2021
DIMENSIONS
A NOTE FROM PRESIDENT & CEO
LLOYD A. ROSENBERG, AIA On July 15, 2021, we celebrated 30 years of DMR Architects. We opened in 1991 with four employees who had a vision to push boundaries with technology, innovative design, and attentiveness to our client’s operational opportunities and objectives. At that time, we never could have mapped out a plan for creating and sustaining the broad set of practice areas and disciplines that now comprise DMR, but from the first day I knew that we would achieve one of the most elusive aspects of architecture: a durable enterprise. I envisioned a firm ingrained in the fabric of New Jersey’s real estate industry and most importantly, a place where talented people do great work. This meant building a company that could withstand economic cycles, keep pace with emerging technologies and practices, and one that was constantly cultivating and empowering new talent. Today we are able to celebrate achieving this milestone, thanks in part to many of you, who have trusted us to construct meaningful
and essential projects over the years. When I reflect on the most important stats of DMR, it’s not project metrics that I am most proud of, it’s that our staff tenure averages over 10 years and that I have had the privilege to grow this firm along with a team of professionals just as invested in our success as I was, which includes many who have been here for upward of 20 of DMR’s 30 years. In celebration of this milestone, we have put together a special 30th anniversary newsletter, that not only recaps the latest DMR news, but which also looks back on many of our most significant professional milestones and projects over the years. I hope that you enjoy reading it as much as we have enjoyed putting it together. It's been a privilege to work together over the past 30 years and as always, on behalf of our entire team here at DMR, I thank you for your continued support. Onto the next 30 years of DMR.
BLUE FOUNDRY BANK’S NEW HQ SUPPORTS SEAMLESS BLENDING OF BANKING PRACTICES WITH PROGRESSIVE VISION
Blue Foundry Bank just unveiled its new headquarters, the physical embodiment of the bank’s new branding and business plan. Just as Blue Foundry’s corporate vision is to create unique and personalized solutions for its clients, the new facility was designed so that each of its 40,000 SF can be functional for the tailored needs of its staff, while still maintaining a sense of community. Impressive design elements cover nearly every square foot of the office, through program, finishes, furniture, and layout. Unusual amenities also include a wellness room, lounges with fire features, and a cafeteria with dispensers for wine, beer and kombucha. “We have found that our staff is excited to come to a workplace that is a showpiece,” said James Nesci, President and CEO of Blue Foundry Bank. “DMR has created an experiential and comforting environment where our staff have the space and services
Lloyd Rosenberg joins James Nesci, President and CEO of Blue Foundry Bank, at the bank's Parsippany headquarters.
to satisfy their personal preferences and projects.” “There are a lot of areas that can be used regularly and for many purposes; intimate meetings, team brainstorms and larger staff meetings and trainings, as well as during breaks and after-hours. The design provides flexibility so that no matter how an employee chooses to work, collaborate, gather, or entertain there is an energetic and stimulating space to do so," said Lloyd Rosenberg.
IN LINE WITH NEW BRAND, BLUE FOUNDRY OPENS FIVE NEW BRANCH LOCATIONS Following Blue Foundry Bank’s rebranding, DMR designed several branch locations to reflect their new image as the banking option of today’s movers and shakers and their commitment to a crafted banking experience. The branches offer an open floor plan and a more connected approach to banking, replacing physical divisions such as counters and desks with Universal Bankers, supporting an
environment conducive to helping customers plan for their financial success. Several branches also include space for community collaborations. The aesthetic incorporates elements of the bank’s industrial history with exposed brick, steel, distressed wood, and concrete wall panels.
Design elements also include curated art, moss elements and 3D logos.
AT THE POPULAR BERGEN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, REINVIGORATED DESIGN WILL BRING NEW ENERGY
In an effort to appeal to their eclectic audience and re-energize their space, renovations are planned to Bergen PAC. The project, expected to start in 2022, will renovate and expand the existing lobby and restrooms to better serve guests, and also add a VIP room, complete with two bars and a private entrance.
MONTGOMERY MUNICIPAL CENTER REFLECTS TOWNSHIP'S RICH HISTORY Construction is underway on the new Montgomery Municipal Center, which will include nods to the historic and cultural importance of the community.
