by: AIA New York
Tom Grassi, FAIA, NCARB, was recently named Co-chair of the AIANY Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. He has been working as a transportation-focused architect in New York City for over 40 years and has had the pleasure of working on some of the most transformative transportation programs of that time.
During his 30-year career with the Port Authority of NY & NJ, from the days immediately following September 11 and for the following 15 years, he was a program manager for the design and construction of the World Trade Center’s Temporary PATH Station and subsequent Transportation Hub. Prior to that, he developed the designs of the regionally transformative AirTrain systems at Newark Liberty and John F. Kennedy International Airports. In 2016 he joined HNTB, where he has worked on a range of transit and aviation projects across the country including several in the New York metropolitan area.
The 2017 Jury of Fellows of the AIA elevated Grassi to its prestigious College of Fellows in the fourth category of fellowship, which recognizes architects who have worked “to ensure the advancement of the living standards of people through their improved environment,” according to the organization’s definition.
Q: How/why did you decide to pursue architecture?
I didn’t follow a traditional path. High school was a bit of a challenge for me, so college right after that was not an option. For several years, I had a series of jobs and was working as assistant manager of a shoe store. A co-worker (now my wife of almost 40 years!) wondered why I wasn’t pursuing a more challenging career. Motivated by her encouragement, I went to the local library, started doing research and came upon architecture, which I had never been exposed to. I loved inventors and wanted that type of job—where your work keeps working after you stop. I didn’t start studying at Pratt Institute until I was 22 years old.
Q: What are some of your favorite recent projects that you’ve worked on?
I have two favorite recent projects that are both coincidentally at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) although for different clients. One is the Recomposure Benches for United Airlines at Terminal C. Visually inspired by the Terminal’s iconic façade, they provide a much-needed functional service for passengers and won a 2024 AIANY Design Award!
The other is the EWR AirTrain replacement. As a Port Authority employee in the mid-1980’s, my first big project was for the design of the new AirTrain project. Now, over 30 years later, with HNTB, I am advancing the planning and preliminary design of AirTrain’s replacement. It’s an amazing opportunity to be able to work on replacing my own first project!
Q: Do you have a favorite building? Why?
I was on the 82nd Floor of 1 WTC when the terrorist attack began on September 11, 2001. As an employee of the Port Authority of NY & NJ, I was in the very unique and fortuitous position to be asked to participate in the rebuilding program, which I did for 15 years, from September 12 until 2016. The Transportation Hub, the Oculus, is my favorite building—the energy, passion, innovation, and artistry, that went into that building as well as all my memories from 15 years of effort in making it a reality make it my favorite building.
Q: What are your thoughts on architectural education today?
Although various forms of drawing with computers have been around for 40 years or so, architectural education is still struggling to integrate that “new” way of drawing into a traditional architectural education. That could be okay; traditional ways of doing things change. However, we remain stuck in a time where recent graduates are skilled at a range of softwares but don’t understand what is represented by the lines the model generates or the meaning of line weights and types, among many other lacking areas that will impact their careers day-to-day. Perhaps the advent of AI/AR/VR, or something we don’t know about yet will negate those elements from an architect’s responsibility anyway, rendering this issue moot, but for now, we’re struggling.
Q: What do you think are the biggest challenges, or opportunities, facing cities today?
My new role as Co-chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee comes at an amazing time. For a transportation and infrastructure-focused architect, these are fascinating times to be working in any city, but especially in New York. Financing, encouraging the use of public transportation, evolving forms of micro-mobility, enhancing public space, promoting public safety, are just a few of the many topics that keep us up at night. The opportunities to improve some of those issues seem almost infinite. With the right support, we have the opportunity to leave behind a tremendous legacy that gives rebirth to public transportation and infrastructure.