Martin Stigsgaard

Martin Erdmann Stigsgaard (born June 16, 1971) is a Danish-American architect.^[1][2][3]

Stigsgaard grew up in Denmark and moved to New York City in 1998.

The architect received both a Bachelor's and master's degree in architecture from The Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen, Denmark and a master's degree in architecture from the University of Washington.

Stigsgaard has taught at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, in Denmark, the Spitzer School of Architecture in New York, and a reviewer at the University of Southern California, Columbia University, Woodbury College, Pratt Institute, and Cooper Union. Stigsgaard has lectured and taught at 'T' Space, founded by Steven Holl as a multidisciplinary arts organization in Rhinebeck.^[4]

StudioSTIGSGAARD is a multidisciplinary architectural practice that engages in a broad range of projects spanning architecture, exhibition design, art, and research. Recent projects include winning the competition for a presidential library, high-rise development in Denver, and residential projects in Los Angeles and New York City.^[5]

As lead Designer for Voorsanger Architects, Martin Stigsgaard was the lead designer for The National World War II Museum in New Orleans was won as part of a competition submitted and won in 2003.^[6][7] Following the award, Stigsgaard was the lead designer for the development of the project which spanned twenty years and the final phase opened in November 2023.

The firm is the lead designer for the UAE National Military Museum master plan study in Abu Dhabi which will have 340,000 square feet of exhibits, landscape, memorial, and administrative programming. The National World War II Museum in New Orleans was part of a competition submitted and won in 2003.^[8] Following the award, the firm is a team leader for the development of the project which spanned twenty years.

In 2018 studioSTIGSGAARD developed the architecture and exhibition design for the late artist Rammellzee's retrospective, Racing for Thunder, at Red Bull Arts in New York City.^[9][10] The exhibition was curated by Max Wolf and Carlo McCormick.

Currently, the studio is engaged in the fundraising and master planning stage and design for a future Vietnam War Museum in Lubbock, Texas as well as a music studio, several residential projects, and a recently won commission for a Presidential Library located in the southeast of the United States.

In 2023, the firm was one of five firms shortlisted to design the memorial in Las Vegas commemorating victims of the mass shooting. The Unity Ribbon Memorial is shaped by the collective experiences of loss, resilience, and unity, drawing deeply from the community's input through surveys, workshops, and dialogues. The design reflects the spirit of the bereaved, honoring the lives lost and providing a sanctuary for diverse healing journeys. It incorporates elements inspired by the community’s love for country music, the stunning landscapes of Las Vegas, and the city's enduring resilience.^[11][12][13]

Before establishing studioSTIGSGAARD, Stigsgaard was the lead designer for Voorsanger Architects, for several prominent buildings, including the winning design for the National World War II Museum,^[14] as well as the winning design for The UAE National Military Museum in Abu Dhabi, the Wildcat Ridge Residence in Aspen,^[15] LGA Control Tower, and large-scale luxury apartment complex in Dubai. Projects span internationally across New York, California, Colorado, Michigan, Ohio, Mississippi, Texas, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Denmark.

The firm’s research has tackled issues such as Indigenous land rights, mass incarceration, global mass migrations as well a climate resiliency. Stigsgaard has collaborated with Indigenous peoples in North, Central and North America for the majority of his practice. Most recently students from the Spitzer School of Architecture doing a one-year collaboration with Tuscarora Nation located in upstate New York.

Stigsgaard has been vocal in criticizing the prison industrial complex. He has explored ways to enhance conditions within prisons and develop support systems aimed at minimizing and reducing recidivism.^[16][17] In recognition of this work, the studio was nominated for the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum's National Design Awards in 2021. In 2007, Stigsgaard founded the art collective New Weather Group^[18] which has exhibited at PS1 MoMA and the Cleveland Sculpture Center. Shortly after the September 11th attacks in 2001 on the World Trade Center, Stigsgaard was involved in the recovery and archival process at Ground Zero.

They have been celebrated in publications such as the New York Times, Architectural Digest, The New Yorker, Architect Magazine, Architect Newspaper, Børsen, Brooklyn Street Art, Politiken, and Metal Architecture Magazine, amongst others.