DMR’s plans for the 62,500 SF building were created after
a unique collaborative approach that included input from more than 200 residents. The new home to municipal offices, the police department, council chambers and a branch of the Somerset County Library System embraces a contemporary style with spaces for community artwork and historical artifacts.
municipal/ court chamber, and the police and building departments.
BOROUGH OF RIDGEFIELD BREAKS GROUND ON MUNICIPAL COMPLEX Earlier this year the Borough of Ridgefield broke ground on their new municipal complex. The 27,000 SF building will house the borough’s administrative offices,
The new municipal complex was designed to symbiotically coexist with its natural surroundings, incorporating the land’s topographic gradation. The complex will also include a new streetscape and a pocket gathering spot at the corner of Shaler Blvd. and Slocum Ave., facilitating economic development to the nearby commercial corridor.
MUNICIPAL PLANNING PROJECTS ADVANCE
Our planners are busy serving municipalities, planning and zoning boards. In Dunellen, a portion of a parking lot was transformed into a popup park this summer, a low-cost, high-impact project that provided a location for outdoor activities such as music, yoga and food events. In Nutley, an expression of interest for developers process will soon select a team to develop a mixed-use project that will provide residential, retail and passive outdoor options in the heart of downtown. In Garfield, the planning board approved two redevelopment plans, the first steps to revitalize vacant parcels.
MANDELBAUM'S MORRISTOWN DEVELOPMENT OPENS EXPANSIVE COURTYARD
The luxury rental building, 30 Court, is complete. The 58unit development, which first welcomed residents in late 2020, recently unveiled the private courtyard, the final element. The 3,700 SF outdoor courtyard provides shaded seating and dining areas, fire pits, pergolas, an outdoor kitchen and a water feature.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HAMPSHIRE GROUP, 70 RESIDENTIAL UNITS ARE COMING TO ALLENDALE The four-story, 100,000 SF The Crescent is headed for construction.
The interior boasts a large, well-appointed lobby with multiple lounge spaces and an expansive club room that opens directly to an internal courtyard. The project consists of one- and two-bedroom market rate units, along with a complement of affordable units for seniors and first responders.
DMR AND GENESIS CELEBRATE TWO MILESTONES Genesis Companies and DMR have double to celebrate. Within just a few days earlier this year, we broke ground on 60 affordable housing units at the new East Orange Senior Residences and then cut the ribbon on 180 renovated units at Vista Village, also in East Orange. These projects help address a critical need for affordable housing, while also providing safe, attractive homes where adults can age in place.
88 ACRE DEVELOPMENT WILL BRING LIVELY DOWNTOWN CENTER TO HANOVER FOR THE FIRST TIME Construction is underway on the first phase of River Park Town Center, a development of residences, restaurants and retail that will soon change the real estate landscape of Hanover.
Building one of eight, which will bring the first 81 residential units to the site, broke ground earlier this fall. Ultimately the project will offer 967 units, including affordable and alternative options, as well as 80,000 SF of retail; a 250-room hotel; an outdoor amphitheater; walking trails along the Whippany River; promenades; and a train platform. Located within walking distance of the headquarters of Bayer, MetLife and Novartis, the project will have a major impact on the area that currently lacks a downtown, while still honoring the existing surroundings through passive outdoor areas and trails.
River Park Town Center Building 1
“Bringing this pioneering project to life drew on DMR’s unique abilities to navigate New Jersey’s complicated zoning regulations, execute smart redevelopment strategies and overcome challenges related to modern construction, all while creating a beautiful, functional design,” said Lloyd Rosenberg.
Over the last 30 years, Lloyd has carefully executed a vision to grow DMR into the thriving firm it is today.
educational facilities, Lloyd steadily added expert talent and responsibly diversified, resulting in a firm that now employs a staff of 45, consistently ranks among the top architectural firms in the state, and completes an average of 100 projects a year across all sectors.
