Dattner Architects is a women-owned design firm. This is a milestone for our practice, which was founded 60 years ago. Our long-standing commitment to equity and inclusion has organically fostered women to thrive and achieve at the highest level of leadership. Today the firm is led by 10 partners, half of whom are women; and the women are the majority owners. We are a firm that continues to evolve and advance.
Our core mission is unwavering, and it unites our work and our practice. We proudly take on the planning and design of the region’s most essential projects, creating architecture that enriches the urban experience, transforms environments, and strengthens communities.
Today Dattner Architects is over 100 people, 59% of whom are women, 41% BIPOC, and 17% LGBTQ+ all working together from one office in New York City. A steadfast dedication to our mission, a strong and varied portfolio of that spans sectors, and a thoughtful leadership transition plan allows our 60-year-old practice to continue to remain vital and vibrant—reflecting the diversity and relevancy of our practice.
"Driven to work at the urban scale, I initially sought out Dattner Architects because the firm had designed many of the civic spaces that were formative in my life," notes Gia Maneiro, Principal and Corporate President. "This passion fueled my career here—from junior designer to Principal—supported by the confidence, camaraderie and mentorship that defines the culture of the office. Raising my daughter solidified my commitment to leadership in the future of sustainable public architecture, and I could not be more proud to share in a majority women owned partnership that embodies these values."
Dattner Architects is certified as a WBE with New York City, New York State, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the New York City School Construction Authority, and the City of Philadelphia.
Dattner Architects is proud to recognize the exceptional contributions of six distinguished professionals with promotions to new levels of leadership.
In recognition of their outstanding leadership and deep-seated passion for enriching urban environments with projects that respond to the needs of our time, Harriet Andronikides has been promoted to Associate. Heather McKinstry and Rem Bruhn are now Senior Associates. Patrick McAffrey, Shefali Sanghvi and Philippe Martelly have been elevated to Associate Principal. These advancements reflect the dedication, commitment to sustainable and innovative civic architecture, and the high level of professionalism these architects bring to our firm.
“Each of these professionals has excelled in remarkable and individual ways. They all successfully lead complex projects with ease and joy, while providing opportunities for others to shine. We are pleased to be able to recognize their achievements and their commitment with these promotions, and we are excited about their evolved role in the leadership of our firm.”—Kirsten Sibilia, Managing Principal.
Harriet Andronikides, AIA, Associate has worked on a variety of project types, including parks, multi-family residential, and performing arts venues. She strives for clear and meaningful communication through all phases of a project, and particularly enjoys the Construction Administration phase where she can see the building come to life. As a New Yorker, Harriet has an endless fascination for the built environment and the inner workings of the city.
“When I joined Dattner Architects, I saw that I had the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on my home city and community. I knew that this firm was a special place where I could achieve that.”—Harriet
Heather McKinstry, AIA, LEED AP, CPHC, Studio Director, Senior Associate believes that architecture’s most important role is to create inclusive, healthy, and sustainable environments for our communities, helping to build a more equitable world. After completing her thesis on disaster relief housing, her commitment to environmentalism and community focused urbanism led her to work creating spaces for all New Yorkers while minimizing the environmental impact of new buildings.
“I'm so proud of how this office has evolved since I started. I was hired to work on the design of 425 Grand Concourse, our first Passive House project, and now we have become passive house experts with many of our housing projects in design aiming for that standard. I'm also thrilled by the progress the office has made to become a women owned business.”—Heather
Rem Bruhn, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Senior Associate joined Dattner Architects in 2015, eager to work in a mission-driven firm, designing projects positively influence people’s daily lives. He enjoys working with diverse stakeholder groups, and he takes pride in developing a concept that is carefully considered, from the macroscopic down to the smallest details. With each project he seeks to contribute to the sustainable evolution of our cities.
“When I joined Dattner Architects, I was drawn in by the firm’s mission, and the work we do to make New York City a better place to live for everyone, from affordable housing, to infrastructure, to schools and libraries, and so much more—and I was proud to go home and tell people where I worked and the type of work we did. Nine years later, this is as true as ever: as we grow and evolve, I’m still very proud of our work, and grateful for the brilliant and dedicated people that I work with.”—Rem
Patrick McAffrey, AIA, Studio Director, Associate Principal joined the firm as an emerging architect today leads our largest studio. He’s continued to grow with each challenge and excels at every opportunity. Formally trained in both architecture and product design, Patrick’s passion for intelligent urbanism has led him to focus his work on infrastructure and transportation projects, which he believes have profound impact on the building fabric and urban lifestyles they support.
