Custom Private New York Architecture, Art and City Tours and Experiences
In addition to our public tours, we offer exclusive custom private tours tailored to your unique interests. Whether you’re an architecture enthusiast, design professional, or simply curious, we’ll create a personalized experience just for you.
Our private tours are curated to match your specific interests: from iconic landmarks to hidden gems, from NYC’s rich architectural past to its cutting-edge future developments, we customize the tour based on what you would like to experience. Whether you’re exploring specific styles, time periods, or neighborhoods, we’ll craft the perfect tour itinerary —be it for a few hours or a couple of days.
Each tour is guided by Dr. Ivan Shumkov, an expert architect, urban planner and professor, offering a memorable, in-depth journey through the city’s unique architectural landscape. Perfect for individuals, groups, or corporate outings, every custom tour ensures an unforgettable experience of New York City’s urban landscape.
Interested in a custom architecture tour? Contact us at info@buildtours.com for more information or start your booking by clicking below.
Why Choose Build Tours?
Tailored Itineraries
We design and lead each tour based on your personal interests, knowledge and peresonality. We customize our tours based on what you would like to see, know and experience.
Expert Architects as Guides
Our guides are architects, urban planners, scholars, professors and city experts. We are passionate about sharing our knowledge with other and inspiring them.
Transformational Experiences
Our tours are experiences that connect people with the cities we live in. We help our guests see, enjoy and understand the world in new ways, becoming co-creators of our reality.
Your PhD Architect Guide
Ivan R. Shumkov, PhD
CEO and Founder
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.
Ivan earned his PhD in Architecture in 2009 at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia and Columbia University GSAPP, as fellow of the Fondation Le Corbusier. He graduated with four masters degrees from ETSA Barcelona, University of Florence, and Harvard University GSD, as a Fulbright scholar.
Ivan combines his experience of practicing and teaching architecture with his passion for discovering and sharing the history and secrets of New York. His tours provoke curiosity, show hidden urban gems, and provide opportunities for experiencing and understanding art and architecture in a unique way. He helps his guests to see and connect the city through the eyes of an architect. They are activated and transformed by these immersive experiences and view the city in a new way.
Ivan is a licensed NYC tour guide. Being fluent in multiple languages, he can conduct tours in English, Spanish, Catalan, Bulgarian, French and Italian.
Explore New York with our Private Tours
We focus on 1o 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. Our private tours are 2 or 4 hours and available in 12 languages.
