News

DMR’s Success Linked to Team’s Cultural and Skills Diversity

DMR’s Success Linked to Team’s Cultural and Skills Diversity 789 444 DMR Architects

New Jersey is the fourth most diverse state in the United States and nowhere is that more evident – or beneficial – than at DMR Architects, where more than half of the employees are naturalized or first-generation Americans.

DMR’s teams of varied voices are uniquely qualified to lead projects that are intended for vast populations including healthcare, public education and parks, municipal redevelopment plans and buildings, and residential options that range from affordable rental housing to luxury condominiums. The outcomes ensure that no one will walk in and think “this building is not for me.”

“The benefits of diversity and inclusivity are profound – we see positive impacts in a broad spectrum of expected and unexpected parts of our business,” said Lloyd Rosenberg, AIA.

“A variety of cultures creates a mixture of perspectives and that leads to greater creativity in our work – something we would expect.   But additionally, our clients come from a broad set of backgrounds, and when they respect that our organization has a value system that welcomes diversity, a comfort level ensues.”

Mr. Rosenberg, a native of Jersey City, which is among the most diverse cities in the country, observed that DMR’s structure – which features integration of practice areas – also is an allegory for diversity.

This firm’s cultural diversity is mirrored in the varied skill sets and levels of the team – and its business thrives as a result.

“In our environment, the blending of diverse professional foci is beneficial to serving our clients and to our employees’ career advancement.  It is perfectly natural that the backgrounds of our people would contribute to our culture of performance.”

There are 14 different countries of birth for DMR employees, and when their parents’ places of birth are added in, the total of 26 countries of origin is an extraordinary representation at a firm of just 45 employees.

“Architecture today should reflect inclusivity that goes beyond ADA compliance; it should have cultural compliance.  We want everyone to feel seen and heard and comfortable being themselves.”

Just as cross-practice interaction has led to outcomes that far surpassed what one mindset would achieve, cross-cultural collaborations garner far more creativity than if the firm were more homogenous.

“We’ve created the workplace composition that is necessary to get today’s projects done in a way that will continue to be relevant for generations.”

Multiple Practice Areas Help Ridgefield Rewrite Script on Providing Municipal Services

Multiple Practice Areas Help Ridgefield Rewrite Script on Providing Municipal Services 789 444 DMR Architects

The new 27,000 SF municipal building at Shaler Blvd. and Slocum Ave. is the next chapter of Ridgefield’s reinvention story with co-author DMR Architects providing a holistic program integrating innovative planning, public project procurement, architecture, and development practices.

The new municipal building now houses the borough’s administrative offices, municipal/court chamber, and the police and building departments. The move also paved the way for the sale of the former Borough Hall, which will galvanize the Borough’s main thoroughfare through new development.

“While the need for a new Borough Hall was obvious the real challenge came in developing a unique procurement program to meet the Borough’s goals,” said Charles H. Sarlo, Esq. “DMR may be the only architecture firm in New Jersey that is structured to address what was a complex set of issues that included concerns over controlling construction costs and a due diligence process that quickly narrowed prospective locations.”

Multiple practice areas within the DMR umbrella including planners, designers, and attorneys began work in 2018 with a feasibility study of two municipally-owned properties with potential for a new development.

Ease of access, traffic, parking, size, environmental issues and the opportunity to create a public facility hub were all assessed, arriving at the ultimate solution of a site on Shaler Blvd. across from the Ridgefield Nature Center and adjacent to the Ridgefield Community Center.

DMR’s team saw the project from multiple vantage points revealing a cohesive solution for a new right-sized, municipal complex as well as assessing new uses for the former Borough Hall location that will bring in rateables and generate street-level activation in a walkable area of town.  The former Borough Hall site is in the process of being sold, creating financial resources to offset the cost of the new building.

