Women Who Lead - Désirée Masturzi

Our very own Désirée Masturzi has been recognized by the Memphis Business Journal in their Women Who Lead series!

Since 2021, Memphis Business Journal's Women Who Lead has recognized over 400 extraordinary women professionals. These remarkable honorees aren't just leaders- they're glass-ceiling shatterers and trailblazers shaping a diverse array of local specialties. MBJ's editorial team handpicked the dynamic women in this installment for their standout leadership qualities, aiming to celebrate the broad spectrum of talent driving Memphis and the economy forward.

Read the article here: Women Who Lead in Construction & Design: Désirée Masturzi of Shapiro & Co. Architects PC - Memphis Business Journal

Shapiro & Company Receives Two National Design Awards

Memphis, TN – February 27, 2025 – Shapiro & Company Architects’ Custom Residence in Memphis, TN, the Modern Tudor, has won Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Home of the Year in the 2024 Best in American Living^TM Awards (BALA) by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Award winners were announced at the award ceremony held February 26, during the 2025 International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. There is only one home awarded the Platinum Home of the Year.

Midtown Modern Tudor, in Memphis, TN, was designed by Shapiro & Company Architects, built by Ken Garland Company, Inc., with Interior Design by Parker Design Studio, and photographed by Michael Berry of Lensman Photography. Principals Brad Shapiro & Fiona Mathew attended the event to gain valuable industry insights and were present to receive the award.

The custom single-family home was recognized for its evergreen design, with one judge stating the home “is a wonderful example of blending traditional and modern for a timeless result; the infusion of natural light creates an uplifting effect and seamless connection to the outdoors.” Merging modern design with the historic charm of the surrounding neighborhood, the exterior draws inspiration from 1920s English Tudor homes. The meticulously designed floor plan ensures optimal flow, ensuring a view of the serene courtyard from nearly every room, with multiple entry points for convenience. Mixed materials, tall ceilings, and expansive windows contribute to an uplifting atmosphere, all while honoring the neighborhood’s historical context and reflecting the client’s unique personality.

Shapiro & Company was also recognized for the Secluded Courtyard Residence, built by Uhlhorn Brothers, a Silver Winner Award in the Best One-of-a-Kind Custom (7,001-8,00 sqft) category.

The Best in American Living™ Awards (BALA) is the building industry’s premier residential design awards program. BALA spotlights the most creative and talented building industry professionals who have redefined design excellence for homes and communities nationally and internationally and is built on the principle that all great homes start with great design, no matter cost or size.

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Shapiro & Company Receives AIA Firm Service Award

Celebrating Excellence: Shapiro & Company Architects Honored with the Prestigious Firm Service Award

We are thrilled to share that Shapiro & Company Architects has been awarded the Firm Service Award in recognition of our unwavering commitment to affordable housing and community revitalization. This accolade reflects our outstanding contributions to transforming neighborhoods, empowering residents, and fostering a sense of pride through high-quality, dignified design.

A Legacy of Service and Impact

With a remarkable portfolio of over 1,800 affordable housing projects across Tennessee—1,300 of which are in Memphis—we have redefined the standards of affordable housing. Our work is driven by the belief that affordable housing is more than just a necessity; it is the foundation for stability, growth, and success.

Ashley Cash, Director of the City of Memphis Housing and Community Development Division, highlighted this ethos in her endorsement, stating: “Shapiro & Company’s ability to blend high-quality design with the affordability and dignity people deserve sets them apart. Their projects enhance neighborhoods, foster pride among residents, and contribute to the overall well-being of the city.”

Revitalizing Communities Through Design

One of our standout projects, Tillman Cove, exemplifies our transformative impact. Once a struggling neighborhood, Tillman Cove has been revitalized into a thriving community, thanks to our thoughtful and innovative approach. Ralph Perrey, Executive Director of the Tennessee Housing Development Agency, praised our work, noting that “Their thoughtful designs have brought new energy to communities, offering not only housing but a renewed sense of pride and belonging.”

Pro-Bono Contributions and Beyond

Our dedication extends beyond fee-based projects. Our pro-bono work in the Binghampton community is a testament to our mission. By designing homes at no cost, we provided residents with stable, beautifully designed housing, contributing to long-term community empowerment. As Brad Shapiro, CEO and President, articulated in our nomination, “Affordable housing is key to a healthy, vibrant community. We focus on creating homes that empower families, build stability, and support the broader revitalization of neighborhoods.”

