Shalat Architects | architect

Shalat Architects P.C.

Shalat Architects emanated from a previous firm called Block Hesse and Shalat and was passed down from its previous owner to his two sons.

Consequently, most of the firm's project are provided by historical clients in the entertainment business such as Disney/ABC, CBS and Silvercup. The firm also builds commercial spaces for companies such as Dallas BBQ, Dos Toros, Chop't, Naya Express, etc. and small high end residential projects.

While working for Shalat architects I was involved numerous projects but these were the ones that I learned from the most:

Silvercup studios

Bronx, NY

This project was a huge undertaking, the goal was to transform an old lighting warehouse into a state of the art 115,000 square foot film and TV studio with the necessary amenities.

When I started working for Shalat Architects, The construction phase was two weeks away, I had to quickly familiarize myself not only with the firm's way of working but also with this enormous building and all of its construction details. The only original drawing sets we had were crudely copied assembly instructions from the manufacturer that dated back to the 1950's and even though the building had been completely surveyed every critical dimension had to be field verified. During this project I learned a lot about different soundproofing techniques, the requirements of a facility of that size and I was able to compare drawn theory to built reality.

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Naya- Middle Eastern Counter and Grill

Madison Avenue, NY

This project was a wonderful opportunity to work on a commercial space with minimal seating and a really efficient serving system.

We had to design a serving line that would allow for the assembly of different bowls, wraps and salads while giving the customers a pleasant waiting experience. We decided early on that a laminated bamboo ceiling with matching tables, chairs and planters was the way to go and we developed that concept closely with our millworker. We integrated grow lamps in the bamboo canopy to maintain the lime trees and lavender in the planters and make sure the restaurant stayed green throughout the year. This location is now the most profitable of similar restaurants in New York.