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Megan Apostol

A group photo of the four panelists and moderator on the construction and design panel.

Pradeep Kapoor Joins MARE Journal Healthcare Panel

Pradeep Kapoor Joins MARE Journal Healthcare Panel 789 444 DMR Architects

On January 30, DMR President & CEO Pradeep Kapoor, AIA joined a panel at the Mid Atlantic Real Estate Journal Healthcare and Medical Properties Conference at the Sheraton Edison Hotel.

Pradeep joined industry colleagues on “Critical Construction and Design Issues for Medical Properties and Hospitals” panel to discuss project planning, financing, design trends and what DMR is seeing in the healthcare marketplace. Other panel members included Nathan Howell of STV, Inc.; Kate Kerpcha of BFI; Mitchell Brie of Empower HCP & moderator Ron Simoncini of Axiom Communications.

Prior to assuming the role of President & CEO of DMR in January 2024, Pradeep established himself as a leader in specialty work during his 20+ year tenure with the firm. As a project manager and project executive, he has led healthcare projects for clients including Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Hackensack Meridian Health, Hunterdon Healthcare, Valley Hospital and St. Peter’s University Hospital.

For more on DMR’s healthcare experience, visit our portfolio page.

A rendering shows what closing George Street to vehicular traffic could look like, such as outdoor dining under a pergola, protected by bollards.

DMR Impact Study and Conceptual Design of Reimagined George Street Reviewed by New Brunswick Mayor & Council

DMR Impact Study and Conceptual Design of Reimagined George Street Reviewed by New Brunswick Mayor & Council 789 444 DMR Architects

Responding to the desire for continued outdoor dining and experiences, New Brunswick’s mayor and council reviewed an impact study and design concepts for a reimagined George Street at their January 17 meeting.

One of the design options is for the conversion of George Street, between Bayard and Albany Streets, to become a pedestrian only mall that features year-round activation including outdoor dining, performance spaces and winter festivals.

The closure of the three-block area was first explored during the COVID-19 pandemic to allow for its restaurants to safely stay open, which then morphed into a lively area that also hosted art shows, football watch parties and live music.

DMR provided four options including a no-build which would keep the existing, summer only closure, one-way traffic conversions for either vehicles only or buses only, and a complete closure to convert the area into a permanent pedestrian plaza. As part of the assignment, DMR studied how these options would impact traffic on nearby streets, emergency vehicle access, public transportation routes for NJ TRANSIT and Rutgers University buses, as well as parking, wayfinding, and trash and recycling pickup.

The plans could provide for a central 24 ft. wide spine, which includes outdoor seating and temporary Tivoli lighting during the spring, summer and fall months and year-round programming.

Lloyd Rosenberg and Pradeep Kapoor

As New Era Begins, A Look Back at DMR History

As New Era Begins, A Look Back at DMR History 789 444 DMR Architects

On January 3 DMR named Pradeep Kapoor, AIA, LEED AP BD+C President & CEO, becoming only the second person in the firm’s 32-year history to serve in that role. Pradeep succeeds Lloyd A. Rosenberg, AIA, the visionary and driving force behind the firm that we know today.

As a new era begins, we look back on the other projects and moments that changed the course of our firm.

Pradeep Kapoor

DMR Names Pradeep Kapoor President & CEO; Founder Lloyd Rosenberg Chairman

DMR Names Pradeep Kapoor President & CEO; Founder Lloyd Rosenberg Chairman 2560 1450 DMR Architects

Pradeep Kapoor, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, who joined DMR Architects in 2001, has been named President & Chief Executive Officer of DMR Architects. Lloyd A. Rosenberg, AIA, who founded the firm in 1991, has been named the newly created role of Chairman and will remain active in strategic initiatives.

Mr. Rosenberg’s strategy of integrating design, planning, and construction management services has resulted in it rising to the third largest architectural enterprise in the state with special strengths in municipal planning, residential, public, educational, and healthcare practice areas.

“Lloyd’s visionary leadership has not only shaped the identity of our firm, it has fostered an environment of creativity and excellence,” said Pradeep Kapoor.  “His guidance has left an indelible mark and I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to build upon the remarkable legacy he has created.”

“Pradeep has grown immensely during his years at DMR and it is very gratifying to see him assume control of the day-to-day operations of the firm,” said Lloyd Rosenberg.  “The culture of DMR has continuously evolved, but threshold moments like this are rare in any firm.  It is especially important to me that the partners are collaborating not only in selecting a new leader but in directing the future of the firm.  DMR is at the all-time height of its productivity and influence in the marketplace and is on the precipice of becoming an even greater version of itself.”

Text that says DMR Dimensions, Winter 2023-2024.

DMR Dimensions – Winter 2023-2024 Edition

DMR Dimensions – Winter 2023-2024 Edition 2550 1252 DMR Architects

The latest DMR Dimensions is here.

We hope you enjoy reading about the people and projects that made 2023 another great year at DMR.

