UNS, formerly UNStudio, has opened its first official U.S. office in Austin, Texas, where it’s been active since 2023 designing a new light rail network for the fast growing city in tandem with HKS, Gehl, and the Austin Transit Partnership.
Ben van Berkel and Caroline Bos started what was UNStudio (United Network Studio) together in 1988. The practice is headquartered in Amsterdam and operates offices in Dubai, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Melbourne, and Shanghai, and now Austin.
“The U.S. is a market where we’ve realized some of our most impactful work, and we’re excited to continue this trajectory from Austin—a city that has experienced remarkable growth and design in recent years,” van Berkel said in a statement.
The Austin light rail project by UNS entails the construction of 15 stations spread across 10 miles of rail network. After achieving federal approval early this year, construction is slated to begin on the network in 2027 and conclude in 2033.
UNS in tandem with Gehl and other offices envisions a greenway that will accompany Austin’s light rail network. (© WAX Architectural Vizualizations)
Outside Austin, another ongoing project in the U.S. by UNS is a masterplan in Washington, D.C. for Georgetown University’s Capitol Campus.
Previously, in 2009, UNS designed a temporary pavilion in Chicago’s Millennium Park, built to commemorate the Burnham Plan Centennial. In 2024, the firm completed a renovation of the Jewish Museum in New York City.
Frans van Vuure, managing director of the UNS Austin office, affirmed “Austin’s strong culture of innovation makes it an ideal base for our US operations.”
“Establishing a presence on the ground allows us to better support local projects, build meaningful partnerships and apply our international experience to the complex challenges and opportunities shaping the built environment across the United States,” vans Vuure added.