Originally committed to exclusively designing
Today DMR employs a team of architects,
On July 15, 1991, a group of four, led by Lloyd Rosenberg, founded DMR Architects.
interior designers, professional planners and construction managers, as well as professionals with backgrounds in economic development, community outreach, municipal government, real estate, project finance, engineering and land use. Supported by our in-house general counsel, marketing, accounting and administrative staff, DMR has positioned ourselves as a firm that provides an unparalleled level of services in-house.
LIFE AT DMR
DMR is a place that celebrates big things like our 30th anniversary but also holidays, professional achievements and personal milestones. We have fun together with pumpkin carving and ugly sweater contests, games, and nights out. It's a culture that has helped lead DMR to an average employee retention of 10 years.
DMR: FROM THE ARCHIVES
Over 30 years, DMR has designed thousands of projects representing billions of dollars in construction value. Among these projects are many that have had a great impact on New Jersey's real estate, including the state’s first nature museum, the first school for the blind and the first LEED certified public school; Bergen County’s first brewery; the rail station that first brought train service to the Meadowlands; and the new Frank J. Gargiulo Campus, the $150 million vocational/technical high school in Hudson County, one of the most technologicallyadvanced schools in the country. The thousands of other projects include sophisticated healthcare facilities, elementary schools, luxury lofts, downtown master plans, police stations, parks, modern offices, academic facilities, sports complexes, and more. In this section, we are going into the archives to look back on some special projects over the years, many of which changed the course of our firm.
THE NIGERIA STORY
The Adeyemi family in Nigeria. Fola is holding a young Kunle.
It all started in the late 1970s, when Lloyd spent several years commuting to Nigeria to complete a major project, the National Educational Technology Center, in Kaduna.
THE NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY CENTER
Fola and Lloyd.
FROM THE 1970S...TO 2017
During the project, Lloyd was working closely with a local architect Fola Adeyemi, one of the first to form an architecture firm in Nigeria, and became close to him and his family. One of his children, Kunle, was only a small child. Thanks to LinkedIn, Lloyd and Kunle were reconnected nearly 40 years later. Turns out, Kunle had a thriving architectural career and even earned a post-professional degree here in New Jersey at Princeton University. While Amsterdam is his current home base, and where he runs his own architecture firm, NLÉ, from, he was back in Princeton in October 2017 for a guest lecture. At the lecture, Lloyd and Kunle were reunited.
Kunle and Lloyd at Princeton University.
DMR AROUND THE WORLD
International projects have spanned four continents, including projects in Costa Rica, Romania, Nigeria and China.
DMR: FROM THE ARCHIVES
The project called upon American architects to help plan and build a 500 acre campus, which was to function as a self-contained city. In addition to the university and its amenities, the campus included housing, shopping areas, medical facilities, fields, a clubhouse, and schools. The university included 12 academic buildings, an 85,000 SF administration building, student dining and numerous other facilities. The feat took 5 years, more than 50 flights, and many days spent in a safe house during two coups.
THE BREWSTER STORY 1991
DMR: FROM THE ARCHIVES
1994
The Brewster Central School District was one of DMR’s first clients. Over many years, DMR’s relationship with Brewster saw renovations to each of the schools through construction, and also included a new, 50,000 SF elementary school, Cornelius Vander Starr Intermediate School. The building incorporated bold colors, geometric shapes and a two-story, sky-lit common area at the entrance. The school advanced many trends in teaching and technology that we take for granted now, such as flexible teaching spaces that allowed for team teaching, video displays that communicated school news in the lobby and Apple computers.
THE RUTHERFORD SENIOR CENTER STORY Our projects have spanned many interesting locations and have required even more creative solutions. It’s a part of our culture and approach that goes back as far as we can remember, like in 1994, when we designed a new senior citizen’s activity center - inside a parking garage. With the borough strapped for space, utilizing a portion of the first floor of the garage proved to be the perfect location for the 5,800 SF center.
