Member Spotlight: James J. Greener, AIA, CSI, NCARB, President, CTS Group!
A practicing architect in the New York Metro area for over 40 years, Jim has been President of CTS Architecture/Planning PA since 2005. In his leadership role, Jim has expanded the reputation of CTS as a competent, award-winning architectural firm, while maintaining the firm’s long-standing legacy of responsiveness to the needs of its clients.
Jim has been a team leader on many of the firm’s most important projects, most notably for the firm’s federal clients. Recent projects include the 280,000 square foot interior’s project for the US Postal Service at the historic James A. Farley Building, the iconic New York City Main Post Office located directly across from Pennsylvania Station and most notably featured in the 1947 film “Miracle on 34th Street”. Other projects include a new 10,000 square foot US Postal Service retail store at Rockefeller Center, a 40,000 square foot office interiors project at the Morgan General Mail Facility in Manhattan and a security upgrade to the 500,000 square foot Dominick D. Daniels mail processing facility in Kearny, New Jersey.
Jim received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from the New jersey School of Architecture at New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ. He served two terms as President of the New Jersey Chapter of the Construction Specification Institute and is a long-time member of AIA Newark Suburban Chapter and AIA-New Jersey. He is currently Chairman of his hometown’s Historic Preservation Commission in Chatham Borough, NJ.
Jim is most proud of the practice he, his partner Bill Slack, and his associates have built. The firm is mainly comprised of very experienced architect colleagues who enjoy working with each other and who have been with Jim for many years.
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Q&A:
What was your favorite recent project?
My favorite project has to be our interiors project for our federal client, the United States Postal Service, for the iconic Main Post Office in New York City, also known as the James A. Farley Building. It was a very large, extremely complex project that challenged our firm to its core. At the end of the day, the project exceeded expectations for our client and stands as a measure of what our firm is capable of.
The Farley Building is the home of Moynihan Train Hall, a space designed by S.O.M. that almost everyone in our community is now familiar with. Located across the street from Penn Station, the Farley Building was designed by McKim, Mead, & White and constructed in 1913 for the United States Postal Service. It is a NYC Landmark building listed on the National Register.
Our project was the design of 300,000 square feet of new interior space in the building that is now serving as the Postal Service’s New York City Headquarters. Construction of this project took place during the construction of Moynihan Train Hall, during a global pandemic, and was completed in the Spring of 2022.
I am particularly proud of the way our firm responded to all of the challenges in this project. Not only in the way we satisfied our clients program in our design, but how our firm and our consultants pulled together to see this project through its many logistical obstacles. The design had to create crisp, extremely functional interior spaces within the context of one of the most recognizable historic landmark buildings in Manhattan, and to this end, we were extremely successful.
I suppose the answer to that is when I began to realize I was competent. It took a long time for me to understand and be secure with what I was expected to know as an architect. It was many years after school and becoming licensed. While the educational process is never over, for some of us there comes a time when you know enough to truly start to enjoy all that comes with being an architect. There is nothing like transforming the hopes and dreams of a client into a reality they could not have imagined. There is nothing like being a mentor to a young architect who needs to know so much before they too “feel comfortable”. And there are few professions that are as much fun as this one.
What would be your dream job or a project you'd like to work on?
Until I heard her keynote speech at the AIA National Conference in San Francisco, the thought had not occurred to me, but Barbara Bouza, FAIA, sure convinced me that being the head of the Disney Imagineering Team sounded like a dream job. Also, I’d like the opportunity to design a museum or large exhibit space, two project types that thus far have remained elusive in my career. I think I would enjoy each of these very much.
What do you like to do when you are not working?
I like to cook. While I am certainly not a gourmet chef, cooking relaxes me, and I’ve become quite comfortable in the kitchen. I actually have a few dishes on the menu that get good reviews from my friends and family. But I must admit, no matter what I make, my grandchildren still prefer chicken tenders.
I also love working out on my Peloton, strength training, and practicing Pilates. Getting those endorphins to kick in is a wonderful thing. It makes me feel good, gives me energy, and really helps me stay sharp.
