Stephen Atkinson Architecture is committed to the production of beautiful and meaningful contemporary architecture that is reductive in nature—composed of very few parts, but that result in a greater whole when combined. These designs may be reflections on a geographic area, prevailing building type, or an object's use. Invariably, they are simple and restrained, and convey a dignity and sense of history without affectation or self-consciousness.

Stephen Atkinson was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1967. He graduated with distinction from the Harvard Graduate School of Design in 1993, and after an apprenticeship in Boston with Machado and Silvetti Associates, founded his own firm in 2000. The office has received several awards and has been featured in numerous publications. Stephen Atkinson teaches courses within the Stanford University Continuing Studies program. The firm has an active license in the state of California.