TOP MEP ENGINEERS PERSPECTIVE...vault’s new world class headquarters. Master planned for three...

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PerspectiveNJ Winter 2016 | 1 www.perspectiverem.com PERSPECTIVE NEW JERSEY VOL. 9, NO. 1 Winter 2016 Issue The comprehensive view of real estate, design and construction TOP MEP ENGINEERS PASSION. VISION. LONGEVITY. PASSION. VISION. LONGEVITY.

Transcript of TOP MEP ENGINEERS PERSPECTIVE...vault’s new world class headquarters. Master planned for three...

Page 1: TOP MEP ENGINEERS PERSPECTIVE...vault’s new world class headquarters. Master planned for three buildings totaling 650,000 SF with two, 800-car parking structures, the 290,000 SF

PerspectiveNJ Winter 2016 | 1 www.perspectiverem.com

P E R S P E C T I V EN E W J E R S E Y

VOL. 9, NO. 1 Winter 2016 IssueThe comprehensive view of real estate, design and construction

TOP MEP ENGINEERS

PASSION. VISION. LONGEVITY.PASSION. VISION. LONGEVITY.

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A 60-YEAR LEGACYIn 1955, Edward Blake and Donald Rotwein set out to cre-

ate an architectural practice that unbeknownst to them, would evolve to deliver a wealth of design and architectural planning solutions to various industry leaders including developers, major corporations, healthcare, religious and educational institutions as well as hospitality, retail, residential, and adaptive reuse proj-ects in the Northeast and across the U.S.

The two men began modestly working out of a one-room office in Union, New Jersey, designing residential additions and subdivisions through the late 1950s. During the 1960s, the team began receiving commissions from businesses, industry end-users, banks and manufacturing facilities—broadening their portfolio.

From the late 1970s to the mid-1980s the firm focused pre-dominately on office and industrial projects. “It was a time of economic growth and business expansion for New Jersey. De-velopers were buying large parcels of land in the suburbs and catering to the growing businesses that were in need of large buildings,” said Lance Blake, AIA, President of Rotwein+Blake. With emerging ‘entre-preneurial developers’ like Schenkman Kushner, Murray Construction, Connell Realty and The Evans Partnership capi-

talizing on this unprecedented demand for office and industrial buildings, they sought out the expertise of Rotwein+Blake to de-velop a design that would later set the industry standard for the ‘speculative office building’. “We developed a design concept that was flexible and would lend itself to accommodate not only several business types but could be subdivided for multiple ten-ants,” Blake explains. With a long list of amenities and grand atriums, these large scale multi-building master plans were just what the telecom and pharmaceutical companies were seeking at the time. Today, counties such as Union, Morris, Somerset and Warren house some of the most recognized office complexes in the state, with Rotwein+Blake being one of the first to work with developers to create a design concept that would become the catalyst for commercial office buildings in New Jersey during the expanding suburban sprawl.

The commercial boom continued to the keep the firm busy, however, their range of projects was not very diverse with office and commercial buildings dominating their workload. In 1984,

Lance Blake joined his father’s practice and began to expand the firm’s portfo-lio by targeting other market segments. “Having endured two major recessions, we knew we needed to diversify in order to survive the downturns,” says Blake. By the late 1990s the firm had expanded

“The role of the architect is to transpose a client’s needs into a

functional, aesthetic, psychological environment to serve those needs.”

Edward Blake, Founder, 1955

In the world of commercial real estate, it is not unusual to enter into a corporate headquarters or community place of worship in New Jersey that was designed by Rotwein+Blake, a renowned Livingston-based, full service architectural firm. Known in the industry as the ‘Developer’s Architect’, the firm celebrated its 60th anniversary this past year. To commemorate this milestone, we will reflect on the firm’s history throughout the decades and explore their evolution.

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been with the firm for over a decade. Their loyalty, coupled with our enduring relationships with clients like Normandy Real Estate Partners, The Nicotra Group, MRY Associates and The Fidelco Group, to name a few, are a true testament to our 60-year legacy,” Blake says.

