After more than 80 years, OJR continues to provide the highest level of excellence in structural engineering

After more than 80 years, The Office of James Ruderman LLP still remains one of the most well-known and experienced structural engineering firms in the city. As they have done for so many years, OJR continues to contribute to the development of New York City and the metropolitan area. Since OJR was founded in 1927, they have expanded their role. Originally a firm which focused the majority of their resources on hi-rise office towers, their portfolio now includes retail shopping centers and malls, residential, commercial, mixed-use, educational, institutional, hotel and healthcare buildings. Whether a real estate developer, building owner, building manager, building tenant or architect, one looks to OJR for reliability, quality, cost effectiveness, and experience for any type and size of structural project. OJR is currently managed by two individuals who have more than 70 years of combined experience as structural engineers-Steven Smolinsky, P.E., the managing partner, and his partner, JB Macutay Jr., P.E., S.E. They have brought a diverse range of experience from their backgrounds. Together, they share the same goals for the firm. "We continue to focus on building lasting relationships with all clients," said Smolinsky. "We ensure that quality and personal attention to clients are of the highest priorities of the firm." OJR is currently working on several new projects of various types including a shopping center in Canarsie, Brooklyn; a retail/office building in the Bronx; a 27-story hotel in Manhattan; a mall in Paramus, N.J.; an office building in the Bronx; a 15-story residential building in Manhattan; a residential building in Long Island City; a retail building in Brooklyn; a health facility in Astoria; a religious building in Brooklyn; and countless other projects. OJR is also the structural engineer for a recently completed school, the North Shore Hebrew Academy in Manhasset, N.Y., which was recognized by New York Construction as the "Best Pre-K - 12 Education Project of 2008." OJR was recently a part of the Fordham Place project team, providing structural engineering services. Fordham Place is a 14-story, mixed-use office and retail complex in the Fordham section of the Bronx; one of the first new projects of its kind built in the borough in 15 years. Fordham Place was developed by Acadia Realty Trust and its partner PA Associates; and the architect is GreenbergFarrow. In addition to the 20 new buildings OJR designs each year, much of their time is also dedicated to providing renovations to existing structures, a majority of which is performed in the office towers throughout the city. OJR is the original structural engineer for approximately 160 of these buildings, including 55 Water St., the General Motors Building, MetLife Building, IBM Building, Park Ave. Plaza, One Penn Plaza, W.R. Grace Building, many buildings along Park Ave., Sixth Ave., Third Ave., and the list goes on. In the past four years, OJR completed 350 renovation projects for 300 clients including new elevators and escalators, new cooling towers, generators and chillers, new interconnecting stairs, hi-density files, new moveable wall systems, UPS and batteries, libraries, satellite dishes, window washing rigs, kitchen facilities, etc. In the past few years, OJR was part of the design team for several award-winning projects including The Ermenegildo Zegna Flagship Boutique in Manhattan-"Best Retail Project of 2008" by New York Construction; Temple Emanuel in Manhattan-Best Rehabilitation, Renovation, and Restoration Project of 2006" by New York Construction; and 140 Broadway-Brown Brothers Harriman in Manhattan-"Best Interior Fit-Out Project of 2003" by New York Construction. To Smolinsky and Macutay, OJR's goal is simple: to provide the highest level of excellence and experience, the OJR standard, to each client and every project. To achieve their goal, they guarantee dedication. "At OJR, we believe that extraordinary designs and structures are achieved by working closely with each client, addressing all of their needs and desires; it is a team effort, a wonderful collaboration," Smolinsky said. Macutay said, "Our team members bring specified skills and a unique global perspective to each project, guided by a leadership team which encourages ingenuity and dedication." OJR offers an extensive range of services including design of new buildings, alteration projects, tenant work, façade restoration, construction administration, building assessments, inspection reports, preparation of shop drawings, peer reviews, etc. Even with the market's current state, OJR is looking towards the future of the company in terms of growth. The firm recently began a rebranding campaign which aims at demonstrating OJR's increased scope of services while still maintaining its goals of quality and intense dedication to clients. OJR's image of expertise and experience is now also associated with innovation and advanced technology, which enables OJR to solve unique structural situations and provide economical solutions for clients. The partners have also begun to provide and to focus their emphasis on sustainable design, Building Information Modeling (BIM), in conjunction with performance based design, progressive collapse and keeping up with leading edge technologies. Today, OJR is a dynamic and trusted professional structural engineering firm which offers the highest level of excellence to clients with diverse needs. OJR has established itself as a cornerstone for excellence in engineering. They have garnered a reputation of ensuring quality, rigorous attention, timeliness and cost effectiveness.