Bio:

The great architect, Andrew Thompson is the Passaic County Architect in New Jersey. His work includes historic preservation projects, courthouse renovations and building infrastructure upgrades for various County properties. He is the 2025 President for AIA New Jersey. He is a member of the NOMA Council (NOMAC). From 2010 to 2014 Andrew was a Planning Board Commissioner for the City of East Orange. He has a BArch from Pratt Institute and a Masters in Architecture and Urban Design from Columbia University.

 

How did you first learn about architecture and when did you decide that built environment profession was an area of interest for you?

I became interested in architecture after building a 1/4" scale balsa wood frame house in high school. My model was exhibited in the mall in Flatbush Brooklyn. I knew I can make an impact on my community and the environment by becoming an architect.

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What do you do?

I am an architect currently working for local government as the County Architect for Passaic County in New Jersey. Working with local and state government on projects is important to show the value of our profession. My projects involve new construction, courthouses and building infrastructure. I oversee and I am responsible for building projects and renovations in all of the towns and municipalities in Passaic County. Projects range from infrastructure upgrades of a correctional facility in Paterson New Jersey to a historic restoration and rehabilitation of a mansion George Washington had in Wayne New Jersey.​

I do it all as the County Architect, I have no support staff, so I do everything from preparing drawings and specifications, to preparing bids, and overseeing and managing a variety of projects. The position is an opportunity to show that with the power of one, it can get done. The work is varied so I am never bored. I also get to work with County government which is teaches me how architects should work with public policy.​

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Who or what inspires you professionally?

My mentor Richard Franklin NOMAC AIA. Over the years he has provided guidance on my path to becoming a licensed architect and providing an opportunity to be part of one the largest transportation projects in the state of New York. I have been with NOMA as a NY chapter member for 20 years and now currently a NJ chapter member for about the last 3 years. Those mentors have guided me on the right path in architecture by either giving me opportunities in the job market or guiding me in completion of my ARE exam and becoming licensed. I would like to thank Robert Washington, Richard Franklin, Jack Travis, Jeh Jonson and the late Jumaane Stewart.

I have had great opportunities in my years in the profession so there is not one proud moment but rather a few. At the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey I was part of the design team for AirTrain which links JFK Airport to major transit hubs such as the LIRR and the MTA subway. Seeing that project get built from the early sketches to not knowing if it would ever happen (it had been off and on for about 25 years) was inspirational in the fact that no matter how long it may take, it can get done.

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What do you do?

At Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in my position as Chief Architect, my proudest moment was all the work we put into a project and to hear a patient say how beautiful the space was really let me know how important the role of the architect was in making impact to health and wellness.​

At the City University of New York, putting together a new college, the Stella and Charles Guttman Community College, the first community college in CUNY in over 20 years, I felt I was given a great opportunity to make change in the education system. Planning the facility with Faculty for a year and when the school was officially opened, seeing the students interact in their renovated space in a positive manner really made me feel that I can be an agent of change.

I have been involved with NOMA since 1991. In 1993 I was on the conference committee when we held the conference in NYC for the first time. It was supposed to be held at the World Trade Center Vista Hotel but due to the 1993 WTC bombing we had to relocate the conference to Midtown. I was amongst the first members when NYCOBA became an official charter organization of NOMA hence NYCOBA-NOMA. I held Board positions on the National Board in 1995 and then from 2009 to recently. I was also President of NYCOBA-NOMA from 2007 to 2009. I will be stepping down from my Board position in October 2015 after serving (3) 2 year terms for a total of six years.​
 

What excites you in the work you do?

I get thrilled when a project is completed and the public of Passaic County provides comments in a positive manner about the project. I am dealing mostly with taxpayer’s money and at times the County does get grants, but I want to make sure the taxpayers money is put to good use. I make the most of the small budgets. Working with County stakeholders as an architect and the fact I am a Black architect gives me pride. My projects benefit the County and State staff, but it is the public who make use of those buildings and spaces that provide me satisfaction.

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What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?

Completing the renovation of the Passaic County Court House Annex, built in 1899, in Paterson NJ . This project started before and then during the pandemic. A good partnership with the consulting architect brought this historic building back to life. Being a NYCOBA-NOMA member it strengthened me as a Black architect, gave me purpose and the focus on what had to be done to call myself an architect. I am a member because I have given back to mentees and interns who are now on their road to becoming architects. I am a member because I regard NOMA as my extended “family” with relationships going back 20 years or more.

The most I value about my long term membership with NOMA, (which has never lapsed in over 20 years), is that it has made me what I am today. I agree education is important and my degrees from CUNY, Pratt Institute and Columbia University were well worth it and valuable insight gained. NOMA however always put into perspective by focusing on what was needed for the profession at that moment in time, whether getting more young Black students into the profession, keeping them focused in their time in architecture school, helping new graduates on the path to jobs and eventually to licensure. I also valued all the great Black architects I have met over the years through NOMA. Jeh Johnson, Robert Coles, Roberta Washington, Phil Freelon, Curt Moody, Wendell Campell, just to name a few. At every national NOMA conference, the fact that these architects always asked how am I doing was I think one of the best facets of NOMA. NOMA was so good to me it even got me a pilot on the History Channel, hey it can’t get any better than that!
 

Featured Project Name: 

Dey Mansion Museum Restoration

 

Featured Project Location: 

Wayne New Jersey 

 

Featured Project Completion Date: 

2016

 

Role in Featured Project: 

County Architect overseeing design and construction 

 

Featured Project Description:

The Dey Mansion built in 1772 was one of the headquarters for George Washington during the Revolutionary War. Andrew worked with the architect of record John Milner Architects on a major interior and exterior restoration and renovation of the Dey Mansion Museum that incorporated ADA access. Andrew coordinated construction with the contractor Dell Tech. He oversaw coordination with the New Jersey State Preservation office as per state requirements for historic projects receiving state funding.

 

Photography Credit:

Andrew Thompson NOMAC AIA LEED AP BD+C

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Photography Credit:

Passaic County