The firm’s exceptional designs have shaped the land-scape over decades of evolving social, economic, and techni-cal change. From economic impact to Green Building awards, Rotwein+Blake has been recognized by several commercial real estate organizations for the impact their projects have had on communities. The firm has also recently received prestigious awards from the National Association of Industrial & Office Pro-fessionals (NAIOP) and United Way of Morris County.

Their clients fully agree. “We have worked closely with the Rotwein+Blake team for many years on a variety of different proj-ects,” says Mark Yeager, Principal of MRY Associates. They have designed for us a range of successful projects including ground-up Class A office developments, significant rehabilitations and renovations of antiquated building projects and intricate tenant improvement programs. I have found them to be extremely re-sponsive and customer service-oriented and they have always added great value to the successful completion of many chal-lenging assignments.”

LEADERS IN ZONING AND DEVELOPMENT With 60 years of experience comes a deep understand-

ing of potential roadblocks in the zoning and land planning process. Recognized in the industry as the ‘Developer’s Ar-chitect’, Rotwein+Blake approaches all of their develop-ment projects from a forward thinking perspective. Having planned hundreds of projects and testified before hundreds

their expertise to include interiors, re-tail space, medical offices, multi-family residential, childcare facilities, places of worship, educational and cultural facili-ties. “We needed to prove to the mar-ketplace that we were not only profi-cient in the office and industrial markets but other sectors as well,” Blake adds. Over the years, the firm’s stellar reputation enabled them to establish relationships and service reputable companies like Gale & Wentworth, Advance Realty Group, Chubb Realty and Roseland Properties, elevating Rotwein+Blake to a familiar name in the real estate industry.

In the early 2000s, with the commercial real estate market on the decline, Rotwein+Blake leveraged their relationships with clients that were major players in the multi-family sec-tor and convinced them that they were just as qualified, if not more qualified, than the residential architectural firms they were using. “We had an added advantage. Having specialized in dif-ferent project types and various construction methodologies, we were able to bring something more to the table,” Blake said. Opportunities with Roseland Properties and Century 21 Con-struction paved the way for the firm to tap into the multi-family residential market, one of the hottest real estate segments in New Jersey today.

Rotwein+Blake continues to thrive under the leadership of Lance Blake, who has been with the firm for over 30 years. Spe-cializing in architecture, planning, design, workplace strategy and adaptive reuse, their design philosophy still focuses on integri-ty, innovation and practical solutions. The firm is among a small group of independent New Jersey architectural practices that have reached the notable 60-year milestone. Blake credits the firm’s continuing success to its employees and clients. “We have an extraordinary group of talented professionals—a majority, have

“We needed to prove to the marketplace that we were not only proficient in the office and industrial markets but other sectors as well.”

Lance Blake, AIA, President

left to right across spread: Commvault, 466 Springfield, and BASF

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accommodate the zoning bulk requirements but fulfill Comm- vault’s vision. The headquarters, completed from start-to-finish in just two years, was a project Rotwein+Blake competed for and was awarded over some of the world’s largest architectural firms.

“We were very pleased with the job Rotwein+Blake did for us,” said Louis Miceli, Senior Vice President of Commvault. “They clearly understood what we were looking for, our likes and dislikes, and Lance and his team came back with an amazing looking building. It looked great on paper and then when it was built, we liked it even more. We will definitely work with Rotwein+Blake again.”

10 Sylvan Way | ParsippanyThe existing 125,000 SF building, currently under construc-

tion, will receive a major transformation with a minimal impact to the existing structure. The design enlivens the office park setting with a unique property worthy of a new headquarters.

Rotwein+Blake proposed to strip the 30-year-old exte-rior cladding and sculpt a dramatic three-story entry vol-ume punctuated with engineered grand wood blades that diffuse light and create dramatic shadows across the plaza. With minimal structural effort, the dated and radius corners were eliminated and replaced with a refreshing new compo-sition of natural materials. A lightweight rain screen stone panel system and composite wood exterior cladding further enhanced the new geometry of the building.

