History of Dattner Architects
Dattner Architects was founded by Richard Dattner in 1964. It is based in New York city and is most well known for its’ civic engagement. Dattner transforms environments and strengthens communities through active participation, thoughtful programming, and innovative design.
Essential Architecture is critical to their practice. Although it is largely unseen and more often than not underappreciated, it is the vital infrastructure that supports urban life. Learn more about their dedication to Essential Architecture in Dattner Architects’ Selected Projects #1! Dattner Architects is also a Future Forward firm. They pioneer green design and are focused on helping communities that are affected by climate change. Find out more about their approach to sustainability and the Sustainable Practice Group here!
A big part of their mission is also Spaces Between. These are social spaces outside of the typical home and workplace, such as parks, libraries, learning environments, cafes, clubs, and places of worship. Spaces Between do not necessitate the involvement of architects, but architecture can be used to strengthen them. Architecture combines a local and tactical initiative with an urbanistic big picture vision, allowing people to act on their natural joy and desire to come together.
Richard Dattner AIA
Richard completed his studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Architectural Association in London. He has taught design at Cooper Union, City College of New York, and the University of Wisconsin, and is a frequent visiting design critic and lecturer. To learn more about the accomplishments of Richard Dattner, see Dattner Architects’ Selected Projects #1!
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Company Culture at Dattner Architects
They are guardians of city life and supporters of every project’s greatest goals. At Dattner, they help communities, professionals, and government officials engage in the complex conversations necessary to determine the project’s vision. They act as both the project’s architects and advocates.
Dattner Architects’ culture is shaped by our steadfast commitment to architecture that positively impacts our cities.
By cooperating with peers, interacting with stakeholders, and working in teams, they try to comprehend the programmatic requirements as well as the social and physical contexts of the project. Their design is based on these discoveries.
If you’re interested to learn about the culture and environment in Dattner’s offices, check out our previous blogs: Dattner Architects’ Selected Projects #1 and #2!
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Architect-US is proud to work in close contact with Dattner Architects and to be able to ensure the firm gets to know and work with amazing young architects like Shih-en Grace Chang whom we helped process and sponsor her J1 Visa as well as find her a job in the US through our Job+J1 Visa Program!
Shih-en Grace Chang
Canadian architect Shih-en Grace Chang received her Bachelor of Environmental Design with Honors from the University of British Columbia’s School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. She pursued her Master of Architecture degree at the University of Toronto’s John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design. Grace’s previous work experience includes being a Teaching Assistant at John H. Daniels Faculty for ARC 201 Design Studio II and ARC 253 Readings in Urban Design. She provided critical feedback to student work and acted as an instructor on technical skills development in order to cultivate students’ visual literacy and preparation for future learning in design.
Dattner Architects‘ Selected Projects
Stanley Manne Research Institute – Bronx, NY
The Stanley Manne Research Institute, a brand-new, cutting-edge research facility named for and generously funded by Bronx Science alumnus Stanley Manne, is housed at the Bronx High School of Science. With the help of this university-level facility, Bronx high school students will be able to conduct long-term experiments that will help them get ready for college or the workplace.
Three multidisciplinary labs, an animal room, a walk-in cold room, a tissue culture room, a microscopy room, a sterilization room, and a multipurpose room for special events are all housed in the building. Similar to a professional laboratory, these spaces are adaptable and modular to accommodate changing equipment and scientific needs. A computational room is available for group discussions, lectures, and the evaluation of experiment data in each lab.
The façade is made up of fiber-reinforced concrete panels that are closely spaced and dotted with modular openings that correspond to the sensible and condensed laboratory layouts. Three-dimensional panels create changing and dynamic shadows on the façade throughout the day. The school’s color, bright green brick accents, line the main stairway and lobby and mark the entrances. The entire building’s systems are electric, and by obtaining electricity from renewable resources, the laboratory’s operations will be carbon neutral. Therefore, it is expected that the project will achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, meeting New York City’s strict carbon emission goals.
Photos by Dattner
Columbus Circle Station – New York
Founded in 1904, Columbus Circle is one of the original IRT stations in New York City. Serving over 200,000 passengers every day, it is Manhattan’s eighth busiest primary transit hub.
This expansive, multi-level subway station complex, at the intersection of the more recent IND subway (A, C, B, and D Lines) and the original Broadway Line (No. 1 Line), is organized, rehabilitated, and restored by Dattner Architects. The plan for the renovation was to keep this busy station running while the work was being done. Throughout the project, the design team maintained safe, accessible, and operational platforms in close coordination with the MTA.
Along the subway passage between the West 57th and West 58th Street entrances is a new retail galleria that offers amenities to straphangers. Passenger flow is facilitated by an extra entrance at Broadway and West 60th Street, and new elevators offer ADA accessibility to all platforms. The MTA Arts & Design program was used to coordinate the artwork throughout the station.
Photos by Dattner
Princeton University Tennis Center – Princeton, NJ
The eight varsity competition courts are transformed into a unique space by the two-story facility. Princeton Uni’s Tennis Center’s open design, which centers on the courts, makes it comfortable for spectators to watch and enjoy games. The focal point of the structure is a 3,700 square foot covered observation deck that serves as both an extension of the main meeting room and public bleachers and a viewpoint for the surrounding campus. Attached to the landscape are ramps and stairs that lead from the upper level to the lower level of the pavilion, as well as paths that are accessible to people with disabilities. The dynamic volume seems to float over the tennis courts, supported by thin steel columns.
The varsity coaches’ offices and a glass-enclosed team meeting room with views of the courts are located on the upper level of the pavilion. On the lower level, a masonry enclosure tucks away into a small hill to house mechanical systems, storage, and locker rooms.
The pavilion’s overhanging zinc roof serves as an example of more of the pavilion’s fine details. The cool industrial accent of the gusset plates contrasts with the warm tone of the wood. Open views and a feeling of lightness are preserved by steel cable railings.
Photos by Dattner
We will be posting more projects by Dattner Architects in the upcoming weeks and months, so keep an eye out for more of their incredible work! Every Friday we will be posting a new Featured Company, so join us again next week!
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