Marketing and Communications

On March 20, the AIANY Marketing and Communications Committee was joined by Artin Sahakian, Project Designer at Weiss/Manfredi, who served as Project Manager for the book Drifting Symmetries: Projects, Provocations, and Other Enduring Models by Weiss/Manfredi (Park Publishing, 2025) from its initial ideation in 2021 to its final production in 2024. He shared his insights from generating a book as a medium for architectural inquiry. Having played a key role in producing drawings and graphics, collaborating on design, and managing production with Park Books and a printer in Verona, Italy, he offered a valuable perspective on the intersection of architecture, design, and publication.

Publishing work can boost professional credibility and lead to new opportunities, but the print media landscape can also be daunting. For many small practices, especially ones without a dedicated communications team or an external public relations consultant, the nuanced answers to these questions may seem out of reach.

That’s why AIANY’s Marketing and Communications, Emerging New York Architects, and Future of Practice Committees held our first collaborative event of 2024: a presentation from Leopoldo Villardi on February 20. In addition to being the youngest Senior Editor at Architectural Record, Leopoldo’s experience includes nine years working as an editor, writer, and researcher. He’s a trained architect, and holds a master’s degree from Columbia University and a bachelor of architecture from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

100+ attendees turned out on a cold February evening to hear Leopoldo’s insights into how to pitch for print and other nuances of his editorial practices. Leopoldo shared valuable insights, a few of which we’ve shared below. summarized below:

Ask for an Editorial Calendar
Architectural Record makes its editorial calendar public, but you’ll need to reach out directly to get a hold of most publications’ editorial calendars. For print publications, pitching 3-4 months in advance can be the sweet spot for staying top of mind while giving your firm ample time to capture proper documentation of your project. 

Exclusivity
The nature of exclusivity changes from publication to publication, but Leopoldo shared Architectural Record’s desire to be the only architectural publication covering a project. That doesn’t mean that other types of publications like a local newspaper of record can’t be brought into the fold—just as long as the article isn’t written by an architectural critic or for a specific architectural section.

Let the Story Speak for Itself
Be straightforward, concise, and highlight what’s compelling about your project. Avoid flowery, inflated descriptions and superlatives and back up your statements with metrics, details, and don’t lose sight of the big picture.

Sustainability & Social Good are the Baseline
Buildings should aim to be as sustainable as possible and to benefit their occupants’ well-being as a baseline. If you want your project to stand out, you need to decide how your project is pushing the limits of sustainability and social impact in the built environment.

Photography Tips: Fill a Space for People with People, and Do Not Use the Same Chair Twice
Some architects may want shots of projects that put their designs in the foreground and clear out pesky distractions like people and furniture. But that’s not what the editors at Architectural Record are looking for. Leopoldo recommended filling a space meant for people with actual people. He also related that some architects who aren’t in love with someone else’s interior design choices might bring their own furniture, but you’re better off not having the same chair make its way into photos of multiple spaces.

Interested in other events? Stay tuned in to the Center for Architecture and AIANY Calendar for future panels, workshops, and more.

Speak Up, Speak Out: Communicating for Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Moderator:
Celeste Frye, CEO, Public Works Partners

Speakers:
Talisha L. Sainvil, AIA, NOMA, NCARB, LEED, Principal, 40 Six Four Architecture | Design Studio; Secretary and Editor-in-Chief, PYLON, AIA Brooklyn
Patrice Rajacic, Vice President, Marino Public Relations
Rajas Karnik, AIA, LEED AP, NOMA, BOA, President and Co-Founder, Build Out Alliance; Associate, FXCollaborative

About the speakers:

Celeste Frye is an urbanist known for designing and implementing multi-stakeholder initiatives that build strong connections across the government, nonprofit, and private sectors. As CEO of Public Works Partners, a WBE- and DBE-certified planning and consulting firm, she leads a multidisciplinary team that engages communities, designs innovative plans, and implements policies and initiatives for our public and nonprofit clients. Before co-founding Public Works in 2010, Frye held leadership roles at the NYC Department of Small Business Services and the NYC Office of Management and Budget. Frye holds a Masters of Regional Planning from Cornell AAP and an undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is a graduate of Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Small Businesses and Coro Leadership New York, and serves on the Regional Plan Association’s Connecticut Committee.

Talisha L. Sainvil, AIA, NOMA, NCARB, LEED was born and raised in Brooklyn and graduated from the University of Miami School of Architecture. Since then, she has gained almost 20 years of knowledge and practical experience by taking on various roles and responsibilities. Presently, Sainvil is the Principal of her Brooklyn-based architecture and design firm, where she specializes in homes and hospitality. Sainvil is a registered Aachitect in both New York and New Jersey, an active member of nycoba|NOMA, and currently serves on the board of AIA Brooklyn as Secretary and Editor-in-Chief of PYLON, the AIA Brooklyn publication.

Patrice Rajacic is a Vice President at Marino PR, leading the agency’s Corporate Communications unit. With more than nine years of communications experience, she is responsible for developing and executing strategic communications and reputation management programs for some of the agency’s largest and most complex accounts. Her work has garnered placements in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Business Insider, The Economist and USA Today, among others.

Rajas Karnik, AIA, LEED AP, NOMA, is the President and co-founder of Build Out Alliance, a non-profit organization that promotes and advocates for the LGBTQ+ community within the building design and construction industry. He is a registered architect and Associate at FXCollaborative, and is currently working on 1 Willoughby Square—a commercial building in Downtown Brooklyn that will serve as the future home of FXCollaborative. Karnik is also one of the founders and co-chair of FXOne, FXCollaborative’s LGBTQ+ employee resource group, and is actively involved in the firm’s justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts.

All committee meetings until further notice will occur virtually, via the below link.

Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://meetings.ringcentral.com/j/1497589558

 Or Telephone:           +1(470)8692200 (US East)

 Meeting ID: 149 758 9558

For those of you who missed our panel discussion on April 14, a recording is now available here and on the Center for Architecture’s Vimeo Page.

As our economy and culture change in response to COVID-19, tailored storytelling is more important than ever. Bringing together leading voices in architecture, journalism, and PR, “Architectural Storytelling in a Time of Crisis” discusses how architects can engage with the public during an unprecedented and challenging time.

Panelists include:
Julie Lasky, Design Editor, The New York Times
Helene Oberman, Managing Director, Interior Design Media
Alexandra Polier, VP – Business Development, ODA New York

Moderator
Tami Hausman, Founder and President, Hausman LLC