2025 Year in Review: Ronnette Riley, Ronnette Riley Architect

What accomplishment, milestone, project or transaction stood out for you or your firm in 2025? 

As I approach the end of my tenure as president of the National Society of American Registered Architects (SARA), founded in 1956, I wanted to highlight what this dedicated group of architects has achieved in the past two years. We have reinvigorated the mission of “Architect Helping Architect” with a doubling of membership, encouraging two new councils in Texas and the mid-Atlantic, offering free student membership, as well as including all necessary continuing education units with the dues and renewing our alliance with the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards.

What emerging trends or shifts will shape opportunities for you, your firm, or market sector in 2026? 

As the office design opportunities continue to recover from the COVID pandemic, we have noticed an uptick in the need for accessibility in all building types from courthouses to hotels and residential retail markets. A rise in lawsuits has enabled us as ADA experts to step in with our design guidance on defense and/or compliance. We have also expanded our work in transportation infrastructure, including being part of the teams renovating Penn Station, building resilience to climate change at Corona Yards and designing facilities for the new Amtrak trains at Sunnyside Yards.

What transaction, project, or key moment best reflected the direction of the New York CRE market this year? 

It’s definitely a renters’ market out there. The lease is up on my office next year, so I have been able to look at the market from the other side of the table. I have never known landlords to be so flexible and willing to negotiate and there seems to be a raft of subletting opportunities. As a firm with a majority of women on staff, it is important to me that we have an attended lobby 24/7 and landlords and their agents have been receptive to negotiate about this when it is lacking.