Profile
Founded in 2001 by partners Thomas Bercy and Calvin Chen, Bercy Chen Studio LP is a vertically integrated real estate development, architecture, and construction firm based in Austin, Texas.
Thomas is from Belgium and Calvin is from Taiwan by way of Australia; the partners’ European and Asian backgrounds form a philosophy of unique perspectives influenced by vernacular and historical precedents from around the world.
Personnel
The firm is comprised of over 30 professionals and support staff, including architects, development analysts, construction managers, and real estate agents, with the diverse backgrounds and experience necessary to successfully guide projects from inception to completion.
Range of projects
Our primary focus is ground-up new development of project types ranging from luxury single-family residential to large-scale urban mixed use and commercial. Bercy Chen Studio has successfully realized a broad range of projects, from the internationally awarded and published 1,500-sqft Edgeland House to the 260,000-sqft Lucero Apartments. Currently in progress is The Backyard, a 1.6 Million-sqft office, hospitality, residential, and entertainment complex.
Integration of development, architecture, and construction
Under one roof, Bercy Chen Studio deploys internationally recognized architecture and experienced construction management to develop projects with greater speed, efficiency and cost control than conventionally segregated project teams.
Local expertise
Bercy Chen Studio knows Austin, a city of prestigious universities, innovative technology, and world-renowned arts and entertainment scene. However, Austin has also earned notoriety for its unpredictable and adversarial regulatory environment. As Austin grapples with the growing pains associated with a thriving economy and rapid influx of new residents, successful real estate development requires a finely detailed, neighborhood-level knowledge of the market. With over 16 years of experience developing, designing, and building here, Bercy Chen has cultivated the expertise and relationships necessary to minimize these regulatory risks, ensure timely project delivery, and produce consistently favorable outcomes for our investors.
Awards
Awards & Recognition
2019, Skylight Cinema: AIA Gulf State Design Award.
2017, Ethan’s View: The Chicago Athenaeum’s International Architecture Awards.
2017, Bold Ruler House: The Real Estate Design China Award.
2016, Edgeland House: Texas Architect Magazine, Design Awards 2016.
2016, Edgeland House: Texas Society of Architects Honor Award.
2016, Cascading Creek House: BBC feature proposal.
2016, Ethan’s View: CNBC “Follow The Leader” interview feature.
2015, Architecture Now! Vol.10, Philip Jodidio, Taschen
2015, HGTV Fresh Faces of Design Awards. Honorable Mention
2014, Edgeland House: Architizer A+ Award Jury & Popular Winner in the Sustainability category.
2014, Sustainable Entrepreneurship Award. Stage 2, Vienna, Austria.
2013, World Architecture News 21 for 21 Award, Finalist, London, UK.
2013, Edgeland House: Fast Company. House of the year.
2012, Piamonte Development. Invited Participant, Querétaro, Mexico.
2012, Residential Architects Magazine. 15 to Watch, Washington, DC.
2010, 2nd place, Xing-Tai Master Plan Invited Competition, Hebei, China.
2010, Designer of the Year, 7th International Media Prize, Shenzen, China.
2009, Five to Watch, Form Magazine, AIA, Los Angeles, CA.
2009, Shortlisted (Riverview), Barbara Cappochin Prize, Padua, Italy.
2009, European Union 40 Under 40 Prize.
2009, Short listed, Mexicarte Museum.
2009, Finalist, LifeWorks Headquarters.
2008, Honorable Mention, Seoul Design Olympiad, Seoul, South Korea.
2008, Invited Participant, Design Zone Qatar, Doha, Qatar.
2008, Winner (Riverview), UTSOA Students’ Choice Award, Austin, TX.
2008, Short listed, Giorgio Armani Resort, Invitation by Emaar Properties. (Indonesia),
2008, Proposal, Green Water Redevelopment, Collaboration with Foster & Partners.
2008, Finalist, Dallas Asian American Culture Center.
2007, Finalist, First Unitarian Universalist Church, Austin, TX.
2007, Finalist, UTSOA Students’ Choice Award, Annie Residence, Austin, TX.
2009, Green Good Design Award, European Center for Architecture.
2006, Design Vanguard Award, Global Top 10 Cutting Edge Firms.
2006, Finalist, Best Plot in the World, Vienna, Austria.
2006, First Place – Asian American Resource Center Master plan Competition.
2006, Emerging Voices 2006, The Architectural League of New York.
2005, First Place Winner, Urban Reserve open national competition. Dallas, TX.
2005, Finalist, Self-Sufficient Housing, Barcelona, Spain.
Appointments
2008-2010, Austin Museum of Art, Board of Advisors, Thomas Bercy.
2008, Art in Public Places (AIPP), Advisor.
2007-2008, The City of Austin Design Commission, Commissioner, Calvin Chen.
2007, Chair of Civic Arts Committee.
2007, Create Austin Task Force, Cultural Masterplan for Austin.