DRS-Architects: Driving Growth through Retail and Residential Expansion
The growth engine of DRS-Architects is fueled by the rapid development in the retail sector, the increasing presence of international players in the market, and the ongoing rising demands from the local community.
Highlight Project: Arena Mall in Bacău
One of the significant projects currently being developed by the studio is the Arena Mall in Bacău, which will see an expansion of its commercial space. This shopping center will also feature a thematic park covering 10,000 square meters, alongside an additional 1,000 square meters dedicated to terraces. Furthermore, the Mercure Hotel, the first international chain hotel in Bacău, has been designed as part of this project.
Residential Sector and Urban Redevelopment
The residential segment continues to play a crucial role, with projects set to deliver over 600 apartments. Additionally, the architects are engaged in a conversion project that involves transforming a 40,000 square meter office building into residential spaces.
A Dynamic Era for DRS-Architects
“We are experiencing a dynamic period, with approximately 70% of our projects focused on retail and residential sectors, alongside urban regeneration and industrial projects,” shares Andrei Lefter. “We anticipated this growth, which is why we expanded our team by adding four new architects earlier this year, enabling us to deliver contracted projects efficiently.”
Future Outlook
For the latter half of the year, DRS-Architects expects to maintain the same growth pace, projecting a revenue exceeding 1 million euros by 2024.
Founding and Evolution of DRS-Architects
The architectural office was founded by Andrei Lefter, who began his entrepreneurial journey in 2008 as the manager of Lef Proiect’s Bucharest office. In 2014, he created Droid Studio, specializing in architectural renderings and virtual reality applications for major real estate investors. The two firms later merged to form DRS-Architects.
Notable Projects and Recognitions
Among the projects led by architect Andrei Lefter and the DRS-Architects team are Mega Mall Bucharest, Arena Mall Bacău, Mercure Hotel Bacău, Lake House residential complex in Bucharest, Cluj Senior Village, and many others. Recently, DRS-Architects secured second place in an international architectural competition aimed at transforming Victoria Square (Piața Operei) in Timișoara.
