episcopal Church Renovations in Indianapolis, IN
- AIA Philadelphia Honor Award for Anne d'Harnoncourt Sculpture Garden and Parking Facility at the Philadelphia Museum of Art
- Architect Magazine Annual Design Review Citation Award for Anne d'Harnoncourt Sculpture Garden and Parking Facility at the Philadelphia Museum of Art
- AIA Santa Fe Honor Award for Kewa Pueblo Safety Complex
- New Mexico Cultural Properties Heritage Preservation Award for Fort Stanton
2009
- Pennsylvania Parking Authority Award for Anne d'Harnoncourt Sculpture Garden and Parking Facility at the Philadelphia Museum of Art
- Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia Award for Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church
- Preservation Pennsylvania Award for Exterior Restoration of Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church
- 10,000 Friends of Philadelphia Award for Anne d'Harnoncourt Sculpture Garden and Parking Facility at the Philadelphia Museum of Art
- AIA Santa Fe Honor Award for Contemporary Arts Renovation/Expansion
2008
- LEED Gold for Fahey & McLane Residence Halls, Dartmouth College
- AIA Santa Fe Award for New Mexico Rail Corridor Strategic Plan
- AIA Pennsylvania Award for Saint Paul's Episcopal Church Renovations in Indianapolis, IN
- EPA Recognition Award for Anne d'Harnoncourt Sculpture Garden and Parking Facility at the Philadelphia Museum of Art
- AIA Santa Fe Award for House in the High Desert
2007
- City of Paterson Historic Preservation Heritage Award for The Senator Frank Lautenberg Transportation Opportunities Center and Independence House
- AIA Pennsylvania Award (unbuilt) for Anne d'Harnoncourt Sculpture Garden and Parking Facility at the Philadelphia Museum of Art
2006
- Associated Builders and Contractors Award for Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church
2005
- Faith & Form Magazine's Religious Architecture Design Award for Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church
- AIA Philadelphia Chapter Design Award for Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church
- New Jersey Future Smart Growth Award for The Senator Frank Lautenberg Transportation Opportunities Center and Independence House
- New Jersey State Historic Preservation Award for The Senator Frank Lautenberg Transportation Opportunities Center and Independence House
Clients
- Academy of Music, PA
- Acoma Pueblo, NM
- All Saint’s Episcopal Church, FL
- Arch Street United Methodist Church, PA
- Avon Old Farms School, CT
- Baca County, CO
- Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art, PA
- Broad Street Ministry, PA
- Brooklyn Museum, NY
- Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, PA
- Camelot Schools, PA
- Care 66, NM
- Carnegie Museum of Art, PA
- Cathedral Christ the King, ON
- Center City District, PA
- Center for Contemporary Arts, NM
- Chapelgate Presbyterian Church, MD
- Cherokee Castle, CO
- Chippewa Cree Tribe, MT
- Christ Church of Bradenton, FL
- City of Espanola, NM
- City of Santa Fe, NM
- Cliveden of the National Trust, PA
- Colorado College, CO
- Community Legal Services, PA
- Congregation Beth Harmedrosh, PA
- Congregation Kesher Israel, PA
- Cornell University, NY
- Dartmouth College, NH
- Deerfield Academy, MA
- Duke University, NC
- Easter Seals El Mirador, NM
- Eastern State Penitentiary, PA
- EB Realty Management, PA
- Elfreth’s Alley, PA
- Elisabeth Morrow School, NJ
- Episcopal Academy, PA
- Fairmount Park Commission, PA
- First Presbyterian Church, PA
- First United Methodist Church, NC
- Fleisher Art Memorial, PA
- Fort Apache, AZ
- Fort Mifflin, PA
- Fort Stanton, NM
- Franklin & Marshall College, PA
- Free Church of Saint John, PA
- Friends Select School, PA
- Grand Canyon National Park, AZ
- Grand Canyon Trust, AZ
- Hamilton College, NY
- Haverford College, PA
- Jupiter Christian School, FL
- Lafayette College, PA
- Lawrenceville School, NJ
- Lehigh University, PA
- Lindy Property Management, PA
- Loomis Chaffee School, CT
- Los Poblanos Historic Inn, NM
- Lower Merion Conservancy, PA
- Lower Merion Township, PA
- Lyman Allyn Museum, CT
- Make it Right Foundation, MT
- Manzano Day School, NM
- Midwood Management Corp, NY
- Modern Elder Academy, NM
- Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church, PA
- New Mexico State University, NM
- NJ Community Development Corporation, NJ
- Ohkay Owingeh, NM
- OLIN, PA
- Parish of Christ Church, MA
- Paterson Free Library, NJ
- Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, PA
- Pennsylvania State University, PA
- Philadelphia Museum of Art, PA
- Princeton University, NJ
- Pueblo de Cochiti, NM
- Pueblo of Isleta, NM
- Pueblo of Laguna, NM
- Pueblo of Picuris, NM
- Pueblo of Santa Ana, NM
- Pueblo of Santa Domingo, NM
- Pueblo of Zuni, NM
- Renfrew Center, FL, PA
- Rhoads Industries, PA
- Rhode Island School of Design, RI
- Rio Grande School, NM
- Rosenbach Museum and Library, PA
- Russell Byers Charter School, PA
- Rutgers University, NJ
- Saint David's Episcopal Church, PA
- Saint David's Episcopal Church, TX
- Saint John on the Mountain, NJ
- Saint John the Evangelist, PA
- Saint Mark's Episcopal Church, FL
- Saint Paul's Episcopal Church, IN
- Saint Paul's Episcopal Church, PA
- Saint Paul's Episcopal Church, SC
- Saint Paul's School, NH
- Saint Peter's Church and School, PA
- Salmon Ruins, NM
- Sandia Pueblo, NM
- Santa Fe Botanical Garden, NM
- Santa Fe Chabad Center, NM
- Santa Fe County, NM
- Santa Fe Opera, NM
- Santiago Christian School, Dominican Republic
- School District of Philadelphia, PA
- School District of Santa Fe, NM
- Seminary of the Southwest, TX
- Shiloh Baptist Church, PA
- South Orange Public Library, NJ
- Southern Methodist University-in-Taos, NM
- Spirit Lake Nation, ND
- Springside School, PA
- Swarthmore College, PA
- Temple Adath Israel, PA
- Temple Chayai Shalom, MA
- Temple University, PA
- Thomas Jefferson University, PA
- Tishman Speyer Properties, PA
- Town of Branson, CO
- Town of Hurley, NM
- Trinity Church, NJ
- Trinity Memorial Church, PA
- Union League of Philadelphia, PA
- United World College, NM
- University of Denver, CO
- University of New Mexico, NM
- University of Pennsylvania, PA
- University of Pennsylvania Museum, PA
- Usdan Center for the Performing Arts, NY
- Wesleyan University, CT
- Wharton Esherick Museum, PA
- White Mountain Apache Tribe, AZ
- YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School, PA