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NYC Residential Architect for Wellness-Focused Homes

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

A Beautiful Home Should Feel Better to Live In.

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.

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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 20 years in architecture, including SOM, OMA, and Gensler

  • Founded 2021, fully insured

  • Landmarked townhouses and co-op apartments completed in Manhattan and Queens

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

Designed Around How You Live

​​Light where you need it.

We plan rooms, openings, and circulation so daylight reaches the spaces your family uses.

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Comfort beyond the thermostat.

Windows, insulation, shading, and building systems are designed together, so the home holds its temperature as well as its looks.

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Air and moisture, early.

Ventilation, exhaust, material choices, and moisture management are decided while the design can still change.​

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Quiet where you rest. 

Acoustic comfort is the most overlooked part of a home, and we plan for it.

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These decisions shape how your home feels every day, and many become difficult to change after construction. ​​

Portfolio

See What Thoughtful Design Can Change

A brighter interior. A more useful floor plan. A stronger connection to outdoor space.

Techbuilt House. 

A renovation shaped around natural light, openness, and the relationship between the home and its landscape.

Upper West Side Townhouse. 

A Manhattan townhouse renovation bringing together daylight, vertical circulation, outdoor space, and building-performance strategies within a landmark context.

Clients

Find the Right Support for Your Project

Full-service architecture

NYC Townhouse Renovations

Reconsider the whole home, connecting space planning, daylight, building systems, and outdoor areas with the realities of existing construction.

Apartment, Co-op & Condo Renovations

Make better use of your space while coordinating design with building requirements, board approvals, and construction constraints.

Need Advice Before a Larger Commitment?

Buying or Renovating an Existing Home?​

The Healthy Home Diagnostic Review looks at accessible, visible conditions involving ventilation, moisture, comfort, and daylight. You receive written observations, priorities, and questions for further investigation.

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$1,250 fixed fee. Includes intake, a 75-90-minute site visit, written findings, and a 30-minute follow-up. This visual architectural review does not include environmental testing or replace a home inspection.

Already Have Architectural Plans?

The Healthy Home Design Review gives you an independent second opinion on your proposed design before important decisions become difficult to change.

Wellness-Focused Renovations

Residential architecture that considers indoor air, moisture, thermal comfort, daylight, acoustics, materials, and long-term building performance from the beginning.

Discover wellness renovations

Queens Houses & Additions

Rear-yard extensions, new connections to the garden level, and whole-house renovations. Link to /queens-residential-architect. 

Discover queens renovations

Custom Homes (by inquiry)

For clients with a site and a long-term vision, we shape a home around the property, the budget, and the way you want to live. We take on a small number of these each year.

How We Work

1. Tell Us About Your Home

Share your property, what you hope to change, and where you are in the process. You don't need every decision made.

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2. Find the Right Scope

We discuss whether full-service architecture or a focused review is the next step. The first call is free.

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3. Understand the Engagement

Before services begin, a written proposal defines scope, responsibilities, fees, and next steps.

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Once we begin:

we prepare your board, DOB, or Landmarks submission and attend your board meeting and public hearings. We meet about three contractors, answer their bid questions, and give you a side-by-side comparison. During construction we are on site weekly and protect the design.

Work With Queenie Tong, RA, NCARB

Your home deserves careful design and clear conversations about the decisions ahead.

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Queenie founded Tong Dong Architects after more than 21 years of architectural experience, including 18 years in residential, including work at SOM, OMA, Gensler, and residential practices. That experience informs a personal approach to residential architecture, connecting design ambition, building performance, and the practical needs of family life.

Questions Before You Get in Touch?

When should I contact an architect?

While you are still considering the project, before the scope and major construction decisions are fixed.

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Do I need a finalized budget?

No. Share your expectations and any known limits. Budget and scope are discussed together.

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Can you help if I already have an architect?

Yes. The Healthy Home Design Review gives you an independent perspective. Your existing architect and consultants stay responsible for developing the design.

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How are architectural fees determined?

Fees depend on the property, complexity, scope, and level of involvement. Design fees typically start at $35,000, and we define services and fees in writing before work begins.

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Do you work outside New York City? 

Our focus is the five boroughs. We consider select projects outside the city by referral.

Let’s Talk About Your Home

What would you like to change, and what do you want your home to do better?

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Tell us about your property, priorities, and project stage. We'll review your inquiry and explain whether TDA is a suitable fit and what the next step would be.

Still Exploring?

Start with the free Healthy Home Readiness Assessment. Answer 15 questions about your priorities and planning approach, and receive suggested topics to explore before you renovate or build. About three minutes. Free. Immediate results. This questionnaire evaluates planning readiness, not your home's physical condition.

Insights From TDA

Understand Your Home Before You Change It

  • Why is the top floor always hotter?

  • Why can an expensive renovation still feel dark?

  • What actually makes a wall perform well?

  • When should you hire an architect?

 

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

 

Preparing for a Renovation?

Build Without Regrets is 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

© 2026 by Tong Dong Architects

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