“I am proud of the work we do as a firm, continuing to contribute to the built fabric of New York in a meaningful and civic way. Specifically, in our transportation and infrastructure studio, I have always found it fulfilling to be able to observe how appreciated and used our work is in the public realm. Looking back on my time here, I am grateful for the opportunities I have been given to work with so many talented individuals and the thoughtful mentorship provided by this firm. I am humbled and excited to be a part of this leadership group as we enter a new chapter as a women-owned business.”—Patrick
Shefali Sanghvi, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Fitwel Amb., ENV SP, Director of Sustainability, Associate Principal has over 15 years of experience working in sustainable projects, with an emphasis on resiliency, occupant health and comfort, and energy efficiency. An expert on urban Passive House projects, she is dedicated to designing buildings that are socially, environmentally, and financially sustainable. As the firm’s Director of Sustainability, Shefali serves as a thought leader across Dattner Architects’ studios, and beyond, championing sustainability as integral to architecture. She is a person who identifies opportunities to do things better—and puts in the work to develop a system to make it happen. Like each of the folks being promoted, Shefali is always looking out for the firm.
“Dattner Architects’ Sustainable Practice Group gave me a platform to research issues that I felt really passionate about and talk about them with people who felt the same drive to change the way we design our communities. The reality is that every time we do what we do, we have one chance to do it right, to lessen its impact on the planet. Every time we build a project, it is important that we build the most sustainable version of our project that we can. Dattner Architects provides the opportunity for us to do that, together.”—Shefali
With in-depth expertise managing large, multifaceted projects, Philippe Martelly, AIA, CPHC, Studio Director, Associate Principal is deeply invested in understanding the human experience and social impact of healthy, sustainable, and well-conceived affordable housing. Philippe has not only excelled as a project manager, studio director, mentor and coach but also used his skills for business development—cultivating new and existing clients to bring in new projects. He represents the firm on the board of the prestigious CHPC (Citizens Housing & Planning Council).
“I’ve always believed that Civic Architecture is about giving back, and practicing Architecture in service to society is a beautiful endeavor. It is a complex and difficult job, and we at Dattner Architects are among the privileged few in this society who can actually do it so well. The populations that our projects continue to serve are counting on all of us to get it right. They deserve our very best. They deserve that bright spark of ours that we let shine here each and every day. And our tremendous collective expertise and profound social consciousness places us in a position to give them our best. Our Firm is a very special place, and I am very proud of what we’re doing here. We operate successfully in one of the greatest Cities in the World, and the civic impact of our work extends beyond its borders, across generations, and beyond our own personal timelines.”—Philippe
We are honored to announce that The Architect’s Newspaper has selected Dattner Architects for the 2024 Best of Practice Award (XL Firm – Northeast). AN's Best of Practice program seeks to define an expansive meaning of excellence that not only considers the firm’s individual projects, values and culture but also inclusivity, social impact, sustainability, regional relevance, and technological innovation. This recognition highlights our commitment to addressing the complex challenges faced by the architecture industry today and acknowledges the collective efforts of our team.
As a mission-driven, women-owned design firm, we design impactful architecture that responds to the issues of our time. We have proudly taken on the planning and design of the region’s most essential projects, creating architecture that enriches the urban experience, transforms environments, and strengthens communities. Our approach involves integrating sustainable practices and prioritizing projects that serve the broader community, reflecting our dedication to inclusivity and social responsibility.
Dattner Architects has long fostered equity and inclusion, and we have championed employee professional growth and recognition. Our commitment to diversity includes a team of over 100 people, 59% women, 41% BIPOC, and 17% LGBTQ+.
Our innovative buildings have enriched NYC's urban fabric, positively impacting countless New Yorkers. We are humbled to see the warmth, appreciation, and life brought to our projects by those who inhabit, recreate, learn, and work in these buildings.
[caption id="attachment_21452" align="alignleft" width="2000"] Architectural League First Friday at Dattner Architects 2024[/caption]
View the full list of winners:
https://www.archpaper.com/2024/06/announcing-the-winners-of-ans-2024-best-of-practice-awards/
Attending the Tower Renewal Summit at Reimagine in Calgary and Edmonton, Principal John Woelfling AIA, LEED AP BD+C presented the sustainable strategies used in renovating the Peter W. Rodino Federal Office Building. The Reimagine Conference examines building design and operation in light of increasing energy and maintenance costs, need for healthier work environments, and ecological sustainability.
Attending the Tower Renewal Summit at Reimagine in Calgary and Edmonton, Principal John Woelfling AIA, LEED AP BD+C presented the sustainable strategies used in renovating the Peter W. Rodino Federal Office Building. The Reimagine Conference examines building design and operation in light of increasing energy and maintenance costs, need for healthier work environments, and ecological sustainability.
Attending the Tower Renewal Summit at Reimagine in Calgary and Edmonton, Principal John Woelfling AIA, LEED AP BD+C presented the sustainable strategies used in renovating the Peter W. Rodino Federal Office Building. The Reimagine Conference examines building design and operation in light of increasing energy and maintenance costs, need for healthier work environments, and ecological sustainability.
