Caples Jefferson Architects
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Architecture, Design |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Founder | Sara Caples, Everardo Jefferson |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | Public, cultural, and community-oriented architectural projects |
Key people | Sara Caples, Everardo Jefferson |
| Products | Architectural design services |
| Website | caplesjefferson |
Caples Jefferson Architects is an architecture and design firm headquartered in New York City, established in 1987 by founders Sara Caples and Everardo Jefferson. The practice concentrates on public, cultural, and community-oriented architectural projects, with nearly half of its work dedicated to serving marginalized and underserved populations.
Biography
Sara Caples holds a Master of Architecture degree from Yale University, following her undergraduate studies at Smith College. She has also held teaching positions at the City College of New York, Syracuse University, and the University of Miami. Everardo Jefferson completed his education at Pratt Institute and Yale University and has served as an instructor at Columbia University and Syracuse University. Both architects were appointed Louis I. Kahn Visiting Assistant Professors at Yale during the Fall semester of 2015. In 2019, Jefferson was named Commissioner of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.
The firm’s achievements include receiving the AIANY President's Award in 2017, being honored as the AIA New York State Firm of the Year in 2012, recognized as NYC’s MWBE Firm of the Year in 2009, and a nomination for the Mies van der Rohe Crown Hall Prize of the Americas. Additionally, Jefferson was awarded the Rowena Award from the Rowena Reed Kostellow Fund at Pratt Institute in 2020.
Work
Among Caples Jefferson’s significant projects are the Weeksville Heritage Center, the addition and renovation of Queens Theater in the Park, Marcus Garvey Community Center, Motion Pictures Editors Guild headquarters, Heritage Health & Housing’s main office, and Columbia University’s Starr East Asian Library renovation.
The Weeksville Heritage Center, completed in 2014 and located in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, spans 23,000 square feet as a contemporary cultural hub that includes exhibition galleries, performance spaces, educational facilities, administrative offices, and landscaped areas. The L-shaped structure surrounds historic houses once owned by African-American freedmen during the 19th century. This building holds LEED Gold certification and integrates sustainable features such as geothermal wells and stormwater management systems. It has been recognized with numerous awards including AIA New York State’s Design Excellence Award (2014), Municipal Art Society’s Best New Building (2014), Historic Districts Council’s Design Award (2014), and the American Architecture Award from the Chicago Athenaeum (2014).
Architect Allen Blake described Caples Jefferson’s method at Weeksville as "architectural archeology," skillfully merging historical context with modern spatial design.
In 2010, Caples Jefferson Architects completed an expansion for Queens Theatre in the Park—a venue originally part of the 1964 New York World’s Fair site—adding a reception hall accommodating 600 guests. The design features a transparent “nebula room” that provides panoramic views of nearby observation towers while incorporating a vibrant color scheme inspired by the neighborhood's cultural diversity. This project garnered multiple honors including New York Construction’s Cultural Project of the Year (2010), an award from the Queens Chamber of Commerce, a National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) National Award of Excellence in Architecture, and the Municipal Art Society’s MASterworks Award for Best Restoration (2011).
Active projects currently underway or in development include work for The Africa Center, Louis Armstrong House Museum, ongoing expansions at Columbia University, assignments with the New York City School Construction Authority, and commissions from the U.S. Department of State.
