DiGeronimo, PA
Paramus, New Jersey
(201)670-9595
Professional Certifications Licensed Architect - New Jersey 1970 Licensed Architect - Twelve Other States Licensed Professional Planner - New Jersey 1973 Licensed Private Detective - New Jersey 1973 Licensed Building Code Official - New Jersey 1984 Certified Arbitrator - 1975 National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) - 1971
Education Columbia University - Master of Architecture 1970
University of Ljubajana - School of Architecture & Planning - Ljubajana, Yugoslavia - 1968-1969 The Cooper Union - Certificate in Architecture – 1965
New Jersey Military Academy - Officer Training - 1960
Police Academy - Special Officer - 1990
Memberships AIA New Jersey American Institute of Architects - Chair Transportation Sub-Committee of the Regional and Urban Design Committee - 1997-1998
American Arbitration Association - Panel of Arbitrators Architect’s League of Northern New Jersey - Board of Directors - 1984-1989
Blue Knights Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club National Constables Association New Jersey Constables Association President - 1989-1995 Ridgewood Association of Motorcycle Police Specials Lieutenant
Construction Specifications Institute - Board of Directors- 1994-1995 - President (1997 - 1998)
Teaching Fairleigh Dickinson University, Surveying
Significant Awards, Honors and Recognitions William Kinney Fellows Traveling Scholarship - Columbia University, 1969-1970
William Alciphron Boring Medal - Columbia University, 1970
General Experience: As Vice President of DiGeronimo, P.A., Mr. DiGeronimo is responsible for control and direction of architectural production and construction contract administration. His vision is to develop creative solutions to complex building problems using innovative production and construction technology. Spurning "paper architecture," Mr. DiGeronimo creates a quality "built architecture" product. On the job site, Mr. DiGeronimo is admired for his ability to solve problems and to adapt to actual or changing conditions. Mr. DiGeronimo is involved in every DiGeronimo, project. Typically, he holds primary responsibility for building design, initiating a project and servicing all clients needs and concerns through project completion. He is adept at dealing with municipal, county and state agencies that are typically involved in and/or have jurisdiction over architectural projects. Mr. DiGeronimo ensures a quality contract drawing and specification package by performing periodic quality control checks with each project architect. His administration of contract documents during construction includes reviews of shop drawings/submittals, requisitions for payment and change orders. Mr. DiGeronimo is project manager for DiGeronimo’s Indefinite Quantity Contracts (IQCs) with the U.S. Postal Service. Projects have covered the full range of design services (investigation through construction phase) for renovation/ repair and upgrade of numerous retail and processing and distribution postal facilities.
Project Experience: Hotel, San Diego, CA. This Hotel project involved bankruptcy of the owner/developer/architect/ contractor. These four entities were combined in one individual group running one developer organization. The bank was pressing the bonding company (Surety), the only solvent entity, to complete the project. However, due to incomplete construction drawings, changes during construction, etc., it was difficult to determine completion. Mr. DiGeronimo investigated the documentation used to construct the project and reconstructed the project through various documents filed at regulatory agencies. This allowed Surety to complete construction, yielding a salable project.
Pfizer Corporate Headquarters, New York, Twenty-five Divisions. One division is Pfizer International whose image is one of solidity and old world elegance, the DiGeronimo designed boardroom is subdued. Elegance is tastefully displayed for minimal cost. The conference rooms for another corporation division, Public Relations, has state-of-the-art video terminals, projection screens, display boards, DiGeronimo completed interior designs for 25 divisions at Pfizer Corporate Headquarter Offices, one floor at a time.
Stuart Air Force Base, Five Star Inn, Newburgh, NY. Under the IQC Assignment, DiGeronimo received a Work Order to complete interior renovations to the Five Star Inn at Stuart Air Force Base. The Inn is for the use of enlisted personnel and guest. Prior to renovation, two rooms shared one bath. DiGeronimo’s project was to take the existing bathroom space and make it suitable for private baths for each room. Air conditioning was also to be included in the project, each room under independent operation. During the course of the project, asbestos was unexpectedly encountered on plumbing in crawl space in the basement. So that DiGeronimo might accomplish the piping changes, it was necessary to increase the contract to include the removal of asbestos on those pipes where DiGeronimo, would be countering removal.
Sag Harbor, Long Island, NY. Mr. DiGeronimo produced the architectural designs for renovations to the very visible Sag Harbor Municipal Building. The historic municipal building was, unfortunately, subject to exterior wall collapse as a result of several storms that had hit the Long Island coast. The Sag Harbor Municipal Building is historic and over the buildings 150 years, the mortar had crumbled and deteriorated contributing to the exterior wall collapse. For a year the building was surrounded by scaffolding and clothed in a blue tarp. The unveiling shoed a very pleasant historic restoration of the Sag Harbor Municipal Building.
