Mitchell Giurgola established an office for the general practice of architecture and urban design in New York in 1968. The 50-person firm has become widely recognized for the design of technically complex projects for academic and cultural institutions, including frequent publication of the work and numerous professional honor awards. Clients include both public and private educational institutions and public/private entrepreneurial partnerships. While education is the focus of the practice, the building types for which the firm has expertise is broad, including not only teaching and research facilities for the sciences, interdisciplinary incubator and medical facilities, but also general classroom and student services, dining facilities, libraries, theaters, courthouses and innovative office environments. The design philosophy of the practice is founded on architecture as a social art and the commitment to create places that are supportive, engaging, aspirational and detailed to maintain a consistently high level of the art and craft of construction. The form of a given project evolves in direct response to program, extensive interaction with clients, specific site conditions and budget. The designs also obtain their unique character informed by history, culture and human behavior.