Leadership

Marquis Who’s Who Honors Alex Badalamenti for Dedication to the Architectural Industry

By: William Mullane

Marquis Who’s Who honors Alex Badalamenti for lifelong dedication to the architectural industry. Mr. Badalamenti is the chief executive officer of BLD Architecture, where he leads a staff of 20 architects.

Building a Business and City

Born in Long Island, New York, Mr. Badalamenti lived in various parts of New York City before returning to Long Island in 2004 to work for Baldassano Architecture LLP. He joined the 30-year-old firm as a managing partner. The firm rebranded a few years after his arrival and again in 2015 when it became BLD Architecture.

Mr. Badalamenti is proud to have built a successful architectural business on Long Island. One stand-out achievement was guiding his firm through the Great Recession of 2008. He considers it the arduous and gratifying task of his career.

Over the 20 years at BLD Architecture, Mr. Badalamenti has been a part of multiple large projects, including high-rise buildings in New York City, upstate New York and even in London, England, where he spent six months overseeing a project.

“We’ve done projects all over which are pretty substantial projects. We’ve done Netflix’s film studio in Brooklyn. We’ve done work for Grumman Studios. We’re currently doing Jake’s 58 casino expansion. We have some pretty stunning multifamily projects out in the Hamptons,” Mr. Badalamenti says.

Among the other projects Mr. Badalamenti is particularly proud of are GrowNYC in Hunts Point, Bronx, the Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn, the Watchcase Factory in Sag Harbor, Patchogue YMCA and St. Anthony’s Student Center and Chapel in Huntington.

The Changing Landscape of the Industry

Over the four decades of his career, Mr. Badalamenti has seen new and innovative technologies emerge in the industry. Even building materials have changed over the years. New digital technologies are now used to manage building systems in increasingly advanced ways.

“Sustainability has been a big issue for the last 10 years. New technology efficiency, new fuel sources, and a lot of solar and geothermal technologies are very new. The efficiency of the installation and running of buildings is getting smarter,” Mr. Badalamenti says.

Mr. Badalamenti also highlights how software has influenced the design of buildings with innovative 3D modeling.

“The rendering capabilities are pretty sophisticated. And the computers: how we do drawings now is very different from when I started 40 years ago, when we did it all by hand. I’ve seen quite a lot of change over the past 40 years for the best,” Mr. Badalamenti says.

Trustworthy and Likable

Mr. Badalamenti attributes his success to being honest with his clients and staff. Transparency is vital in running a business, and he believes in providing the accurate answer to a question, even if that answer takes time.

“I also found that likability is probably one of the most important features of my staff and in getting work. You have to be trusted and likable,” Mr. Badalamenti says.

BLD Architecture is committed to business development, and Mr. Badalamenti plans to further its outreach. Additionally, he mentors the next generation to help with a smooth transition when he is ready to pass on the firm to the senior staff. In the future, once he has left the firm in good hands, he aspires to focus more on his community.

About Marquis Who’s Who®:

Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who’s Who in America®, Marquis Who’s Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who’s Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms worldwide. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who’s Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

Published by Drake M.