RAND Senior Architect and Project Director Michael N. Russo, AIA is one of Engineering New-Record's Top Young Professionals in New York 2022.
RAND is proud to announce Senior Architect and Project Director Michael N. Russo, AIA has been named one of Engineering News-Record's Top Young Professionals 2022! This annual regional award honors outstanding young construction and design professionals, and are recognized for leadership, career excellence, and community service.
Michael Russo graduated from Parsons School of Design/New School University with a Bachelors of Fine Arts, with a concentration in Architectural Design, and a Masters in Architecture from Pratt Institute. He began his career at a boutique architecture firm in 2005 and since then has worked at large multidiscipline A/E/C firms where he has consulted on numerous infrastructure and capital improvement projects, and several resiliency efforts. He has extensive experience in all types of construction, from historic restoration and preservation to new construction of large-scale infrastructure projects.
Career and Leadership
Brought on as Project Director at RAND Engineering and Architecture, DPC in 2019, Michael manages and coordinates multifaceted and multidisciplinary complex design projects from the conception stage through construction and eventual completion of the project, making sure that project teams meet quality, schedule, contractual, and budget goals. He is also responsible for performing business development and developing proposals for the acquisition of new projects and development of new client relations. Since Michael has been at RAND, he has overseen significant projects valued at more than $25 million in construction cost, and been involved in numerous high-profile projects, including two new construction developments, a capital improvement program, several large-scale projects at New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) properties, and a 1,100-unit storage facility upgrade and renovation.
As part of his organizational managerial role, Michael is responsible for managing and mentoring 10 staff members, and is also involved in RAND’s operations and the interview process of new candidates.
He is a New York State Licensed Architect and holds professional architecture licenses in the state of Virginia and the District of Columbia. Michael has a LEED AP BD+C certification from the (USGBC) U.S. Green Building Council, and is certified Project Manager Professional from the (PMI) Project Management Institute. In addition, Michael has received a Certificate in Construction Management from the Construction Management Association of America.
Michael has been a continuous and active member of both the Pratt Community and the Parsons Community Alumni Community, actively participating in the development of new graduates by taking part of training of future graduates as well as active corporate recruitment efforts at both schools.
Community Service
Michael joined the Construction Management Association of America NYNJ Chapter to further continue his professional development and advocate for the construction management profession on the local and regional level. As a member, he participates in the chapter’s networking opportunities, workshops, and continuing education, and he also takes part in the awards programs recognizing outstanding achievements and projects.
As a member of the American Institute of Architects New York Chapter, Michael is proud to be part of a 5,500-member community with a strong commitment to excellence and livability in our nation’s buildings and communities. As a licensed professional, he has mentored numerous emerging professionals, many of which while working directly under his supervision, and for whom he has reviewed and approved the required Intern Development Credits needed for their professional licensure. For his own professional development, he has taken part in numerous events and continuing education programs provided by the AIA NY Chapter.
As a member of the Project Management Institute, Michael takes part in PMI events and webinars to keep his skills aligned with new trends and connect with fellow project managers from across the globe. Through PMI he is able to share solutions and ideas while enjoying professional development and networking events.
Projects
Michael has worked on many large-scale projects featuring a wide range of scope items throughout his career. He is currently involved in a new residential development at 517 West 29th Street, a 10-story, 119-foot new construction residential condominium located in Chelsea, Manhattan. The completed building will span 54,200 square feet and house 60 residential units.
Michael has also worked on numerous projects for various city, state and federal agencies. One of such projects includes the complete masonry facade replacement and structural system upgrade at the MTA Manhatanville Bus Depot which has received the Silver Award for Structural Innovations by the ACEC 2018.
At the Department of Corrections, Michael was the Project Manager for the gut renovation of two large correctional facilities at Riker’s Island RMSC and GRVC, each 40,000-square-foot in size. The renovation of both facilities was guided by the concept that the creation of more humane environments and more direct supervision have a direct relation with the decrease in recidivism rates in correctional facilities.
One of Michael’s largest projects was the 33,000-square-foot addition and renovation to the existing gymnasium building at Curtis High School in Staten Island. The addition has a state-of-the-art competition gymnasium on the main level and classrooms, a graphic media room, offices and other support spaces on the upper two floors. One of the key components of the design work was to make sure the exterior architecture of the new addition complemented the existing campus, a designated landmark.
As Senior Project Architect for the $16.9 million Mui Ho Fine Arts Library project, which renovated and expanded the venerable brick building into a 21st century fine arts library designed to meet LEED Gold certification requirements. The design inserted four vertically stacked mezzanines into the existing volume of the building, suspended from a new roof structure.
See all of ENR's Top New York Professionals of 2022: https://www.enr.com/blogs/23-ny-construction-central/post/52999-top-young-professionals-cohort-of-2022-enr-new-york
