The Business of Architecture with Annie Scheel and Paul Coughlin from Coughlin Scheel Architects

Annie Scheel ‘08 M.Arch, and Paul Coughlin, ‘06 MS.AAD are the founders of Coughlin Scheel Architects. They will engage in a discussion focused on the business of architecture, particularly in the context of owning a practice in Brooklyn, NY. The conversation will also delve into the sustainable business practices that have been instrumental in driving the ongoing success of Coughlin Scheel Architects.

Coughlin Scheel Architects produces programmatically diverse pragmatically-driven architecture for clients ranging from individuals to families to developers to civic organizations. From our base in Brooklyn, we engage in all scales of work, including urban design, public architecture, housing, and houses, as well as commercial, educational, and recreational spaces. We are driven not by a particular style, but by a commitment to understanding the specifics of a site, its occupants, and their needs. Our work is profoundly informed by place; we see architecture as a means for enhancing a site’s qualities, drawing attention to previously unexplored elements and finding clever solutions to difficult site challenges. We are as comfortable working on a tight beachfront lot as we are on an apartment renovation in Brooklyn; as familiar with the requirements of a tennis court as with multifamily zoning. While our aesthetic is decidedly modern, we are driven not by a particular style, but by a commitment to understanding the specifics of a site, its occupants, and their needs. All of our work is as fundamentally informed by context as it is by program, and is executed in close and careful collaboration with our clients.

Paul is a founder of Coughlin Scheel Architects and an adjunct studio instructor at the New York City College of Technology. He earned his MS in Advanced Architectural Design from the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation at Columbia University, and lives in Brooklyn with his two daughters and wife, Annie.

Annie is a founder of Coughlin Scheel Architects. She earned her M.Arch degree from the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation at Columbia University and lives in Brooklyn with her husband, Paul, and their two daughters.

The conversation will be moderated by Amy Suzuki '25 MS.AAD

When: Sept 4, 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Where: Ware Lounge, 600 Avery Hall

This event is hosted by Karen Cover, Associate Director of GSAPP Career Services