“The corner of Shaler Blvd. and Slocum Ave. also made it a natural connection point to five acres of passive recreational space and walking trails located directly across the street,” said Janet Pini, AIA.  “The complex was constructed with energy efficient materials and technologies, and design inspiration from its location.  An expanse of windows across the back feels like an uninterrupted flow between the complex’s interior and its surrounding topography including the nearby Wolf Creek tree buffer.”

DMR assisted the municipality in having the new Borough Hall site designated as an area-in-need-of-redevelopment, providing the framework to allow greater flexibility in the procurement process.  This approach also allowed the Borough to balance risk exposure and manage project quality and costs through an alternative method rather than utilizing the traditional local public contracts law. This strategy allowed it to engage redevelopers on a maximum-cost basis that eliminated the possibility of cost over-runs while encouraging efficiency through collaboration between the architects and contractors.

DMR Takes Unique Approaches to Affordable Housing

DMR Takes Unique Approaches to Affordable Housing 789 444 DMR Architects

DMR has worked within numerous municipalities in New Jersey to design affordable housing solutions that become points of pride, including two projects that have recently opened: one with the East Orange Housing Authority and its partners and another in Upper Saddle River for the Bergen County Housing Development Corporation.

At the Ted R. Green Senior Residences in East Orange, DMR worked with the East Orange Housing Authority, Genesis Companies and The Metro Company to construct a 60-unit, 61,000 SF facility, with 15 units set-aside and marketed to homeless persons, in addition to 8,000 SF of administrative offices and indoor and outdoor community space.

“There is no one-size-fits-all solution to affordable housing or for inviting senior residents to age in place,” said Fernando Robledo, AIA. “In this case, we created an attractive and engaging facility that also addresses this population’s need for special services.”

The project, constructed on an assemblage of four parcels, was constructed in one of New Jersey’s most populated areas. The process required acquiring adjacent properties and determining what type of program – new construction, renovation or additions – would best serve the needs of the community.

It’s the second DMR-designed affordable housing project to open in one month, following the ribbon cutting of The Residences at Upper Saddle River in May.

“The affordable housing obligation is not to the state, but to the residents in each community, those who want to remain local, age in place or have other special needs,” said Kurt Vierheilig, AIA, LEED AP BD+C. “Our projects respond to this commitment in a way that reflects each community, the architecture around them and welcomes the residents who will live there.”

The Residences at Upper Saddle River is a 70-unit residential community for senior citizens and special needs households situated on an eight-acre site, adjacent to undisturbed wetlands. The design prioritizes gathering and interaction that draws on the features of the site.

DMR’s multi-family experience also includes another ongoing affordable housing project in Middletown.

Prospect Park Becomes First NJ Municipality to Adopt Community Energy Plan

Prospect Park Becomes First NJ Municipality to Adopt Community Energy Plan 789 444 DMR Architects

Prospect Park in Passaic County has become the first municipality to adopt a Community Energy Plan under the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) and Sustainable Jersey Clean Energy Grant Program, an effort to align with The State’s Energy Master Plan, the roadmap to reaching Governor Murphy’s goal of 100 percent clean energy by 2050.

The borough used its $25,000 grant to retain DMR to prepare the plan, which identifies more than two dozen initiatives that Prospect Park will implement within a five-year period, including:

  • Installing renewable energy sources, energy storage, and public EV charging stations on municipal properties, and improving energy efficiency of municipal buildings;
  • Creating opportunities for community solar programs that allow the public to purchase solar energy from off-site sources, with an emphasis on availability and affordability for low- and moderate-income households;
  • Outreach campaigns to increase resident and business participation in incentive programs offered by the state, federal government and utilities like PSE&G to transition to electric vehicles, make energy efficient improvements and install solar and other forms of renewable energy;
  • Replace older borough fleet vehicles with newer, preferably electric alternatives, and adopt fuel efficient fleet vehicle management practices;
  • Make energy planning inclusive of low- and moderate-income and non-English speaking households;
  • Adopt zoning and regulatory language that permits renewable energy production and energy storage.

