2021 Ones to Watch: Adam Meshberg, Meshberg Group

Name: Adam Meshberg

Title: Founder & CEO

Company Name: Meshberg Group

What recent project, transaction or accomplishment are you most proud of?
The Bath Haus. This was a renovation project for a nine-unit condominium building that first opened its door 116 years ago. Meshberg Group designed around the building’s façade as well as the broader surroundings in historic Greenpoint. The positive public response for the project has been overwhelming and it shows in the excellent sales traction the development has received. This project required immense detail and thought, and I was honored to spearhead this initiative.

How do you keep your team motivated despite conflicts and obstacles?
I consistently remind my team that we are problem solvers and then we approach all issues together–as a team. My team knows and relies on the fact that for us, there is always a solution–there’s always a way to solve a design problem or a site condition that is preventing us from executing the design properly and we do so collectively.

Who was/is your mentor and how did s/he influence/help you in your career?
I would say my father is my mentor. While he wasn’t in the real estate business, he was a business owner and from a young age I was able to watch him run a company properly. He has incredible business knowledge and expertise that is coupled with a calmness that allows him to deal with high-stress situations perfectly. Thanks to his experience, he was able to advise me at every stage while building my own company.

How do you contribute to your community or your profession?
We design and build projects that are contributing to the neighborhoods and cities which they are a part of. We are either renovating historical homes or buildings by bringing them back to their original character while also carrying them into their next life cycle. We are designing buildings that are timeless and that contribute to the spaces they are in, respecting and adding to the location and to the community.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
A sailboat captain. I’ve always had an affinity for the water and for boats. As a child I enjoyed assembling and disassembling things and I think it carried onto my later years when I was able to appreciate and participate in the mechanics and design of luxury boats.

What led you to your current profession?
In college I really enjoyed the more creative courses when I was able to build things with my hands. That’s when I decided to enroll in architecture school to see where that path would lead. The road has been long and full of hard-work but also incredibly rewarding.

Top three things on your bucket list:
Designing a public works project, like a museum or a synagogue or a marina; travel more, specifically in South America; prioritize health and get in better shape for the next half of my life.

Favorite quote:
“God is in the details” – Ludwig Mies van der Rohe