Selected design and renovation projects
Museums
- The Africa Center, New York, NY, anticipated completion in 2025
- Louis Armstrong Museum Center, New York, NY, completed 2023
- Weeksville Heritage Center, Brooklyn, NY, finished in 2014
Educational Institutions
- 10 Bouck Court Pre-Kindergarten, Brooklyn, NY, completed 2016
- Faculty Housing at New York University, Bleecker Street, New York, NY, completed 2016
- Columbia University Main Campus Scoping Documents, New York, NY, scheduled for 2014
- 1337 Inwood Charter School, Bronx, NY, planned for 2015
- HVAC upgrade at Marshak Science Building, City College of New York, City University of New York, New York, NY, projected for 2012–2014
- Life Sciences Building enhancement at SUNY Stony Brook, New York, NY, planned for 2012
- Neighborhood Charter School of Harlem, New York, NY, completed 2012
- Renovation of Starr East Asian Library, New York, NY, completed 2009
- Masterplan for NYU Warren Weaver Cogen Plant, New York, NY, completed 2004
- Hybrid School - Stephen Gaynor, New York, NY, finished 2002
- Renovation of Grace Church School, New York, 2002
- Child Care Center at Borough of Manhattan Community College, New York, completed 2002
- Interior design for Howard Haber Blue Feather School, Bronx, NY, completed 1993
- Jennie Knauff Children’s Center in Bronx, NY, finished 1991
Theatres
- Addition of reception hall at Queens Theatre in the Park, Queens, NY, completed 2009
- Renovation of Apollo Theater, Harlem, New York City, finished 2002
Community centers
- Marcus Garvey Community Center in Brooklyn, NY, completed 2011
- Cooper Park Community Center renovation in Brooklyn, NY, finished 1997
- Taylor-Wythe Community Center renovation in Brooklyn, NY, finished 1997
- Williamsburg Community Center in New York City completed in 1997
Religious centers
- New Spirit Café (restaurant), New York City completion year: 2000
Treatment centers
- Central Harlem Alcohol Crisis Center project in New York City initiated in 1995
Urban design and infrastructure
- Preliminary design and masterplan for NYU Warren Weaver Cogen Plant in New York City completed in 2004
- Lehman Maintenance Building project in New York City finalized in 1996
Offices
- Headquarters for Heritage Health and Housing in New York City completed in 2002
- DeSimone Consulting Engineers office renovation in New York City finished in 1997
- Renovation of Motion Picture Editors Guild offices in New York City completed in 1999
Industrial
- Estee Lauder Cogeneration Plant project executed in 2000
Residential
- Residential development at 691 St. Nicholas Avenue,[1] New York City projected for completion in 2016
- Intergen Senior Housing,[1] Chicago, Illinois planned for 2006
- Three Generations House,[1] located in New York City finished in 1996
- Sutton Residence,[1] situated in New York City completed in 1995
- Olivebridge House,[1] Olivebridge, NY finished in 1991
- Private residence located in Greensboro,[1] Vermont built in 1975
Awards
- Nominee for Mies van der Rohe Crown Hall Americas Prize
- National Medal awarded by Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) for Museum and Library Service
- Second place recognition for Institutional/Cultural/Government Urban Design and Planning category at AIA Queens Design Award
- NYCxDESIGN Award by Interior Design Magazine for Entertainment sector
- Commendation from AIA Archi Award Long Island (2023)
- Rowena Award granted by Rowena Reed Kostellow Fund at Pratt Institute (2020)
- Recipient of AIA NY President's Award (2017)
- Citation by City of New York City Council for Weeksville Heritage Center (2015)
- Built By Women Award from New York City for Weeksville Heritage Center (2015)
- Institutional Award from AIA NY COTE for Weeksville Heritage Center (2015)
- Chicago Atheneum American Architecture Award recipient (2014)
- Best In New York State Award from AIA New York State (2014)
- Design Award of Excellence from AIA New York State (2014)
- MASterworks Award for Best New Building by Municipal Art Society (2014)
- Design Award from Historic Districts Council (2014)
- Nominee for Mies van der Rohe Crown Hall Americas Prize (2014)
- Best New Civic/Institutional Building at Building Brooklyn Awards (2014)
- Citation for Best Cultural Project from Architect Magazine Annual Design Review (2013)
- NOMA Honor Award recognizing Excellence (2013)
- Listed among Architect Magazine Top 50 Sustainable Firms (2013)
- Firm of the Year awarded by AIA New York State (2012)
- MASterworks Award for Best Restoration by Municipal Art Society (2011)
- Special citation for Best Use of Color at AIL Design Award (2011)
- Cultural Project of the Year by New York Construction (2010)
- CWB Design Portfolio Award recipient (2010)
- MWBE of the Year awarded by City of New York (2009)
- First Prize Award recognizing Excellence in Design from Queens Chamber of Commerce (2008)
- NOMA National Awards honoring Excellence in Architecture received multiple times: 2004, 2008 & 2009
- Citations from NY Chapter AIA Design Awards: years include 1995, 1996, 2006 & 2007
- Design Award from the New York City Art Commission (2006)
- Honor Award for Architecture from NY Chapter AIA (2004)
- National Honor Award for Architecture granted by AIA (2003)
- Featured as part of "New New York 3" by Architectural League of New York (2002)
- Recognized as Emerging Voice by Architectural League of New York (1998)