THE VIETNAM VETERAN’S MEMORIAL STORY
1998
Over the course of several years in the early 90s, DMR helped create the New Jersey Vietnam Veteran’s Educational Center & Memorial in Holmdel. When it opened it 1998, the Vietnam Era Museum & Educational Center was the first educational center and museum of its kind in the United States. DMR was part of a team of many professionals who donated their time and talent to construct the monument and museum in honor of New Jersey’s men and women who gave their lives in the line of duty and those considered missing in action. It was one of our first projects with an important community impact, but certainly not our last. We have always sought out non-profit and charitable organizations who require our services, a commitment that ultimately led to the creation of the DMR Foundation in 2021.
THE SPARTA STORY 2000
After three years of collaboration with the Sparta Board of Education, in 1996 voters passed the $27 million referendum that would pave the way for the construction of a new middle school. When the school opened in 2000, the 127,000 SF facility was a milestone achievement during DMR’s early years, and at the time, was the largest building in Sussex County.
2001
THE ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON STORY
Beginning in 2000 and continuing for more than 15 years, DMR worked for Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital on 20+ projects that spanned more than 100,000 SF cumulatively across the hospital’s campus. The assignments were reflective of the healthcare climate, where spaces require constant adaptation to satisfy new technologies and medical practices. Satisfying these needs required our team to often find space where new projects could be accommodated, and creatively rework these existing spaces. In one case, this meant renovating one of our own projects, completed several years before. That building was the PET Imaging Center. In 2001, we first designed the 8,000 SF space to house what was at the time the hospital’s newest equipment. Yet, as technologies changed, by 2008, that space was no longer functioning at optimum efficiency. We were called upon to renovate our own previous work, only several years old at the time, and transform it into an employee health center.
PET Imaging Center, 2001
Heart & Kidney Transplant Center, 2010
DMR: FROM THE ARCHIVES
The school, which accommodates 1,100 students in grades 5-8, was based on a house plan in which grades 5-6 are located in one wing and grades 7-8 in another, with the two wings connected by a hub for administration. A third wing, attached at the rear of the building in a circular design, includes the gymnasium, technology labs and cafeteria.
2000
DMR relaunches the website as dmrarchitects. com, the same as it is today, and each employee becomes reachable at individual email addresses.
DMR: THROUGH THE YEARS
1991
DMR is founded on July 15 by a staff of four, led by Lloyd Rosenberg, in Rochelle Park, NJ. With a vision to focus on primarily pre-K-12 educational work, the firm sets out to land its first client, which turns out to be the Brewster Central School District. A satellite office in White Plains, NY is also opened to help complete the project.
1995
DMR moves to a 5,000 SF office in Maywood, NJ. In the new office, we start using email and the entire office has one email address.
1994
After a few years focusing primarily on educational projects, DMR adds its first healthcare, corporate office and interior design projects to our portfolio. Sony Corporate Headquarters, New York, NY
1992
DMR adds marketing, accounting and administrative staff, bringing the team size to eight. From 1992 - 1996, DMR added several staff members that are still on our team today, kicking off a tradition of staff tenure that averages 10 years.
1997
DMR joins the World Wide Web! dmr-arch. com, the firm’s first website, is launched.
Charles Sarlo joined as general counsel in 2001, an unusual move for an architectural firm of our size. Yet Charles' unique academic qualifications including engineering, business and
2007
2005
2001 law degrees turned out to be the perfect complement to our existing talent. Today, we consider the sum of our in-house talent to be unparalleled in our industry.
2005
We move again to Hasbrouck Heights.
2005
We were first assigned a contract with the New York City School Construction Authority, a relationship has grown to include more than 250 projects (and counting).
2008
With the addition of Francis Reiner to our team, our professional planning department as we know it today was formally developed. Francis helped grow our planning division to include a roster of many of New Jersey's largest and most well-known municipalities, including Hackensack, which has remained a planning client for more than 10 years.
Hackensack, NJ
DMR: THROUGH THE YEARS
When we were commissioned to design the rail station that would first bring rail service to the Meadowlands, we had not designed a rail station before. Yet through our design philosophy fueled by a commitment to overcoming challenges through ingenuity and creativity, we created a facility that was praised by transit professionals.
Our sustainable design practice took off in 2007, with the completion of St. Joseph's School for the Blind and Carlstadt Elementary School. While today many sustainable features are implemented as a standard, in 2007, pitching sustainable design was new. Carlstadt Public School went on to become the first LEED Silver certified school in New Jersey and the first LEED certified building in Bergen County.
