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Test fits & programming
Validate program, headcount, and budget before lease signing or design start. Plan options tuned to DMV and Northern Virginia submarkets.
Explore test fitsMcLean Studio
Commercial architecture across the DMV, anchored in McLean / Northern Virginia
Studio Atory's McLean studio supports developers, owner-operators, and tenants across Northern Virginia, Washington DC, and Maryland - on ground-up new construction and tenant improvement (TI) scopes alike. From early test fits through construction administration, we translate business intent into buildable commercial space.
Studio
McLean, VA
Coverage
Northern Virginia · DC · Maryland
Principals
Nandini Ramasesh, AIA, NCARB
Pooja Goel
Pooja Goel
Engagement
By appointment · info@atory.co
Why a DMV practice anchored in McLean
The DMV is three jurisdictions and one connected commercial region
Northern Virginia, Washington DC, and Maryland operate as one connected market for tenants, developers, and owners - and three sets of rules for reviewers. A practice that does not internalize that distinction often misses the constraints that decide whether a project pencils.
Studio Atory's McLean studio is built for that environment. We work across both ground-up new construction and tenant improvement scopes - pressure-testing program against the DMV's specific review cycles, lease structures, base-building stock, and metro-driven development pressures.
Tysons Corner's high-rise transformation, Reston's transit-oriented town center, and Crystal City's continued evolution drive different floor-plate and shell assumptions than DC's height-restricted core or Bethesda's mixed-use density. Loudoun County's data center alley and DC's federal lease economics each shape projects differently. We bake those realities into our scope and assumptions early so projects move on schedule.
Every drawing we issue is meant to be buildable - coordinated to minimize RFIs and keep cost conversations grounded. That discipline carries projects from concept through permit and construction without re-translation.
Services from our McLean studio
A complete range of services for DMV and Virginia projects
Each service can stand alone or stack with the others. Most engagements begin in Northern Virginia and scale clearly across DC and Maryland markets with the same standard of rigor.
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Ground-up commercial architecture
Full architectural scope for new commercial buildings - site planning, base building, MEP coordination, and construction documents through permit and CA.
Learn more03
Tenant improvement architecture
Programming through construction administration for tenant improvements and repositioning - coordinated, permit-ready drawings tuned to your DC, VA, or MD jurisdiction.
Learn more04
Interior design & FF&E
Materials, finishes, lighting, and furniture/fixtures specified alongside architecture - aligned to brand, operations, and budget.
Learn moreWhy work with us in the DMV
Licensed in VA. Grounded in construction
ArchitectureDesignConstruction Admin
Our McLean studio runs on the licensure our principals hold, the depth of experience they bring, and the construction-side discipline our drawings are built on.
Licensure
VA · TX
Two-state architectural practice
Experience
25+ yrs each
Per principal · 50+ combined
Scope
Ground-up + TI
Full architectural lifecycle
Practice
One team
Two regions, one standard
Where we work in the DMV
Across Northern Virginia, DC, and Maryland
Studio Atory's McLean studio serves the full DMV region - Northern Virginia's high-growth corridors, the District of Columbia's commercial core, and Maryland's adjacent submarkets. Each jurisdiction has its own permitting cadence, code overlay, and base-building character. We bake those realities into our scope and assumptions as projects move on schedule.
We coordinate cleanly with DMV-active brokers, landlord teams, and construction managers - so your project record holds up cleanly from leasing through close-out.
Tysons CornerRestonArlingtonRosslynCrystal CityAlexandriaFairfaxViennaFalls ChurchLoudoun CountyWashington DCBethesdaRockvilleSilver Spring
Sectors served across the DMV
Practice tuned to commercial reality
Office
HQ relocations, satellites, hybrid workplace.
Healthcare
Clinics, specialty care, ambulatory.
Retail & F&B
Brand-forward, fast, flagship.
Hospitality
Restaurant, lounge, amenity.
Fitness & Wellness
Boutique studios, recovery, sports.
Mixed-Use
Adaptive reuse, multi-tenant.
FAQ
Common questions about working in Virginia and the DMV
Are you licensed to practice architecture in Virginia?+
Yes. Studio Atory is led by two principals: Nandini Ramasesh, AIA, NCARB - Principal, Architecture - licensed to practice in Virginia and Texas - and Pooja Goel - Principal, Operations. Both principals are on every project, regardless of which region anchors the work.
Do you handle ground-up new construction in the DMV?+
Yes. Ground-up commercial architecture is a core scope for our McLean studio - site planning, base building design, MEP coordination, and full construction documents through permit and construction administration. We bring the same construction-grounded discipline to new buildings as we do to tenant improvements, and many DMV engagements blend both scopes.
Which DMV markets does Studio Atory's McLean studio serve?+
Our McLean studio serves the full Washington Metropolitan region - including Tysons Corner, Reston, Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, Vienna, Falls Church, and Loudoun County in Northern Virginia; Washington DC; and Bethesda, Rockville, and Silver Spring in Maryland. We also support projects in adjacent commercial markets including Richmond and Baltimore.
What kinds of commercial projects do you focus on in the DMV?+
Office, healthcare, retail and food & beverage, hospitality, fitness and wellness, and mixed-use. Scope ranges from ground-up new construction through tenant improvements, repositioning, and interiors - from single-tenant suites to multi-tenant developments and full base-building projects.
How do your McLean and Dallas studios work together?+
As one team, not separate offices. Our two principals collaborate on every project regardless of which region anchors it. Whether your project sits in McLean/DMV or Dallas/DFW - or crosses both - you get one consistent design and documentation experience from the same team.
Let's talk
Building commercial space in the DMV?
Tell us about your project — we'll help you understand your options and move with confidence.