Left to right, Spacesmith Principals William Wong, Ámbar Margarida and Margaret O’Neill.
The global architecture and design firm Spacesmith has announced the promotion of designer Ámbar Margarida, architect William Wong and executive Margaret O’Neill. With the elevations, all three principals now share in the ownership of Spacesmith Architecture DPC, which is a design professional service corporation model with flexibility of offering ownership interests to non-licensees such as interior designers and other professionals.
Ámbar Margarida, IIDA, WELL AP, LEED Green Associate
A visionary designer and sustainability advocate, Margarida’s work shapes impactful, human-centered spaces. From family support centers to flagship retail stores to new U.S. embassies overseas, her projects reflect creativity and commitment to craftsmanship that foster meaningful connections between people and place. Margarida joined Spacesmith in 2009 and has since led transformative, multiyear projects. She is also a leader of Spacesmith’s sustainability committee, where she works to standardize a robust, actionable, long-term Sustainability Action Plan for the practice. Margarida has supported the NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) New York Chapter’s 80×50 Task Force, which develops strategy to assist New York City in reducing carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. Margarida earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in interior design from the School of Visual Arts and is a founding member of the Latino American Commercial Real Estate Association.
William Wong, AIA, LEED AP
Wong, who joined Spacesmith in 2012, is a skilled architect and project manager known for his ability to navigate complex projects with strategic insight. His leadership spans academic buildings at Columbia University, major U.S. General Services Administration projects such as the Land Port of Entry for Highgate Springs, corporate headquarters for Abrams Books, the build out of Hermès of Paris’ flagship store on Madison Avenue, and adaptive reuse initiatives for the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation. Wong’s expertise bridges business strategy and execution, delivering innovative and efficient design solutions. With an interest in the critical and complex process of building in a dense urban environment, Wong emphasizes durable and enduring designs that promote public interaction. Wong holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Margaret O’Neill
A driving force behind Spacesmith’s operations, O’Neill leads with a deep understanding of the firm’s culture, people and financial health. A highly experienced professional, O’Neill optimizes expense control and productivity through office management. As a key strategist in human resources and finance, she has been instrumental in fostering Spacesmith’s growth, ensuring the firm’s strong, nimble, and productive daily operations.