---
title: "UrbanLab — Architects & Building Designers | Houzz"
canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/urbanlab-pfvwus-pf~1670192962
markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~1670192962.md
entity_type: LocalBusiness
business_name: UrbanLab
category: ["Architects"]
image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/161349c8030b901d_6718-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg
address: "3209 S Morgan St, Chicago, Illinois 60608, United States"
latitude: 41.8515
longitude: -87.6694
phone: "(312) 638-9100"
website: http://www.urbanlab.com
rating: 5
review_count: 3
best_of_houzz_awards: 1
followers: 131
last_updated: 2026-09-21
---

# UrbanLab

Original Houzz profile: [UrbanLab](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/urbanlab-pfvwus-pf~1670192962)

## Professional summary

- **Primary category:** Architects
- **Location:** Chicago, IL
- **Serves:** Chicago
- **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (3 reviews)
- **Best of Houzz:** 1 award (2016), for Service.

## About

### Houzz Badges

- 1,000 Ideabook Saves

UrbanLab's goal is to create houses that are both beautiful and surprising. We bring creativity and collaboration to each home we design.  We put ourselves in our client's world to see issues and challenges through their eyes. Clients and specialists are intensively involved as collaborators at the earliest stages of the design process: feedback from the first ideas builds the design process itself, encouraging new insights from all stakeholders leading to innovative and unique design solutions. Ultimately, we seek simple, uncomplicated, economical solutions to each of the houses we design. 

We believe in holistic architecture. Our work explores the interrelationships between buildings and landscapes; between structures and materials; between resources and lifestyles. We conceptualize and create spaces that establish healthy connections between people and their environments. We always seek to design in a sustainable and healthful manner.

For each house, UrbanLab creates an integrated cross-disciplinary design team in order to best address the complexities of contemporary design challenges. We routinely assemble professionals with the highest levels of expertise and experience to realize projects. To maximize design intelligence, collaborators often include landscape architects, engineers, ecologists, artists, fabricators, builders and contractors.

### Services Provided

- Architectural Design
- Architectural Drawings
- Custom Homes
- New Home Construction
- Home Extensions
- Floor Plans
- 3D Rendering
- Space Planning
- Structural Engineering

### Areas Served

- Chicago

### Typical Job Cost

$250,000 - 5,000,000

UrbanLab specializes in stretching modest construction budgets by utilizing standard materials in unexpected and economical ways. Our homes are simple, with a twist.

## Business Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Business Name | UrbanLab |
| Address | 3209 S Morgan St, Chicago, Illinois 60608, United States |
| Phone | (312) 638-9100 |
| Website | http://www.urbanlab.com |
| License Number | 001-018234 |
| Followers on Houzz | 131 |

**Social profiles:**
- X (Twitter) — https://twitter.com/TeamUrbanLab
- LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinfelsen
- Blog — http://www.urbanlab.com

## Contact

- **Houzz profile:** [UrbanLab](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/urbanlab-pfvwus-pf~1670192962)
- **Website:** http://www.urbanlab.com
- **Phone:** (312) 638-9100

## Credentials

**Certifications & Awards**
- AIA, LEED, Many Design Awards

- **Best of Houzz:** 1 award (2016), for Service.

**Affiliations**
- [The American Institute of Architects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/schools-and-organizations/the-american-institute-of-architects-pfvwus-pf~1350720471)

## Reviews

**Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 3 reviews**

### All 3 reviews

**★★★★★ — x\_v\_x, April 2015**

> UrbanLab went above and beyond at every step of the project and were very easy to work with. They designed a mixed use building for me that included residential, office, industrial and retail. They were very understanding of my needs and assisted with budgeting, bidding, permitting, and every other detail. Even after the project was complete they have been available and helpful with every question I've had.

**★★★★★ — Sarah Rossiter, March 2015**

> UrbanLab designed our amazing hillside house in Echo Park, Los Angeles. They worked closely with us to create a space that felt expansive and open, even though our footprint was a bit small. We are super happy with the overall look of the house, as well as the details, and really enjoy sharing it with friends. In addition to their strong design sense and attention to the smallest details of our project, UrbanLab provided in-depth knowledge of local building code and construction methods. And they were able to accurately correlate all this information to timelines and budgets. They guided us through the plan check process and gave us excellent advice with our contractors. We love our new home and would definitely work with them again! Also, I should note that there were several things which the architects recommended that I was hesitant about, and in the end we just trusted their vision and they were right. Some of the things they came up with were beyond our ability to imagine and we are so pleased because it's really a joy to live in this house.

