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Listen "Alex Badalamenti: Balancing Vision and Problem-Solving in Architecture"
Episode Synopsis
In this episode of “Made With Brilliance,” Chelsey sits down with Alex Badalamenti, President and CEO of BLD Architecture, to discuss his journey in the world of architecture and the incredible projects his firm is working on. We explore BLD’s approach to architectural design, their core services, and how they balance artistic vision with practical constraints. Alex shares his insights on problem-solving in architecture, using the major expansion project at Jake’s 58 Casino in Islandia, New York as a prime example.
We discuss the challenges of working on a large, complex project where the facility operates 24/7, and how collaboration between architects, engineers, and various consultants ensures that everything from design to construction runs smoothly. This episode dives deep into the architectural process and highlights how BLD Architecture is making its mark on Long Island’s architectural landscape.
Key Takeaways:
Balancing Art and Engineering: Alex emphasizes that architecture is not just about artistic design but also about problem-solving, ensuring that every aspect of a project—from aesthetics to functionality—works harmoniously.
The Jake’s 58 Expansion Project: One of BLD’s most fascinating ongoing projects, the expansion of Jake’s 58 Casino, is a massive undertaking involving the doubling of the casino size and tripling the parking capacity while keeping the facility operational.
Collaboration is Key: Successful architectural projects require close collaboration with clients, engineers, and consultants. Alex explains how their team brings together diverse experts to address issues like zoning, environmental concerns, and logistics.
Adapting to Existing Structures: The challenges of upgrading and expanding existing buildings are significant, as seen with Jake’s 58, where every system from utilities to aesthetics had to be modernized while keeping the casino operational.
Effortless Design: Alex highlights that the goal of any architectural project is to make the end result look effortless, even though the process is complex and involves solving thousands of problems along the way.
Timeline Summary:
[00:00] - Introduction to Alex Badalamenti and BLD Architecture.
[01:00] - Alex shares his journey in architecture, from early career to leading BLD.
[03:00] - The challenges and excitement of working on large-scale projects like Jake’s 58 Casino.
[05:00] - The importance of solving problems in architecture and how BLD approaches complex design issues.
[08:00] - Collaboration with engineers, consultants, and clients to ensure project success.
[10:00] - Navigating zoning, environmental, and logistical challenges in architectural projects.
[14:00] - Final thoughts on BLD’s work and their approach to making design look effortless.
We discuss the challenges of working on a large, complex project where the facility operates 24/7, and how collaboration between architects, engineers, and various consultants ensures that everything from design to construction runs smoothly. This episode dives deep into the architectural process and highlights how BLD Architecture is making its mark on Long Island’s architectural landscape.
Key Takeaways:
Balancing Art and Engineering: Alex emphasizes that architecture is not just about artistic design but also about problem-solving, ensuring that every aspect of a project—from aesthetics to functionality—works harmoniously.
The Jake’s 58 Expansion Project: One of BLD’s most fascinating ongoing projects, the expansion of Jake’s 58 Casino, is a massive undertaking involving the doubling of the casino size and tripling the parking capacity while keeping the facility operational.
Collaboration is Key: Successful architectural projects require close collaboration with clients, engineers, and consultants. Alex explains how their team brings together diverse experts to address issues like zoning, environmental concerns, and logistics.
Adapting to Existing Structures: The challenges of upgrading and expanding existing buildings are significant, as seen with Jake’s 58, where every system from utilities to aesthetics had to be modernized while keeping the casino operational.
Effortless Design: Alex highlights that the goal of any architectural project is to make the end result look effortless, even though the process is complex and involves solving thousands of problems along the way.
Timeline Summary:
[00:00] - Introduction to Alex Badalamenti and BLD Architecture.
[01:00] - Alex shares his journey in architecture, from early career to leading BLD.
[03:00] - The challenges and excitement of working on large-scale projects like Jake’s 58 Casino.
[05:00] - The importance of solving problems in architecture and how BLD approaches complex design issues.
[08:00] - Collaboration with engineers, consultants, and clients to ensure project success.
[10:00] - Navigating zoning, environmental, and logistical challenges in architectural projects.
[14:00] - Final thoughts on BLD’s work and their approach to making design look effortless.
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