D. A. Hall Architect, PC is a full service architecture and interior design studio founded in New York City by the firm’s principal, Denise A. Hall, AIA. Now Philadelphia-based, the firm’s portfolio consists of a wide variety of projects — residential, cultural, hospitality, industrial and retail — at varying scales and levels of complexity.

Our service and expertise ranges from initial site selection and program development through to project completion and move-in. Diverse and eclectic, our work has included historic restoration, renovation and new construction, retail branding, and landscape, lighting and furniture design. Our tailored services provide tailored solutions that are comprehensive in scope and based on the individual needs of each client and project type. In all our work we are committed to employing sustainable systems and strategies to ensure a responsible use of natural resources and a keen respect for all environments.

The firm is “boutique” in nature, and studio-based, with all projects designed and coordinated by the principal, ensuring continuity, consistency and clarity of communication throughout. The core staff is supplemented by a team of specialized outside consultants, technical experts and artisans bringing expertise, passion and enthusiasm to every project.

Our design process is one of first listening, questioning, analyzing, drawing and finally building — addressing needs that are both practical and intangible. “Design is always about thinking, and I think by drawing,” says Hall. Ideas are defined and refined through a series of drawings until the “right” one appears — right for the time, the place, the client and the budget.

With this emphasis on analytical, collaborative and innovative problem solving, the firm has executed projects in the US, Europe and the Caribbean. Quality is the defining factor — quality of thought, purpose, design and execution.

we believe the practice of architecture is a
service • passion • process • responsibility • delight

Denise A. Hall, AIA, LEED AP

Hall is the founder and principal of her eponymous firm and co-founder of Lang Hall, LLC a furniture design and fabrication studio.

Born in Rio De Janeiro, of Anglo-Brazilian descent, Hall was raised and educated in Manhattan receiving degrees from Parsons / The New School and CUNY’s City College School of Architecture.

Her fusion of fine art with design and construction led to important early commissions for art galleries and fine print studios, among them, Leo Castelli, Crown Point Press, Edward Thorp, and Solo Editions. This led to high-profile residential work for collectors, artists, and entertainment figures, and to numerous restaurant design collaborations.

With decades of experience in a wide variety of project types, and known for her expertise in problem solving and keen attention to context, craft and detail, Hall has developed a reputation for excellence in design, responsiveness to clients, and rigorous project execution.

Currently a member of the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, her involvement in NYC’s AIA Chapter included several terms as a Board member and an early co-founder of the Women In Architecture Committee.

In addition to her work as an architect, Hall is the principal furniture designer for Lang-Hall LLC and has represented their collections in numerous design venues including the Architectural Digest Design Show, the ICFF, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show.

Hall has chosen to keep the firm small by design, focusing on a limited number of projects taken on at any given time. “There is a misconception in the industry that a smaller firm is really a baby big firm. That is simply not the case. Staying small allows me to get involved in a wide variety of projects in a very personal way, creating opportunities for design exploration and expression not just for me, but more importantly for the client as well.”