Schissel Montgomery Architects is a New York City based design practice. The office was established in 2019 by
Michael Schissel and Talene Montgomery, who have over 25 years of combined experience working with civic, institutional and private clients. Together they have a wide range of design expertise—from buildings to interiors to objects—and a special interest in and knowledge of working with existing buildings, including historic preservation, adaptive reuse and refurbishment. The practice negotiates specific project requirements with sensitivity and emphasizes a high level of attunement to context. Our goal is to create adaptable, dynamic and healthy physical environments that enrich the human experience.
Schissel Montgomery Architects is a signatory of US Architects Declare.
Michael Schissel is a licensed architect in New York. Before starting the office, Michael worked as an Associate at Lewis Tsurumaki Lewis in New York, and previously trained at Antoine Predock’s office in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He holds a Master of Architecture from Columbia University GSAPP, where he was awarded an Honor Award for Excellence in Design, and a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture, with Honors, from the University of New Mexico. He has a Healthier Materials and Sustainable Building Certificate from Parsons School of Design. Michael has taught with Marc Tsurumaki at Columbia GSAPP and currently teaches design studios at Barnard College.
Talene Montgomery is a licensed architect in New York. Before starting the office, Talene trained at architecture offices in New York, Los Angeles and Istanbul. She holds a Master of Architecture and Master of Science in Historic Preservation from Columbia University GSAPP, where she was awarded a Lucille Smyser Lowenfish Memorial Prize, William Kinne Fellows Traveling Prize and Avery 6 Award. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture, with Honors, from the University of California, Berkeley. Talene has taught with Galia Solomonoff at Columbia GSAPP and is currently teaching design studios at Pratt.
—Select Previous Experience
Project
Architect/Institution
Role
Details
Poster House Museum
LTL Architects
Michael Schissel, as Project Architect
2019, Completed; New York, NY, USA; Cultural; image ©Michael Moran/OTTO
Vassar College Students' Building
LTL Architects
Michael Schissel, as Project Architect
2017, Completed; Poughkeepsie, NY, USA; Educational, Food Service
Joseph D. Jamail Lecture Hall at Columbia University
LTL Architects
Michael Schissel, as Project Architect
2017, Completed; New York, NY, USA; Educational; image ©Michael Moran/OTTO
The Contemporary Austin, Jones Center
LTL Architects
Michael Schissel, as Project Manager
2016, Completed; Austin, TX, USA; Cultural
First Buffalo River Marina
nARCHITECTS
Talene Montgomery, as Design Team Lead, Concept Design Phase
2018-19, Concept Phase; Buffalo, NY, USA; Preservation, Cultural, Landscape
Modigliani Unmasked Exhibition
SAS/Solomonoff Architecture Studio
Talene Montgomery, as Senior Designer
2017, Completed; New York, NY, USA; Cultural, Exhibitions
Russ & Daughters at The Jewish Museum
SAS/Solomonoff Architecture Studio
Talene Montgomery, as Senior Designer
2016, Completed; New York, NY, USA; Commercial, Food Service
Private Apartment Renovations
SAS/Solomonoff Architecture Studio
Talene Montgomery, as Senior Designer
2015-2017, Completed; New York, NY, USA; Residential
Estuary: Typological Corrections in Historic Bombay
GSAPP
Michael Schissel, Final Semester Graduate Project
2014; Mumbai, India; Research, Housing, Urban Design, Planning
A Seismic Retrofit to Rehabilitate the Long Beach Civic Center
GSAPP
Talene Montgomery, Graduate Preservation Thesis
2014; Long Beach, CA, USA; Preservation, Research, Urbanism
Soft Opening Whitney Biennial 2010
Inaba Williams
Talene Montgomery, as Project Designer
2010, Completed; New York, NY, USA; Cultural, Commercial, Food Service
Volume Magazine, Storytelling
The Columbia Laboratory for Architectural Broadcasting (C-LAB)
Talene Montgomery, as Researcher
2009, Completed; New York, NY, USA; Research, Writing
NUQ Center for Journalism and Communication
Antoine Predock Architect
Michael Schissel, as Designer
2009-2010, Completed 2017; Education City, Doha, Qatar; Educational
Canadian Museum for Human Rights
Antoine Predock Architect
Michael Schissel, as Designer, DD & CD Design Phases
2006-2010, Completed 2014; Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; Cultural