ENYA Beyond the Boards: COOKFOX

Join AIANY Emerging New York Architects Committee (ENYA) as we host a virtual edition of our Beyond The Boards series, this time featuring COOKFOX Architects.

The New York City practice will speak about their firm culture and the specific challenges surrounding large-scale developments, presenting three projects that are currently under construction at 100 Vandam St, 550 Washington St, and 561 Greenwich St toward the transformation of Hudson Square. The case studies will explore subjects like high-performance and biophilic approaches at the building and urban levels, ULURP-informed design, project and construction management strategies, and more. The event will be entirely webinar-based, and guests will have the opportunity to engage the speakers with an open Q&A.

Speakers:
Mark Rusitzky, AIA, LEED AP, Partner, COOKFOX Architects
Zach Craun, LEED GA, WELL AP, Senior Associate, COOKFOX Architects
Arno Adkins, AIA, Senior Associate, COOKFOX Architects

About the speakers:

Mark Rusitzky is a partner at COOKFOX Architects and has built his expertise in managing the design of large-scale mixed-use urban projects. He served as the Project Director of the City Point development in Downtown Brooklyn, and he is currently the Partner-in-Charge for the St. John’s Terminal project, which spans two city blocks on the west side of Manhattan. On a smaller but personally meaningful scale, Mark led the creation of COOKFOX’s new LEED and WELL Platinum studio at 250 West 57th Street. Prior to joining COOKFOX, Mark worked at William McDonough + Partners and FXFOWLE, where he contributed to a number of ambitious green projects. Having spent his career focused on sustainable architecture, Mark believes that the best design helps connect people to nature, and that every project should be viewed through that lens.

Arno Adkins is a senior associate a COOKFOX Architects working across a variety of scales and project typologies. He is currently the project architect for several projects in New York City including a new modern workplace and urban streetscape in the Hudson Square District, and One South First, a mixed-use tower at the Domino Sugar development. He is also leading the design of a ground-up residential tower within the historic Ladies Mile District on West 23rd Street, and 512 West 22nd Street, a new biophilic office building along the High Line. Prior to joining COOKFOX, Arno worked with Iu + Bibliowicz Architects, and then ImreyCulbert where he worked on several museums and galleries, including the Kuwait National Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage project. He then moved to TEN Arquitectos where he contributed to a variety of design proposals and projects, including 300 Ashland in Downtown Brooklyn.

Zach Craun is a senior associate at COOKFOX Architects. He has worked on a variety of project typologies and built expertise in LEED and WELL certification. His past projects include 150 Charles Street and the renovation of the new school for De La Salle Academy, both in Manhattan. He also worked with Footprint Power on a gas-fired combined cycle power plant in Salem, MA to create a smaller, more efficient facility. Currently, Zach is designing two residential buildings, 100 Vandam Street in Manhattan, and a building in Tampa which is part of a master plan slated to be one of the world's first WELL and LEED ND Communities. Recently, he helped lead the LEED, WELL, and Energy Star certifications for COOKFOX’s new studio. Zach heads the firm’s AIA 2030 Committee and the Green Team, both internal groups responsible for implementing sustainable practices. Prior to COOKFOX, he worked with Schwartz/Silver in Boston, on academic buildings, libraries and campus plans, as well as local and federal government projects.

Organized by
AIANY Emerging New York Architects Committee