Finally, my wife and I are looking forward to a lot more travelling in the years to come. We have a pretty long bucket list going and we hope to start checking off destinations one by one.
What are 3 facts about you that make you unique?
I am sure my family and friends would love to answer this question for me, but I’ll keep these responses professional.
I think one is the appreciation of the education I received from the countless builders, master craftsmen and trades people I have worked with over the years. This is somewhat unique in our profession. Their insights into the world of construction have been invaluable and have made me a better architect.
While nothing replaces what I do in my role as principal in my office or my time on the drawing board, I have really enjoyed helping our larger clients with services that most architects do not get a chance to do on a regular basis. Over the last decade or so, I had the opportunity to work “out of the box” and get more involved in our client’s real estate ventures. Our federal client owns and operates a lot of properties and appreciates the contributions of an architect when assessing a site, considering the consolidation of their operations, authoring design and construction manuals for tenants, and lease negotiations. Providing these services put our firm in a different category with our clients and gave us opportunities we might not have had otherwise.
And finally, as a partner in an architectural firm, I am proud of the fact that we do not demand our employees work 60+ hour work weeks as salaried professionals, which unfortunately I believe is still unique in our community. As a rule, my partner and I prefer to see our team give it their all during a 40-hour work week. Of course, there are times when the entire team must jump in and contribute in a way that takes us beyond the 40 hours, but those times are the exception and not the rule. In taking this approach, our staff is more productive and happier overall, helping us to meet our objectives and those of all our clients.
Who or what are your inspirations for architecture?
I probably fall into a very large group here, but I have been a Frank Lloyd Wright follower for a long time. I’ve read the books, and have been to Oak Park, the Martin House, and Taliesin West. Like many of us, I find his life, his approach, and his ability to incorporate nature into his work fascinating. Similarly, I was very much inspired by the work of his apprentice E. Fay Jones.
I am a big fan of architects who have a successful preservation practice, like Jean Carroon, FAIA of Goody Clancy, Connolly & Hickey here in New Jersey, and my award-winning associates here at CTS who have carefully and successfully helped us build a well-respected historic preservation practice, led by my friend and colleague David Abramson, AIA.
Who or what are your inspirations for life?
I admire really busy people who somehow still find the time to contribute to a cause and/or serve their communities. Lately, I’ve been seeing a lot of young adults in my community stepping up to do what needs to be done. It’s very encouraging. They inspire hope for the future.
I am also inspired by people who despite their injuries, physical limitations, age, or lack of confidence, get active and do something physical they didn’t think or know they could do. It doesn’t matter if it’s a first-time marathon, a Peloton class, or simply walking across the room, I am constantly inspired by those that are willing to try.
What’s exciting about what you are doing now in the office?
My partner, Bill Slack, and I and our associates have built a wonderful practice. The people under our roof are creative, responsive, competent, and fun to work with. Our many repeat clients have come to appreciate that. CTS will be going through some transitions over the next few years, and I’m excited to see our younger colleagues step up and keep our success going.
What advice would you give to recent graduates entering the professional world?
You need to listen. You need to listen not only to the experienced architects you are going to meet in the years to come, but to the entire construction community.
The education you received in your school of architecture is considerable and unique, and you have skills that will be in demand and can be applied to many different occupations. But if it is your intention to follow the path to becoming a licensed architect, and you dream of seeing your designs actually get constructed, you will need to understand the language. You will learn a lot in the design studio from the architects around you but push to also get out from behind the computer and spend time on construction sites. You need to get a feel for that environment and learn from those who are a part of the construction process.
Finally, when starting out, try a few different sized firms to see how they fit. Both large and small firms have a lot to offer. A successful career in architecture may start with a solid foundation in spending time at both, ultimately letting you choose the firms that best suit you.
