About
Founded in 2020, Callaghan Horiuchi is a multi-disciplinary architecture and design firm with a focus on human-centered design. Partners Christian and Haruka have over 25 years of combined experience in research-driven design in the built environment. This expertise has been honed through the conceptualization and realization of diverse projects ranging from high-rise buildings to research laboratories, from university campuses to high-end townhouses, and from luxury hotels to flexible office buildings.
We are passionate about getting things built.
Our collaborative approach to design and construction ensures transparent and effective communication with the entire development and execution team. We firmly believe that there is no compromise if everyone contributes.
Collaboration is especially important to us within the design process, and we strive to build the best team for each project. We find that the results speak for themselves when you assemble a group of best-in-class thinkers and creators who approach each project with a fresh perspective, yet are able to pull from a deep bench of real-world experience.
In addition to our passion for realizing projects, we are equally passionate about learning from them. Humans interact with the built environment in unexpected ways that can provide incredible feedback for both operations and design. This research creates a vital feedback loop that can inform, modify, and improve projects both built and in design.
Christian Callaghan, Partner
AIA NCARB LEED-AP
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Johns Hopkins University
Master of Architecture. Syracuse University.
With over 15 years of domestic and international experience, Christian’s ability to move efficiently between the engineering and architectural disciplines has proved invaluable in the design and coordination of complex buildings. Christian was Vice President of Architecture at WeWork and created and co-led the Ground Up Studio with Michel Rojkind. Christian’s prior experience includes being an Associate Director at Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill LLP (SOM) in New York City. At SOM, Christian was the Project Manager and point of contact for multiple high-profile projects within New York City, ranging from skyscrapers to the adaptive reuse of landmarked buildings.
Prior to SOM, Christian was a Director at Rafael Vinoly Architects PC (RVA). During his time at RVA, Christian relocated to Abu Dhabi to open and manage its Middle East office. While in Abu Dhabi, Christian led the coordination efforts of a multidisciplinary team of over 100 architects and engineers on the master planning, design, and construction of New York University Abu Dhabi.
Christian is also a member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).
Haruka Horiuchi, Partner
AIA NCARB
Bachelor of Science in Brain and Cognitive Science. Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Master of Architecture. Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Haruka brings over 10 years of experience in the practice of architecture in New York City and beyond. As Design Director of the Ground Up Studio at WeWork, Haruka worked with a hybrid team of national and local architects and engineers to lead the design, coordination and development of a 200,000 sf fully flexible office building in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Prior to WeWork, Haruka was a Director at Rafael Vinoly Architects, where she oversaw the design, documentation and construction of a diverse set of projects. Projects she worked on ranged from a 10,000 square foot mixed use custom townhouse in midtown Manhattan to a 1.3 million square foot resort development in South America; and from a 500’ tall high-rise luxury residential tower to a 700’ long state-of-the-art research facility built over an active highway. She is an experienced architect with strong design abilities, a wide range of technical knowledge, and practiced project management skills leading teams of architects and consultants on projects with >$100 million construction budgets.
Selected Work
162 East 64th Street. New York, NY.
Mixed-use commercial townhouse. 10,000 sf. Completed 2016. Haruka was Designer and Project Manager from concept design through construction while at Rafael Vinoly Architects.
The Farley Building. New York, NY.
Adaptive reuse of a historic building into a mixed-use facility with commercial office and retail. 800,000 sf. Completed 2020. Christian was the Project Manager from concept design through design development while at SOM (image courtesy SOM).
Ritz Carlton NoMad. New York, NY.
Luxury hotel and residential tower with outdoor plaza, rooftop bar, spa, and ballroom. 165,000 sf. Anticipated completion 2021. Christian was the Project Director from the winning competition design through design development while at Rafael Vinoly Architects.
New York University Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Major research university comprised of 29 academic, residential, student life, research buildings, and underground parking. 3,999,870 sf. Completed 2014. Christian was a Design Lead during the master planning and Project Director from concept design through completion while at Rafael Vinoly Architects.
Rockefeller University River Campus. New York, NY.
Research laboratory and campus extension with offices, conferencing, cafeteria and green space. 220,000 sf. Completed 2019. Haruka was Design Lead on the masterplan, programming, concept design and schematic design while at Rafael Vinoly Architects.
Cipriani Ocean Resort. Punta del Este, Uruguay.
Resort complex with hotel, residential, retail, casino and entertainment. 2,000,000 sf. In construction, projected completion 2023. Haruka was Project Director from masterplan through schematic design while at Rafael Vinoly Architects.
35 Hudson Yards. New York, NY.
Mixed-use commercial tower comprised of retail, commercial, hotel, and residential areas. 1,055,000 sf. Completed 2019. Christian was the Project Manager during construction documents and construction administration while at SOM (photo David Burke copyright SOM).
249 East 62nd Street. New York, NY.
Residential with commercial and amenities. 150,000 sf. Not built. Haruka was Project Manager from concept design through construction documents while at Rafael Vinoly Architects.