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.
Experience New York with our PhD Architect-led Tours
Our public tours are 2 hours of transformational experiences that connect people with the city on a deeper level. We focus on 8 areas according to the location, neighborhood and their distinct character - weaving culture, history, architecture, art and design in an engaging, story-telling manner to uncover some of the city’s hidden gems and best-kept secrets.
Discover New York with our Exclusive Private Custom Tours
Our private tours of 2, 4 or 8 hours are dedicated to Art, Architecture and Real Estate, and can be customized. We focus on 8 areas according to the location, neighborhood and their distinct character – weaving culture, history, architecture, art and design in an engaging, story-telling manner to uncover some of the city’s hidden gems and best-kept secrets.
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.
Join Upcoming Tours
Join one of our upcoming New York Art and Architecture Public Tours and immerse yourself in this extraordinary city. During each tour, we explore a different area and discuss the history and architecture of its most important buildings and landmarks. Feel free to bring your camera and your sketchbooks if you feel inspired.
Financial District and WTC Tour
10am-12pm, Saturdays, 11/23, 11/30, 12/7, 12/14
$39-49 per person
Join us for an exciting exploration of the art and architecture of NYC’s Financial District and Ground Zero and the juxtaposition of the oldest and the newest architectural highlights of the city! Our in-person walking tour will take you on a journey through the stunning sights and structures that define this iconic neighborhood and helo us unravel it’s rich history.
New Amsterdam 400 Years Tour
2-4pm, Saturdays, 11/30, 12/7, 12/14
$39-49 per person
The Dutch culture of commerce and trade is embedded in the core of NYC’s purpose and history. Dutch physical presence is captured in the urban form and the seal of the city. We will walk the circumference of New Amsterdam as it existed in 1664. The walk highlights the contrast between an urban form developed as the Netherlands began its transition from its late Medieval phase into its Renaissance and the 1811 Urban Plan.
Soho and the Village Tour
5:30-7:30pm, Fridays, 11/22, 11/29, 12/6, 12/13
$39-49 per person
From the historically diverse communities to cosmopolitan hot spots, SoHo, the East, Greenwich and West Village have a fascinating history captured by the area’s architecture. During this tour, we discover this history by looking at some of the defining architectural typologies of these neighborhoods including the cast iron industrial spaces of Soho, Washington and Cooper Sq.
Chelsea and the High Line Tour
5-7pm, Saturdays, 11/23, 11/30, 12/7, 12/14
$39-49 per person
Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to delve into the creative world of art, architecture and urban design! Discover the stories behind the art installations and architectural marvels that make the High Line a must-see destination. This in-person walking tour culminates in the newest addition to NYC’s neighborhoods, Hudson Yards.
Midtown South Tour
5:30-7:30pm, Thursdays, 11/21, 11/28, 12/5, 12/12
$39-49 per person
Situated at the heart of New York City, Midtown South and its surrounding neighborhoods are the dynamic epicenter of the metropolis. This locality’s frenetic energy finds physical translation in Bryant Park and the ascendant skyscrapers of the area. We chart the history of Midtown South through its architecture, starting with examples from the early twentieth century and culminating with the latest additions to this area’s urban landscape.
Midtown East Tour
5:30-7:30pm, Wednesdays, 11/20, 11/27, 12/4, 12/11
$39-49 per person
Explore the architectural gems of East Manhattan, where New York’s history and innovation come alive through iconic buildings and compelling stories. This tour takes you through some of the most legendary sites that continue to define the city. As you walk through each landmark, you’ll uncover the architectural styles, influential architects, and historical events that have shaped East Manhattan into a world-renowned urban landscape.
Midtown North Tour
10am-12pm, Sundays, 11/24, 12/1, 12/8, 12/15
$39-49 per person
Situated at the heart of New York City, Midtown North and its surrounding neighborhoods are the dynamic epicenter of the metropolis. This locality’s frenetic energy finds physical translation in the dazzling lights of the ascendant skyscrapers of the business district. We will chart the history of Midtown North through its architecture, starting with examples from the early twentieth century and culminating with the latest additions to this area’s urban landscape.
