Firm Profile
Marble Fairbanks is at the forefront of merging user-centered design processes with advanced digital tools and technology to create high quality spaces for our clients.
Our Practice
Founded in New York in 1992 by Scott Marble and Karen Fairbanks, Marble Fairbanks is an architecture practice with a longstanding commitment to the role of design in public life. We believe architecture can help institutions respond to the evolving needs of the communities they serve, creating spaces that remain relevant as those needs change over time. Our continuing involvement in architectural education keeps us engaged with emerging research and advances in technology that influence the way buildings are conceived and made. This exchange between academic inquiry and professional practice remains central to the identity of the firm.
Our Work
Our work encompasses new buildings and the adaptation of existing structures, with a particular focus on spaces that support learning and public life. We approach architecture through close attention to spatial experience, the expressive potential of materials, and the relationship between buildings and their surroundings. We are interested in how buildings can use resources more responsibly, from the possibilities of mass timber construction to circular design strategies that extend the life of existing materials and structures. We also explore how architecture can accommodate different ways of experiencing and navigating space, including the needs of neurodiverse users. Our work continues to evolve as we investigate emerging technologies, advances in materials, and new ideas about how architecture can respond to changing social and environmental needs.
Our Process
More than 30 years of practice have reinforced our belief that transparency and open communication between the client and design team lead to better outcomes. We begin by listening carefully to understand our clients’ goals and the needs of the people who will use their buildings. Throughout the design process, we engage clients and stakeholders in exploring options, evaluating trade-offs, and making informed decisions. Our experience with complex projects has taught us how to navigate differing priorities while maintaining a shared understanding of the project’s larger ambitions. We see the design process as an ongoing conversation in which our clients’ knowledge and experience are essential to the architecture that emerges.
Our Clients
Our strongest relationships are built over time. More than 70% of our projects at any given time are with repeat clients, reflecting the trust developed through years of working together. We understand that our clients are responsible for more than individual buildings. They are stewards of institutions with evolving missions, complex demands, and long-term responsibilities to the people they serve. We bring the experience of a well-established practice together with the personal attention and direct involvement of our founding partners. Whether working with a longstanding client or beginning a new relationship, we approach each project with the same commitment to understanding what matters most and delivering architecture that serves their ambitions.
Our Clients
Our strongest relationships are built over time. More than 70% of our projects at any given time are with repeat clients, reflecting the trust developed through years of working together. We understand that our clients are responsible for more than individual buildings. They are stewards of institutions with evolving missions, complex demands, and long-term responsibilities to the people they serve. We bring the experience of a well-established practice together with the personal attention and direct involvement of our founding partners. Whether working with a longstanding client or beginning a new relationship, we approach each project with the same commitment to understanding what matters most and delivering architecture that serves their ambitions.