EL Studio

Mark Lawrence and Elizabeth Emerson met as college students at Catholic University in DC. Subsequently, they earned architecture degrees at Harvard and Columbia, respectively. For a while, they went their separate ways: Emerson worked on multi-tenant residential, hospitality, institutional and government projects while Lawrence joined architecture firms in both DC and Los Angeles. They reunited in DC and cofounded EL Studio in 2007; the firm is comprised of six designers today.

“EL Studio specializes in innovative design within challenging constraints. We strive through research and testing to rethink standard uses of techniques and materials,” Lawrence says. “We realize our designs as finely crafted spaces that feel good to be in.” Equitable and sustainable design are also a core value.

The firm prioritizes collaboration and advocacy for their clients throughout the process. “We listen carefully to understand their functional needs as well as their priorities, constraints and aspirations,” Emerson notes. “Our clear communication helps our clients understand all the possibilities so they can make informed decisions. During the construction phase, we advocate for both the integrity of the design and the clients’ long-term interests.”

EL Studio received three AIA awards in 2025 for work in interior architecture, residential architecture and urban design/master planning.

See more at HandD.com/ELstudio