**★★★★★ — thomasrichie, March 2015**

> UrbanLab designed and oversaw the construction of our country retreat.
>
> They took time to understand our needs. They took time for a thorough design process, taking great pains to make sure we understood every step and design element. They helped vet the choice of contractor. They worked with the contractor, visiting the site as needed.
>
> They have great vision. They listened to what we wanted and brought it to life.  They're in step with modern architecture and understand the balance between timeless design and a contemporary aesthetic. A wonderful team and a great process.
>
> We'd hire them again, and again.

**Comment from UrbanLab:**

> Thanks so much Thomas, look forward to visiting you at the house again soon.

## Selected projects

- [Greensboro House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/greensboro-house-pj-vj~1358224)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 5
  - Description: This house was originally built in 1955 by noted architect Thomas Hayes. After 1955, the house slowly fell into disrepair, and was very close to being torn down. Luckily, the house was purchased a few years ago with the goal of completely renovating and conserving it for the next several decades. Updates to the original structure include new insulated glass windows and sliding glass doors, a new roof and drainage system (including rain chains), a new highly insulated building envelop, new electr…
- [Mohawk Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/mohawk-residence-pj-vj~898357)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 26
  - Description: Located in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood, this residence is a four story 8000 square foot new construction home. The clients' goal was to create a simple, minimal design. The primary materials are masonry and glass. The bond pattern of the brick façade consists of alternate bricks having their short sides (extruded headers) and long sides (stretchers) facing outwards, with alternate courses being offset. The brick pattern visually breaks apart the expansive front facade. An elevated green play…
- [Upton's Apartment (above a new factory)](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/upton-s-apartment-above-a-new-factory-pj-vj~1130300)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 6
  - Description: The apartment is part of a large new live/work building that also contains a food manufacturing facility, a cafe, offices, and a yoga studio. The apartment is on the 3rd floor, above the factory. The owners of the apartment and factory -- Upton's Naturals -- make fantastic vegan food with ingredients that are simple and healthful. The design of the building follows this same sensibility: simple, clean, uncomplicated and sustainable design concepts led to highly affordable construction solutions.…
- [Hennepin House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/hennepin-house-pj-vj~463970)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 13
  - Description: A weekend house for a Chicago couple. An extremely modest budget led to the proposal of a simple box shape of 1,600 sf. Carving the box creates the main living space and links the two landscapes on the site. The hollow of the house organizes views of the forest landscape to the south and prairie landscape to the north, while the extended solid areas become the bedroom zones. The hollow space seeks to be an interior forest/prairie room; it is wrapped in wood. The floor, ceiling, and walls of the…
- [Echo Park Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/echo-park-residence-pj-vj~898418)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 13
  - Description: Located on a steep hill overlooking Echo Park in Los Angeles, the private residence is conceived of as two distinct spaces. The lower level is excavated from the hill. It is a living room that is both inside and outside. The upper level is peeled up from the steep slope. It contains the private spaces of the house, including a studio and two bedrooms. The budget for the house is surprisingly economical because of cost-effective (and simple) design strategies. Though the building is now occupied,…
- [Morgan Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/morgan-residence-pj-vj~463949)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 9
  - Description: The Morgan Street project is a 3000 SF mixed-use live + work building. The first floor (1500 SF) is an office and the second floor (1500 SF) is a residence. The building is new “ground-up” construction. Prior to construction, the site was occupied by a run-down grocery store that required immediate demolition. Instead of wrecking the building and removing the debris to a suburban landfill, we choose to recycle the demo on-site and mold a gentle slope into a landscape hill. The residential loft i…

[See all 6 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/urbanlab-pfvwus-pf~1670192962)

## Community Q&A

**Q: Metal screen** *(in Photo Questions)*

Who's the designer of the circle screen??

A: Hi, UrbanLab designed the metal screen, it's part of the building facade...

**Q: What window brand is this?** *(in Photo Questions)*

A: These are storefront windows from Star Tech Glass (in Chicago).

**Q: What are the dimensions of the windows?** *(in Photo Questions)*

I really love the way that this whole room looks. I was wondering what the dimensions of the windows are. My wife and I are looking into putting in some new windows in our house in a couple of months. I love the wood criss cross patter in front of it. http://www.windowsdoorspittsburgh.com/

A: Hi, each "storefront" window is approximately 9'x3" and there are 6 windows in a row (so the window wall is approximately 9'x18'). The window frames are aluminum, and the "X" is part of a structural steel truss supporting this part of the building.

**Q: What material is the white railing?** *(in Photo Questions)*

A: Hi, the handrails/guardrails are painted aluminum.

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*Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-09-21.*