2015
DMR: THROUGH THE YEARS
The Beijing Tourism Society invited Lloyd to China to speak at the Qiandongnan Summit, their annual conference focusing on preserving the traditional Chinese Village. The trip also included private tours of villages in southwestern China, including Guiyang, Kaili City, Qiandongnan and Lishui.
2016
Being awarded the Frank J. Gargiulo Campus, our largest project to date, just as we celebrated 25 years in business was a thrill. The 350,000 SF project was a massive effort. Yet we never wavered from the commitment we made in 1991 to provide important architectural services to school districts, no matter the size. That same year, we brought on more than 25 pre-K-12 projects valued at less than $1 million.
2021
2017
We start the year with a national ranking on Real Estate Forum’s fastest growing companies.
2017
For the first time in 25 years, DMR names partners.
As we celebrated our 30th anniversary, we form the DMR Foundation, to increase our support of the services that are most important to our clients and friends.
THE JERSEY CITY JUSTICE BUILDING STORY
Today, police, emergency operations, court and similar civic facilities are a niche project type for DMR, establishing us as 2001 experts in the field of public safety design and growing our portfolio to more than 20 buildings of this type. Our commitment to this sector began in the late 90s with the assignment to design the new, 71,000 SF Jersey City Justice Building. The project called upon our designers to design a facility that evoked a strong sense of civic pride and identity and served as a catalyst for revitalization of the surrounding urban neighborhood. The building, which opened in 2001, includes a large brick arch, visible from the street and the plaza, to reinforce the building’s public image for use and access. The exterior includes multiple colors and textures, complementing the smaller buildings and human scale of the pedestrian neighborhood. Key to the design is the usage of masonry to form a curved façade, depicting warmth and openness.
Even years before DMR’s thriving professional planning department as we know it today was 2005 born, our vision as a firm included an eye for redevelopment. In 2005, Somerset Development retained DMR to complete the conceptual land use plan for the 67 acre Wesmont Station in Wood-Ridge. The plan called for a true live-work-play community with housing, retail, offices, walking and biking paths and a public square, community center, middle school and train station. The overall vision for Wesmont Station has been realized over the many years since the original plan and today is a vibrant mixed-use complex.
THE SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND STORY 2007
At DMR, we consider ourselves early adopters of sustainability. This is largely thanks to the guidance of Pradeep Kapoor, who when he joined the PRADEEP KAPOOR, AIA, LEED AP BD+C DMR team in 2001, brought with him a passion for sustainable design. He received his LEED accreditation in 2003, among some of the earliest architects to do so, and later went on to co-chair the northern New Jersey branch of the United States Green Building Council. In 2007, St. Joseph's School for the Blind, a new 73,000 SF facility for blind and multiple-disabled students in Jersey City, became DMR's first LEED certified facility. Today DMR’s sustainable design portfolio includes six certified, silver and gold buildings.
DMR: FROM THE ARCHIVES
THE WESMONT STORY
DMR: FROM THE ARCHIVES
THE GYM STORY 2007
Our interior designers were thrilled when we were approached by The GYM to convert a former warehouse into their newest location in Armonk, NY. The assignment called for a high-end design that would require creativity in designing a visually stunning space that drew on The GYM’s values of connecting nature and technology.
The design solution called for elements such as specialty finishes, a curved wood ceiling, a 135 foot feature wall, and fluorescent light boxes throughout the entire workout area, bringing brightness and energy to the environment. The GYM received the “Best of Year” Merit Award from Interior Design.
2010
THE BERGEN COUNTY PUBLIC SAFETY OPERATIONS CENTER STORY
DMR designed the Bergen County Public Safety Operations Center, a 30,000 SF, 24/7/365 building which houses a 911 command center, communication center, emergency operations center, and Office of Emergency Management, among many other elements that help the county provide exceptional emergency management services. The project became the catalyst for 10 more similar projects over the next 10 years.