A Future of Continued Service

Receiving the Firm Service Award underscores our role as a pillar of support and innovation in the affordable housing sector. Our projects do more than provide shelter; they inspire growth, hope, and community pride. As we continue to shape the future of affordable housing, we are proud to serve as a model for what is possible when design and purpose come together.

We are honored to receive this recognition, as well as a recognition for 25 years of incredible service, and remain committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of so many.

Shapiro & Company Architects Elevates Leadership with Key Promotions

Memphis, TN – December 16, 2024 – Shapiro & Company Architects, a leading firm specializing in Residential Architecture and Interior Design, is excited to announce the expansion into Dallas, Texas and promotion of two distinguished Architects, Michael Haden and Fiona Mathew, to the position of Principal. These promotions reflect their significant contributions and reinforce the firm’s commitment to excellence and innovation.

Founding Principal Brad Shapiro, a Dallas native, expressed enthusiasm for the firm’s expansion into the city. “This is a homecoming for me,” said Shapiro. “With Fiona’s exceptional leadership, we are excited to reestablish relationships and grow the firm’s presence in the Dallas market.” Fiona added, “With a strong brand 25 years-in-the-making, we are eager to continue delivering personalized, client-focused design services to our new and existing clients.”

Fiona Mathew, AIA: Driving Innovation and Expansion

Based in and spearheading the Dallas office, Fiona Mathew brings 15 years of expertise in multifamily architecture to her new role as Principal. Her career includes leadership as Director of Operations for a vertically integrated development and design firm, where she honed her skills in project and firm management, client relations, and design innovation.

At Shapiro & Company, Fiona will focus on firm-wide leadership, advancing design excellence, and expanding the firm into new markets. Her ability to build lasting client relationships and her vision for innovative design solutions position her as a dynamic leader in the firm’s growth and evolution.

Michael Haden: A Legacy of Leadership and Success

With over two decades of exceptional service at Shapiro & Company, Michael Haden has been promoted to Principal. As the Director of the Multifamily Studio, Michael has been instrumental in overseeing the architectural process for projects totaling over $1 billion in multifamily construction.

In his new role, Michael will expand his focus to include firm-wide leadership and mentorship, ensuring the continued success of both clients and colleagues. Known for his technical expertise and personable approach, Michael is highly regarded by peers and clients alike, making him a cornerstone of the firm’s ongoing success.

Strengthening the Future of Shapiro & Company

“These well-earned promotions are a testament to Michael and Fiona’s outstanding leadership, expertise, and commitment to our clients and our team,” said Brad Shapiro, CEO and President of Shapiro & Company Architects. “Their contributions will drive our continued success as we expand our services and deliver transformative architecture and interiors for our clients and communities.”

About Shapiro & Company Architects

Shapiro & Company Architects is a full-service Residential Architecture and Interior Design firm specializing in custom homes and multifamily architecture. Shapiro & Company is recognized not only for its architectural design services but also for offering turn-key interior design solutions, including furniture and accessory procurement and installation—an approach that sets the firm apart in the industry. The firm is dedicated to cultivating strong client partnerships by consistently delivering exceptional results, exceeding expectations, and fostering lasting relationships. This commitment to collaboration and excellence has been the foundation of its success for over 25 years.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sidney Burden
Email: sburden@shapiroandco.com
Phone: 901-685-9001

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Click here to read about our Firm Expansion in Memphis Business Journal!

A Modern, Masculine Memphis Home with Luxury Finishes

Shapiro & Company's architecture alongside Murphy Maude Interiors created a home that uniquely blends modernity and tradition. We are pleased that the home has been recognized by Rue Magazine, you can read the story here!

Union Depot Breaks Ground in Bartlett

We are proud to have been featured in the Memphis Business Journal for our project, Union Depot! This mixed-use development will be coming to Bartlett in 2025, with ground breaking having already started. Read the story here to get more details and see what our CEO Brad Shapiro has to say!

Oak Hill wins GOLD in 2023 BALA Awards

Shapiro & Company is proud to annouce that we have won Gold for the Remodel category in the 2023 Best in American Living (BALA) Awards by the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB). Now in its milestone 40th anniversary year, BALA recognizes outstanding achievement by builders and design professionals in all sectors of the residential housing industry including single-family production, custom, multifamily, affordable, remodeling, community and interiors. BALA is built on the principle that all great homes start with great design, no matter cost or size.