“We applaud Mayor Khairullah and the Prospect Park council for recognizing the role that reducing carbon-based energy sources plays in the overall health and wellbeing of everyone who lives and works in Prospect Park,” said Tracey Woods, Energy Program Manager for Sustainable Jersey. “Their commitment to change shows that any municipality can address climate change in a meaningful way.”

“This is the next step for us toward making more clean energy sources available and reducing GHG emissions,” said Mayor Mohamed T. Khairullah.  “We had a public reading of the plan earlier this month and there was overwhelming support from our residents and businesses.”

“There are state-level grants, tax credits from the Federal Inflation Reduction Act, and incentives through utility companies available right now making it the ideal time for municipalities to create Community Energy Plans,” said Daniel Hauben, PP, AICP, LEED Green Associate. “As planners committed to building healthier and more affordable communities, our team at DMR is equipped to guide our municipal clients through the resources that are available to them now.”

In June 2022 NJBPU approved $820,000 in grants to 46 municipalities to create Community Energy Plans to combat climate change.  Prospect Park was one of only 24 designated as overburdened and eligible for $25,000.

Five-Year Total for Upgrades to NJ Schools Exceeds 100 Projects

Five-Year Total for Upgrades to NJ Schools Exceeds 100 Projects 789 444 DMR Architects

While known for creating many cutting edge preK-12 education spaces, including some of the most advanced in the country, DMR is also responsible for nearly 125 projects categorized as essential building upgrades, health and safety concerns, needs for special populations and other facility maintenance needs over the past five years.

“Long before administrators can even think about adding spaces for biomedical chemistry labs or STEM spaces, they need to invest in ongoing maintenance and upgrades to utilities, security and other systems,” said Janet Pini, AIA. “DMR’s team provides diverse expertise backgrounds that allows us to help clients end to end on project components including securing funding, choosing the most cost-effective solutions and materials, and sequencing work to impose the least amount of disruption to the school year.”

DMR’s work valued at $85 million of essential upgrades includes:

  • 37 Building Skins (Masonry, Facade, Windows, Roofs)
  • 28 Building Systems Upgrades
  • 15 Classrooms/Capacity Generation
  • 13 Interior or Outdoor Physical Education Fields, Locker Rooms or Fitness Spaces
  • 10 Auditoriums
  • Seven Security Upgrades

DMR is also managing 53 projects for the New York City School Construction Authority (NYCSCA) at preK-12 facilities throughout the city.

Recent Work Shows Healthcare Industry Is a Bright Spot in Economy

Recent Work Shows Healthcare Industry Is a Bright Spot in Economy 789 444 DMR Architects

DMR is currently working on five new, upgraded or repurposed healthcare spaces, a bright spot in real estate development during an uncertain economic time. The projects consist of addressing equipment upgrades, operational needs, and a focus shift to a higher degree of attention to the patient experience with four of New Jersey’s largest healthcare systems.

“Our healthcare clients are actively working to shift patient perceptions of their spaces from clinical, scary places that are almost seen as transactional to calming, welcoming, and experiential self-care activities,” said Pradeep Kapoor, AIA, LEED AP BD+C.  “Healthcare facilities are like any other business, creating a welcoming and personalized environment will ensure repeat visits for everything from preventative to specialty care.”

Projects currently on the boards include:

  • A relocation of the cardiology department at St. Peter’s University Hospital to accommodate for new equipment.
  • A redesign of the Department of Surgery, also at St. Peter’s University Hospital, to accommodate growth/increased in-office services with nine exam rooms, three consultant rooms, and four stations of documentation and staff office/registration.
  • The expansion of the Heart and Vascular Center at Hunterdon Healthcare‘s Bridgewater location by repurposing three exam rooms in an adjacent suite.
  • A relocation of Valley Hospital‘s Primary Urgent Care Center facility in Dumont so that it can continue to meet patients’ needs in a modernized space.
  • A finish upgrade to the lobby of Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen, part of the Hackensack Meridian Health system, to provide a warm and welcoming environment.