The interior lobby and common spaces were designed in collaboration with Jenkins & Grey and seamlessly marry the elements of the exterior to create a cohesive and dramatic new look befitting a new Class A building.

Lois Lane | Staten Island The three-story office building situated at the entrance of a

mixed-use office/hotel park will soon be home to Long Island Jewish Outpatient Surgery Center and Richmond University Medical Center’s Behavioral Science Department. This sleek contemporary design will become the gateway building into the park. Site constraints to the buildable area and wetlands pres-ervation posed a design challenge for the team. Rotwein+Blake

created an inspiring piece of architec-ture that also served a function.

Metrotop Office Park | Woodbridge Rotwein+Blake expanded an ex-

isting three-story, 90,000 SF build-ing and four-story parking garage by designing a ten-story 265,000 SF Class A tower including full archi-tecture, interiors, and construction phase services.

of municipalities, the firm is able to anticipate and quickly ad-dress any obstacles in the zoning and approval process that can hinder the progression for development.

CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS & INTERIORSSince Lance Blake began to expand the firm’s scope of

projects, Rotwein+Blake has developed quite an impressive résumé of completed buildings and landmarks.

The Green at Florham Park | BASFAs part of a larger redevelopment plan which included a total

of 830,000 SF of combined office space, hotel, New York Jets training facility, and a residential subdivision, this project origi-nally configured four speculative buildings totaling 600,000 SF. It was then reorganized to accommodate two larger buildings, one of which was designated for BASF’s North American head-quarters. The project was the first campus building in northern New Jersey to achieved LEED, CS, and Interiors Platinum status.

Rotwein+Blake performed the role of master planner and executive architect while KPF International performed the role of design architect for the building concept. The two teams collaborated to create a truly unique suburban archi-tectural statement.

Commvault | Tinton FallsRotwein+Blake’s collaboration with Jenkins & Grey (inte-

rior designer) seamlessly executed the first phase of Comm-vault’s new world class headquarters. Master planned for three buildings totaling 650,000 SF with two, 800-car parking structures, the 290,000 SF building was designed from the programmatic driven interiors. The architectural and interiors team successfully fulfilled Commvault’s vision of providing an optimized working environment for employees as well as providing a professional environment for clients and visitors.

The striking exterior is composed of cutting-edge rainscreen systems combining lightweight limestone panels with alumi-num and engineered wood (prodema). The canted three-story piers, capped with an aluminum sunshade, cast shadows along the curtainwall façade throughout the day and help to mitigate solar gain dur-ing the peak cooling season. The over-all composition presents a warm yet ultra-contemporary image that reflects and informs the interiors as well as the overall culture of Commvault.

The firm’s expertise in zoning and land planning enabled them to come up with a basis for a design that would not only

“We have worked closely with the Rotwein+Blake team for many years

on a variety of different projects. They are extremely responsive and customer service-oriented and have always added great value to the successful completion

of many challenging assignments.”

Mark Yeager, Principal, MRY Associates, LLC

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Pennant Capital | SummitWalking distance to the train station

and packed with amenities, this 11,000 SF office space, designed in collabora-tion with Jenkins & Grey, achieves an open and collaborative environment for its employees with clean lines, rich

materials and an abundance of natural light through floor-to-ceiling glass office fronts. Amenities such as a full service gym, locker room facility, gourmet kitchen and dining lounge further foster and reinforce interaction among the staff. Exquisite stone and wood, meticulously detailed, adorn the entrance and re-ception lobby, establishing the identity and brand for a high-end private equity firm.

Audible | Newark Rotwein+Blake’s vision for Audible’s ‘loft style’ headquar-

ters in Newark was to create a workspace that would fos-ter collaboration and creativity. The free flow of ideas at this media company begins with a space that is clear of offices, walls, and doors. Clusters of sleek workstations, fish bowl conference rooms, and a chic dining area under lofty ceilings provide an atmosphere that inspires.

