06/17/2026
Laura Starr and Stephen Whitehouse started our firm in 2006 with a reputation for bringing stakeholders together to rejuvenate the city’s open spaces – Stephen as Chief of Planning for NYC Parks, and Laura as Chief of Design for Central Park, where she met future firm Partner Jeffrey Poor. Together, Laura and Stephen founded Starr Whitehouse to “bring nature into the city and make density livable.”
Twenty years later, our team has grown from 2 founders to 4 partners and 30 staff across 3 studios in New York City, Atlanta, and the Hudson River Valley. For twenty years, this team has helped governments, businesses, and communities shape beautiful and resilient civic spaces that connect people to nature and each other. But while our focus remains steady, our clients, geographies and projects have evolved.
