Our Story
The name Gnome comes from a historical idea: a gnome was a personal marker of space, placed to signify ownership of a garden plot. We think of every building we design the same way — a precise, considered presence that belongs unmistakably to its site and the people it serves.
We are based in the BOK building in South Philadelphia, at the center of a community of makers, craftspeople, and collaborators who share our commitment to the quality of the built environment.
WORK WITH US
Derek Spencer, RA
Partner and Technical Director
Professional Licensure: PA, DE
Guided by the belief that each project has a hidden identity, Derek guides the team at Gnome to ask the right questions and dig deeper into the possibilities of how design can not only shape a building, but influence the identity of a community. With a background spanning architecture and real estate development, Derek leads Gnome’s commercial and muti-family studio. From early feasibility planning through underwriting, he sets clear parameters at the outset and guides clients with clarity and confidence. He's most at home on the construction site, following a project from first sketch to final detail to make sure what gets built holds true to the original vision.
Gabriel Deck, RA, AIA, LEED AP
Partner and Design Director
Professional Licensure: PA, NJ
Gabriel brings more than two decades of experience to Gnome, leading creative direction across the firm's portfolio with a focus on site-specific, contextually rooted work. Heading up Gnome’s residential studio, he begins each project in close collaboration with clients, investing in the relationships that uncover their needs and translate their vision into architecture that feels purposeful and of its place. As a founding partner, he has shaped Gnome's design philosophy from the ground up, building a practice defined by the quality of its relationships as much as the quality of its work.
Awards & Press
FORBES, 2025
Design Excellence Award: Bowery Place
AIA BUCKS COUNTY, 2025
AIA PA Merit Award - 17 West
PA AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS 2025
Design Excellence Award: Mud Road Residence
AIA BUCKS COUNTY, 2024Gold Award: Bowery Place: Brick Industry Association, 2024
BRICK INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION, 2024A team grounded in collaboration and curiosity, bringing distinct perspectives and care to every detail.
GET STARTED
Whether you’re designing a family home, a commercial space, or something in between, we’re here to create environments that feel intentional, enduring, and deeply connected to the people who use them.
Project Inquiry