Bercy Chen Studio LLP is a progressive design/build architectural firm based in Austin Texas, founded by partners Thomas Bercy and Calvin Chen. Both Calvin and Thomas are graduates of the University of Texas at Austin with professional degrees in Architecture; Thomas also graduated with a degree in Structural Engineering.

The design work ranges from cultural, residential to mixed-use commercial projects. As a member of the City of Austin Green Building Program with certified 3 star projects, Bercy Chen Studio has worked with clients to create designs that are environmentally sustainable and aesthetically pleasing.

Thomas is from Belgium and Calvin is from Taiwan by way of Australia, The partners’ European and Asian backgrounds form a design philosophy of unique perspectives. The work is greatly influenced by vernacular precedents from various cultures- whether Islamic, Indian, or African in origin, while maintaining respect for the particular contemporary contextual conditions. The Malinalco Spa Resort project was an example of this belief in finding inspiration from the cultural depth of a locality.

Due to this unique approach, the work has received national and international attention. Bercy Chen Studio has won the prestigious Emerging Voices prize from the Architectural League of New York for 2006. Every year the League selects 7 of the most innovative designers from Europe and North America for this award. In 2005 Bercy Chen Studio also won 1st place in a national competition for Urban Reserve, one of the first sustainable modernist residential developments in the US. In 2006 the Beverly Skyline Residence was shortlisted as one of top 30 finalists in the “Best Plot in the World” competition in Vienna, Austria.

Bercy Chen Studio was recently featured in the leading San Francisco based publication on creative modern design: Dwell magazine- Culminating in a special television episode on the Fine Living Television Network program which discussed Bercy Chen Studio’s design approach in depth. The episode was aired on December 2004. HGTV also featured the firm’s work in June of 2006.

The firm was recently profiled in Architectural Record July 2006 issue, as one of the emerging architectural firms in the US. Other publications include “Design and Build Your Dream House” by Conran Octopus’s in London, “Mini Houses Now” by Loft publication in Barcelona, Spain, and “The contemporary Guest House” by Edizioni Press in New York. “Archiworld” feature upcoming issue in Seoul, Korea. The design of Factory People, a premier fashion boutique/ art gallery on South Congress Ave. was cited by the Austin Chronicle as one of the 10 most significant cultural events in town for the year 2003. Factory People has also been well received in numerous publications including Lucky, XLXR…etc.

Bercy Chen Studio recently won 1st prize in a competition to design and masterplan the Asian American Cultural Center in Austin, Texas. Developed in 4 phases, the 80 million US $ project will eventually include education facilities, offices, a conference center and hotel on 15 acres for the NAAO. Other selected Bercy Chen Studio projects includes Azul; a 35 room spa resort/ conference center in Malinalco Mexico for the Ficien development company occupying 80,000 sq. ft on 45 acres of land; Skybridge, a 120 unit, 140,000 sq. ft. town home project in south Austin; a 3 story multiuse building on East 11th street in Austin Texas; a 9 story luxury residential tower on South Lamar in Austin, Texas.

As part of the Art Collective “Spurse”, Bercy Chen Studio’s investigation in urbanism was exhibited in a group show titled “The Interventionist” at the Mass Moca in North Adams, Massachusetts from July 2004- March 2005.

Prior to forming their own firm, Thomas and Calvin worked on numerous AIA and TSA award winning projects both in the US, and Europe. Thomas with the preeminent Belgium architecture firm Samyn and Partners on many high tech office and institutional buildings; Calvin with STG on GSD&M, National Instrument, Dell Global Headquarters and Taylor Hall for the University of Texas at Austin which housed the advanced virtual reality laboratory. Calvin also worked extensively on the Caritas of Austin headquarters on a pro bono basis, which won an award from the Downtown Alliance in 1999.

Design Team member profile:
Thomas Tornbjerg Lessel is a project architect with Bercy Chen Studio. Prior to joining Bercy Chen Studio in 2005, Mr. Lessel completed his studies toward the Master of Architecture from the University of Texas at Austin. Before entering the graduate School of Architecture. Mr. Lessel worked two and half years with Encotech Engineering Consultants, Inc, also two years as a project manager at Conrad Engineering Consultants in Austin. In 2004, Mr. Lessel won first prize for his design of an outdoor theater at Teotihuacan, Mexico.

Ryan Michael graduated from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics.  In 2002 he received a Bachelor of Environmental Design in Architecture Cum Laude from the North Carolina State University School of Architecture.  Before coming to Bercy Chen Studio, Ryan worked for Cherry Huffman Architects and Cannon Architects in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Gunter Recht is an independent lighting designer who frequently collaborates with Bercy Chen Studio. Originally from Germany, Gunter studied at the Istituto Europeo Di Design in Rome, Italy. He has over 15 years of experience working in Europe and the United States as a lighting designer and interior architect for a variety of projects including retail, fashion showrooms, residential as well as commercial projects. Mr. Recht’s other areas of expertise lie in the design of custom-made fixtures and color and daylight integration. Both his creative and practical knowledge allows him to maintain a forward thinking approach, keeping ahead of the quickly changing technical challenges facing the lighting industry.

Bercy Chen Studio LLP
1111 E. 11th Street Suite 200
Austin, Texas 78702

phone +1 (512) 481 0092
email info@bcarc.com