A. Alberto Lugo

Founder & President

Architect and leader at Framing Futures Architectural Firm. Focused on sustainable, community-first design that serves people and place across New York and New Jersey.

Read biography View projects

Portrait placeholder

Biography

A. Alberto Lugo is the Founder and President of Framing Futures Architectural Firm (FFAF), where he leads a studio known for practical innovation, clear communication, and rigorous attention to detail. He established FFAF to deliver architecture that is sustainable, adaptable, and grounded in the daily life of the communities it serves.

His leadership is defined by a hands-on approach from concept to completion. Lugo brings engineers, builders, and civic partners into the design process early so projects move forward with alignment and speed. He is known for designs that balance form and function, reduce operating costs, and make room for future change.

Lugo has guided work across residential, civic, and commercial sectors. He champions passive strategies, efficient systems, and material selections that lower carbon impact without sacrificing craft. Mentorship is central to his practice. He develops internal standards and training tracks so emerging architects grow with clarity and purpose.

Beyond studio work, Lugo speaks with community groups and non-profits about how design can unlock social value. Through the A. Alberto Lugo Foundation, he supports organizations in Newark and across New York and New Jersey with low-cost or pro bono architectural services.

Fast facts

10+ yrs leading FFAF

60+ projects

Sustainability - Community - Flexibility

Representative skills: master planning, code analysis, high performance envelopes, stakeholder facilitation, cost-informed design.

Service areas: New York and New Jersey.

Featured projects

Eastchester Community Pavilion

Eastchester, NY - Civic and recreation

Lugo is lead designer for a multi-use pavilion with flexible courts, classrooms, and cultural space. The scheme uses solar arrays, cross ventilation, and reclaimed wood from regional suppliers. Adaptable floor plates allow the town to shift from youth sports to public meetings in hours. The design has helped secure grant funding by meeting regional sustainability benchmarks.

Impact: Lowered projected energy use by 28 percent, reduced first-cost waste with efficient spans, and created a plan that supports events of 50 to 500 attendees without costly reconfiguration.

Ironbound Lofts

Newark, NJ - Mixed use residential

In the Ironbound District, Lugo is shaping a 180-unit development with ground floor retail and shared courtyards. The architecture nods to industrial heritage with durable materials and careful brick coursing. Green roofs and planted terraces improve stormwater performance and resident well-being. Transit integration supports a car-light lifestyle.

Impact: Increased daylight access to 85 percent of units, added rooftop community space that boosted pre-leasing demand, and improved walkability scores with safer, well lit entries.

Greenwich Innovation Hub

Greenwich, CT - Workplace and incubator

Lugo leads the design of a flexible workspace for startups in finance, technology, and health. Modular planning enables teams to reconfigure without disruption. The façade pairs high performance glazing with vertical green walls that shade interiors and signal the building’s mission.

Impact: Reduced interior fit out churn through modular partitions, lifted thermal comfort with tuned glazing ratios, and established a recognizable identity for the district.

The A. Alberto Lugo Foundation

The Foundation partners with non-profits, community groups, and local governments to provide low-cost or free architectural services in Newark and across New York and New Jersey. The goal is simple: put professional design within reach so vital projects move from idea to reality.

$2.5M raised

$1.8M services donated

40+ projects supported

10k+ residents impacted

Focus areas: community centers, affordable housing, school and library improvements, and neighborhood revitalization.

Current initiatives

Newark Youth Arts Center - Newark, NJ: Converting a warehouse to an arts and education hub.
Eastchester Senior Housing - Eastchester, NY: Accessible, affordable homes that support aging in place.
Harlem Library Annex - New York, NY: A tech-forward branch with flexible learning space.

Interested partners can inquire about eligibility, timelines, and scope planning support.

Contact

For project inquiries, speaking, or press, reach out below. Non-profits seeking pro bono or subsidized support can mention the Foundation in the subject line.

Email: contact@ffaf.example

Phone: +1 555 123 4567

Office: New York - New Jersey corridor

Work with FFAF

Share a short brief that covers goals, budget range, schedule, and stakeholders. FFAF aligns scope and approach early so delivery is efficient and transparent.

Start a conversation