Click the link below to read more about his project, and see additional photos here!

https://bestinamericanliving.com/awards/oak-hill

Maximizing Modern: A Well-Informed Kitchen Design

We are thrilled to annouce that our Midtown Modern Tudor custom home has been chosen as a Gold Nugget Merit Award Winner in the "Best Custom Home Under 5000 square feet" category! The annual Gold Nugget Awards honor architectural design and planning excellence and draws entries throughout the United States and internationally. Our design was selected by a panel of top industry experts who reviewed nearly 650 entries nationwide, and there are only 5 merit finalists in our category.

"Gold Nugget Award winners reflect our industry's best, brightest, and most innovative architects, planners, and builder/developers," said Judging Chairman and Gold Nugget ceremonies administrator Lisa Parrish. "We applaud them all." In it's 60th year, GNA is the largest and most prestigious competition of its kind in the nation. It honors design and planning achievements in community and home design, green-built housing, site planning, commercial, retail, mixed-use development, and specialty hosuing categories.

To view all categories and finalists, click here.

Tillman Cove receives THDA's Tennessee Best Neighborhood Stabilization Award 2023

Shapiro & Company is proud to be the architect for Tillman Cove, which received the Tennessee Housing Development Agency's (TDHA) Tennessee Best Neighborhood Stabilization Award 2023 during the Tennessee Housing Conference. The Tennessee's Best Awards honor outstanding individuals and organizations with significant contributions to affordable housing in Tennessee.

Tillman Cove features apartments, townhomes, independent senior living, and retail space that will provide 238 new and rehabilitated units for low-income families and senior citizens. Amentities will include a leasing office, community room, laundry room, and fitness center. The spacious units will feature granite counter tops, energy star appliances, washer/dryer hookups, walk-in closets, and patios or balconies. A portion of units will be designed and reserved for seniors. The work to revitalize Tillman Cove was funded in part by $29 million in tax-exempt bonds and over $892 thousand dollars in the National Housing Trust Fund grant.

“THDA is proud to recognize Tillman Cove and Elmington Capital for their incredible contributions to affordable housing in the Memphis area,” said THDA Executive Director Ralph Perrey. “We applaud their dedication to the stabilization of the Memphis area."

See the full list of awards and recipients here.

2022 Best in America Living Award

Shapiro & Company was honored to receive the national design award Best in American Living for a custom home. This award recognizes the best residential architecture across the country with the award being presented at the 2023 International Builders Show in Las Vegas.

Click link here to see the full article.

Apartment and townhome phases endorsed at Union Depot

Bartlett Municipal Planning Commission unanimously endorsed the construction plans, final plans and a site plan created by Shapiro & Company Architects for the exciting Union Depot Development.

The historic Dermon Building Downtown is poised for a $17.1 million makeover.

Developers Nick and Sam Patel have filed a 12-year payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) application with the Center City Revenue Finance Corp., an affiliate board of the Downtown Memphis Commission, for the redevelopment of the 97-year-old building.

The 10-story, 90,000-square-foot building at 46 B.B. King Blvd. will be renovated into 103 residential units with 2,000 square feet of flexible, mixed-use space on the ground floor, according to the PILOT application.

The renovations will also include an outdoor pool area for residents and a dog park.

Dermon Building residential unit breakdown

45 studio apartments
58 one-bedroom apartments
Average apartment size of 651 square feet

Dermon Capital Group, bought the Dermon Building in January 2016 for $1.5 million, according to the Shelby County Register of Deeds.

The company also owns the adjacent parking lots along Court Avenue. The developers plan to use those adjacent lots for parking and are working on a potential agreement with the Hotel Indigo owners for use of the hotel’s parking garage. Construction is expected to cost $17,108,112.

Pending the necessary permit approvals and financing, the developers plan to begin construction in the third quarter of 2023.

Construction is estimated to finish in the fourth quarter of 2024, according to the PILOT application.

Sam Patel’s Cordova-based company, Hospitality Builders of America Inc., is the general contractor for the project. Memphis-based Shapiro and Co. Architects is the architect for the development.

