Ten professionally dressed adults, including institutional design architects, pose together in a bright, modern office space. Three women and two men sit on a sofa in front, while five others stand behind them, all smiling amid artwork and natural light.

We are a Philadelphia, New York, and Washington, D.C.-based team of forty architects, planners, and designers who believe great architecture comes from innovation within the context of tradition.

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VMA draws inspiration from traditional building principles to create architecture that responds to the places and organizations we engage with. We strive to reach a deep understanding of the social, cultural, and physical contexts of the project, in order to design solutions that reflect our clients’ heritage, values, and aspirations. Guided by our core values: innovation, beauty, and sustainability, we craft exceptional architecture that considers each project’s long-term environmental impact for future generations.

We pride ourselves on our commitment to thoughtful collaboration with our clients. By combining our deep expertise with our willingness to listen and ask hard questions, we work with our clients to create architecture that helps organizations grow, advancing their built forms in line with their missions.

Founded in 1988, we are led by founding partner Daniela Voith and four additional partners — John Cluver, Sennah Loftus, Robert Douglass, and Scott O’Barr — making us Philadelphia’s longest-continuously operating woman-owned architecture practice. Today, our diverse team of over 40 members is JUST and WBENC-certified and operates with consistent and meaningful care for pressing social and environmental concerns.

A woman with wavy brown hair in a black blazer sits at a desk in a modern office, focused on writing in a notebook. Two monitors are on her desk, and natural light streams through large windows in the background.
Three men in an office collaborate by a table. One man sits, writing, and is seen through a large window frame, while two men stand beside him, smiling and looking at his work. Blueprints and documents are on the table. Large windows let in natural light.
A group of people in business attire sit around a table with a building model, watching two women present architectural drawings on a wall in a modern, bright conference room with large windows and black chairs.
Two people sit at a white table with red chairs, engaged in conversation. Papers, a pen, and a yellow rolled-up document are on the table. Both are smiling and appear relaxed. The room is bright with light walls and a large window in the background.
Two men sit at a white desk in a modern office, smiling and reviewing architectural plans spread out before them. One points at the papers with a pen. Large windows and computer monitors are visible in the bright, organized workspace.
Three people in a modern design studio discuss fabric samples. Two women stand by a table, one holding a rolled-out green fabric, while a man leans on the counter and watches. Shelves with organized supplies line the bright, open workspace.
A man in a suit and red tie speaks while gesturing with his hand during a meeting. Two other people, one in a striped shirt and one in dark clothing, sit across from him with documents on the table. Sunlight streams in through vertical windows behind them.
Three people work in a bright architectural studio. A woman in the foreground assembles a model of a building at her desk. Two people work at desks and shelves in the background. Architectural models and plans are visible throughout the workspace.
Two men sit at a table covered with yellow tracing paper, blueprints, and documents. One points at a drawing while the other listens. Behind them is a dark sofa and shelves with books, framed art, and a wooden bird sculpture.
Two people sit at a desk with architectural plans. A woman with red hair and glasses smiles at a man with gray hair and a beard. They discuss the plans. The office background includes framed pictures, books, and maps.
A modern office with glass walls; on the left, a person works alone at a desk, while on the right, three people sit at a long table, two collaborating and one observing. Large windows bring in daylight and there are green plants for decoration.
A group of eight people are seated around a large table in a bright meeting room with glass walls, city buildings visible outside. They appear to be discussing documents—perhaps a collaborative meeting at one of the Philadelphia architecture firms hiring.
A man with light brown hair, wearing a blue plaid shirt and khaki pants, leans over a white desk and uses a stylus to draw on a tablet. The workspace is bright, with papers and office supplies scattered on the desk.
Three men in business attire stand around a table covered with architectural blueprints in a modern office. Two men examine documents closely, while another stands to the side. The background features glass walls, chairs, and wall-mounted prints.
A woman with short dark hair in a blue and white striped shirt holds a pen and looks at papers on a table. A man in black, blurred in the background, writes in a notebook. Both appear focused, seated at a bright workspace with a red chair visible.
The model shop at the VMA office at 2401 Walnut Street, a renovation designed by Voith & Mactavish Architects.
A woman sits on a white chair by a large window, smiling at a tablet in her hands. Behind her, there is a round table and another empty chair. Outside the window, a river, bridge, and city buildings are visible under a cloudy sky.
A man in a gray t-shirt and cap sits at a desk in a modern office, writing in a notebook. Architectural plans, color samples, and papers are spread out in front of him. Computer monitors, office supplies, and coworkers are visible in the bright background.
The library of the VMA office at 2401 Walnut Street, a renovation esigned by Voith & Mactavish Architects.
Two people sit at a table covered with architectural plans and yellow tracing paper. Both are smiling and discussing ideas, holding pens. Books and framed art line the wall behind them, creating a creative, professional setting.
Two people stand at a table in an architecture studio, where institutional design architects examine and arrange pieces on a large, detailed topographic model. The room features shelves of supplies, a pegboard with tools, and various architectural models.
Three people converse at a white table in a modern office. Two women sit on one side, a man sits on the other. Architectural photos cover the back wall. Papers, coffee mugs, and a roll of paper are on the table. The mood appears collaborative.
Three men in a modern office, two sitting at a desk with blueprints and one standing, smiling. The workspace is bright with white walls, black trim, and scattered architectural plans. One man is by a red chair, engaging with the others in conversation.
Two men sit at a desk in a bright office, reviewing architectural blueprints and color-coded plans. One points to the plans with a pen while the other holds a rolled-up sheet. Large windows and a cityscape are visible in the background.
Four women, likely institutional design architects, stand around a table covered with fabric swatches and color palettes in a modern office. They are focused and engaged, collaborating on materials for their latest project.
Three women sit at a conference table with papers, a keyboard, and a mug, engaging in a video call with two people shown on a large screen, discussing architectural designs displayed on the monitor. Bookshelves are visible in the background.
Three people are in a modern office. One woman stands, presenting architectural drawings pinned to a black wall. Two colleagues, one seated and one standing, listen. A wooden building model, open books, and blueprints are on the table in front of them.
A woman and a man sit at a table covered with maps, plans, and yellow tracing paper. The woman writes with a red pen, while the man gestures with a blue pen. Books and framed art are visible behind them in a well-lit, professional office.
A woman in a black blazer sits on a dark sofa, reviewing architectural blueprints laid on a table. She holds a pen and yellow tracing paper, with a smartphone nearby. Stacks of books and framed art are visible in the background.
Two people sit on a dark couch in a modern library space, closely examining a detailed architectural model by institutional design architects on a glass coffee table. Bookshelves filled with books line the wall, and glass doors lead to a hallway in the background.

Our Values

TRADITION

Traditional building principles inspire architecture that reinforces a love of place. Our work responds to and strengthens the heritage of our clients and their communities.

CONTEXT

Understanding context is essential to thoughtful and responsive architecture. We consider the social, cultural, and physical facets of our projects to align organizations’ built forms with their missions.

INNOVATION

New methods and intelligent techniques define inspiring architecture. We test new forms, technologies, and materials to advance projects beyond convention and expectation.

BEAUTY

Beautiful architecture is both timeless and unique. We pursue designs that nurture and support the communities we work with by inspiring and uplifting their members.

CRAFT

Skilled craftsmanship defines exceptional architecture. Our attention to craft ensures that our designs respect our clients’ missions, programs, budgets, and aesthetics.

SUSTAINABILITY

Sustainable design is at the heart of responsible and resilient architecture. We work as stewards to consider the ecological, financial, and operational impact of every project for future generations.