Profile

Studio Cadena is an internationally recognized architecture practice working across objects, buildings, and landscapes to shape environments that frame and amplify daily life. Operating between New York and Bogotá, the studio combines built work and critical inquiry across scales, focusing on hybrid uses and the shaping of spaces for public life. In the work, we use few moves and make them count.

The studio works with forward-thinking clients in the U.S. and internationally on urban, cultural, commercial, residential, and civic work.

Founded by Benjamin Cadena, the studio has produced a diverse body of work that has been widely published and exhibited, including at the U.S. Pavilion of the
19th Venice Architecture Biennale, the Center for Architecture, Espacio Odeón, Art OMI, and Storefront for Art and Architecture. The practice received the AIANY New Practices New York Award, was named among The Architect’s Newspaper AN Top 50, and was selected for Cultured Magazine’s inaugural Young Architects list. Additional recognitions include awards from Dezeen, Azure Magazine, the Van Alen Institute, the AIANY Honor Award, two Art Directors Club Golden Cubes, and the Prix Versailles from UNESCO and the UIA.

Benjamin Cadena

Originally from Bogotá, Colombia, Benjamin holds a BA in Economics and a Master of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania. Before founding Studio Cadena, he worked at Rice Lipka Architects, Stan Allen Architect, WORKac, and Atelier Bow-Wow in New York and Tokyo.

He has taught extensively, most recently studios at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation (GSAPP) and has previously held teaching appointments at the University of Pennsylvania, Pratt Institute, Parsons, and NYIT. He has also served as an invited critic at multiple institutions nationally and internationally, and as co-chair of the AIA New Practices Committee in New York.

AIA, LEED AP, NCARB, Registered Architect in New York State
Studio Cadena is a MWBE certified business

Awards

• AZ Award Winner – Azure Magazine, 2025

• Dezeen Awards Mixed-Use Project of the Year, Shortlisted , 2025

• Young Architects List – Cultured Magazine, 2021

• AIA New York Architecture Honor Award Winner, 2020

• Prix Versailles Continental Prize, from the IUA & UNESCO, 2019

• Time Magazine’s list of 100 World‘s Greatest Places, 2019 

• Dezeen Awards Emerging Architect of the Year, Longlisted, 2019

• Dezeen Awards Hospitality Project of the Year, Longlisted, 2019

• Winner of two Golden Cubes, Art Directors Club of New York, 2019 

• Azure Award of Merit, 2019

• Architect’s Newspaper AN 50 top architects in the US, 2019

• Winner Van Alen Institute Flatiron Plaza Competition, New York, 2018

• Azure Magazine Best Restaurant for 2018

• AIA New York New Practices Award, 2016

• International Peace Corps Memorial Competition, Honorable Mention, 2015

• Chicago Architecture Foundation Competition, Finalist, 2015

• Marfa International Multifamily Housing Competition, 2015

• Architizer A+ Awards, Special Mention, Small Living, 2013

Awards

• AZ Award Winner – Azure Magazine, 2025

• Dezeen Awards Mixed-Use Project of the Year, Shortlisted , 2025

• Young Architects List – Cultured Magazine, 2021

• AIA New York Architecture Honor Award Winner, 2020

• Prix Versailles Continental Prize, from the IUA & UNESCO, 2019

• Time Magazine’s list of 100 World‘s Greatest Places, 2019 

• Dezeen Awards Emerging Architect of the Year, Longlisted, 2019

• Dezeen Awards Hospitality Project of the Year, Longlisted, 2019

• Winner of two Golden Cubes, Art Directors Club of New York, 2019 

• Azure Award of Merit, 2019

• Architect’s Newspaper AN 50 top architects in the US, 2019

• Winner Van Alen Institute Flatiron Plaza Competition, New York, 2018

• Azure Magazine Best Restaurant for 2018

• AIA New York New Practices Award, 2016

• International Peace Corps Memorial Competition, Honorable Mention, 2015

• Chicago Architecture Foundation Competition, Finalist, 2015

• Marfa International Multifamily Housing Competition, 2015

• Architizer A+ Awards, Special Mention, Small Living, 2013g