The PILOT application is on Center City Revenue Finance Corp.'s agenda for its Tuesday, Aug. 9, meeting.

Burkle and Main Apartments Announced as Finalist for 2022 Building Memphis Award

We are so excited to share this great drone footage of our new multifamily project, Oakwood Flats Apartments!

Nashville Multifamily Update: Can the City's Residential Boom Continue?

We were incredibly excited for Brad to participate in BISNOW's Multifamily Update Webinar. Along with Bristol Development's CIO, David Hanchrow, Brad joined the discussion on how COVID-19 is affecting the Multifamily market in Nashville today as well as the designs of the future.

As Brad prepares to be a panelist on BISNOW Nashville webinar to discuss some of the impacts of COVID-19 on the Nashville multifamily market, as a team we recently brainstormed the possible impacts that might be worth considering in the design of new or repositioned communities.

Harbor Town's "Harbor Island" in Memphis has phenomenal views of downtown Memphis.

Loeb Properties of Memphis and partner Grubb Properties of Charlotte, NC have received a $17.6 million PILOT to build a $54 million project consisting of 350 apartments in the heart of the Broad Avenue Arts District.

Shapiro & Company Architects are the architect of record and BB+M out of Charlotte are the design architects. Reid Cullers, Director of Shapiro’s Multifamily Studio says, “the project was unanimously approved for the 15-year tax break, and the magnitude of the project will most certainly be transformative to the entire Binghampton neighborhood”.

Shapiro & Company Architects is honored to be selected as the architect for the conversion of this building originally designed in 1977 by nationally recognized Roy P. Harrover & Associates. Amongst many other accolades, Harrover designed the award-winning Memphis International Airport.

The Tap Room @ The Brewery is a 4-story multifamily project on the historic Tennessee Street in downtown Memphis. Amenities for this building include a private courtyard with a pool in addition to a commercial bay on the ground floor.

Renovation of home in Chickasaw Gardens maintains historic Midtown Memphis style, but doubles the size.

Our very own Brad Shapiro was on the panel at BISNOW's Nashville Multifamily Boom conference held this Wednesday to discuss the white-hot multifamily market in Music City.

Shapiro & Company Architect's housing development breaks ground in the Pond Gap area of Knoxville, TN.

Shapiro & Company Architects attended the Grand Opening of Robinson Flats, a new 209-unit affordable, senior living community located in Old Hickory, TN.

When the Loeb family wanted to expand their farmhouse living space, they turned to Shapiro & Company Architects. Southern Living magazine online recently featured this screened porch addition.

Construction begins in June, 2019

Shapiro & Company architects has completed the final renderings on a new multimillion dollar apartment complex. "Midtown Memphis is a great place to live, and the developers had the foresight to realize there is a need for more upscale accomodations in that area," says Brad Shapiro, CEO of Shapiro & Company Architects.

Shapiro & Company Architects is working to bring affordable housing to Memphis. Find out more about this 205 unit apartment complex at the corner of Danny Thomas and Martin Luther King Jr. boulevard...

Neighborhood near University of Memphis backs up to Highland Row

The first two spec-built houses are nearing completion and are already sold in one of the city’s largest infill developments of single-family homes in the past decade.

Cabernet to the Core

Wine occupies a central place in the lives of many collectors, but few go as far as entrepreneur Craig Weiss, who contracted Shapiro & Company Architects to design his Memphis, Tennessee home around a sumptuous cellar custom-built for his California Cabernet-centric holdings.

Binghampton Development Corp (BDC) and Shapiro and Company Architects works on engaging neighborhood residents to build a better community, provide job training, and affordable homes.

The Memphis Business Journal honors small businesses each year that have achieved continued growth and profitability. Shapiro & Company Architects is proud to be a 2018 finalist in the MBJ Small Business awards.

The Crescent Bluff II apartment complex designed by Shapiro & Company Architects is a finalist in the NAHB's Multifamily Pillars of the Industry Awards for The Best Affordable Apartment Community.

When Elmington Capital Group decided to invest $29.9 million dollars into an affordable housing apartment complex in Knoxville, Tennessee they hired Shapiro & Company Architects to do the design.

Shapiro & Company Architects are extremely pleased to announce that our Hickory Lake Apartment Community in Nashville, TN has won Best Rehabilitation of an Affordable Apartment Community as announced during the International Builders' Show.