THE MIDDLESEX COUNTY COLLEGE STORY
2011 DMR worked closely with Middlesex County College (now Middlesex College) over several years to bring two new facilities to life, changing both the landscape and school operations. Crabiel Hall opened in 2011, transforming the face of the once-divided campus through a new gateway. It also soon became the college's first LEED certified facility.
2013
THE ROBERT L. CRAIG SCHOOL STORY
In October 2012, following Superstorm Sandy, the Robert L. Craig School in Moonachie suffered serious damage when it completely flooded, forcing the facility to close. As architect of record, DMR’s first priority was to assist the board in securing and receiving approval for 36 temporary classroom units, which was achieved within days. Once the school was occupying the units, DMR began repairs to the damaged facility, bringing the building back to the inviting educational facility it once was. The renovations spanned the entire school and included classrooms, science labs, cafeteria, offices and the media center. In September 2013, the students and staff celebrated the first day of school in their completely restored school, less than one year after the damage was done.
2014
THE AMERICAN DREAM STORY
In 2014, as Triple Five, the developers of American Dream, picked up steam toward the opening of the entertainment and shopping complex, DMR was hired to design their leasing office and showroom. The 14th floor office looked directly over the project site, with design elements throughout that focused on their branding and marketed their other major projects, such as West Edmonton Mall in Alberta, Canada and the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota.
DMR: FROM THE ARCHIVES
DMR then partnered with the college on their new enrollment services building, just as they were beginning to explore how to move forward with the change to their business model needed to support this one-stop student services facility. Working closely with the college, DMR designed the building simultaneous to the implementation of this change.
THE POZYCKI HALL STORY
DMR designed the new Pozycki Hall academic building at Monmouth 2015 University, a gift from Steven J. Pozycki. The facility was so popular, thanks to elements such as a 175-seat lecture hall, attractive study rooms and a second story exterior terrace, that a formal request was made by the student population to keep the building open longer hours.
THE ANNIN STORY
DMR: FROM THE ARCHIVES
2016 was a breakout year for DMR’s residential portfolio and one of the projects that helped propel us was Annin 2016 Lofts in Verona. The project called for the adaptive reuse of the historic site of the former Annin Flag Company manufacturing facility, where many flags of historic significance were made, including those flown atop Mount Suribachi during World War II and on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission. Appropriately named Annin Lofts, the project transformed the historic building and also included an adjacent new construction portion. All together, the development offers 112 loft-style units. The project was completed through a joint venture of Russo Development and Dinallo Construction Corp.
THE SANZARI STORY
Joseph M. Sanzari, the heavy construction contractor, 2018 turned to DMR to build a new corporate headquarters on a site in Hackensack. The project entailed the design of a 10,000 SF, state-of-the-art and sustainable office building consisting of 20 offices, conference rooms and casual staff lounge and break spaces, including a covered, outdoor seating area. Nods to heavy construction were made through special details throughout the building, including use of rebar for the spindles of the staircase and custom chandelier.
The union of modern form and function and historical character needed at Annin Lofts was an artistic process and was brought to life largely thanks to the design influence of Kurt Vierheilig. Kurt has influenced nearly all of DMR's KURT VIERHEILIG, AIA residential projects, a portfolio of units that today tops 10,000. This same influence helped fuel DMR's breakout year in 2016, marked by an increase in sector revenue by more than 400% from 2015. Kurt's status in the residential design world has earned him several opportunities to reflect on changing design trends, including most recently in NJBiz where he discussed the implications of a larger work-from-home workforce.
Atlantic Street Park
M&M Recreation Center and Senior Center
Performing Arts Center
DMR SUPPORTS HACKENSACK DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT SUCCESS OVER 10 YEARS When DMR first started working with the City of Hackensack, their redevelopment efforts were in its infancy. In the 10 years since, the city has taken tremendous steps forward, supported by a crossover of DMR's professional planning and architectural services.
The city's pragmatic approach to redevelopment, built upon the Downtown Rehabilitation Plan for the Main Street Area, has resulted in more than $500 million in private investment and more than 4,000 new residential units.