Mill Hill Urban Renewal Corporation. A builder/developer went bankrupt after only partially completing a Trenton, New Jersey condominium project. The bank took over. The bank went bankrupt. Enter resolution Trust Corporation and their consultant DiGeronimo. RTC agreed to complete none construction items. The condominium association tried to add on items. Trenton Building Code Official tried to add on items. DiGeronimo held the line and obtained releases after completing the original nine construction items. The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs requires a building defect warranty for two years, and a builder structural warranty for ten years. DiGeronimo assisted the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs in the mediation of homeowner complaints.
Straight & Narrow Renovation, Paterson, NJ. Mr. DiGeronimo prepared feasibility studies for an expansion and renovation to the existing facility to provide additional living quarters for both male and female residents.
Multi-task Contract Resolution Trust Corporation, METCO, Somerset, NJ. Mr. DiGeronimo was Project Architect for a Multi-Task Contract for RTC’s Metropolitan Consolidated Office that has included: Corrective Design for Mill Hill Condominium, Trenton, New Jersey; Corrective Design for the Panther Valley Development, Alamuchy, New Jersey; Corrective Design for the Highland of Independence Development, Independence, New Jersey.
Renovation of New Jersey Bell Offices, Rochelle Park, NJ. Renovation took place on two floors and 12,000 square feet of floor area, transforming a space filled with outdated switching equipment and supporting rooms into the Directory Assistance and Toll & Assistance Offices for Northern New Jersey. Design included lighting systems to minimize glare from computer screens as well as warm and inviting fabrics and textures to humanize high technology facilities.
Restoration/Repair/Maintenance/New Building Addition, Carmelite Retreat House, Mahwah, NJ. Mr. DiGeronimo created contract drawings for the Carmelite Eastern Commissaries, Carmelite Fathers Retreat House. The design included sleeping quarters for the five permanent religious residents and 30 transient retreatants, a new kitchen, offices, gift shop, and recreation room. Winner 1996 Mahwah Heritage Award for Adaptive Re-Use of a Historic Building. Presented by the Mahwah Historic Preservation Commission.
Lakeview Arms, Paterson, NJ. A developer group for conversion to condominiums has targeted an old mill building in a residential section of Paterson, New Jersey. This mill building is the only industrial building in the area’s strong middle-class residential neighborhood and was ideal for conversion to condominiums. DiGeronimo completed the design and constriction under a design-build contract, proving close coordination and astute management of costs. Construction was completed in 1990 at a cost of $500,000.
Grand Central Terminal, New York, NY. DiGeronimo, as a sub-consultant to prime firm O'Brien-Kreitzburg & Associates, provided the historic restoration design reviews for Metro-North on Blinder, Beyer, and Belle's contract documents for the historic restoration of Grand Central Terminal. Completed were 30%, 60% and 100% reviews covering historic adequacy of methods specified as well as regulation compliance with the New York City Historic Landmarks Commission. Also included was the analysis of the interface between nine separate construction contracts to eliminate conflicting uses for common space. The total combined construction value of all nine contracts is $584 million including the north end access project under design by Parsons Brinckerhoff.
Secaucus Transfer, Secaucus, NJ. DiGeronimo is part of the team providing construction management for this transfer station that will allow riders to change trains for all New Jersey Transit lines even to include transfer to Metro-North or Amtrak.
Montclair Connection Project, Essex and Passaic Counties, NJ. DiGeronimo is a sub-consultant to Parsons Transportation Group for this project which involves the construction of a two track, electrified 1,200 foot long rail connection between NJ Transit's Montclair and Boonton rail lines; the electrification of approximately five miles of the Boonton Line between Bay Street and Great Notch Stations; and construction of a train staging area adjacent to Great Notch Station. DiGeronimo's responsibility is to ensure the project is in full compliance with all safety regulations and to address any environmental concerns.
Convent Station, Morris Township, NJ. DiGeronimo was a sub consultant to Frederick R. Harris for the New Jersey Transit Convent Station project. The project entailed the landscape and ADA accessibility design of an expanded paved parking lot to accommodate 400 cars complete with drainage, curbs and landscaped island. DiGeronimo's responsibilities included site planning, codes compliance, cost estimation, drawings and specifications.
The U.S. Post Office and Courthouse Building, Newark, NJ. WINNER OF FOUR AWARDS: The New York Construction News Awards, Honorable Mention A / Expo '98 Design Competition Historic Preservation, Bronze Award for Excellence in Architecture, and The New Jersey Golden Trowel Award. For the U.S. Postal Service DiGeronimo designed the complete restoration of this five-story structure that was completed in 1934 and houses the Federal District Courts as well as the Newark Main Post Office and Distribution Center.
