CetraRuddy Visit

Touring the firm with John Cetra.

Loukia Tsafoulia's studio met with founding principals John Cetra and Nancy Ruddy at their Financial District office last week. After a walkthrough of the firm, we had an extensive presentation illuminating the values and projects, both past and future, of CetraRuddy.

"Suddenly there were six architects in my living room working away, coffee cups in the sink"

As graduates of City College, John Cetra and Nancy Ruddy told us and showed us how far they've come from working out of their apartment's second bedroom. Their current office spans the full floor of a tall Battery Park tower, affording views that admittedly regularly take the breath of employees and visitors alike. The tables are understandably crowded with construction documents and mostly 3D-printed tower models and experimental components. The work spaces are correlated by project to foster a sense of studio culture.

The presentation began with a brief introductory video laying out the ideologies of the firm, and welcoming statement by Nancy Ruddy stressing more of the firm's devotion to "quality in design, quality of delivery of service, quality of client relationships, [and] learning the latest technology."

"Housing is the heart of our practice and we always say that all of our work is about home."

Nancy and John continued to go through some of their past and current projects, including Aro at 200 E 59th St, and of course, One Madison. Their devotion in the company showed in how involved they were within their own projects, as well as describing how different aspects such as zoning and urban design considerations affected past architectural concepts and construction decisions in shaping New York City.

"[In the 70's] there was an incredible emphasis on the creation of the continuity of the street wall... Everyone felt that towers were bad for the city... that they were antithetical to preserving the vitality on the street... It wasn't really the towers that were the problem, it was how people were not taking advantage of what could be created with the tower regulation and what it could do."

Each of us left with his or her own impression of the firm, and I think I can speak for us all in saying that the visit left us energized and looking forward to intervening on the One Madison site! John and Nancy gave us greatly valuable concepts and insight that will be utilized in the semester ahead.

Discussion with Nancy Ruddy and John Cetra.

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