Montgomery Municipal Center, Fueled by Robust Community Input, Reflects History and Identity

Montgomery Municipal Center, Fueled by Robust Community Input, Reflects History and Identity 789 444 DMR Architects

DMR Architects conceived the design for the new Montgomery Municipal Center to reflect the township’s identity as a close-knit suburban community with deep agricultural roots while providing a state-of-the-art facility that will serve the future needs of the community and administration.

The 62,000 SF building opened last summer delivering offices for Montgomery Township’s police headquarters and administration, a new branch of the Somerset County Library System, and the council chambers arranged around a central common public lobby.

It is unique in not only its design, hearkening back to old barns and farm structures, but also in its purposes and function, with connected spaces for municipal, library and community programs under one roof. The project was borne from a collaborative approach that included input from municipal and county voices, as well as more than 200 residents.

“The new municipal center has been planned to serve as a community gathering place, something that the township has long sought,” said Montgomery Mayor Devra Keenan.  “This is not just a building to us; it is a representation of Montgomery’s collaborative spirit and pride of place.”

The design takes cues from agrarian architecture with contemporary material choices, seen through the gable roof, stone exterior, metal roofing, wood siding, heavy timber canopies and abundance of glass. The result reflected the collective pride of Montgomery’s elected officials and residents so effectively that the building design was incorporated into an updated municipal seal.

“There is a distinct shift in attitudes away from building utilitarian municipal facilities that are seen as a place people ‘have to go to’. Trends are moving toward providing residents with a location that is more welcoming and engaging to the community,” said Kurt Vierheilig, AIA, LEED AP BD+C. “It’s important to a project’s success to work in unison with residents, county and municipal leaders. The spirit of collaboration was strong at all levels and the final product is something we are all proud of and that will be used for many generations.”

Ridgefield Celebrates Opening of Municipal Complex

Ridgefield Celebrates Opening of Municipal Complex 789 444 DMR Architects

On Nov. 6, DMR joined Mayor Anthony Suarez, the Ridgefield Borough Council, local dignitaries and residents for a ribbon cutting ceremony and celebration, including entertainment, refreshments and tours of the new 27,000 SF municipal building.

State, county, and municipal leaders in attendance included Senator Paul A. Sarlo, Assemblyman Clinton Calabrese, Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco and Commissioners Mary Amoroso, Ramon Hache, Germaine Ortiz, Thomas Sullivan, and Tracy Zur, among many others.

The DMR-designed facility is a welcoming gathering place, in addition to functioning as the new home for the borough’s administrative offices, municipal/court chamber, and the police and building departments.

“We’re excited to replace the old building which was plagued by inefficiencies with this new complex.  It’s modern, safe and ADA-compliant, and will be the location for many more community activities like today’s celebration,” said Mayor Anthony Suarez.  “DMR has delivered a new asset to our community that will help grow our downtown district.”

“We took a comprehensive approach to determining the best location, design, and materials for the Borough’s new municipal complex to ensure that the final work product fulfilled the functional needs in a way which was welcoming to community members,” said Charles H. Sarlo, Esq.  “In addition, we developed an innovative delivery method to ensure that the Borough would be the recipient of the best value and quality.”

“As municipalities have outgrown the size and technical capabilities of their facilities, which were built in the 50’s and 60’s, there is the opportunity for municipalities to use the development of new municipal complexes as points of pride and centers for community interaction rather than just a unitarian facility.”

The new complex is across from the Ridgefield Nature Center and adjacent to the Ridgefield Community Center. It was designed to symbiotically coexist with its natural surroundings, incorporating the land’s topographic gradation and maintaining the nearby Wolf Creek tree buffer.

The complex was constructed with energy efficient materials and technologies and includes a new streetscape and a pocket gathering spot at the corner of Shaler Blvd. and Slocum Ave.