Operation Fix-Up A/E IDC, US Postal Service, New York Facilities Service Office. Mr. DiGeronimo is the Project Architect for numerous projects under this $350,000 A/E IDC. The work included the following projects: projects at 20 post offices for bullet proof screens for installation at walk-in counters, historic monumental window replacement at the Newark main post office; roof repair - handicapped accessibility - window replacement at four post offices; exterior repair - historic window replacement at the Paterson main post office; interior renovations - post office retail store at the Edgewater main post office.
IQC for A/E Services for Retail Facilities, U.S. Postal Service, New York Facilities Service Office. Mr. DiGeronimo is the Project Architect for this IQC, which has included surveys to assess facility deficiencies, and determine and design needed repairs and renovations to numerous retail facilities throughout New York and New Jersey.
IQC for A/E Services for Major Facilities, US Postal Service, Major Facilities Office, Philadelphia, PA. Project Architect under a $1 million per year fee contract. Project involves renovations and repairs to warehouse and industrial type postal facilities. Included among other projects, a greenhouse addition, platform crack analysis and repair, and a new mezzanine and material lift at the Mid Hudson, NY Bulk Mail Facility; exterior limestone, lobby, and historic lighting restoration at the Newark, NJ Main Post Office; window replacement, material lift and platform/parking upgrade at the Paterson, NJ Main Post Office; military bay door additions, security system study, condition assessments of elevators, pre-design study for interior painting, lighting and cafeteria upgrades at the NJ International Bulk Mail Center; and renovations of the Administration Building, waste reduction, energy efficient design upgrade, cafeteria upgrade, security survey, and loading dock heating at the David V. Daniels P&DC/VMF building in Kearny, New Jersey.
Repair/Renovations and Code Upgrade Indefinite Quantity Contract (IQC), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USCOE) New York District. Mr. DiGeronimo was the project manager for numerous projects under a $250,00 contract at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. Services included an 84 unit historic housing roof repair; asbestos survey and code upgrade to three apartment complex high rise units; 100 dwelling - units exterior siding - landscaping - sidewalks; interior renovation to five barrack building three stories each; 600 seat auditorium renovation; handicapped accessibility for post chapel.
A/E Indefinite Quantity Contract (IQC), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USCOE) New York District. Mr. DiGeronimo was project architect for numerous projects under a $750,000 contract that included interior renovations to create private bath rooms out of shared bath - code upgrade 300 room base hotel; historic slate shingle and copper roof repair - structural repair - landscaping for housing units for the military band - surveys for presence of asbestos.
US Army Corps of Engineers, NY District, Indefinite Quantity Contract, Army Reserve Centers, Ft. Dix, NJ, NY, PA. Our firm is still in the process of investigating the roof of the existing building housing an Army Reserve Center at Ft. Monmouth. Our assignment is to apply a pitched roof. However, the impact this new roof structure would make on the existing building light frame structure makes the solution impractical. The problems are additional snow loads transferred to lower roofs, lateral loads and uplift. Also 1998 Code application is stringent to this 1970 building. Solution upcoming!
IQC U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District. Projects included the Barracks Modernization Program analysis for Unaccompanied Enlisted Personnel Housing (UEPH), Building 420 at Carlisle War College in Carlisle, PA; Renovation of historical Building 46 (Anne Ely Hall) to house future Garrison Headquarters and related operations at Carlisle War College in Carlisle, PA; and Renovation of Building 102, Defense Distribution Region East (DDRE), New Cumberland, PA. (SUBCONSULTANT)
US Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, Indefinite Quantity Contract (IQC) New Cumberland Army Depot, New Cumberland, PA. The roof repair solution was simple. The budgeting parameters of replace-in-kind mandate and Army overseer were the toughest part. My favorite solution for the roof alone had to be dropped, but my favorite solution for the whole of all issues works very well. With the Army, solutions are not necessarily building based, but are rather relocation and/or budget based.
US Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, Command Head Quarters, Building 46, Carlisle War College, Carlisle, PA. So many, many things could and can be added to projects when renovations are necessary - especially when the Command Headquarters will relocate to the structure. Architectural space problems can be solved in any number of ways, all with variation in cost. Reality is: that a budget is restrictive and that good buildings are not necessarily expensive. Our firm’s work made the project fit within a budget cap. I am proud of that.
Officers Quarters, Fort Monmouth, NJ. Exterior and interior restoration of 1920’s era housing with emphasis on retaining and improving the residential character and period charm of the area. Included a study for Army Form 1390 requesting congressional budget inclusion for authorization of the project.
