Business Details
24 Years
experience
Award-Winning Modern Architecture in New Mexico
Founded in 2002, DNCA Architects is a small architectural practice dedicated to design excellence and the quality of the built environment. Our methodology combines rigorous problem-solving with innovative clarity, delivering high-quality work tailored to client needs. With decades of combined experience, our team approaches architecture as a discipline rooted in human experience, blending functionality with aesthetic expression. We specialize in education, cultural institutions, residential, and commercial projects, emphasizing sustainable systems and material authenticity.Our process prioritizes direct simplicity, economic pragmatism, and responsiveness to site and climate. We believe architecture inspires human life through thoughtful design, integrating construction methods with programmatic precision. Our principals bring expertise in vernacular traditions, landscape architecture, and adaptive reuse, ensuring personalized service and durable, contextually sensitive solutions.
Services
Architectural Design
Sustainable Design
Adaptive Reuse
Residential Architecture
Commercial Architecture
Education Facilities
Cultural Institutions
Interior Design
Urban Planning
Project Management
Details
- Year established: 2002
Highlights and features
- We offer 35+ years of architectural experience with a focus on modern, sustainable design.
- Our team integrates LEED-certified sustainable systems into every project phase.
- We specialize in adaptive reuse projects preserving historical and urban contexts.
- Our principals maintain direct involvement from concept to construction completion.
- We combine vernacular craftsmanship with contemporary design methodologies.
Associations and certifications
- AIA
- LEED AP
Services
Architectural Design
We create modern, functional spaces tailored to client needs and environmental context. Our process emphasizes material authenticity and economic efficiency. Projects range from single-family homes to large cultural institutions.
Sustainable Design
Our LEED-certified team integrates energy-efficient systems and locally sourced materials. We prioritize passive solar design and climate-responsive solutions while maintaining aesthetic integrity across all project types.
Adaptive Reuse
We transform existing structures while preserving historical and urban contexts. Recent projects include converting newspaper offices into art galleries and updating mid-century buildings for modern use while maintaining architectural heritage.
Residential Architecture
We design modern homes emphasizing natural light and indoor-outdoor connections. Projects include custom single-family residences and multi-unit developments, all prioritizing material honesty and functional spatial organization.
Project Management
Our principals provide continuous project oversight from concept to completion. We coordinate with contractors and engineers to ensure design integrity while managing budgets and timelines effectively.
People
Devendra Narayan Contractor
Founding Principal
AIA architect with 35+ years experience in modern design, specializing in education and cultural facilities. Founded DNCA in 2002 after 15 years in construction. Combines tectonic precision with poetic spatial concepts.
Deirdre E Harris
Principal
LEED AP architect with 25+ years in landscape architecture and sustainable systems. Oversees project programming and site integration. Specializes in higher education and adaptive reuse projects across three countries.
Rebecca Wood
Associate
Registered architect with expertise in material innovation and adaptive urban development. Brings eight years of experience in fine arts facilities and custom furniture design, focusing on transforming project constraints into creative solutions.
Teddy Huyck
Architect
Registered architect with anthropology background specializing in K-12 education and residential design. Focuses on durable, low-impact buildings that balance functionality with craftsmanship through all project scales.
Questions
What architectural services does DNCA offer?
We provide design services for cultural institutions, residential homes, commercial buildings, educational facilities, and adaptive reuse projects.
How does DNCA approach sustainable design?
Our LEED-certified professionals integrate energy-efficient systems and locally sourced materials while maintaining design integrity.
What makes DNCA's design process unique?
We combine vernacular craftsmanship with modern techniques, prioritizing material authenticity and site-specific solutions.
Do you work outside New Mexico?
While based in Santa Fe and Albuquerque, we've completed projects in Hawaii and collaborate nationally through digital platforms.
How involved are principals in projects?
Founding principals maintain direct oversight from initial concept through construction completion for all projects.