RELIGIOUS, MEDICAL AND EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES

Lifetown | Friendship Circle of New Jersey The first of its kind in the region, Lifetown will redefine the

landscape for individuals with special needs. The 47,000 SF center, located in Livingston, is an adaptive reuse of an ex-isting industrial building into a multi-faceted specialized fa-cility serving special needs children and the greater commu-nity-at-large. The facility will house dedicated functions and community-oriented spaces including a youth center, volun-

A three-story atrium was developed to link all the structures together, cre-ating a connectivity of amenities for its tenants. Among the amenities the team designed was a fitness center, full ser-vice café, and an event space atop the tenth floor, affording sweeping views.

Cole Schotz P.C. | New YorkThe new home of Cole Schotz P.C. New York, located at 1325

Avenue of the Americas, sets the standard for law firm design in-novation. The 19th floor was completely redesigned to accom-modate the needs of a very high-end law firm. Designed with clean lines and beautiful natural materials, the 25,000 SF space combines private and open collaborative workspaces, creat-ing an environment that is both functional and modern. Lime-stone, wood veneer and millwork finishes were incorporated throughout the design to create a simple yet elegant space. Rotwein + Blake provided complete design services, program-ming, planning, design, construction drawings, and construc-tion administration.

“They clearly understood what we were looking for, our likes and dislikes,

and Lance and his team came back with an amazing looking building.”

Louis Miceli, Senior Vice President, Commvault

Lois Lane

above: Metrotop Office Park; below: Cole Schotz P.C. New York

Pennant Capital

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Partial underbuilding parking was incorporated into the de-sign in order to accommodate site limitations. Rotwein+Blake is responsible for the design, zoning approvals, construction drawings and construction ad-ministration.

“Rotwein+Blake has been in-tegral in meeting several chal-lenging site constraints through their impressive planning and design process,” notes Eugene R. Diaz, Principal of Prism Green Associates. “They were terrific at coordinating the unique ar-chitectural details required by a fitness center structure with a 20-foot-high ceiling. We have been on an accelerated pace

and Rotwein+Blake has been facilitating the construction schedule and rapid deployment of their plan and design process.”

Kesher Synagogue | EnglewoodThe team at Rotwein+Blake was contacted to help design

a building that would reflect the values, sense of commu-nity and spirituality for the congregation at the Kesher Syn-agogue. The existing site was on the edge of a residential zone, so in order to be sensitive to the surrounding neigh-borhood and yet still fulfill the requirements, the building was organized into three areas in a U-shaped configuration, utilizing warm materials commonly used in residential con-struction to blend into the neighborhood. The team was re-sponsible for the entire scope of services—including master land planning, zoning and approvals, full design services and the development of marketing materials.

Mt. Pleasant Medical Plaza | West Orange A former pharmaceutical R&D facility constructed over

the span of five decades presented numerous chal-lenges in adapting to a medical complex. The enor-mous footprint, environ-mental issues, floor-to-floor connectivity and existing lack of parking were just a few of the issues facing the design team. The change of use required a much great-er parking demand than the existing site could ac-commodate. The enormous

footprint of the building was not conducive to breakup into multiple tenants. Striking the right balance, a well thought

out master plan was crafted for the building and site, utilizing large por-tions of the interior repurposed for covered parking, as well as carving out courtyards to accommodate sig-nificantly more window line.

teer lounge, bowling alley, multi-purpose room, gymnasium, aquatic center, and a therapeutic activity wing with customized activity rooms for indoor and outdoor sensory play. The focal point of the building will be the “Life Village”. The 11,000 SF simulated town square is designed to help special needs chil-dren develop the necessary life skills for independent living. This project will be completed in the Winter of 2016.

“Lifetown is a unique and complex adaptive-reuse project with many one-of-a-kind features,” said Rabbi Zalman Gross-baum of Friendship Circle. “Lance Blake and his entire team embraced our vision of creating life-changing opportunities for people with special needs. They put their heart and soul into bringing LifeTown to fruition. They are a pleasure to work with.”

