About

Crown Architecture is the US operating arm of Scott Brownrigg, a global design leader ranked in the top 20 largest in the UK and within the Global Top 100 architectural practices. Crown’s consulting, due diligence, and expediting arm is a registered Minority Business Enterprise (MBE).

Combining zoning, building code, due diligence, architecture, interior design, expediting, master planning and urbanism with the collective skills and expertise of a 200-strong, design practice.

Target markets for Crown include residential and commercial development and higher education, utilizing innovative solutions and cutting-edge leading research, including Scott Brownrigg’s Design Research Unit. We actively pursue large-scale master planning, infrastructure, and campus schemes for government, public-private partnerships, and institutions.

Michael V. Santora / Founder & Principal 

Michael started Crown in 2008 to create a vertically integrated architecture firm that solved many of the inefficiencies he saw between ownership, 3rd party professional services and city agencies. 

Prior to starting Crown, Michael worked at M. Moser Associates, a global firm with 12 offices worldwide and 4,500 completed projects to date. He was quickly promoted to Director of New York which oversaw all operations in the Americas and helped close many acclaimed projects. This position marked the youngest promotion to Director in the company’s history. Prior to working at M. Moser Associates, Michael worked at AEC Engineering, a design/build engineering firm, where he learned the inner workings of the New York City development industry and assumed the number two position in the firm. In this role, Michael was active in every aspect of the field: Design, Engineering, Municipal Legalization and On-Site Construction Management. Throughout college he moonlighted as a draftsman for the NYC architecture firm Attick & Nystrom.

Crown’s success has been grounded in Michael’s unparalleled knowledge of building code, zoning, and the inner-workings of municipal agencies, while remaining committed to the creativity, design, and style of each project. Michael has advised and negotiated on behalf of many of New York’s most active developers on over three million square feet of development transactions, and put together the assemblage - discovering an additional 200,000 sq ft of unrecognized air rights for a total of 1,000,000 developable sq ft - for what will be Denver, CO largest tower.

Michael was a Presidential Academic Achievement Award Winner under President Clinton and graduated from Wentworth Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science degree in Architectural Engineering and Civil Engineering. Michael is involved in the ACE Mentoring Program, where he was once a mentee and scholarship recipient, for the advancement of high school students looking to enter architecture, engineering and construction. Michael was recently a Director for BOOM!Health, where he advised on their real estate assets and was monumental in the nonprofit being acquired by a larger national nonprofit. Remaining active at his alma mater, he is a Corporator at the Wentworth Corporation, guiding, advising and advancing the Institute, alumnus inductee of World Association for Cooperative Education’s (WACE) Hall of Fame, and is the youngest person ever to endow a scholarship, the Crown Scholarship for undergraduates in the architecture program, and was awarded Wentworth’s Alumni Association’s 2015 Young Alumni Award. Michael also enjoys teaching REBNY and NYU real estate courses.

Anthony R. Milano / Founder & Principal

Prior to founding Crown, Anthony worked for world renowned developer and entrepreneur Jerry Nelson in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Anthony began as Director of Operations for Marbella Suites en la Playa, a boutique hotel that catered to corporate and educational retreats. Expanding his aptitude within real estate Anthony transitioned to Cabo’s newest development, Hacienda Encantada, where became the number one junior salesman his first 6 months. After successful tenure with Mr. Nelson, Anthony co-founded Crown alongside childhood friend Michael Santora. Anthony’s sales, marketing and management skills work as an excellent complement to Michael’s expertise. 

Anthony’s attention to detail without losing sight of the fundamental goals enables him to stay ahead of the game in the complex and always changing world of real estate. Anthony’s unique combination of skills allow him to see opportunities, as well as avoid or resolve problems. 

Anthony constantly implements modern management, efficiencies, technology, and personalized investments into each employee to keep the firm a leader amongst one of societies oldest professions.  Under the guidance and leadership of Anthony, Crown brands have consistently grown in fiscal and corporate size annually.

Anthony is currently the VP of the RESA (Real Estate Services Alliance) and was formerly a Board Member of the New York State Restaurant Association, where he was actively involved stemming from Crown’s former ownership in a restaurant.

Harris V. Smith, AIA / Principal 

Harris Smith, AIA, NCARB, is an experienced New York State Registered Architect and is the proud Director of Crown. His passion for all things architecture and art began early on and have stayed with him ever since.

Harris’s architectural career started at Meridian Design Associates, focusing primarily on prominent media companies—most notably Clear Channel Radio’s Headquarter Collocation. Many of his projects were featured in The New York Times, including Sirius Satellite Radio and World Wrestling Entertainment. Harris has been with Crown from the beginning and was quickly recognized as a cognoscenti in all architectural attributes; design, meticulous attention to detail, foresight, comprehension and understanding the roles and applications of all trades associated with construction projects. 

Throughout the years, Harris has acquired an in-depth understanding of the NYC Building Codes, Zoning Resolution, Energy Conservation Code and Landmarks Preservation. As a part of the Crown team, Harris has provided his extensive skill set to much of the portfolio, taking the lead on many projects and guiding clients through complex circumstances prevalent in New York City real estate.

Harris received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Architecture and Master of Architecture from the Savannah College of Art and Design and is certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. He also holds membership in American Institute of Architects and MoMA (Museum of Modern Art).