OUTDOOR SPACE
COMMUNITY BUILDINGS
Great downtowns have great outdoor spaces and the city has worked tirelessly to bring vibrant outdoor space to Hackensack, most notably in 2015, with the opening of Atlantic Street Park. Adjacent to the Cultural and Performing Arts Center, Atlantic Street Park includes shaded seating, chess tables, and an outdoor theatre. Plans for another public park with a pedestrian paseo is in the planning stages.
Infrastructure improvements have brought many new or refreshed services to the downtown, including the Cultural and Performing Arts Center, the anchor of a downtown arts district, and the renovated M&M Recreation Center and Senior Center, which nearly doubled the size of the previous center.
REAL ESTATE Disposition of municipal property has been an important tool. In one case, the sale of Lot C resulted in an agreement to construct 200 public parking spaces; 384 residential units; and 3,000 SF of retail. The lot produces annual revenue of more than $1 million, when there was no revenue previously.
ZONING
At the heart of the plan were smart growth principles that changed zoning to increase development flexibility and reduce parking ratios. A streamlined developer review process was also implemented.
FUNDING Among several grants awarded over the years, a notable one came in 2019, when the NJEDA awarded the city a $100,000 grant to evaluate the creation of a life science zone with Hackensack University Medical Center.
CONNECTIVITY After years of coordination, in 2021, Main Street opened for two-way traffic for the first time in 40 years, completing a conversion of Main and State Streets. A redevelopment plan for The Record site, dormant for more than a decade, also recently began, calling for a connection between Main Street and a newly created Hackensack Riverfront District.
INTRODUCING THE DMR FOUNDATION
Since 1991, we have seen our work have a profound impact on the communities we serve. Just as we have delivered the visions and physical infrastructure that have provided critical programs, paved the way for economic growth and improved quality-of-life, we have turned our clients into friends, joining them in support of their civic and philanthropic efforts. To that end, we have expanded our charitable efforts through the establishment of the DMR Foundation. Among both monetary and time donations this year, representatives of the DMR Foundation also participated in Canstruction, an international charity competition where teams compete to construct giant structures made entirely from full cans of food. Our theme of "Make a Myth Out of Hunger" came to life in 4 hours, using 3,150 cans and 850 water bottles.
DMR PROMOTES TWO LONGTERM PRACTICE LEADERS
DMR has promoted long-term team members Janet Pini, AIA and Fernando Robledo, AIA to Associates. They have been with the firm for 19 and 14 years respectively, working on some of the firm’s most significant projects. Janet began her architectural career at DMR, consistently taking on greater responsibilities as she mastered her understanding of and ability to communicate with clients about New Jersey’s complicated codes and procedures. Her work has primarily focused on education and municipal projects, currently including the Blanquita B. Valenti Community School and the Ridgefield Municipal Complex. She has a Bachelor of Architecture from New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Fernando has applied his design experience to projects including the Joseph A. Taub School in Paterson, a design-build contract with the New Jersey Schools Development Authority that serves 1,000 junior high school students. He also designed Joseph M. Sanzari’s headquarters in Hackensack. He has a Bachelor of Arts, Urban Design and Architecture, from the University of Puebla in Mexico. “Janet and Fernando have been invaluable members to their practice areas, loaning their expertise to manifest feasible plans that incorporate our clients’ needs and ideas,” said Lloyd Rosenberg. “They have also played crucial roles in growing DMR into the multifaceted architectural firm that it is today, and we are honored that they have both made their professional homes here for well over a decade.”
APPROVED ENERGY SAVINGS IMPROVEMENT PLAN WILL FUEL $12.5 MILLION IN PROJECTS IN HACKENSACK
Following approval of a New Jersey Board of Public Utilities’ Energy Savings Improvement Plan (ESIP), energy improvement projects valued at $12.5 million are underway in Hackensack. The proposed improvements will ultimately result in cost savings of nearly $11 million over the next 20 years and reduce Hackensack’s carbon footprint by 5,146,261 pounds of CO2 annually. DMR brought the ESIP program - a funding option that uses the value of the savings that result from the projects - to the BOE’s attention as a way to pay for the needed upgrades.
