James Cifuentes has joined the architecture, design, and planning firm of Montroy Andersen DeMarco (MADGI) as project manager. The value of MADGI's ongoing multifamily, commercial, office, hospitality, and retail projects exceeds $500 million. "James Cifuentes' experience in designing large and complex projects, both in the U.S. and internationally, will tremendously benefit MADGI's clients. His expertise will help project teams develop collaborative procedures, accelerate design and construction schedules, and streamline interactions with design and zoning approval authorities," said MADGI principal Richard DeMarco. Cifuentes' responsibilities include managing design activities; supervising architectural personnel; interacting with clients and assisting them in developing marketing, design, and legal materials; coordinating engineering, legal, and zoning consultants; and administering construction activities. Cifuentes will primarily work with MADGI's multi-family studio, which currently has approximately $375 million worth of residential and hospitality projects in the design and construction phases. His current projects include the 11-story, 82,000 s/f, 32-unit Soori High Line condominium at 522 West 29th St. in Manhattan and a 136,000 s/f mixed-use residential/retail development in Long Island City. Prior to joining MADGI, Cifuentes worked in design capacities at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill; Perkins Eastman; Goldstein, Hill & West Architects; and Ismael Leyva Architects. He holds Master of Architecture and Bachelor of Arts degrees, both from the University of South Florida. His career spans 16 years of designing residential, corporate, civic, and hospitality facilities, both in the United States and overseas. Cifuentes' expertise includes architectural design, urban master planning, core and shell design, BIM technology, project management, marketing, and business operations. His most prominent projects include the 52-story 7 World Trade Center; the $3.9-billion, 104-story One World Trade Center; and the 32-story Riverhouse at Rockefeller Park towers in Lower Manhattan; Heron Quays urban design and infrastructure coordination projects in London, United Kingdom; Pier F at the Toronto International Airport in Toronto, Canada; the 300,000-sq.-ft. 110 Wall Street tower redevelopment in New York City; and the 510,000-sq.-ft., 469-unit One Bushwick affordable housing in Brooklyn, N.Y. Montroy Andersen DeMarco Founded in 1990 and based in New York City, Montroy Andersen DeMarco (MADGI) is a prominent, cutting-edge architectural and interior design firm predominantly serving the Greater New York area. MADGI is led by four principals: Daniel Montroy, Steven Andersen, Richard DeMarco, and Marvin Meltzer. The firm employs 40 architects, interior designers, LEED professionals, project managers, and support staff. Building Design & Construction magazine ranks MADGI as the 80th largest architectural firm in the United States. MADGI's markets include residential and mixed-use new buildings (both market-rate and affordable housing), office and corporate interiors, retail, entertainment and hospitality, commercial building conversions and market re-positioning, landlord services, and sustainable/LEED design. Headed by principals, the specialized studios have served as either lead designer or architect of record for some of the most innovative - and challenging - projects in the city. The firm is known for its design quality and expertise in cost control, technical issues, and addressing complex zoning regulations. The firm's architectural, executive design, and design collaborations portfolio includes the 230-room citizenM New York hotel in Times Square; The Dillon Townhouses and Condominiums, a 205,000-sq.-ft residential complex at 425 West 53rd Street that received a 2012 AIA New York State Award of Merit; the 11-story 560 West 24th Street luxury condominium; the 100,000-sq.-ft. Soori Highline luxury condominium on West 29th Street; and the market repositioning of the 100,000-sq.-ft. 160 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. MADGI's retail experience includes the flagship Fifth Avenue store of the footwear designer Camper; multiple locations of U.S. Polo Association stores; the 60,000-sq.-ft. Discovery Times Square exposition; and BR Guest Hospitality's Bill's Bar & Burger locations at Rockefeller Center and in the New York Marriott Downtown. MADGI is also currently serving as the executive architect for two of the most prominent restaurants and tourist attractions in Manhattan: the observation deck and retail space atop the new World Trade Center and the renovation of the landmark Rainbow Room on top of 30 Rockefeller Plaza. MADGI's recent corporate interior work includes the 150,000-sq.-ft. East Hanover, N.J., U.S. headquarters and laboratories and the 75,000-sq.-ft. Manhattan offices and testing labs of Givaudan Fragrance as well as numerous projects in New York City for leading global corporations, such as the 14,000-sq.-ft. Lavazza U.S. headquarters at 120 Wall Street; the 35,000-sq.-ft. U.S. headquarters of Dentsu USA at 32 Avenue of the Americas; and the 60,000-sq.-ft. East Coast headquarters of ICM Partners at 730 Fifth Avenue. *** Photo caption MADGI James Cifuentes med.jpg James Cifuentes joined Montroy Andersen DeMarco as Project Manager. Photo courtesy of Montroy Andersen DeMarco