TAO + LEE: Designing with Purpose and Building Community

Architecture firm brings exceptional design to St. Louis for 30 years

In 1995, Peter Tao and Helen Lee decided to begin their architecture and design company, Tao & Lee Associates, in St. Louis. At the time, they were overseas in London, living abroad, working for large corporate firms and starting their family. After some reflection, they made the choice to return home to the U.S. and get back to their roots doing their own designs versus working for others. And, importantly, for the opportunity for their children to grow up with grandparents, something Peter & Helen did not have the opportunity due to immigration circumstances.

St. Louis became that starting point. Though they considered Los Angeles and New York, the amount of competition, especially when starting a business from scratch, confirmed their choice. In the end, St. Louis had more opportunities for starting a successful small business.

“We just decided, let’s go for St. Louis where we knew we could hopefully get some inroads a little sooner than the other big cities,” said Tao, principal at TAO + LEE Associates.

The early days weren’t easy. Being new, even with global experience, didn’t immediately open doors. The state’s “Show Me” mentality meant they had to prove themselves locally before being fully accepted, regardless of past experiences and expertise. But after nearly three decades in the business, they are seeing that mentality changing and evolving.

Now, TAO + LEE Associates is a leading voice in the region’s design community and recognized as a key contributor to some of the region’s most meaningful projects. Their work spans from cultural institutions and restaurants to higher education and residential projects, reflecting both a global perspective and deep local engagement.

Not only do Tao and Lee provide their skills and jobs to the St. Louis region, but they also focus on giving back and connecting with the area. Lee has been involved with many nonprofit arts organizations, and until recently, board chair for EarthDance Organic Farm School. Tao has been on the St. Louis Mosaic Project Steering Committee from its early days and currently board president of OCA Advocates St. Louis, an AANHPI advocacy and civil rights organization.

“We’re very embedded in our community through our participation in a lot of things we really believe in,” Lee, principal at TAO + LEE Associates, stated.

As Asian American architects, Tao and Lee don’t view their heritage as a style to replicate, but rather a lens that can inform their design aesthetic depending on the project type. Simple, serene and with a focus on nature, their work is a picture of quiet beauty.

This influence is especially visible in projects like the Missouri Botanical Garden’s new Visitor Center, where they collaborated with partners on the overall project and created their own design for the restaurant space that introduces biophilic themes and brings nature inside, emphasizing the natural charm.

That same philosophy guided their work on Corner 17, a popular Chinese restaurant in the Delmar Loop in University City, Mo. Taking the owner’s preferences and openness in stride, the pair was able to create a clean space that felt dramatic, yet simple. It set a new tone for what modern Chinese dining could look like in St. Louis.

Being one of the few Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI)-owned design firms in the region, Tao and Lee are deeply aware of their visibility. They are committed to giving a voice to their cultural community and mentoring others.

“I think the AAPI Community looks up to us because they’ve seen that we’ve achieved a certain amount of success and sometimes it helps,” Lee said. ”It helps them see like, ‘Oh, I can achieve this too?”’

Tao + Lee is the picture of a small business success story in St. Louis. As they continue shaping spaces across the city, they do so with intention. They emphasize that they take on clients first and foremost, and then projects.

“We try and really be very engaged with our clients. In the same way we mentor our community, we often wind up mentoring our clients,” Tao continued. “They don’t do as many projects as we do and typically, we can bring [our experience] to them.”

For more information on Tao + Lee, visit their website.