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Megan Apostol

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.

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).

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.

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

LEED Certification: Building a Sustainable Future

LEED Certification: Building a Sustainable Future 789 444 DMR Architects

By Lisa Fant

Sustainability is on the rise in the real estate sector, driven by homebuyers’ preferences for eco-friendly properties and environmentally conscious building practices. With the pressing global issues of climate change, resource depletion, and the need for more sustainable alternatives, sustainability is now a top priority. It’s no longer an option but a necessity, fundamentally reshaping how architectural firms approach their projects.

Chief Operations Officer and Partner at DMR Architects in Hasbrouck Heights, Pradeep Kapoor, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, is recognized as an early champion of sustainable design as one of the first architects in New Jersey to achieve LEED accreditation. Crediting a longstanding interest and passion for sustainable design, Kapoor significantly expanded the firm’s sustainable design portfolio, including projects at certified, silver, and gold levels, such as Carlstadt Elementary School, the first LEED Silver public school in New Jersey.

Among many sustainability initiatives and projects, LEED certification stands out as a symbol of excellence in architectural sustainability. LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a globally recognized third-party standard for designing, constructing, and operating high-performance green buildings and neighborhoods. This program employs a point-based rating system, with designations like silver, gold, and platinum levels based on the total points earned during the assessment. To attain LEED certification, a project must meet specific prerequisites and accumulate points in various categories, including carbon, energy, water, waste, transportation, materials, health, and indoor environmental quality.

“It’s about building holistically. It’s not just about saving energy and water, but the quality of the building,” said Kapoor. “The system considers everything from the use of locally sourced materials to minimize the carbon footprint associated with transportation and supporting the local economy to resource conservation strategies like collecting rainwater to reduce water demand.”

The specific LEED certification process and rating system are dependent on the project’s category—commercial, neighborhood development, residential, or cities and communities; however, the process generally includes the following steps:

  1. Registration: The process begins with registering the project with the Green Building Certification Institute to officially start the certification process.
  2. Selecting LEED Category: The project team must determine the appropriate LEED category.
  3. Goal Setting: Project teams must establish their sustainability goals and objectives. The goal should determine the desired level of LEED certification (Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum). The total number of points required to meet each level of LEED certification are:
    • Certified: 40-49 points
    • Silver: 50-59 points
    • Gold: 60-79 points
    • Platinum: 80+
  4. Preliminary Review: The project team will review the project plan, and then proceed with design development, design completion, and construction commencement.
  5. Documentation: The project team must provide detailed documentation for each LEED credit they aim to achieve. Documentation can include plans, calculations, and specifications.
  6. LEED Review: GBCI conducts an official review of the project’s documentation, assessing whether the project meets the necessary prerequisites and qualifies for the selected credits.
  7. Certification: Once GBCI approves the project’s compliance with LEED standards, the project earns LEED certification at the appropriate level (Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum).

While the process may initially appear demanding, it is integral to crafting environmentally responsible structures. In a world where sustainable design has become the new standard, achieving LEED certification sets a benchmark for sustainability that not only benefits the environment but also enhances the long-term value and appeal of the project. While LEED represents the highest sustainability standards, projects don’t require LEED certification to integrate sustainability.

“Sustainability is at the core of our projects, regardless of whether our clients are working towards LEED certification from the USGBC,” said Kapoor. “We keep in mind that one project can inspire many others.”

One of the standout projects within DMR Architects’ portfolio is the renowned Carlstadt Elementary School in Bergen County. During the school’s initial design phase in the early 2000s, there were fewer than 10 LEED-certified buildings in New Jersey. “Pursuing the certification back then was more of a challenge than it is today,” said Kapoor. “Most people just weren’t aware of it.”

By choosing to align with these groundbreaking guidelines, now adopted by more than 2,200 structures throughout the state, the project showcased a forward-looking commitment to sustainable construction and the enhanced well-being of its occupants. Carlstadt Elementary School became the 26th building to meet LEED standards in the state, earning the prestigious distinction of being the first LEED Silver public school in New Jersey and the pioneering LEED-certified building in Bergen County.

The school presented an opportunity to educate the community about sustainable architecture practices and how green design contributes to the well-being and quality of life of the building occupants and the broader community. “It’s about education and why these architects are committing themselves to this initiative,” said Kapoor. Additionally, DMR created a curriculum to teach Carlstadt students about the school’s eco-friendly features. “We want the students to see that because of the sun, the school has energy or that the items they recycle become materials.”