Pictured above: Charles H. Sarlo, Esq., General Counsel, Partner for DMR Architects; Assemblyman Clinton Calabrese; Senator Paul A, Sarlo; Commissioner Thomas
Sullivan; Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco; Commissioner Tracy Zur; Commissioner Germaine Ortiz;  Commissioner Ramon Hache. Front Row: Councilman Craig Dorsett; Councilman James Kontolios; Council President Russell Castelli; (hidden Fire Chief John Hoffman); Councilman Hugo Jimenez; Police Chief Thomas Gallagher; Councilwoman Lauren Larkin; Mayor Anthony Suarez; Commissioner Mary Amoroso.

Hillsdale Plan Reflects Collaboration Between Residents and Elected Officials

Hillsdale Plan Reflects Collaboration Between Residents and Elected Officials 789 444 DMR Architects

The Hillsdale council recently approved the Patterson Street Redevelopment Plan for the former Waste Management site following over two years of collaboration between the public officials and residents of the community.

The redevelopment plan for the almost 12 acres known as the Patterson Street Redevelopment Plan was written in consultation with DMR Architects and includes a requirement for the developer to provide approximately 5,000 square feet of community space within the project.  The redevelopment plan allows for residential rentals to represent a significant portion of the overall area with 255 residential units of which 20 will be affordable housing.  It also requires a new public park located at the corner of Patterson Street and Piermont Avenue.

“These facilities will provide meaningful gathering spaces for meetings, sports, and recreation, improving everyone’s quality of life as well as increasing their property values,” said Janetta Trochimiuk, Council President. “The redevelopment zone was established in 2019 and encompasses 12 acres of underutilized industrial land at Knickerbocker Ave., Brookside Place, Piermont Ave. and Prospect Place.”

“Resident engagement is a critical component to municipal planning. It provides insights on what the community needs are and how redevelopment of underutilized properties can solve affordable housing requisites and also provide alternative market rate housing,” said Francis Reiner, PP, LLA.  “We are working with municipal leaders throughout New Jersey to create customized protocols for requesting and collecting feedback and refashioning plans that make everyone feel heard.”

A partnership between Claremont Development and March Development of Morristown has been chosen as the developer of the site.

Introducing DMR NY

Introducing DMR NY 789 444 DMR Architects

With more than 50 projects in New York City in its current pipeline, DMR Architects has opened DMR NY Architects (DMR NY) to accommodate its growing business practice in The Empire State.  Pradeep Kapoor will lead the DMR NY team.

DMR Architects’ dynamic growth outside of New Jersey has been bolstered by its architectural consulting services provided to the New York City School Construction Authority’s (NYCSCA) Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) across New York City.  Since 2006 it has been addressing projects of varying scale in technical complexity and cost magnitude for more than 350 projects with a construction value of more than $1 billion.

“Historically, we have expanded our practice areas in anticipation of need,” said Lloyd Rosenberg, AIA.  “The development environment throughout the Tri-State area is very strong and warrants DMR taking its commitment to creative vision, persistent energy and dynamic ideas that our New Jersey practice areas have been providing for more than 30 years into new markets.”

DMR NY will build on DMR Architects’ portfolio of efficient designs that honor the identity and history of New York’s infrastructure, including a $19 million restoration to JHS 162 in Brooklyn, built in 1909; extensive interior and exterior upgrades to the art deco-inspired PS 269 in Brooklyn and extensive interior and exterior upgrades to the 110,000 SF PS 81M in Manhattan.

“DMR NY will add a new dynamic to the marketplace by offering New York’s lower peninsula clients the same end-to-end in-house capabilities that we have been providing in New Jersey and New York City,” said Pradeep Kapoor, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, COO and partner at DMR Architects and President at DMR NY.  “I am honored and excited to lead our team into new geographic and artistic territory.”

In addition to Mr. Kapoor, DMR Partners Lloyd Rosenberg and Kurt Vierheilig will round out the DMR NY leadership team.

For more information about DMR NY visit www.dmr-ny.com.

Enter your
text here