AIA Long Island Chapter gives John R. Sorrenti of JRS Architect PC Lifetime Achievement Award



John R. Sorrenti, FAIA, a nationally recognized Long Island architect and the founder and president of JRS Architect, P.C., was presented with the 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award of the American Institute of Architects Long Island Chapter.

The award, which honors an architectural firm or individual architect for outstanding achievement for over 20 years, was presented on Nov. 5, 2008 to Sorrenti at the chapter'ss 44th Annual Archi Awards, held at the Chateau Briand in Carle Place, N.Y.

I am honored and humbled to receive this award, Sorrenti said. It is a testament to the fine work that we do here on Long Island -- and elsewhere -- and to the outstanding architecture that is being created by the many firms in our region.

Sorrenti established JRS in 1986 and today it employs more than 50 people in offices in Mineola, Manhattan and Princeton, NJ. It has developed design expertise in the areas of corporate, education, financial, healthcare, hospitality, retail and preservation.

Sorrenti is a nationally recognized industry leader. A Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and national chair of the Fellows Region Representatives, he is currently a member of the New York State Board of Architecture and a Chair of the Committee on Professional Development of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). Sorrenti is also Treasurer of NCARB'ss Region Two.

He has been president of Long Island Chapter and the New York State AIA as well as vice president of the National AIA. Sorrenti also founded the Long Island East End Chapter of AIA in 1989; which today is the 115-member Peconic Chapter.

Prior to 1982, all elected volunteers of the AIA Long Island chapter worked out of their offices. In 1982, Sorrenti was the catalyst for establishing a paid executive director for the chapter. Since then membership has tripled. Part of this model was for the Long Island chapter to provide/sell AIA documents and this model has worked well for the chapter.

Sorrenti often is consulted by his peers on subjects that include building safety, ADA conformity, project delivery methods and technology solutions. In 1991, on behalf of the AIA, Sorrenti helped to form the guidelines for the Americans with Disabilities Act and in 1993, assisted with the New York City ADA code.

For the past 10 years, Sorrenti has been the commissioner for the Town of North Hempstead Historic Preservation Commission. Additionally, he sits on the Boards of Madison National Bank, Building Long Island magazine and Lattingtown Ponds Architectural Committee.

Sorrenti received a Bachelor of Architecture degree from New York Institute of Technology in 1972, a Masters in Architecture from Ohio University in 1974, and a Masters in Business Administration from NYIT in 1978. He began his career in 1974 at the Long Island firm Lawrence L. Smith 's38; Associates. In 1976, he moved to Garden City-based Goldstein-Sorrenti. Ten years later, after Goldstein retired, Sorrenti established JRS. In 1990, JRS opened an office in Princeton, N.J., and in 2001 constructed its own headquarters in Mineola. In 2006, JRS bought a 20-person architectural firm in Manhattan.

About JRS Architect, P.C.

Established in 1986, JRS Architect, P.C. has offices in Mineola, NY, New York City and Princeton, NJ. The firm has grown from six people since its establishment to more than 50 today serving Long Island, the greater New York City area, Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. It has developed design expertise in the areas of corporate, education, finance, healthcare, hospitality, retail and preservation. For more information about JRS call (516) 294-1666 or visit www.jrsarchitect.com.





AIA Long Island Chapter gives John R. Sorrenti of JRS Architect PC Lifetime Achievement Award