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BIO

Pablo E. Vengoechea

pv@vb-architects.com

Pablo E. Vengoechea, RA, is an architect, planner and urban designer with over forty (40) years experience in site development and zoning; community planning; architecture and historic preservation; education; and environmental assessment in New York City and abroad. He is founding partner of v + b Architecture/Urban Planning, LLP, a multi-disciplinary practice offering architecture, urban design, and master planning services to civic groups, not-for-profit organizations, government agencies, the development sector, and individual clients. 
Mr. Vengoechea served as Vice Chair of the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission from 1995 to 2013. During his tenure, the Commission promoted excellence in design; encouraged and approved modern architecture in historic areas; designated over 450 buildings and 40 districts; and adopted special design guidelines and restoration standards for landmarks. He also served on the Staten Island Growth Management Task Force, focused on identifying planning and zoning solutions to overbuilding and better manage growth in the borough. 
In 2001 he received an Award for Excellence: Making Great Communities Happen from the American Planning Association for his work on the Site Planning Fundamental Program held in the Central America and the Caribbean Region in the aftermath of two devastating hurricanes.


He is Visiting Associate Professor of Urban Planning at Hunter College teaching preservation planning, site development, studio, urban design, zoning and project-oriented workshops.  Previously he was Adjunct Professor of Planning in the School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, Columbia University, teaching workshops in planning skills, international planning studio, and seminars on legislating aesthetics.  He is a member of Aedificatio, a research group based in the University of Alicante, Spain and president of the International Center for the Conservation of Patrimony (CICOP US), a cultural heritage preservation organization. He co- chaired the Disaster Preparedness Task Force of NYNew Visions and the Urban Design committee of the APA Metro Chapter. 
Recent projects include: master planning, restoration and conversion of historic structures, and designs for twenty new buildings in the historic NYC Farm Colony in Staten Island; a revitalization plan for a “rustbelt” city in Pennsylvania; design of a six-story residential building; urban design plans for industrial areas and “main street” corridors in Staten Island; visual character assessments for projects throughout NYS; and the SImagines community planning workshops.  Clients include the City of Monessen, PA; NYC Economic Development Corporation; NYC Department of City Planning; Empire State Development Corporation; Urban Technical Assistance Project of Columbia University; Dormitory Authority of the State of New York; Downtown Staten Island Council and; the Council on the Arts of Staten Island.


From 1985 to 1995, he was Principal Urban Designer of the Manhattan Office and Director of the Staten Island Office of the Department of City Planning.  In Staten Island he supervised a staff of land use and environmental planners, formulating and advancing policies to promote the innovative SI Bluebelt.  He conducted a study of that borough’s waterfront with recommendations for the natural shoreline, the redeveloping waterfront and adjacent upland areas including the East Shore and Stapleton.  In Manhattan, he worked on initiatives for Midtown, West 42nd Street, the Theater Sub-district, the Convention Center, and the Western Terminus of 125th Street. 
Prior to this he worked on the design and production of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts and dormitories for the University of Virginia at the office of Edward Larrabee Barnes, Architects; and was Curator of Design for El Museo del Barrio. He began his career in the studio of the renowned Argentinean architect Clorindo Testa, where he worked on various projects and winning design competitions including commercial and recreational projects.

 

 
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