The talent of discipline
Substantial, exciting architecture requires discipline.
At Meltzer/Mandl Architects we love to design buildings and never lose focus on what’s really essential to residents and owners. Our projects find inspiration in constraints, deal gracefully with costs, and deliver something special — on time. Having been developers ourselves, we know for sure: efficiency from day one through contrsuction is the only path to enhance the economic and social potential of a property.
Meltzer/Mandl Architects is the story of two generations taking strength from each other, facing the future of housing together. In the city of perpetual change, we build on solid experience: when it comes to building codes and zoning, we are the experts in New York since 1995. Thanks to our talent, our designs were often able to achieve more square footage and units than expected. Our discipline is not about money. It’s about life.
We believe that confidence, creativity and the right dose of courage can create simple and engaging architecture, and foster the sense of community in any kind of project.
Our Values
Pragmatism
Architects face a world of complexity. We love to get things done: we combine all the elements that turn real estate deals into reality, and get buildings built. In our design process we pursue efficiency, going straight from schematics to working drawings. It’s in our ethic: we trace the most direct path to get the most out of the resources we have.
Lucidity
Successful projects are a matter of understanding. Our talent lies in the ability to discern the true value and essence of each deal, and clearly focus on it in our projects. Our background as developers makes all the difference. As soon as we start drawing, we already envision the whole process encompassing all our client’s needs. Then, we confidently meet them all.
Excitement
Building homes, creating places to live pleasantly and to be proud of: nothing is more necessary and exciting. After all these years in construction, we are still thrilled by the next project. We are personally committed to serve the interests of the owner and the wellbeing of residents. We provide strong and original design solutions that engage people.
Pace
Full control over time and costs made our reputation. We are quick and flexible. We are precise and business-savvy: if it takes 10 dollars to build a building, we don’t need 11, but we can’t do it for 9 — as we use to say. Construction is the fun part. On all our building sites, we always create collaborative environments that swiftly lead the project to completion.
Ingenuity
Constraints challenge us. In our projects we use our intelligence to maximize the results and to raise the bar of quality while we meet all the financial requirements. We use simple materials to create special places. We master new technologies. In many cases our designs end up with more square footage and units than originally expected by our clients — we do more with less.
Community
Beautiful architecture doesn’t have to be exclusive. We trust in the local impact of our work: we create significant buildings, made with sustainable and accessible solutions, that benefit the everyday life of the communities they host. Our projects, whether for affordable or marketrate housing, encourage a communal, familiar living. We know the more carefully designed they are, the more people will take care of them.
New York City
We live and work in the center of urban culture, and we love it. As New York City changes and grows, we keep on navigating zoning and building codes with a knowledge second to none, ready to unlock new opportunities. Our work is a collaboration with the future. There’s no greater inspiration for us than creating something enduring that enriches the landscape of our own city.
Marvin H. Meltzer, AIA, NCARB
Principal, Founder
Over the past 40 years, Marvin H. Meltzer has crafted a boutique architecture practice focused on the creation of a variety of housing types, including low income, special needs and affordable housing for the non-profit sector. In addition, his portfolio of work encompasses market rate and luxury housing; community and educational facilities, as well as mixed-use and cultural/religious projects.
Marvin has a reputation of designing projects on difficult sites with complex conditions. He is expert at maximizing buildable square footage, and in many cases has been able to find creative ways to add more square footage to a project without sacrificing the aesthetic quality of the exterior facades.
His design for Melrose Court, a high density, low rise affordable condo project in the Bronx won the "Pillars of the Industry Award" for the best multi-family project in the country in 1994. In 2002, Marvin was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award for "an illustrious career that has added to the betterment of Architecture in New York City."
Eli Y. Meltzer, AIA, NCARB
Principal
Eli brings his skills as a designer, and leader, to deliver designs that allow our clients' visions to become reality. With a deep expertise in New York City Zoning regulations and Building Codes, and a sophisticated understanding of the development and construction process, he takes listening and meeting client goals as essential pieces of a successful project. From client relations to construction site visits, Eli's grasp of the big picture keeps MMA's projects on-target, on-budget and on-time.
Eli spent several years working on Hudson Yards, the largest private real estate development in the history of the United States. He also has experience in the health care industry developing innovative prototypes for clinical and exam space in the Department of Surgery at Mt. Sinai Hospital, and designed several privately-funded, and state-bonded K-12 facilities in NYC and its suburbs.
Awards & Recognition
Meltzer/Mandl is widely-recognized for its numerous New York City affordable and market-rate housing projects. The design of Melrose Court, a high-density, low-rise, 265-unit affordable housing community on three city blocks (4.5 acres) located in the South Bronx received the "1994 Pillars of the Industry Award" for the Best Multifamily Housing Project in the country.
The firm has been honored for design excellence by the American Institute of Architects, the NY Society of Architects, National Association of Home Builders, the Society of American Registered Architects and others for projects such as 57 Bond Street, Roscoe C. Brown Jr. Apartments, and Gateway Transit Village.