Scarano Sounds Off
The Real Deal has a profile in its new issue of Robert Scarano that summarizes the prolific architect’s recent woes (which include increased scrutiny of worker safety at construction sites for buildings he designed; charges that he’s repeatedly flouted zoning regulations; and the possibility that the state is going to revoke his architecture license). Since…
The Real Deal has a profile in its new issue of Robert Scarano that summarizes the prolific architect’s recent woes (which include increased scrutiny of worker safety at construction sites for buildings he designed; charges that he’s repeatedly flouted zoning regulations; and the possibility that the state is going to revoke his architecture license). Since 2002, there have been 1,349 Environmental Control Board violations at 600-some-odd Scarano-related sites; a DOB rep said it’s difficult to assess whether that’s an inordinate number of violations. There are also a bunch of fascinating quotes from Scarano in which he defends himself against his critics; in a telling bit of self-aggrandizement, he talks about how his firm likes to push the envelope. And he once again makes the case that as an architect he shouldn’t be singled out for mishaps at the construction sites of buildings he’s designed: “The architectural profession is seen as some sort of prophet to the building industry…They think we should monitor and coddle jobs. The reality is, architects are hired to produce a set of plans for construction entities to build.”
Scarano Pointing the Finger Back [Real Deal]
Scarano: Licensed to Ill? [Brownstoner]
Guv Signs “Scarano Bill” and New Building Safety Law [Brownstoner]
De Blasio Continues To Go After Scarano [Brownstoner]
Scarano Cuts Deal, Gives Up Self-Certification [Brownstoner]
Oh, and by the way, it’s somewhat gratifying to see from Scarano’s picture above that he has aged what looks like 10 years since the picture that was published in The New York Post last August:
http://tinyurl.com/2s8rkk
“Surrendering his self certification is not a sufficient punishment. His license should be revoked.”
Hear, hear. The above posters comments are spot on and all the more refreshing coming from an architect. This is in direct contrast to the article in the Brooklyn Eagle featuring the comments of the president of the local AIA chapter:
http://tinyurl.com/276cn7
There is a lot of double talk in Scarano’s comments. While I agree that it is the responsibility of the architect to help his client get the maximum value out of a particular development project, FAR calculations are amoung the most codified parts of our zoning code. The word value here is the key. Allowable FAR in large part determines the development potential of a site and thereby value. These FAR restrictions exist to protect public valuables, namely access to light and air, open space, and city fabric. “Creatively interpreting” FAR guidelines without any oversight basically amounts to stealing.
The opportunities to prevent this pilfering of public valuables were many. The developers were certainly complicit. There isn’t a developer in the city that doesn’t know the full potential FAR for a building site before he purchases the property. It’s just basic due diligence. But Scarano built a successful practice based on his interpretations not talent. Developers knocked on his door because he was willing to bet that breaking the rules wouldn’t be enforced or noticed. He had the opportunity to vet his interpretations legally with a land use attourney or by conferencing with zoning officials and making his argument but he didn’t. To say that this is how good/great architecture comes about denigrates the profession.
Surrendering his self certification is not a sufficient punishment. His license should be revoked.
According to today’s times MIT is suing Gehry for problems with a building he designed for them in Boston.
Gehry seems to agree with Scrano:
“These things are complicated,†he said, “and they involved a lot of people, and you never quite know where they went wrong. A building goes together with seven billion pieces of connective tissue. The chances of it getting done ever without something colliding or some misstep are small.â€
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/07/us/07mit.html?ref=us