Upper East Side Tour
3-5pm, Sundays, 11/24, 12/1, 12/8, 12/15
$39-49 per person
Shining with the tarnished gleam of New York’ Gilded Age the ornate town houses of the Upper East Side stand as a monuments to the moneyed families that played an essential role in the city’s growth. In this Upper East Side Architecture Tour, we will examine highlights from this Victorian era including the Henry Clay Frick mansion, the Metropolitan Museum, the French Consulate, Central Park, and modern masterpieces such as the Guggenheim Museum and the former Whitney Museum.
Upper West Side Tour
12-2pm, Sundays, 11/24, 12/1, 12/8, 12/15
$39-49 per person
Situated between Central park and the Hudson River, the Upper West Side of Manhattan is home of some of the most prestigious academic and cultural buildings in the city. This is one of the prominent residential areas in the city, situated in between the parks and well connected by subway. Projects featured on this Upper West Side Architecture Tour include Lincoln Center for the Arts, Hears Tower by Foster and Partners, VIA W57 by Bjarke Ingels Group, Fordham University School of Law, and others.
Downtown Brooklyn Tour
2-4pm, Saturdays, 11/23, 11/30, 12/7, 12/14
$39-49 per person
Brooklyn, the City’s most populous borough, has a development history that began with the founding of villages by the Dutch in the 17th century. It is home to a range of residential, commercial, and industrial neighborhoods, ranging from the iconic brownstones to the skyscrapers of downtown Brooklyn. We will discover Brooklyn’s rich array of historic architecture, a visual narrative of the borough’s past and how that visual history harmoniously blends with the innovative and exquisite contemporary architecture.
Customize your Exclusive Private Tour
Curate your own private adventure into NYC’s world of architecture and design. Fill out the form below and one of our team members will be in touch to create an exclusive tailored-made tour just for you and your guests.
Real Estate Developers and Investors Tour
Private 2 or 4h Walking or Car Tour
Starting at $199
Build Tours helps real estate developers and investors make the best investment decisions by offering them a deep and well-rounded understanding of New York City’s neighborhoods, projects, urban planning, land development and investment opportunities.
Exclusive Private Custom Tour
Private 2, 4, or 8h Walking or Car Tour
Starting at $199
We invite you to plan your private New York Art and Architecture Tour and immerse yourself in this extraordinary city. During each tour, we explore a different area and discuss the history and architecture of its most important buildings and landmarks.
Your PhD Architect Guides
Ivan R. Shumkov, PhD
Dr. Ivan Shumkov is a New York based architect, urban planner, entrepreneur, and professor with more than 20 years of experience across the private, public, and academic sectors. He is the founder of Build World and Build Academy, organizations dedicated to providing professional solutions and education for the built environment…
William M. Singer, AIA, LEED AP
William Singer 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—including courthouses, schools, transportation hubs, and cultural landmarks—he brings a wealth of knowledge to our tours. .
Stefan Al, PhD
Dr. Stefan Al is an experienced architect and professor, who worked on large scale projects around the world. Dedicated to integrating the domains of architecture, urbanism and sustainability, he aims to create transformative spaces that balance human needs with environmental stewardship…
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 enjoyed every minute of Ivan’s top-flight New York Architectural Tour. He offered participants an opportunity to experience, explore, and understand a carefully curated selection of can’t miss sites. To do so, he drew on his palette of insights, captivating examples, and creative approaches – all grounded by his extensive academic and professional background in Architecture and Design.
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
Sign up for our New York Architecture Online Course
Want to discover New York’s architecture from the comfort of your own home? Sign up for our sister company Build Academy’s online course about New York Architecture.
The course analyzes major architectural ideas and projects that shaped New York and trace development of the city since its foundation in 1609 until today by discussing the work of some of its most influential architects and urban planners. You will develop a critical view on architecture and learn how to “read” buildings both from their exteriors and interiors. You will examine the evolution of New York and at the same time understand the recent challenges and opportunities for the architecture of the city.
Events from our Friends