With the rise in LEED certification recognition in the real estate industry, more real estate professionals are embracing sustainable design benefits. This awareness is driving their growing interest in sustainable practices and the unique advantages they offer. “Real estate developers and agents are now promoting buildings and attracting clients and tenants to buildings that are visually appealing, but also have reduced operating costs due to resource efficiency,” said Kapoor. “What many people don’t know is there’s a LEED rating system for existing buildings. The certification isn’t only for new builds.”

By adopting a comprehensive approach to sustainable design prioritizing health and safety, office spaces, schools, and residential dwellings have undergone a transformation, resulting in more welcoming spaces and less impact on natural resources. The shift towards transit-oriented design is fostering the development of walkable plazas and neighborhoods. Although these concepts have always been present, there is now a newfound emphasis on their creation and implementation.

This article was written by Lisa Fant and originally appeared in New Jersey Realtor(R) Magazine.

Edison BOE Moves Forward with $100 Million in Projects

Edison BOE Moves Forward with $100 Million in Projects 789 444 DMR Architects

A Nov. 1 groundbreaking ceremony marked the commencement of a 48,000 SF DMR-designed classroom addition at J.P. Stevens High School in Edison. It is part of a $100 million investment by the Edison Board of Education at six of its facilities.

“Working closely with the district, DMR designed these spaces to improve the education-related experience for the students that utilize these buildings,” said Kurt Vierheilig, AIA, LEED AP BD+C.  “We commend Dr. Aldarelli and the school board for advancing improvements to their facilities which will improve the learning and development of their students.”

The projects will be phased over several years to reflect current technologies, changes in education strategies, and address the dynamic increase in New Jersey’s sixth largest municipality’s school-aged population.

“The Edison school system is well-known for its high academic standards and ability to prepare students for post-graduation studies and careers,” said Pradeep Kapoor, AIA, LEED AP BD+C.  “The work we’re doing will assist teachers and students in their pursuit of the best education practices.”

 

Municipal Capital Projects: Newfound Alternative Procurement

Municipal Capital Projects: Newfound Alternative Procurement 2560 1450 DMR Architects

(This article originally appeared in NJ Municipalities magazine.) Charles H. Sarlo, Esq. provides a briefing on newfound alternative procurement approaches for design, development, and construction of community impact projects. 

“Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” -John F. Kennedy

In 1976, Major League Baseball (MLB) accepted change via the introduction of free agency, some 75 years after the formation of the MLB organization, albeit being forced by a court ruling. Although the MLB teams were reluctant at first to embrace this change, today, the free agency period offers the opportunity for a team to put itself in the best possible position for success after consideration of all alternatives.

In a similar vein, some 50 years after the adoption of the Local Public Contracts Law (LPCL) in 1971, the New Jersey Legislature has, within the last few years, enacted new statutes to offer municipalities and other public entities alternate paths for design and construction procurement related to capital projects.

Each alternate public procurement method is unique and each offers certain benefits and drawbacks. No longer is a municipality restricted to the status quo of using the LPCL for the retention of contractors, but rather should consider the LPCL along with the alternative procurement methods to ascertain the best chance for the successful outcome of a capital project.

Local Public Contracts Law (LPCL)

The use of the LPCL will continue to be the standard bearer. The general familiarity of this procurement method, and given it has been “time tested,” currently makes this procurement approach the “go to” by default.

The LPCL is based on the submission of sealed bids by contractors, based on a complete design, and the award to the lowest responsible bidder.

There is a significant body of case law, which evidences that this “time tested” procurement method is not immune from litigation by unsuccessful bidders or improper project specifications or other legal issues.

Nevertheless, in certain situations, such as smaller, non-complex capital projects like facility upgrades or additions, the LPCL will continue to be the standard bearer.

Design-Build Law

Most recently, in 2021, the Design-Build Construction Services Procurement Act (P.L . 2021, c.71 (A-1285)) was signed into law. This design-build procurement allows a public entity to place an emphasis on design and quality, along with cost, the latter being only one factor in the selection process, which must comprise of at least 50% of the scoring criteria.

This procurement process allows the public entity to deal with a single source throughout the duration of the project, rather than coordinating between various parties. The approach is intended to provide cost savings and a streamlined public project delivery to the contracting unit.

For municipalities, capital projects must exceed $5 million for this procurement process. Increasingly, this procurement method is being used for new buildings in the range of 20,000 sq. ft. and greater.

Public-Private-Partnership Law (P3)

The pinnacle of public procurement is the use of the Public-Private-Partnership (P3) Law, P.L. 2018, c.90 (S-865), which came into the public procurement mix in 2018. Although the statute and its enabling regulations are somewhat complex, the P3 Law allows public entities to enter into an agreement with a private entity, whom assumes the financial and administrative responsibility for the design, development, and construction (which alternatively may be reconstruction, repair, alteration, or improvement in whole or in-part) and, over a 30-year period, the maintenance of the public facility.

