Jonathan Garnett: Modellus Novus at 10

Jonathan Garnett (BA ​’98) recently marked a decade with Modellus Novus, the New York-based architecture firm he co-founded with Preeti Sriratana and Steven Harper. As Partner and Creative Director, he is dedicated to creating spaces that shape and define culture, grounding his practice in people, purpose, and progress. His studio was recently named one of AN Interior’s Top 50 Architects and Designers and recognized in Wallpaper​’s USA 400* for ​“shaping Creative America in 2024.”

Jonathan’s path into design began at the University of Michigan, where he earned a BA in Industrial and Product Design and was honored with the Martin Luther King Jr. Spirit Award for Community Service. During his summers, he worked in Detroit, designing and building for low-income community groups — an experience that deepened his understanding of how design directly impacts people’s lives. Influenced by the U‑M School of Architecture, he engaged in independent study with Dr. James Chaffers, developing a proposal to transform underutilized space into a collaborative hub for students. His time at the U‑M School of Art and Design shaped his attention to detail, materiality, craft, and multidisciplinary design — values that continue to inform his work today.