Form finding purpose.

TBA Architects: A Legacy of Evolution and Expertise

For nearly half a century, TBA Architects (formerly Gilligan & Bubnowski Architects (GBA) Architects) has been a trusted partner in comprehensive architectural design, guiding projects seamlessly through every phase of development. Founded in 1978 as Gilligan & Bubnowski Architects, the firm built its foundation during the suburban office boom of the 1980s and 90s, designing cutting-edge corporate and industrial spaces for emerging tech and telecommunications giants like Bell Communications, Tyco, Lucent Technologies, and Philips.

Pivoting with Purpose At the turn of the century, as the dot-com bubble burst and the office market reached saturation, we didn’t just adapt—we transformed. Channeling our expertise into the retail sector, we began partnering with major developers nationwide to expand, upgrade, and reimagine regional shopping centers. From the early 2000s to the present day, delivering premier architectural and engineering services to shape the modern retail landscape has remained our primary focus.

Our landlord obligations for retail development allowed this office the privilege to provide our expertise to the redevelopment of retail and retail related services for the World Trade Center site in New York City. Between 2014 and 2023, TBA Architects spearheaded the architecture and engineering for over 60 high-profile projects at the site.

Our work included:

  • Critical power, data, and lighting infrastructure upgrades for the Oculus Events.

  • Management and Operational office facilities for Westfield World Trade Center Towers 2 & 3.

  • Executing complex landlord obligations for flagship brands, including Apple, Banana Republic, H&M, Eataly, and Victoria’s Secret on Oculus floor and Tower 4.

  • Designing prototype event layouts for the interior Oculus floor and the exterior Oculus Plaza, accommodating major events like the Tribeca Film Festival and local Farmers Markets.

 

Because of our extensive footprint in New York City, our team possesses an unparalleled ability to navigate the complex filing, compliance, and close-out procedures of both the NYC Department of Buildings and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Leading the Retail Reinvention Today, as the traditional shopping mall undergoes a historic evolution, TBA Architects is leading the charge in adaptive reuse. We specialize in repositioning vacant mall anchor stores into dynamic, multi-use, and entertainment-focused destinations. Because these transformations often involve complex changes in use and assembly, we expertly guide our clients through presentations to municipal planning, zoning, and building departments.

Recent high-profile anchor store transformations include:

  • A three-story former JCPenney at Garden State Plaza

  • A two-story former JCPenney at Green Acres Mall

  • A two-story former Sears at Deptford Mall

  • A two-story former Sears at Freehold Raceway Mall

  • A two-story former anchor store at Danbury Mall

A Foundation of Experienced Leadership The backbone of our success is our dedicated staff. Many of our team members have been navigating the complex retail and developer landscape with us for over 15 years. Their deep institutional knowledge ensures that every project—from fulfilling meticulous landlord obligations to coordinating seamlessly with tenant professionals—results in an exceptional, on-time turnover.