The Frisch School | Paramus Rotwein+Blake transformed the former 150,000 SF Hewlett

Packard building into a world class 21st century educational facility. Both the building and the site were completely re-purposed for high school use. A gymnasium, cafeteria, and main entrance, as well as a completely new MEP system and infrastructure, were in-corporated into this project. Ultimately, the facility topped out at 170,000 SF at a cost of $45M including land value.

LA Fitness | West OrangeThis new ground-up build-

ing located in West Orange will soon be home to LA Fit-ness, one of Fitness Interna-tional’s modern fitness clubs. The 46,000 SF facility will fea-ture a wide range of amenities including basketball and racquetball courts, an indoor cycling studio, aerobics room, swimming pool and spas, dry saunas, modern equipment, free weights, personal training area, physical therapy area, a “Kids Klub” play area and juice bar.

“I use R+B on a number of commercial and residential properties. They

have tremendous creativity.”

Ivan Sobel, Principal, Atlantic Realty Corp.

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top: Lifetown of Friendship Circle; left: The Frisch School of Paramus right: Kesher Synagogue of Englewood

Mt. Pleasant Medical Plaza

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CLIENTS:Avison Young – Project Management USA, LLC Service: Full service commercial real estate firm Projects: BASF, Florham Park, NJ; The Center of Morris County, Parsippany, NJ; Commvault, Tinton Falls, NJ; Lifetown, Livingston, NJ; Pennant Capital, Summit, NJ

Century 21 Construction Services: Full-service commercial construction company specializing in general contracting, construction management and project consulting Projects: Highlands@Hilltop 1 & 2 in Verona, NJ; Cablevision, Newark, NJ

Friendship Circle of Metro West Services: Jewish organization for children with special needs Project: Lifetown, Livingston, NJ

MRY Associates LLC Services: Commercial & Retail Real Estate Project: 10 Sylvan Way, Parsippany, NJ; 466 Springfield Avenue, Summit, NJ

The Nicotra Group LLC Services: Commercial Real Estate, Hotels, Event Space and Restaurants Projects: Lois Lane, Staten Island; Corporate Commons, Staten Island; Hilton Garden Inn, Staten Island

Normandy Real Estate Partners Services: Acquisition, Asset Management, Development and Construction, Leasing, Property Management, Capital Markets Projects: 10 Sylvan Way, Parsippany, NJ; 466 Springfield Avenue, Summit, NJ

PROJECT TEAM MEMBERS:Air Group, LLC Services: Heating, Cooling, Plumbing and Electrical Projects: Fair Lawn Promenade, Fair Lawn, NJ; Kesher Synagogue, Englewood, NJ; Lifetown, Livingston, NJ

Avison Young – Project Management USA, LLC Service: Full service commercial real estate firm Projects: BASF, Florham Park, NJ; The Center of Morris County, Parsippany, NJ; Commvault, Tinton Falls, NJ; Lifetown, Livingston, NJ; Pennant Capital, Summit, NJ

Century 21 Construction Services: Full-service commercial construction company specializing in general contracting, construction management and project consulting Projects: Highlands@Hilltop 1 & 2 in Verona, NJ; Cablevision, Newark, NJ

Construction Specialties, Inc. Services: Architectural Specialty Products Projects: Commvault, Tinton Falls, NJ; Cablevision, Newark, NJ

Edward J. Development, Inc. Services: General Contracting Project: Kesher Synagogue

Haas Construction Management Services: Construction Management Project: 10 Sylvan Way, Parsippany, NJ

Hollister Construction Services, LLC Services: Leading full-service construction manager Projects: Lifetown, Livingston, NJ; Audible.com, Newark, NJ

ILA Lighting & Controls Services: Layout & Specification, Budget Cost Analysis, Photometrics & Calculations, Product Samples & Demos, Leed & Ashrae 90.1 compliance, National Account Support Projects: Audible, Newark, NJ; Cole Schotz P.C., Hackensack, NJ; Commons Café, Staten Island, NY; Hilton Garden Inn, Staten Island, NY

