NYC Residential Architect for Wellness-Focused Homes

Bright NYC kitchen renovation with a waterfall-edge island, natural light, and a layout designed for cross-ventilation

Techbuilt house interior - Kitchen and waterfall edge kitchen island allowing cross ventilation

Thoughtful architecture for townhouses, apartments, and substantial residential renovations.

Tong Dong Architects plans light, air, moisture, materials, and building systems together from the first sketch, while the design can still respond to what you learn.

Based in Queens, serving all five boroughs.

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Explore Our Work

Based in Queens, serving all five boroughs. Budgets typically start around $350,000. The first call is free.

Queenie Tong, RA, NCARB: registered in New York State
More than 21+ years in architecture, 18 years in residential. Past work including SOM, OMA, and Gensler
Founded 2021, fully insured
Landmarked townhouse and house renovations completed in earlier practice, plus co-op work completed at TDA

Find the right starting point

Apartments, co-ops and condos Better use of your space, coordinated with building rules and board approval.
Townhouses Whole-home renovations, including landmarked buildings and their approvals.
Healthy Home Review Buying a home or already have plans? Get an independent architect's review. Reviews start at $1,250.
Planning a custom home or a multifamily project? Tell us about it (/get-in-touch), or see our work for developers.

Designed Around How You Live

Most of what makes a home comfortable is decided before framing starts. We plan five things first:

• Air: ventilation you can control

• Water: moisture managed early

• Envelope: windows, insulation and air sealing

• Light: daylight where you use it

• Healthy materials: durable, low-emission finishes

Links: Explore wellness-focused renovations and Read the Healthy Home Guide

Selected projects

Upper West Side Townhouse Landmarked renovation and additions. Completed at Ogawa Depardon Architects.
Techbuilt House, Tuxedo Park A mid-century renovation with a new skylight and solar hot water. Completed at Ogawa Depardon Architects.
Jackson Heights Co-op A full renovation in progress, with co-op board approval complete.

Link: See all projects

How it works

Free 30-minute call. We talk through your home, budget, and goals.
Written proposal. Scope, responsibilities, fees, and next steps, before any work begins.
Design, approvals, and construction support. We guide you from first sketch to final walkthrough.

Link: See the full process

Work With Queenie Tong

Queenie Tong, RA, NCARB, founded Tong Dong Architects in 2021 after more than 21 years in architecture, 18 of them in residential. She designs homes around the people who live in them.

Meet Queenie

Not ready to talk yet?

Take the free Healthy Home Readiness Assessment: 15 questions in about three minutes. It evaluates planning readiness, not your home's condition.

Or get the free Build Without Regrets starter kit, our free 17-page NYC renovation starter kit, with worksheets, planning guidance, and questions to help you prepare for conversations with your project team.

Examples p
ages from the free renovation starter kit

Insights From TDA

TDA Insights breaks down architecture, renovation, and building science in clear language so homeowners can make more informed decisions before they build.

Sunlit compact Manhattan apartment with high ceilings, large industrial-style windows, pale wood storage, and a clear open circulation path

Cramped to Calm: Smart Space Planning for Your NYC Apartment or Townhouse Renovation

New York City homes rarely feel short on character. They feel short on room. Whether you live in a pre-war apartment in Manhattan or a narrow Brooklyn townhouse, everyday life can quickly expose the weak points of a layout: coats collect by the door, toys migrate through every room, the kitchen blocks the main pathway, and the darkest part of the home becomes the place where everyone works, studies, and stores things. I’ve found that the answer is rarely “add more furniture.”

Sunlit high-end Manhattan apartment with floor-to-ceiling windows, natural wood, indoor planting, and a calm wellness-focused interior overlooking the New York City skyline

How to Integrate Climate-Responsive Design With Wellness Housing: 7 Moves NYC Developers Can Use in 2026

For NYC multifamily developers, wellness housing is becoming less about decorative amenities and more about measurable building performance. Residents may enjoy a rooftop lounge, fitness studio, or meditation room. But the daily experience of a home is shaped by quieter fundamentals: the air residents breathe, the temperature near the window, the sound from the neighboring unit, the materials beneath their hands, and how the building performs during heat, storms, and outages.

Sunlit NYC apartment living room with natural wood flooring, a large city window, and leafy plants

Renovating With Kids in NYC: 7 Ways to Create a Healthier Home That Grows With Your Family

Renovating with young children in New York City requires more than choosing durable finishes and hiding a few electrical outlets. Your home needs to support bedtime, breakfast, school mornings, play, homework, rest, and all the small transitions in between: often within a tight apartment layout or a narrow townhouse floor plate. That is where an experienced NYC residential architect can help turn family routines into a workable plan. I encourage families to think five years a

Let’s Talk About Your Home

Tell Us About Your Project

Call 917.694.5021