ABOUT O’CONNOR COBB ARCHITECTS

Claire and Gretchen met working on a building envelope investigation and renovation project at a VA hospital in New York.  They recognized in each other common interests and complementary skills, and believed they could form a unique architectural practice synthesizing these qualities.  With mission to provide exceptional quality design and a common passion for the history and craft of architecture, they founded O’Connor Cobb Architects in 2024.

Since then, they have collaborated on public and private sector projects, as well as historical research.  They are both members of the Society of Architectural Historians.  O’Connor Cobb Architects is an SBA certified women-owned small business.

Meet the Team

  • Claire O'Connor

    AIA, NCARB

    Co-founder and partner of O’Connor Cobb Architects, Claire O’Connor is an architect with over a decade of experience delivering complex civic, mixed-use, healthcare, and residential projects across the country.  Her work is defined by a strong commitment to a collaborative design approach: the integration of client participation with her own experience and the expertise of the design and construction team.  She prioritizes inclusive design, thoughtfully integrated building systems, and thorough, innovative design documentation to aid in the creation of spaces that foster health, creativity, and joy. 

    Prior to the founding of O’Connor Cobb Architects, Claire’s career path wound through Houston, London, and San Francisco, gaining her invaluable experience at prestigious firms and on award-winning projects.  Her experience spans every phase of design—from feasibility studies and entitlement documentation through construction administration—allowing her to guide projects with precision and confidence.  She has built an expertise in architecture firm management, including as a solo practitioner of Claire O’Connor Architecture and as Associate Principal of CB Design Group.  She led CB Design’s Virginia office, managing multiple projects for public-sector clients, including the US Department of Veterans Affairs, while advancing the firm’s technical capabilities by defining integrated BIM workflows and establishing firmwide standards for improved coordination, accuracy, and project delivery. 

    Claire earned her Bachelor of Architecture from Rice University, and is licensed in Virginia and North Carolina.  She is based in Alexandria, Virginia.

  • Gretchen Cobb

    AIA, NCARB

    Gretchen Cobb is a co-founder and partner of O’Connor Cobb Architects.  With a career rooted in historic preservation and building envelope expertise, her skills uniquely bridge architecture, fabrication, and construction.  She brings exceptional technical depth and strategic insight to the firm’s practice, employing a deep understanding of materials, systems integration, and long-term stewardship of the built environment.  Her professional experience spans higher education, healthcare, civic, and historic structures, with a particular focus on restoration, adaptive reuse, and building performance.

    Prior to the founding of O’Connor Cobb Architects, Gretchen managed large-scale capital improvement projects for major institutions, including Duke University and state agencies, overseeing multidisciplinary teams through planning, design, and construction.  Earlier in her career, she directed design, estimating, and marketing operations for a specialty sheet metal manufacturing firm, developing innovative fabrication methods for national landmarks and public-sector buildings. This hands-on experience gives her a pragmatic, detail-oriented approach that enhances constructability and cost control throughout the design process.

    Gretchen has lectured nationally on sustainable and prefabricated design, and has conducted extensive research on regional historic materials and trades. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Pratt Institute.  She is licensed in New York, North Carolina, and Georgia, and is based in Hillsborough, North Carolina.