Jenkins & Grey LLC Services: Interior Design, Branding, Landscape Design Projects: Commvault, Tinton Falls, NJ; 10 Sylvan Way, Parsippany, NJ; Pennant Capital, Summit, NJ

Khachaturian Engineering Associates (KEA) Services: Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, Fire Protection Projects: Lois Lane, Staten Island, NY; Cablevision, Newark, NJ; Audible, Newark, NJ; Lifetown, Livingston, NJ

Lynch Contracting LLC Services: General Contracting and Construction Management Projects: Audible, Newark, NJ; Newark Venture Partners and other projects

Melillo + Bauer Associates Services: Landscape Architecture Projects: Commvault,Tinton Falls, NJ; Highlands@Hilltop 1 & 2, Verona, NJ; Metrotop, Woodbridge, NJ

Pella Windows & Doors of New York and New Jersey Services: Windows, Doors and Installation for Commercial, Retail and Residential Projects Project: 14 Willow, Hoboken, NJ

Stone Truss Systems, Inc. Services: Commercial – Dimensional Stone, Interior/Exterior Projects: 10 Sylvan Way, Parsippany, NJ; The Center of Morris County, NJ; Commvault, Tinton Falls, NJ

URBAN INFILL, RESIDENTIAL & HOSPITALITY

14 Willow | Hoboken This mixed-use development, lo-

cated at the gateway entrance to Hoboken, will add to the vibrant 24/7 atmosphere that permeates the his-toric streets. The building will contain 140 luxury apartments and 22,000 SF of retail space. Four stories of below grade parking totaling 387 spaces will service the retail and residence. The seven story design will feature high end amenities including a pool, terraces, vegetated green roofs, fit-ness and spacious community facili-ties. The building is also designed to include state-of-the-art energy tech-nology in order to achieve LEED cer-tification and Energy Star ratings.

Cablevision | 494 Broad St., Newark The newly renovated and expand-

ed 494 Broad Street contributes to the vitality of the flourishing Wash-ington Park district. Constructed on a 40,000 SF surface parking lot, the mixed use 10-story structure consists of an eight level parking facility ac-commodating 630 parking spaces, 80,000 SF of office space for Cablevi-sion, a newly renovated lobby, and 4,500 SF of future retail space.

The precast structure is predomi-nately clad with zinc panels, curtain wall and aluminum louvers that con-ceal the parking levels. The overall image presents a sleek cohesive con-nection between the eight stories of parking and the two levels of office structure that cap it.

“Rotwein+Blake has consistently delivered exceptional architectural designs for many projects we have collaborated on over the years,” says Marc E. Berson, Chair-man of Fidelco Realty Group. “Exemplified by our new tower at 494 Broad Street, Newark for Cablevision, their designs have proven to be very buildable from the per-spective of our in house team and general contractors.”

466 Springfield Avenue | SummitThis mixed-use, four-story, 37,000 SF building, located in the heart of downtown

Summit, caters to an increasing demand for modern day workspaces in downtowns with an abundance of amenities and easy access to public transportation. This proj-ect includes retail space on the first floor with offices on the remaining three floors and a roof terrace. The street-facing exterior skin features a cast stone, brick veneer contextual façade blending with the downtown character of the existing streetscape. The sleek contemporary massing of the back of the building responds to the more distant views of the NJ Transit rail lines.

“Lance Blake and his entire team embraced our vision of creating life-changing opportunities for people with special needs. They

put their heart and soul into bringing LifeTown to fruition.”

Rabbi Zalman Grossbaum, Friendship Circle

above: 14 Willow; below: 494 Broad Street

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drastically changed over the past 60 years. With new technology changing the way we design and present to our clients, we have had to become more nimble and strategic in how we oper-ate our business. The entrepreneurial developer slowly gave way to develop-ers forming partnerships with institu-

tions such as pension funds, private equity firms and investment banks, which in turn changed the process. Owner’s Rep firms have been on the rise in New Jersey over the past 10 years and are also impacting the market. As a high end boutique firm, we needed to reposition and reintroduce ourselves to the market-place in order to compete on the same level as these larger firms,” Blake explains.