By way of limited example, over the course of the 30-year period, if an elevator or HVAC system requires maintenance or replacement, the responsibility remains with the P3 developer and not the public entity. The P3 project can be financed in whole, or in part, by the private entity. Financing considerations include a “hand back plan” of the facility to the public entity after 30 years. The P3 agreement establishes the public entity’s expectation of the condition of the facility upon turnover by the P3 developer after 30 years (i.e., at year 30, does the public entity want brand new HVAC equipment or equipment with a certain percentage of life expectancy?).

Redevelopment Law (LRHL)

Lastly, somewhat fitting in between the Design-Build and P3 approaches, is the use of the Local Redevelopment and Housing Law (N.J.S.A. 40A:12A-1, et seq.) (LRHL). This was adopted in 1992, but only in the last several y ears has been increasingly used for the procurement of design, development and/or construction of public capital projects.

Recent court opinions may have injected some uncertainty into the use of the Redevelopment Law for public project procurement, however, depending on the structure of the transaction, the use of the Redevelopment Law remains a viable consideration for municipal entities, e.g., Dobco, Inc. v. Bergen County lmprovement Authority (2022).

The use of the Redevelopment Law by the BCIA was challenged on the basis that contractor election had to be via the LPCL.

The NJ Supreme Court stated that compliance with the Local Public Contract Law was required “in the setting of this appeal.” The Appellate Division had concluded that under these particular facts: “The prudent usage of taxpayer dollars remains paramount in undertaking capital public projects, which creates a compelling argument for municipal officials and their administration to assess the various capital project procurement options now available.”

 

Close Up on P3
The P3 Law is, in essence, a turn-key approach undertaken by the private sector and an alternate financing mechanism. Use of the P3 Law is best for complex projects as it shifts the risk from the public sector to the private sector, which is generally more attuned to business risk.
The P3 Law has many benefits, including allowing alternate, upfront financing, private sector creativity and full deployment of its expertise, and reduction of public entity human capacity to manage and oversee a development and construction project.
For municipalities, capital projects must exceed $10 million to avail itself to this procurement process. To date, there have been no P3 project applications submitted to the Department of Treasury Office of Public Finance (OPF) for approval, as required by the statute, although one municipality has gone through the regulatory procurement process for a P3 developer and design/ construction team and is readying for the submission of an application to the OPF for a new municipal complex and recreation facility.

 

Accepting new options

Back in 1976, MLB teams recognized the necessity of participating in the newfound change to the industry known as free agency, except the then-world champion Cincinnati Reds, who chose the status quo approach. Thereafter, the assessment of free agents quickly became a common practice and an alternative approach to the draft for MLB organizations in their quest to give their teams the best opportunity for success.

Like free agency, which was derived out of the legal process, public entities now have been given the statutory tools for the assessment of alternate procurement for the design, development and/or construction of capital projects.

“The first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance.” -Nathaniel Branden

Montgomery Library Featured Among Country’s Most Celebratory Libraries

Montgomery Library Featured Among Country’s Most Celebratory Libraries 789 444 DMR Architects

The Montgomery branch of the Somerset County Library System is among vibrant, celebratory and stimulating libraries across the country that were featured in Library Journal’s Architecture Issue.

The exceptional design of the branch, built as part of the design and construction of a new municipal center, focused on providing a modern space that met the varied social and intellectual needs of the community, while also honoring the township’s history as an agricultural community.

Design features implemented in pursuit of this goal include:

  • The main “living room,” with a fire feature and soft furniture for casual reading. Seating is also located along the full height, glazed façade which overlooks the surrounding landscape, primarily open space, and connecting the patrons to the outside. The use of heavy timber throughout the exterior and interior is also a tribute to the township’s agricultural history.
  • A sort-o-matic, a book sorting machine. Special design considerations were taken for patrons to enjoy watching their books move through the grand piece of machinery.
  • A digital preservation lab, equipped with a large format archival scanner, advanced video and audio editing technology, a light box for photographing historical objects and access to many other digital programs. Designers strategically placed this room in a central location and utilized glass walls to maintain visual connection.
  • Additional technological integrations, including reserving materials online to after-hours pickup from an outdoor book locker.

Construction Milestones at DMR-Designed Schools Reveal Unique Funding Sources and Delivery Methods

Construction Milestones at DMR-Designed Schools Reveal Unique Funding Sources and Delivery Methods 789 444 DMR Architects

DMR has recently participated in construction milestone celebrations in four New Jersey municipalities, delivered through a variety of funding and procurement methods for projects that enhance the learning experience for school-aged children while also being fiscally responsible to residents.

