Yoko Tai and Steve Lee formed TAI + LEE, architects in 1981, and have earned a reputation for innovation and experience in a wide range of project types. The firm has received numerous awards for its work, from housing to commercial design, and has been ivited to exhibit its work in Pittsburgh galleries. The expertise of the founders of the firm has evolved from their years of experience in urban design, neighborhood revitalization, adaptive reuse and sustainable design. In over twenty years of business, TAI + LEE, architects has earned the trust and confidence of its clients as well as the entire building delivery team.

The organization of TAI + LEE, architects enables it to be a creative, progressive firm continually seeking to offer innovative and effective solutions to challenging opportunities. Yoko Tai is the owner and principal of TAI + LEE, architects and she is assisted on a project basis by co-founder Steve Lee, who is a tenured professor in the School of Architecture at Carnegie Mellon. Yoko has assembled a talented team of professionals, interns and engineering consultants that are capable of providing a full range of architectural services. As a small firm, the structure of TAI + LEE, architects assures the continuous involvement of the principal with the project from conception through construction and occupancy. This ensures consistency in communication, project management and quality control.

In our future home at 3106 Brereton St in Polish Hill, we will demonstrate first hand our knowledge of and commitment to sustainable design and neighborhood revitalization. We are pursuing LEED® certification on the gut-rehabilitation that we are constructing. The office will feature improved flexibility and adaptability, improved indoor environmental quality, new materials with bio- and recycled- content and daylighting. Some of the features include high efficiency closed-cell foam spray insulation, high performance glazing with a cooling index of 1.38, ultra efficient gas boiler with indirect-fired water heater, radiant floor heating, VRFZ heat pump distributing conditioned air through swirl floor diffusers, CO2 controlled energy recovery ventilator and high efficiency T5 and LED lighting.

TAI + LEE is a registered Minority & Woman Business Enterprise. We are committed to MBE/WBE participation in community development projects and welcome the opportunity to work with qualified MBE/WBE businesses.

We have the expertise and experience to make us uniquely qualified for specific types of projects. The following is a brief outline of our current capabilities and qualifications. Please refer to our Housing and Commercial pages for more detailed information.