The media center at the Blanquita B. Valenti Community School, showing flexible furniture, book storage and in the distance, the glass-enclosed makerspace.

Media Center is Centerpiece of Technologically-Advanced Blanquita B. Valenti Community School in New Brunswick

Media Center is Centerpiece of Technologically-Advanced Blanquita B. Valenti Community School in New Brunswick 789 444 DMR Architects

Students at the DMR-designed Blanquita B. Valenti Community School are enjoying their first year at the three-story, 127,000 SF facility featuring a media center, technology lab, makerspace, and science demonstration rooms in addition to other traditional education spaces.

DMR is committed to being one of the best of breed for designing technological advancements in education spaces, striving to set another new standard for learning, mentoring and interacting for the 900 K-eighth graders.

The project is one of more than 30 projects that DMR has worked on for the New Brunswick Board of Education since 2010 including assessments/reports/long rang facility planning; Energy Savings Improvement Program (ESIP) projects; HVAC upgrades; roofs; and fields, in addition to the auxiliary gym addition at New Brunswick High School which is currently under construction.

“The media center was an especially important element to this project; it needed to be a meaningful learning environment for students who are tackling the alphabet for the first time all the way up to kids who are taking advanced STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) activities and coding classes,” said Lloyd Rosenberg AIA.

The 3,000 SF space features wraparound, floor-to-ceiling windows, bookshelves incorporated into the backs of seating and furniture, and a classroom with electronic whiteboards for small-group instruction.  Additionally, an area of the media center that is encased in glass windows is used as a makerspace filled with things such as virtual reality tech and 3-D printers.

Planning incorporated flexibility and adaptability throughout the building as shown in the multipurpose room with removable seating so that it can be easily converted for activities such as school dances and science fairs.  DMR’s design also provides a separate entrance for its kindergarteners so that their earlier pick-up time does not disrupt classes for the rest of the students.

In a creative land arrangement, the Blanquita B. Valenti Community School replaced the Lincoln Annex School, formerly St. Peter’s High School and Elementary School, which was demolished for construction of the state’s first free-standing cancer hospital.

A plan lays out where a variety of sports fields, such as softball, baseball, football and lacrosse, can be accomodated for a proposed park project.

Diverse Professional Planning Services For 15 Municipalities Demonstrate DMR’s Robust Specialties

Diverse Professional Planning Services For 15 Municipalities Demonstrate DMR’s Robust Specialties 789 444 DMR Architects

DMR is serving more than 15 New Jersey municipalities offering a full complement of professional planning services, including consulting on affordable housing, cannabis zoning, sustainability, major redevelopment projects, and landscape design. The roster of work tells the story of a depth of capabilities and the cohesive planning services DMR provides.

In Verona, DMR was first contracted as its affordable housing planner, beginning a process that ultimately reduced the township’s affordable housing obligation and set into motion a plan for the town to satisfy it. That experience soon led to coming on as the borough planner and completing an analysis of the township’s master plan to confirm that DMR’s future goals aligned with the document. The analysis resulted in recommendations that would improve the town center and rezone two sites totaling almost 20 acres.

In Dunellen, DMR continues to consult on redevelopment, master planning, affordable housing, zoning and climate resiliency, with an underlying theme of focusing on engaging the small, but active, town. Hundreds of members have weighed in on surveys or at public meetings, arriving at a number of meaningful implementations including: the Downtown Vision Plan, the Master Plan Reexamination, the Cannabis Business Public Survey, the Climate Resiliency Plan, zoning changes and new retail opportunities.

A project in Woodcliff Lake is highlighting DMR’s landscape design capabilities, calling for a park that would profoundly change the surrounding neighborhood and in New Brunswick, the mayor and council are considering a similarly dramatic change to George Street.

15+ more investigation studies, redevelopment plans, master plans or consulting projects are ongoing in diverse municipalities including Atlantic Highlands, Chatham, Hackensack, Middletown, North Arlington, Nutley, Paramus, Ridgefield and Rutherford.

A decorative stock image with the letters PPP, an acronym public-private partnerships.

Leading the way in P3

Leading the way in P3 789 444 DMR Architects

Legislation enacted in early 2019 revived the P3 (public-private partnership) conversation in New Jersey, with DMR, a longtime supporter of the model, leading the way through a variety of advocacy efforts, including published media, conference involvement, and webinars.

The P3 business model allows for public projects to be undertaken via a design-build-finance-operate-maintain methodology, rather than the traditional design-bid-build approach. Dating back as far as 2009, DMR encouraged the use of the P3 model, at the time through the Local Redevelopment and Housing Law. With the design-build construction approach a significant aspect of the model, and with a uniquely qualified staff of professionals with municipal government, real estate development, land use law, planning and financial budgeting and analysis experience, DMR is ideally qualified to help lead the way in P3 advocacy.

