RKTB Architects welcomes Baez-Urena as project manager and presents award for Lawal

Manhattan, NY Architecture, planning and design experts RKTB Architects has another addition to its roster, while also celebrating a professional award presented to one of its staff of architectural designers. 

Adelaida Baez-Urena joins the team in the role of project manager, bringing a decade of experience managing projects and leading teams in implementing energy-efficient, sustainable design solutions, from design through construction and with a strong focus on affordable housing and community-driven developments. Baez-Urena is also a recipient of a Master of Architecture degree from the City College of New York’s Spitzer School of Architecture. 

Another recently hired project manager has received a valuable professional honor: Grace Lawal has been named as a recipient of a monetary award from the 2030 Fund, a program created by AIA New York in collaboration with the National Organization of Minority Architects’ New York Chapter to, in part, achieve the goal of doubling the number of licensed Black architects by decade’s end. 

The award is given to help repay each honoree’s student loans – Lawal is one of five young professionals named in May, selected from a field of 31 applicants. 

Baez-Uren’s previous engagement in another firm’s affordable housing studio makes her a valuable addition for the firm – as does her considerable expertise amassed in the area of construction administration. 

Transitioning to RKTB, Baez-Urena was initially assigned to the K-12 facilities team to work on the expansion of Public School 116 in Queens which had just started construction. “They needed my skill sets there,” she said, adding, “Next I’ll be working on the multifamily residential side again with associate principal Nelson Vega, on a really exciting project combining affordable housing with preservation of a landmark church downtown.” 

According to managing principal Peter Bafitis, AIA, Baez-Urena’s facility with managing complex building developments has grown since joining RKTB, which he credits to her drive for finding innovative, sustainable solutions for high-performing, community-focused built environments.