Having come full circle, the firm is now breathing new life into the dated Generation ‘70s/’80s suburban office buildings of yesterday in preparation for the new era. With new building envelopes, systems and technology, these once highly sought out campuses are now being repositioned to accommodate to-day’s workforce. “The future is really broad in all sectors. We are finding that the notion of the suburban spec office building is becoming a dinosaur. Development is moving toward the urban areas and owners are redesigning their aging suburban cam-

puses to accommodate the mixes and provide tenants with ‘lifestyle’ amenities. Mu-nicipalities are also on board with rezoning and repurpos-ing to accommodate for a mix of uses,” says Blake.

With a client-focused vision and reputation for high qual-ity projects, growth and ex-pansion are in the future for Rotwein+Blake. During the last few years, their client base has grown outside of the Tri-State area—with new projects from Texas and Florida. Blake hopes to continue this out-ward trend and bring on new,

highly experienced professionals as the company expands their business. They expect to see a modest growth of 10 to 20% over the next five years as Rotwein+Blake continues to evolve. The firm will also continue to nurture their longstanding client rela-tionships and work towards establishing new ones.

”Although our industry has changed alot over the years, the nature of how we do business remains the same. We’ve built a reputation based on integrity, design excellence and providing our clients with business-centric solutions in an ethical, collaborative, and highly personalized manner. They are the guiding principles established by our founders that

we will continue to build upon over our next 60 years.” n

For more information on Rotwein+Blake please visit www.rb-arch.com. Contact Lance Blake at (973) 740-9755 or at [email protected].

Hilton Garden Inn | Staten Island This was the first of many projects

completed by Rotwein+Blake for The Nicotra Group. This eight story, 62,000 SF expansion consisted of an additional 72 hotel rooms and suites on the first six floors, a new luxury ballroom on the sev-enth floor and a sophisticated rooftop bar and lounge with heated cabanas for guests to enjoy. There is also a private dining room for special events that can accom-modate up to 50 guests. The new event space has become a major destination for the corporate campus and has enabled ownership to host numerous types of events simultaneously.

11 Avenue C | New York, NYLocated on the prominent junction of Houston, 2nd Street

and Avenue C in the East Village, the narrow triangular site pre-sented numerous challenges from its odd shape to zoning con-straints. Rotwein+Blake crafted a well thought-out solution that would maximize potential development opportunity for the cli-ent. At ten stories, the building will have 4,600 SF of ground level retail, 46 residential apartments and a landscaped roof terrace. The design situates the retail component on the lively Houston Street side while the residential entrance is strategi-cally placed on the quieter 2nd Street side, creating a private setting for residents.

The brick and zinc façade blend a modern twist to a historic warehouse style, reminiscent of the chic residential adaptive reuse projects of SoHo and Tribeca.

Other noteworthy projects and clients include: • Chubb Headquarters • CIBC Oppenheimer • Congregation Beth El • Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy • Kushner Companies • Sharey Telfilo Israel • Suburban Torah Center • Highlands at Hilltop I & II

THE NEXT GENERATIONAs Lance Blake looks toward future, he considers how the

next generation of leadership will continue to execute on the principles of Rotwein+Blake. With a re-cent rebrand and transformation, their new website and logo conveys the firm’s evolution over six decades with a fresh new voice and positions them as a major contender among the larg-er international firms. “Our industry has

“Rotwein+Blake has been integral in meeting several challenging site constraints through their impressive

planning and design process.”

Eugene R. Diaz, Principal Prism Green Associates III LLC

“Rotwein+Blake has consistently delivered exceptional architectural designs for many projects we have

collaborated on over the years.”

Marc E. Berson, Chairman Fidelco Realty Group

Hilton Garden Inn

11 Avenue C

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