“As supporters of the model for more than 10 years, we are excited to finally have an enthusiastic audience to share our knowledge with,” said Lloyd A. Rosenberg, AIA. “P3 legislation has been on our radar for years and we are excited to finally see its impact.”

A roundup of advocacy efforts includes:

  • A professional development seminar at the New Jersey League of Municipalities Annual Conference, “Is A P3 Right for Your Infrastructure Project? A Case Study” (November 2023)
  • A byline by Charles H. Sarlo, Esq., “Municipal Capital Projects: Newfound Alternative Procurement,” published in New Jersey Municipalities. (October 2023)
  • A professional development seminar,  “Options for Capital Projects: P3, Redevelopment, LPCL,” at the Rutgers University Public Purchasing Educational Online Forum (April 2021)
  • Two consecutive years of involvement in New Jersey Alliance for Action’s P3 conferences, including the “The Impact of Encouraging P3’s on Government Owned Energy Infrastructure Projects” (June 2020) and the “Public-Private Partnership Conference” (March 2019)
  • A professional development seminar at the New Jersey League of Municipalities Annual Conference, “P3 and Municipal Projects, Perfect Together?” (November 2019)
  • A feature article published in Real Estate New Jersey, “New state law for public-private projects is an opportunity for design, construction firms” (April 2019)
  • A byline by Charles H. Sarlo, Esq., “Public Infrastructure Procurement: A Whole New Ball Game?” shared on the DMR blog and originally published in the NJAC County Biz newsletter. (April 2019)
  • A byline by Charles H. Sarlo, Esq., “Municipalities and P3,” published in New Jersey Municipalities. (March 2019)
  • A forecast from Lloyd A. Rosenberg, AIA in the ROI-NJ 2019 Real Estate Predictions that “Public-private partnerships and design-build programs will become more prevalent…and establish themselves as common, rather than exceptions, in the development realm, especially when it comes to public buildings.” (January 2019)
  • Involvement in a New Jersey League of Municipalities webinar, “P3 Potential: The New Law and Your Municipality” (December 2018)
  • Professional development seminars at the New Jersey League of Municipalities Annual Conference (November 2016) and New Jersey Association of Counties Conference (June 2017), “Infrastructure Public-Private Partnerships, its Role in the Future of New Jersey and its Benefit to Municipalities,” (November 2016).

This post was originally published in March 2019 and is periodically updated. (Most recent update November 2023).

The cover page of the report with abstract art depicting climate change.

New Jersey Future Report Seeks to Guide Municipalities in Addressing Climate Change

New Jersey Future Report Seeks to Guide Municipalities in Addressing Climate Change 789 444 DMR Architects

(Image courtesy of New Jersey Future)

New Jersey Future has published the Guide to Local Climate Change Adaption Planning, a first of its kind roadmap on how municipalities can proactively address climate change vulnerabilities in their communities.

“Municipalities can initiate comprehensive climate adaptation through hazard assessments, adaptation planning processes, and purposeful implementation of adaptation actions that make the entire community climate-ready. In fact, municipalities are now required to incorporate climate assessments and strategies into their comprehensive plans,” New Jersey Future outlined in their announcement.

Daniel Hauben, PP, AICP, LEED Green Associate was a contributor to the document.

Text that notes the session title, date, time, location and presenter, along with a headshot of the presenter.

Is A P3 Right for Your Infrastructure Project? A Case Study. (Join Us at NJLM)

Is A P3 Right for Your Infrastructure Project? A Case Study. (Join Us at NJLM) 789 444 DMR Architects

Join us as Charles H. Sarlo, Esq. joins a professional development session at the New Jersey League of Municipalities Annual Conference.

Tuesday, November 14

10:45 a.m. 

Room 415, Atlantic City Convention Center 

Public entities now have procurement options when considering a capital infrastructure project. Public-Private Partnership agreements, commonly known as P3, can have certain advantages over the traditional use of the Local Public Contracts Law. The panel, which is currently working through the process of the first P3 project under New Jersey’s P3 law, will offer a regulatory overview & provide insight from the views of both the public and private sector.

Panelists:

  • Timothy McDonald, Mayor, Lacey Twp.
  • Veronica Laureigh, Administrator, Township of Lacey
  • Charles H. Sarlo, Esq., General Counsel and Partner, DMR Architects, Inc.
  • James Fuja, Director of Sustainable Infrastructure, Johnson Controls

CEU Details:

CMFO Off Mgmt-1.5, CCFO-Off Mgmt-1.5,CPWM-Mgmt-1.5, RMC-Prof Devel 1.5,QPA-P/P-1.5, CPA-PD 1.5,NJCLE-1.5, PACLE 1.0, LGLP-5.0, Engineer(PE)-1.0,CRP-Classroom 1.25,RPPO/RPPS-P/P 1.5

CEUs: 

CCFO, CMFO, CPA, CPWM, CRP, Engineer(PE), LGLP, NJCLE, PACLE, QPA, RMC, RPPO/RPPS

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