Join our unforgettable tours and experience that will transform you by taking you through the stunning sights, buildings and places that define our extraordinary New York City. Learn to see the world through the eyes of an architect and live it fully.
Led by our expert architect guides, you’ll uncover the hidden gems and fascinating history of the city and connect deeper with it. Join one of our public tours with fellow art and architecture lovers, or book your own private custom tour for your group or company to have an exclusive experience of New York.
Join our Small-group NYC Architecture Tours
Enjoy the opportunity to learn through the streets of New York City. Build Tours’ small-group public tours combine education, exploration, and inspiration for an experience you’ll never forget.
Join our Interior Architecture NYC Walking Tours
Discover New York with our Exclusive Private Custom NYC Tours
Our private tours of 2, 4, 6 or 8 hours are dedicated to Architecture, Art, Design and Real Estate, and can be customized to your interests. We focus on 12 NYC neighborhoods with distinct character – weaving culture, history, architecture, art and design in an engaging, story-telling manner to uncover some of the city’s landmarks and hidden gems that will make your tour memorable.
Gift Cards
Get a gift card for future tours for your friends, family and colleagues. The credit could be use for any future purchaise of our public and private tours and does not expire. Contact us if you would like to check availability or see each tour’s calendar.
Upper West Side Tour
Upper East Side Tour
Midtown North Tour
Midtown Modern Tour
Midtown East Tour
Midtown South Tour
Union to Madison Squares Tour
Soho and the Village Tour
Chelsea and the High Line Tour
New Amsterdam Tour
Financlial District and WTC Tour
Downtown Brooklyn Tour
Our Advantages
Clients First
Our tour guests are friends we have not met before. We prioritize their experience above all and always get great feedback and reviews. We strive to create sublime moment for them.
Expert Guides
Our guides are architects, urban planners, scholars, professors and city experts. We are passionate about sharing our knowledge with other and inspiring them.
Sublime Experiences
Our tours are experiences that connect people with the city we love. We help our guests see, enjoy and understand the world in new ways, becoming co-creators of our reality.
Your PhD Architect Guides
Ivan R. Shumkov, PhD
Dr. Ivan Shumkov is a New York based architect, urban planner, entrepreneur, and professor. He is the founder of Build Tours where he designs and leads unique experiences of the architecture and urban spaces of NYC.
William M. Singer, AIA, LEED AP
William is currently a discerning Code and Zoning Specialist for the NYC Department of Buildings. With a long and rich background in designing and constructing major public facilities, he brings a wealth of knowledge to tours.
Joseph Lengeling, AIA
Joe is an architect who fell in love with the New York and has lived and worked here now for over 40 years. He develops and leads walking tours, capitalizing on the many streets and sites he has traversed during his life in New York.
Testimonials
We enjoyed the tour immensely, not only because of Ivan’s wide-ranging knowledge of the field of architecture, but because of his unique insights and personable self. He was attentive to the most peripheral of our questions, and instead of one-liners, he engaged us in a discursive manner. It was not just a conversation about architecture and the buildings that filter our world, but about the whole environment subtending it.
I can’t praise our guide, Ivan, enough. Ivan’s extensive knowledge and passion for New York City’s history brought the tour to life in a way that was engaging and enlightening.
This tour was an incredible experience, thanks to Ivan’s expertise and enthusiasm. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to explore the rich art, architecture and history of New York City.
I think I can speak on behalf of the team and say that we thoroughly enjoyed the tour. It was really amazing to hear a different point of view and perspective about the architecture in the neighborhood. My lunchtime walks will surely have new meaning, and I will continue to learn about the landscape of New York! Absolutely fascinating.
Great event, thank you again.
Our Clients
Architecture Tours NYC: Discover New York City’s Iconic Designs
New York City is a global hub for architectural marvels, offering an incredible blend of historic landmarks and modern masterpieces. Architecture tours in NYC provide a unique opportunity to explore the city’s stunning design legacy while learning about its cultural and historical significance.
Why Choose an Architecture Tour in NYC?
An architecture tour in New York City goes beyond simply admiring buildings—it immerses you in the stories behind them. Expert guides share fascinating insights into the architects, styles, and innovations that shaped the city’s skyline. From towering skyscrapers to historic brownstones, every structure has a tale to tell.
Events from our Friends
