Design
With the client, we set clear but flex­ible design guide­lines that con­trol deci­sions down to the details. This allows for progress with room for inspi­ra­tion.

Eco­nomics
We design towards a client’s budget but con­stantly eval­uate whether addi­tional costs bring the client useful value.

Sus­tain­ability
Our interest in sus­tain­able design is not only good for the envi­ron­ment but has proven to create better spaces for living in gen­eral.

Design Build
Simply, we build what we design. The process and results are better for everyone involved. 



John com­pleted his M Arch degree at Har­vard Uni­ver­sity and sub­se­quently worked for Pei, Cobb, Freed & Part­ners in NYC. He later joined HLW Int and became a Partner leading the design for many large projects both domes­ti­cally and abroad.

In 2003, John estab­lished WFORA as a solo prac­tice with a single project, the MIG Offices, which was awarded a Design Merit by the AIA New York City Chapter in 2008.

In 2008, John started Work­shop for Con­struc­tion (WFORC) to better con­trol the con­struc­tion of his designs. All projects by WFORA since then have been con­structed by WFORC.

In 2010, he was an archi­tec­tural fellow at the Mac­Dowell Colony in New Ham­phire where he researched the metaphor­ical and phys­ical qual­i­ties of “sky­lights”.

In 2016, John pur­sued his interest in sus­tain­able design and was cer­ti­fied by the Pas­sive House Insti­tute as a Pas­sive House Designer.

John has served as Vis­iting Instructor at Pratt Insti­tute and teaches at the Bernard & Anne Spitzer School of Archi­tec­ture, CUNY. He con­tinues to serve on aca­d­emic juries at sev­eral archi­tec­ture schools.