Our Firm
Powers Hancock Design is a full-service architectural firm specializing in custom residential design. We believe the home is the most sacred of all building typologies, a place where we shelter our family and friends, raise children and experience some of live’s most intimate moments. The design of a new home or renovation is always very personal for clients which is why we are so passionate about guiding our clients through the design and construction journey. Our intimate relationship with clients tends to lead to lifelong friendships.
The firms process begins by listening and understanding, not only our clients’ requirements, but how they currently live and how they dream to live. Our aim is to elevate the living experience through thoughtful and elegant design solutions. Our holistic design approach analyses all factors (program, geographical, legal, sustainability, etc.) that influence a buildings design to create practical solutions.
We subscribe to no “style” but strive to create timeless design that respects local vernacular with a modern aesthetic and clean lines.
We enlist a modern approach to the process of design. To us, modern is a way of doing - not necessarily an end result. It’s a forward thinking approach that merges both awareness of cutting edge technologies and respecting the tradition of how things are built.
We appreciate the craft of how things come together and the tactile beauty of the materials layered to bring a space alive.
We are a collective. We take into account every detail on our projects and pride ourselves in prioritizing the collaboration of Architecture and Interior Design. With Powers Hancock Design, you will never get a blank “shell design”. We value doing the job right and that includes thinking it through from both the exterior and interior perspective.
Collaboration is the cornerstone of our process. We aim to create a team attitude with all professionals involved in the process, including specialists, consultants, builders, and fabricators.
Powers Hancock Design’s project experience includes single & multi-family residential, restaurants, recording studios and medical facilities. We are currently practicing in New York, Arizona and Utah.
Our Client
At Powers Hancock Design we seek clients that possess an adventurous perspective, and who are excited to break through traditional thinking to explore innovative and unique solutions. We are also conscious of the immense energy and material requirements of the built environments, so we aim to provide sustainable solutions in our project. Our clients share our views of stewardship for the future of our communities. We aspire to surpass our clients’ expectations through attentiveness, communication, presentations, and quality of our work.
Our Team
Chris and Ashley first met in 2004 during their first year in architectural school. The two instantly bonded over their passion for design and their shared love for everything outdoors. They supported each other throughout school, hand in hand, which included studying abroad in Venice and Bologna, Italy. The duo both graduated at the top of their class, spring boarding them into their professional career.
In conjunction with working at separate firms, the two quickly started to amass projects together. They ranged in scope from recording studios to custom residential homes, and in locations from Brooklyn to East Hampton, New York.
Christopher Powers
Principal Architect
Christopher Powers was born and raised in Salt Lake City Utah. His passion for art and design was sparked by his father who is a furniture and sculpture designer/fabricator. He moved to New York in 2007 to study and achieved a Bachelor of Architecture Degree from New York Institute of Technology. There he graduated Summa Cum Laude and received the Gold Medal for Design. Chris’s professional career started his third year in school while working for a small firm in Brooklyn, New York. He later worked at multiple custom residential firms on the east end of Long Island. His conscious decision to work in smaller firms enabled him to quickly acquire knowledge of every step of the architectural process. Chris’s admiration for all the builders and fabricators fueled his obsession with how buildings are put together. This obsession comes through in his attention to detail and collaboration with clients and contractors.
Ashley Hancock
Principal Architect
Ashley comes from a family of engineers and designers, which allowed her to develop an early connection to architecture. Ashley pursued her childhood passion at New York Institute of Technology where she earned her Bachelor of Architecture Degree. During her undergraduate studies, she held an internship at an architecture firm. This is where she discovered her passion for residential design. She loved the intimate interaction with clients and how design could enrich their unique lives. Upon graduation, she was presented a thesis recognition award, signifying excellence in the design and research for her final year of independent study. Ashley’s interest in residential design lead her career out to the Hamptons, New York where she worked on many large scale custom residential projects. She gained skills that continue to benefit her clients through efficient and programmatic project management and design.
Katie Belac
Director of Interiors
Katie was born and raised in New York City, and expressed a passion for creating with her hands early in life. This drive lead her to pursue fine arts training which set the foundation for her understanding of color and composition, eventually leading her to develop her skillset in Architecture school at the New York Institute of Technology, where she earned her Bachelors of Architecture Degree and graduated Summa Cum Laude — receiving the Silver certificate for Achievement in Architecture and the Thesis Recognition Award. In her early career she was afforded the opportunity design projects of various scales - as large as core and shell skyscrapers to small interior projects and graphic branding. She has spent the latter part of her career building her portfolio in workplace, hospitality, and retail architecture in New York City; slowly tailoring her craft in architecture and eventually finding her passion an gaining expertise in full service interior design: interior space planning, detailing, and finish & furniture selection.