Sydness Architects
Encyclopedia
Sydness Architects is a New York City-based architecture
firm founded by K. Jeffries Sydness in 1996. The firm's other principal is George Chin; Brandon M. Coles is an associate. Both Sydness and Chin are members of the American Institute of Architects
.
Prior to forming Sydness Architects, Sydness was an associate at Johnson/Burgee Architects, whose founding prinicpals were Philip Johnson
and John Burgee
. He began at the firm in 1983, and was made partner in 1988. In his thirteen years at Johnson/Burgee, Sydness designed the Takashimaya Building
in New York, 500 Boylston Street
in Boston
, Puerta de Europa
in Madrid, Spain and the Conrad International Hotel
in Singapore
.
One of Sydness Architects' first projects, completed in 2001, was the 37-story, 328-room St. Regis Shanghai Hotel
, in Shanghai, China, owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
. Architectural Digest
called the hotel's design, which won an international design compitetion, "[A]s brilliant as it is simple."
In 2005, the firm took on the restoration of the 104-year-old Second Church of Christ, Scientist on Central Park West
and West 68th Street in Manhattan
, New York City. Their work was scheduled to clean the facade, reinforce the stained-glass windows, fix leaks which had developed in the copper dome and illuminate the skylight.
Recently, Sydness Architects designed two contemporary luxury condominium towers for the Turtle Bay
neighborhood of Manhattan, near the United Nations: The Alexander, a 24-story building for 250 East 49th Street, the construction of which was cancelled, and the Alexander Plaza, a 25-story tower at 315 East 46th Street, which is under construction, but on hold after six stories had been built – although the purchase of the site by the United Arab Emirates
has put the fate of the project in doubt.
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
firm founded by K. Jeffries Sydness in 1996. The firm's other principal is George Chin; Brandon M. Coles is an associate. Both Sydness and Chin are members of the American Institute of Architects
American Institute of Architects
The American Institute of Architects is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to support the architecture profession and improve its public image...
.
Prior to forming Sydness Architects, Sydness was an associate at Johnson/Burgee Architects, whose founding prinicpals were Philip Johnson
Philip Johnson
Philip Cortelyou Johnson was an influential American architect.In 1930, he founded the Department of Architecture and Design at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, and later , as a trustee, he was awarded an American Institute of Architects Gold Medal and the first Pritzker Architecture...
and John Burgee
John Burgee
__notoc__John Burgee is an American architect noted for his contributions to Postmodern architecture. He was a partner of Philip Johnson from 1967 to 1991, creating together the partnership firm Johnson/Burgee Architects. Their landmark collaborations together included Pennzoil Place in Houston...
. He began at the firm in 1983, and was made partner in 1988. In his thirteen years at Johnson/Burgee, Sydness designed the Takashimaya Building
Takashimaya
is a large Japanese department store chain.Founded in 1829 in Kyoto by Iida Shinkichi as a retailer of used clothing and cotton cloth, the store now has outlets throughout Japan and also in Taipei, Paris and Singapore....
in New York, 500 Boylston Street
500 Boylston Street
500 Boylston Street is a Post-Modern building located in the Back Bay section of Boston and part of the city's High Spine, completed in 1985. It sits next to the landmark Trinity Church, Boston. It dominates the western half of the city block bounded by Boylston, Clarendon and Berkeley streets and...
in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Puerta de Europa
Puerta de Europa
The Puerta de Europa towers are twin office buildings in Madrid. The towers have a height of and have 26 floors. They were constructed from 1989 to 1996...
in Madrid, Spain and the Conrad International Hotel
Conrad Hotels
Conrad Hotels is an international brand of upscale luxury hotels and resorts owned and operated by the Hilton Worldwide. Conrad was considered the luxury flagship brand in the Hilton Family of Brands, named after company founder Conrad Hilton, until being supplanted by The Waldorf-Astoria...
in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
.
One of Sydness Architects' first projects, completed in 2001, was the 37-story, 328-room St. Regis Shanghai Hotel
St. Regis Shanghai Hotel
The St. Regis Shanghai Hotel, which opened in 2001, is located in the Pudong District of Shanghai, China. It contains 328 rooms and suites, is 37 stories tall and has of space. The hotel was designed by Sydness Architects for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.The St...
, in Shanghai, China, owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is a hospitality ownership and management organization, headquartered in White Plains, New York. One of the world's largest hotel companies, it owns, operates, franchises and manages hotels, resorts, spas, residences, and vacation ownership properties...
. Architectural Digest
Architectural Digest
Architectural Digest is an American monthly magazine. Its principal subject is interior design, not — as the name of the magazine might suggest — architecture more generally. The magazine is published by Condé Nast Publications and was founded in 1920, by the Knapp family, who sold it in 1993...
called the hotel's design, which won an international design compitetion, "[A]s brilliant as it is simple."
In 2005, the firm took on the restoration of the 104-year-old Second Church of Christ, Scientist on Central Park West
Central Park West
Central Park West is an avenue that runs north-south in the New York City borough of Manhattan, in the United States....
and West 68th Street in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, New York City. Their work was scheduled to clean the facade, reinforce the stained-glass windows, fix leaks which had developed in the copper dome and illuminate the skylight.
Recently, Sydness Architects designed two contemporary luxury condominium towers for the Turtle Bay
Turtle Bay
Turtle Bay may refer to:*Turtle Bay, Manhattan, a neighborhood in New York City*Turtle Bay , a bay in the Houtman Abrolhos island chain in Western Australia*Turtle Bay Exploration Park, California*A bay within the Caneel Bay resort on St...
neighborhood of Manhattan, near the United Nations: The Alexander, a 24-story building for 250 East 49th Street, the construction of which was cancelled, and the Alexander Plaza, a 25-story tower at 315 East 46th Street, which is under construction, but on hold after six stories had been built – although the purchase of the site by the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
has put the fate of the project in doubt.