PROJECTS:
55 Reade Street, New York, NY; Completed in 2020
Once known as the “Leaning Landmark,” this historic building was at risk of collapse in 2007. Leaning nearly eight inches to the south due to excavation work on its neighboring property, steel bracing was installed to keep it upright. Years of neglect and water infiltration through the roof, windows, and floor beams left the façade of the landmark building in severe disrepair. The comprehensive exterior façade restoration work included repair and replacement of missing and deteriorated cast iron elements, including decorative columns, capitals and cornices, restoration of re-creation of deteriorated sheet metal dormers, replacement of damaged slate roofing and replacement of arched wood windows and storefronts. CTS Group Architects/Planning PA was awarded the prestigious Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award from the New York Landmarks Conservancy, as well as the Gold Medal in Historic Preservation Award from the American Institute of Architects regional chapter for their work as Restoration Architect for this project.
Newark Vocational High School Culinary Arts and Hospitality Academies, Newark, NJ; Completed in 2020
The Newark Board of Education’s Vocational High School has been dramatically transformed over the last few years, making it a premier educational facility. The Culinary Arts & Hospitality Academies are part of the school district’s commitment to Career Technical Education (CTE) programs. The program accommodates up to 250 students interested in exploring and studying the restaurant and hospitality industries, train chefs and hospitality workers, and provides in-house dining outside catering services in 10,000 SF space. The utility runs are partially screened by wood “clouds” and “planks” to define the various spaces. Upon entering the Culinary Arts & Hospitality Academies, one is greeted at the concierge desk and can take advantage of the well-appointed Hospitality Waiting & Lounge Area. A glass-walled classroom/conference room is also accessible from this area. Visitors are then seated in Dining Area 1 or 2. Each of these two dining areas also serve as instructional spaces. The commercial/teaching kitchens feature a Demonstration Kitchen for first-year culinary arts students, and two additional kitchens, Skills 1 and Skills 2, for upper class students. The kitchens serve two dining areas each accommodating up to 32 diners. Dining Area 1 has uninterrupted views into the preparation and cooking areas on one side, and the interior courtyard on the other. The project received a Design Award from the Newark & Suburban Chapter of the American Institutes of Architects.
Rogers Locomotive Storage Building, Paterson, NJ; Completed in 2013
This project involved the historic preservation and adaptive reuse of the Rogers Locomotive Storage works building into a conference center for a local non-profit organization. The building straddled a man-made canal and required extensive masonry and wood restoration. Heavy timber restoration included new steel splice plates to secure decayed truss ends, "Dutchmen" repairs at wood beams, and replacement of deteriorated structural plank floor and roof decking. Two floors of Meeting and Conference space were created in the existing structure. New circulation structures, stairs and elevator, were introduced. New toilet rooms were added to the first and second floors and a kitchen for catering support was accommodated on the first floor. A reception area/lobby with flexible conference spaces are located on the first floor with the main conference space on the second floor. Key sustainable strategies and sign features are Reuse of Historic Building, Use of Reclaimed Lumber, Energy Efficient Mechanical Systems, Efficient and Multi-functional Lighting and Control Systems. The project received a Historic Preservation/Adaptive Reuse Award from the Newark & Suburban Chapter of the American Institutes of Architects, and Special Recognition from the Paterson Historic Preservation Commission.
Bronx General Post Office, New York, NY; Completed in 2017
CTS Group was commissioned to oversee the restoration of the grand lobby in this historic landmark building in the heart of the Bronx and design a new retail facility for the Postal Service. The project was completed in 2017.
The United States Postal Service (USPS) Headquarters, New York, NY; Completed in 2022
One of the most recognizable and well-known buildings in midtown Manhattan located across the street from Penn Station is the James A. Farley Building. Originally designed by McKim, Mead, & White and constructed in 1913 for the United States Postal Service, it is a NYC Landmark building listed on the National Register. This project included a consolidation and reconfiguration of the postal occupancy within the building. New USPS spaces included a new administrative office and conference space for the New York USPS District, headquarters for the United States Postal Inspectors and the Postal Police, a new postal employee entrance lobby, a Business Caller Mail Lobby and a new Passport Acceptance Center. The project also included an update of the 8th Avenue Postal Retail Operation, USPS loading docks and platforms, and a brand-new space for the postal carrier operations. The USPS occupancy is approximately 300,000 sq. ft. in area and is broadcast over three floors in the building over the length of an entire city block, from 8th Avenue to 9th Avenue.