Barker Circle Barracks Renovations, Fort Monmouth, NJ. Preparation of specifications and detailed contract drawings for renovation and rehabilitation of the interiors of five, three-story buildings. Upper floor suffered damage from previous water penetration, sustained over a substantial length of time. Work included asbestos survey, all new interior finishes, doors, carpeting, ceilings, etc.
Visiting Officers’ Quarters, Fort Monmouth, NJ. A converted bowling alley is the Visiting Quarters at Fort Monmouth. Security concerns were paramount and security for the visiting officers had to be tied into a post security by way of special tamper resistant design strategies. As DiGeronimo, continued the design, it was determined that the roof was not capable with current codes for structural sufficiency. The issue of structural sufficiency and cost estimate to remediate the problem was presented to the Army and additional fund authorized. The facility is a hotel-type facility with individual rooms and a common living room-type arrangement with a large kitchen.
Chaplain’s School Renovation, Fort Monmouth, NJ. Renovations to a 600 seat indoor auditorium including elevator, handicapped accessibility, new mechanical system, improved acoustics, improved maintainability of lighting systems, and addition of full component of stage lighting. An asbestos survey was also conducted.
Historic Renovations, Classroom Design, Repairs, New Building, Facility Analysis, U.S. Coast Guard, 3rd District IQC, Governor’s Island, NY. Project Manager responsible for conducting all work within framework if the New York City Historic Landmarks Commission. Renovation of Building 333 to accommodate relocation and expansion of National Search and Rescue School. Design of Administrative Offices and training space for Aid-to-Navigation Training Facility Design of teaching stations for the Electrical Training Classrooms Expansion, feasibility study, architecture and planning for Shark River Station. New facility design for a Laundry/Storage Building to accommodate needs of ship based personnel.
U.S. Navy Aviation Boatswain School, Naval Engineering Center, Lakehurst, NJ. Mr. DiGeronimo was the Project Architect for the options study to expand the Aviation Boatswain School located in the dirigible hangar at the Lakehurst Naval Base. Training of Aviation Boatswain mates includes classroom training as well as hands-on training in equipment maintenance. DiGeronimo, P.A. was contracted to provide an analysis of the school including code analysis and environmental upgrade of the classroom portion of the school, as well as the cost to upgrade this facility, the cost to relocate to other buildings at Lakehurst and the cost to building a new facility.
Spicer Village, Picatinny Arsenal Installation, NJ. The DiGeronimo designed Spicer Village provides a residential oasis within the Picatinny Arsenal Installation. Two story buildings surround two generous, well-landscaped courtyard drives. Adjacent is the refurbished community building, revitalized children’s play area, bus stop, community church, jogging path and scenic reservoir.
NY/NJ Port Authority Police Multi-Task Contract. For the Port Authority, Mr. DiGeronimo was Project Architect for design of a ready room and locker/toilets, a garage for 3 emergency vehicles and a control center for radio accessibility in the Holland and Lincoln Tunnels.
Elizabeth Board of Education, Elizabeth, NJ. Coordination of a $19 million construction program affecting all twenty-five schools within the system over a period of five years. Work involved exterior repairs, roofs, window replacement, site work, new classrooms, additions and modifications to existing classrooms. The construction was completed by 1989.
Queen of Angels School, Newark, NJ. Mr. DiGeronimo is the architect of record for the renovations transforming a two-story wooden framed commercial building into an early childhood center for toddlers and pre-schoolers in the northward of Newark. Renovations to the first floor added two classrooms with bathrooms, a multipurpose room and an accessible bathroom. The second floor design included a kindergarten classroom with a bathroom, an after care room, a cultural library, and a legal aid and abuse prevention office with a separate entrance.
St. Cecilia’s Elementary and High School, Kearny, NJ. The schools are impacted by the noise of aircraft flyover emanating from the nearby airport every hour of every day. Teachers must stop talking to allow the aircraft noise to clear the school. DiGeronimo, P.A. reduced the external noise level in the classroom by providing more mass in the roof and designing new noise reduction windows. DiGeronimo also designed a new acoustically baffled method of bringing fresh air into the classroom. The design works. When entering the school at aircraft flyover, the school doors close behind you and there is blessed silence.
William Paterson University, Wayne, NJ. DiGeronimo, P.A. solved several problems with the renovation of Wightman Gymnasium. All university athletic and movement science teaching programs are now consolidated under one roof at Wightman Gym. DiGeronimo established program requirements from these multiple departments within the school. Building maintenance consisted of adding a trench drain system to prevent water from flooding the gymnasium floor, among other repairs.
Athletic Center, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ. The DiGeronimo new building design mirrors the architectural style of the adjacent 125-year-old historic gymnasium building. The new design details an almost oval building with round corners, which soften the building’s volume. Spectator bleachers cantilever from the second floor, arching over an access ramp while extending the view to the outdoor campus field sports park.