In Carteret, sixth through eighth grade students recently began their second year in the new DMR-designed Junior High School.  This is the successful culmination of a project that started with a referendum to build the first new education facility in the borough in 40 years.  DMR played a key role in creating and presenting materials to residents about the need for a new school as well as the benefits to taxpayers.

“Our work in Carteret included adjusting the program to make sure that we adhered to a strict tax dollar value that was palpable to residents as well as selecting projects so that its five schools and all 4,000 students benefited from the referendum,” said Lloyd Rosenberg, AIA. “DMR was also involved in strategic planning with the Carteret School Board and Mayor on finding the best site for the new Junior High School that fit its educational needs and budget.”

In Plainfield, the DMR-designed Charles and Anna Booker Elementary School was constructed through the New Jersey Schools Development Authority design-build program. This is the first year for 700 K-fifth grade students to matriculate in the facility that replaces the outdated Woodland Elementary School with 41 classrooms in addition to rooms for science demonstrations, a technology lab, a media center, physical therapy, a speech room, a cafetorium, a multi-purpose room with a stage, a playground, and basketball courts.

The design-build method will also be used to fund the construction of Hudson County Vocational at Bayonne High School, a project for the Hudson County Schools of Technology, Bayonne Board of Education, Hudson County, and the Hudson County Improvement Authority.  DMR is the architect of record for the project which recently broke ground and will provide vocational and career technical education in mechanics, construction, carpentry, plumbing, electrics, finance, digital communications, criminal justice, cosmetology, and medicine.

In New Brunswick, the DMR-designed Blanquita B. Valenti Community School just opened replacing 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.

“This was a very unique situation where the building had outgrown its benefits to the city but the land underneath it was valuable enough to fund a new state-of-the-art educational facility that will shape the minds of students for generations to come.”

DMR designed the three-story, 127,400 SF facility with advanced educational spaces including a media center, technology lab, makerspace, labs, and other traditional educational spaces.

“Just as each school system requires its own customized solutions for additional space, new technologies and teaching modalities, STEM labs and spaces for extracurricular activities, they also need tailored approaches to funding.  Sometimes we take what we’ve learned working with one municipality and apply it in another because their education needs and funding barriers are similar.”

Among other funding sources for school districts is New Jersey’s Energy Saving Improvement Program [ESIP]. DMR-planned projects totaling more than $35 million in Edison, Hackensack, Tenafly are currently in progress. Through the program, energy-related projects, such as HVAC upgrades and solar panels, are funded using the value of the energy savings that result from the projects so that school boards do not have to utilize municipal capital reserves or utilize taxpayer dollars.

bergenPAC Honors DMR’s Lloyd Rosenberg for his Support of Performing Arts

bergenPAC Honors DMR’s Lloyd Rosenberg for his Support of Performing Arts 789 444 DMR Architects

On Sunday, October 15, Lloyd Rosenberg, AIA, president and CEO of DMR Architects will be honored by bergenPAC, one of the most iconic Northern New Jersey performance spaces, for his contributions to supporting the performing arts community.

Lloyd’s prolific career includes the recent redesign of bergenPAC’s lobby, concessions/bar area and new VIP area into a vibrant gathering space.

“bergenPAC’s trust in DMR’s vision to evolve their spaces into a cohesive experience that starts long before the curtains go up was a great honor in and of itself,” he said.  “I am grateful and humbled by its recognition of our work here and throughout the region in support of the arts and thank them for all they do to advance artistic expression and make it available for everyone to enjoy.”

DMR re-energized bergenPAC using raw industrial design elements—bare beams, exposed brick, pendant light fixtures and visible ductwork—juxtaposed to the refined traditional décor expected in a theater setting. The firm also redesigned the box office to refresh its aesthetic and meet current ADA compliance and the mezzanine level to increase the number of bathrooms.

DMR has been a pioneer in activating and designing performance spaces including the award-winning repurposing of Hackensack’s 140-year-old Masonic Temple into a 224-seat performing arts center and conceptual designs for a proposed state-of-the-art renovation to the Stephen J. Capestro Theatre Complex. DMR’s portfolio also expands to high schools, inspiring the next generation of performers and theatre technicians. Ten recent auditorium renovations are breathing new life into six districts by not only offering the equipment and technology to support advanced technical production and performance space, but also by bringing the often decades-old spaces up to proper compliance.

In addition to restoring historically significant theaters, DMR also redesigned historic buildings including the Annin Flag Factory into modern loft-style apartments in Verona, NJ.

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