RKTB Architects, P.C.

At RKTB inclusivity is a core value reflected both in the diversity of our staff and the communities we have served for more than fifty-five years. In steadfastly supporting positive social change through our active involvement in improving the physical fabric of urban communities, RKTB has regarded architecture as social art with a responsibility for improving the lives of all people irrespective of race, religion, origin, or economic class. In the present heightened awareness of society’s structural biases, we at RKTB reaffirm this commitment to foster architecture as a profession that conscientiously works to remove the embedded obstacles that maintain racial inequity in the design of the built environment.

While incentives and policies for office-to-residential conversions continue to happen, some office landlords are considering demolition as another quicker, less sustainable option. In other areas of the country with less government support, many are turning to demolition as a more immediate solution. Read on to hear from architects and developers around the world as well as RKTB's.

Thank you for the opportunity, Queens Chamber of Commerce! Our operations manager, Tara Toro, had a great time meeting fellow members of the Queens Chamber at the new member orientation and sharing about our work.

Our Operations Manager, Tara Toro, had the opportunity to attend this event and had a wonderful time meeting enthusiastic people in the industry and building new connections. Thank you to Thomas J. Grech and the hardworking people at the Queens Chamber of Commerce!

RKTB Associate, Joe Berlinghieri served on the Structural Engineers Association of New York’s Structural Engineering Awards judging panel. Joe also attended the annual SEAoNY Boat Cruise and SEE Awards ceremony to celebrate the invaluable consultants who made our projects possible. Congratulations to all the winners on their amazing feats of engineering!

Happy anniversary to the AIANY LGBTQIA+ Alliance. Our team attended the alliance's Pride Celebration, which marked the group's first anniversary. The AIANY LGBTQIA+ Alliance advocates for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, plus other sexual and gender marginalized communities within the architecture profession by creating space to build community, host events and discussions, and foster diversity and inclusion within our profession and organization, both in the city and state of New York. https://lnkd.in/eYem63TR.

RKTB is proud to be the recipient of this year’s AIA New York | Center for Architecture Leadership in Housing Award, presented at the Chapter’s 157th Annual Meeting on June 18th, in recognition of our firm’s mission-driven work. It was a wonderful opportunity to catch up with friends and colleagues. Congratulations to the other AIANY honorees: Bruce Eisenberg, FAIA, LEED AP for receiving the Public Architecture Award; Suzanne Mecs, Hon. AIA NYState for Service to the Institute; Brooklyn, Queens, and The New York Public Library for Service to the City; and Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation for Service to Women in Architecture.

The Queens Chamber of Commerce held its annual Business Expo last week, and our Operations Manager, Tara Toro, had the exciting opportunity to attend panel discussions focused on AI at Citi Field. The first panel discussed leveraging AI for businesses to reduce costs and increase revenue. The second panel featured the Women in AI Award winners, Yasmin Topia, Viviana Siless, Sequoia Blodgett, Andreea Plesea, PhD, and Michaela Jamelska.

RKTB's Operations Manager, Tara Toro had the exciting opportunity to attend The New Standard cocktail party with Dezeen to celebrate the arrival of the design studio in New York. Made up of Made Thought, Universal Design Studio, and the Map Project Office, you can learn more about this creative collective on their website at thenewstandard.group Photographer credit: Poupay Jutharat / https://lnkd.in/e2xkQiiA

In case you missed it, Governor Hochul announced earlier this month the new 485x tax incentive for affordable housing in the Fiscal Year 2025 New York State Budget. This ten-year program builds on the now-expired 421a incentive program, providing benefits for housing construction while encouraging affordability and delivering strengthened wage standards. #affordablehousing #housingcrisis #multifamilyhousing