Dadras Architects - About Our Firm

DADRAS ARCHITECTS is a full service architectural and urban design consulting firm, offering its clients the highest standards of design excellence and technical expertise while, providing the most personal and professional attention to specific client needs.

Our firm draws on a wealth of diverse quality experience - in both design and construction. We strive to work closely with each particular client's requirements to fully explore the highest potential for each project, while ultimately realizing the most successful results.

It is this combination of quality experience, professional service, and personal attention to individual client needs that we feel best characterizes our firm.

Robert and Victor Dadras at the LISC Urban Forum, in Miami, FL: Nov. 2006

Over the last twenty-five years, the partners of Dadras Architects have developed an expertise - recognized throughout New York State and nationally, as consultants for Downtown / Main Street Revitalization: architecture, urban design, and planning.

Our specific Downtown Revitalization / Main Street consulting experience includes:

In 2009-present, as consulting Architects/Urban Designers, for the Village of Great Neck, NY: "Main Street Assessment"; "Community Visioning"; and preparation of a "Main Street Strategy"; as well as Façade Guidelines, and Streetscape Guidelines, etc.
In 2009-present, as consulting Architects/Urban Designers, for the Bronx Business Alliance - Westchester Square Main Street Program: Façade & Streetscape Improvements, etc., in Bronx, NYC.
In 2008, as consulting Architects/Urban Designers, for the City of Ogdensburg, NY: "Main Street Assessment"; and from 2009-present, preparing a "Main Street Strategy for the City of Ogdensburg, NY".
In 2006-2009, as consulting Architects/Urban Designers, offering Technical Assistance to the DHCR's New York State Main Street Program, in over thirteen (13) different, and diverse, communities - throughout New York State. *These projects included (as part of our New York Main Street Group consultant team): Preparation of Main Street Strategy Reports, for the Village of Stamford, NY, 2007-2008; and for the Village of Waterford, NY, 2007-2008; as well as Façade Program and Parking Study - for the Village of Port Jefferson, NY, 2007.
In 2006-2008, as consulting Architects / Urban Designers to the New York City Department of Small Business Services - Storefront Improvement Program, throughout New York City, including the neighborhoods of: Red Hook, Brooklyn; Hamilton Heights (West Harlem), Manhattan; and White Plains Road, Bronx.
In 2008-2009, as consulting Architects/Urban Designers, for the Village of Cobleskill, NY: "Façade Program & Streetscape Design Guidelines + Public Plaza Design"
In 2005-2007, as consulting Architects to the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation & Sutphin Boulevard B.I.D. (Queens, New York City) for their Façade Program - Storefront Grants Program (from the New York Main Street Program: DHCR grants).
In 2005-2008, as consulting Architects to the Village of Hobart, NY (Delaware County) for the preparation of their "Landscape Planning and Roadway Design Services" - for their Main Street / downtown area.
In 2005-2006, as consulting Architects to the Village of Deposit, NY (Broome & Delaware County) for the preparation of their "Downtown Revitalization Plan" - Study and recommendations; and - as a follow-up, for the preparation of their "LWRP Waterfront Access Study", in 2008-2009
In 2004-2005, as consulting Architects to the Village of Greenwood Lake, NY (Orange County) for the preparation of their "Main Street Revitalization Strategy" - Study and recommendations
In 2003-2004, as consulting Architects to the Village of Spring Valley, NY (Rockland County) for the preparation of their "Main Street Revitalization Strategy" - Study and recommendations
For six years (2003-2009), as the architectural consultants to the Greene County, NY's Main Street Program: working in over 15 communities, to assist in the preparation of building façade projects, in this highly successful County program. Also (2008-2009) developed a Main Street Strategy for the Town of Cairo, NY, as consultants - working with the Greene County Dept. of Planning & Economic Development.
For over six years (2001-2007), as the architectural consultants for the City of Yonkers: Lake Avenue Façade program & McLean Avenue Commercial District Revitalization Program, in Westchester County. Projects include both building façade projects (56 total), and Main Street "enhanced streetscape design"
For over six years (2001-2007), as the architectural consultants to the Catskill Center's Main Street Program: for the counties of Delaware, Greene, Schoharie, and Ulster; working in over 20 communities to assist in the preparation of downtown comprehensive strategies and building façade projects.
Assisting in the procurement of funding for the Sullivan County Main Street Center for over seven years.
As Main Street Coordinator for Sullivan County, worked with hundreds of building owners, small business operators, community groups, Chambers of Commerce, hamlets, villages and towns; - on over 220 building façade projects, strategic plans, comprehensive plans, county-wide Main Street forums, and economic development strategies.
For eight years, (1997-to-2004), served as the Main Street Coordinator for the Main Street Redevelopment Center of Sullivan County, and empowered to study and revitalize thirty-one Main Street communities throughout the County.
Co-Founding the "Sullivan County Main Street Redevelopment Center" in 1997: a full service, multi-functional grants and technical assistance program - including ( 9 ) diverse loan and grant programs for small businesses.
In 1997, served as one (of two), economic development consultants hired by Sullivan County, to develop a 42-point Economic Development Plan, which was unveiled in September, 1997. To date, this Plan has received over $15.5 million in funding - for Sullivan County's economic development programs.

AWARDS

Our efforts, in collaboration with both towns and counties throughout New York State, have resulted in several awards, including:

The Sullivan County Planning Department, with partner Robert Dadras, received the 2004 New York State Historic Preservation Office's (SHPO) "Preservation Award", the highest award bestowed to a county government, to date.
In 1999, the New York Planning Federation's (NYPF) "Heissenbuttel Award" - for our collaboration with the Sullivan County Planning Department.
In 1997, the New York Conference of Mayors (NYCOM) prestigious "Main Street Award" for our work in collaboration with the Village of Liberty, NY.

LECTURES & PRESENTATIONS

Our partners have spoken extensively at local, regional, statewide, and national planning conferences, including:

Seven consecutive state-wide Main Street Conferences (NYCOM)
Three years of the NY Planning Federation's annual conference
The New York Main Street Alliance (NYMSA) Main Street Institute, in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010
Two LISC Urban Forum conferences
- Miami, Florida in 2006
- Indianapolis, Indiana in 2008

ADVISORY BOARDS

Our partners have been appointed to the Board of Directors of:

New York Main Street Alliance (NYMSA)
New York State Urban Council
Main Street Sullivan (Sullivan County)
Douglaston-Little Neck Historical Society
Westmoreland Association (Queens, NYC)

We believe that our greatest strength is that while working with more than six different counties, and many diverse cities, towns, and villages - throughout New York State, we are able to help shape each Municipality/organization's program to each area's specific needs, and to look at each town's Main Street/Commercial District needs and adapt to it's specific concerns.