SCHOOL NAMED FOR PLAINFIELD CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS BREAKS GROUND
A new school, named in honor of civil rights activists who helped end segregation in Plainfield, is on its way. The 120,000 SF Charles and Anna Booker School is designed to educate approximately 840 K-5 students. The new school will include 41 classrooms, an art room, a vocal/music room, an instrumental lesson room, a technology lab, a science demo room, a computer lab, a gymnasium, a cafeteria, a media center, a playground, and a basketball court. In 1965, the Bookers won a legal case, Booker v. Board of Education of City of Plainfield, to end segregation in Plainfield schools.
“Just as the Bookers were pioneers of civil rights, the NJSDA is at the forefront of providing education spaces that support innovative ideas from both teachers and students,” said Lloyd Rosenberg. “School systems that expand education modalities are better preparing their students for situations and opportunities that require creative thinking while in school and the workforce.” Under a design-build contract, DMR is working for the general contractor, Epic Management, on the new school, valued at $45 million.
for enhanced art and music education classrooms, a think tank, a flexible media center, a dance studio, and a STEM lab. While DMR met Carteret’s needs with a new facility, in Passaic, plans at Passaic Academy for Science and Engineering (P.A.S.E) focused on renovation options.
Passaic Academy for Science and Engineering
DIVERGENT THINKING SPACES ARE A STUDY IN HOW EDUCATION PRACTICES HAVE EVOLVED Where STEM and STEAM curriculum were once offered as after-school clubs, and in whatever classroom space was available, more schools are now incorporating these education modes into regular classes and expanding the applications beyond science and math. This shift in education practices requires a physical shift away from the traditional classroom layouts, with calls instead for flexible spaces and furniture, materials and spaces that can be incorporated into the lesson plan. At the new Junior High School in Carteret, plans called
In expanding the biomedical lab, DMR maximized the functionality of an existing classroom. In this case, DMR’s decision to hang the utilities and the ventilation hoods from the ceiling freed up space in the lab for functional furniture and an anatomage table, a highly sophisticated technology. DMR’s work in Passaic also includes the art studio at P.A.S.E that acts as a classroom and an art gallery for its students.
ON THE BOARDS: FOUR NEW SCHOOLS
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL CARTERET 2022
JOSEPH A. TAUB SCHOOL (NJSDA) PATERSON 2021
CHARLES AND ANNA BOOKER SCHOOL (NJSDA) PLAINFIELD 2022
PROJECT ROSTER FOR BAYONNE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SURPASSES 30, REFLECTING LONGTERM REINVESTMENT RELATIONSHIP
Several recent assignments for the Bayonne School District have pushed DMR’s roster of projects for the district since 2013 over the 30 project threshold. This includes projects at ten of the district’s 12 schools with a cumulative construction cost of more than $18 million. “We’ve done more than 1,000 school projects, and they are all special to us, but our Bayonne relationship especially means a lot to me because I went to Kindergarten at one of the schools where we have worked, Horace Mann School,” said Lloyd Rosenberg.
MORE THAN $150 MILLION IN UPGRADE PROJECTS ON THE BOARDS FOR PRE-K-12 CLIENTS
Education projects in the pre-K-12 sector represent more than 1/3 of DMR’s $1 billion pipeline, with $155 million alone of routine architect of record and capital improvement projects. More than 60 of these projects are currently underway for both New Jersey school districts and the New York City School Construction Authority, adding to DMR's portfolio of school projects that now tops 1,000 total projects.
GROUNDBREAKING MARKS BOTH THE START OF CONSTRUCTION AND NAMING OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN NEW BRUNSWICK
BLANQUITA B. VALENTI COMMUNITY SCHOOL NEW BRUNSWICK 2023
A May groundbreaking ceremony celebrated the start of construction and naming of the new Blanquita B. Valenti Community School, a 127,000 SF, K-8 school. The ceremony also marked the unveiling of the school’s naming in honor of the late pioneering educator. Working for the developer, New Brunswick Development Corporation, DMR designed the facility which will be built without taxpayer dollars and will allow for the construction of the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey Cancer Pavilion, a 500,000+ SF cancer hospital.
We’ve been printing newsletters since our very first days, starting in the fall of 1991, when DMR was only a couple of months old.