Sydness Architects
Sydness Architects is a New York City-based architecture firm founded by K. Jeffries Sydness AIA in 1996.[1] Other senior members of the firm are Associates Matthew M. Ruopoli, AIA and Melissa Carolina Cheing, AIA.
Prior to forming Sydness Architects, Sydness was a partner at Johnson/Burgee Architects, whose founding principals were Philip Johnson and John Burgee. He began at the firm in 1979, and was made partner in 1988.[2] In his thirteen years at Johnson/Burgee,[3] Sydness designed several landmark buildings including the Takashimaya Building in New York, 500 Boylston Street in Boston, Puerta de Europa in Madrid, Spain and the Conrad International Hotel in Singapore.[1][2]
One of Sydness Architects' first projects, completed in 2001, was the 37-story, 328-room St. Regis Shanghai Hotel, in Shanghai, China.[4] Architectural Digest called the hotel's design, which won an international design competition,[2] "[A]s brilliant as it is simple."[5]
In 2005, the firm took on the restoration of the 104-year-old Second Church of Christ, Scientist on Central Park West and West 68th Street in Manhattan, New York City. Their work was scheduled to clean the facade, reinforce the stained-glass windows, fix leaks which had developed in the copper dome and illuminate the skylight.[6]
Sydness Architects designed two contemporary luxury condominium towers for the Turtle Bay neighborhood of Manhattan, near the United Nations:[7] The Alexander, a 24-story building for 250 East 49th Street,[8] and the Alexander Plaza, a 25-story tower at 315 East 46th Street, which was under construction, but was put on hold after six stories had been built[9] – although the purchase of the site by the United Arab Emirates has put the fate of the project in doubt.[10][11]
The firm won an invited design competition to re-design the grand banking hall and lobby at 700 Louisiana Street in Houston. Built in 1983, the iconic building, originally the Republic Bank Tower, is a landmark in the city. "The estimated $20 million project...will add 35,000 square fee to the already 1.25 million-square-foot-property."[12]
Sydness Architects has a large portfolio of corporate interiors work in dozens of Manhattan office buildings, as well as lobby renovations. The firm continues to design a wide variety of project types including residential, hospitality and commercial buildings.
References
[edit]- ^ a b "K. Jeffries Sydness, Principal" on the Sydness Architects website. Accessed: January 27, 2011.
- ^ a b c "About the Company: Strategic Partners" on the LGA Worldwide website. Accessed: January 27, 2011.
- ^ "Remembering Philip Johnson, FAIA", entry by K. Jeffries Sydness on eOculus (April 26, 2005). Accessed: January 27, 2011
- ^ "St. Regis Hotel" Archived June 28, 2008, at the Wayback Machine on the Leslie E. Robertson Associates website. Accessed: January 27, 2011.
- ^ Webb, Michael. "Shanghai’s St. Regis". Architectural Digest (May 2002)
- ^ Gray, Christopher. "Streetscapes: First Church of Christ, Scientist; 2 Congregations Unite, and No. 2 Becomes No. 1". New York Times (December 25, 2005)
- ^ Schnitzer, Erika. "Contemporary Luxury Tower to Rise Near U.N. Office" on Multi-Housing News (September 25, 2008)
- ^ "250 East 49th Street"[usurped] on Emporis.com. Accessed: January 27, 2011
- ^ "315 East 46th Street"[usurped] on Emporis.com. Accessed: January 27, 2011
- ^ Rubinstein, Dana. "Oil-Rich UAE Buys Distressed East 46th Street Site". New York Observer (November 12, 2009)
- ^ "Middle East Saves Midtown From Another Glassy Lux Condo". Curbed NY (November 13, 2009). Accessed: January 27, 2011
- ^ "Architectural Icon In Downtown Houston Getting A $20M Update" on Forbes.com. Accessed: October 1, 2018.