JAD Design Services LLC

JAD Design Services LLC Architect, Design, Drafting and Modeling

Drafting services and 3D rendered images of proposed const Architectural Illustration & Visualization

Architecture. Memory. Resilience.New York has a way of making you look up. But at the World Trade Center, it also makes ...
10/22/2026

Architecture. Memory. Resilience.

New York has a way of making you look up. But at the World Trade Center, it also makes you stop and reflect.

As an architect, I’m naturally drawn to the scale, geometry, and reflections of the buildings that now define this part of the skyline. But walking through the site, I found myself thinking just as much about what remains as what has been rebuilt.

The memorial pools, the Survivor Tree, the battered Sphere, and even a door still bearing markings from the search and rescue efforts tell a story that architecture alone cannot.

What makes this place so powerful is how the past and present coexist. There is tremendous beauty in what has been created, but also a deliberate acknowledgment of what was lost.

It’s a reminder that the places we design are more than buildings and spaces. They become part of our collective memory, carrying stories far beyond the people who created them.

An architectural walking tour of NYC? Obviously, that was going to happen! 🏙️Manhattan’s High Line offers an incredible ...
10/15/2026

An architectural walking tour of NYC? Obviously, that was going to happen! 🏙️

Manhattan’s High Line offers an incredible perspective on the city’s architecture, from Thomas Heatherwick’s copper-clad Vessel and the innovative Shed to the unmistakable curves of Zaha Hadid’s 520 West 28th Street.

What I love most is the contrast. Contemporary glass towers rise above century-old brick buildings, sculptural facades reflect their historic neighbors, and an abandoned elevated railway has been transformed into one of the city’s most remarkable public spaces.

A little architecture, a little history, and a whole lot of inspiration. And yes, Ed is used to me stopping every few feet to photograph another building! 😂

Dinosaurs, Gothic architecture, and a museum that has learned how to evolve! 🦖One of our Connecticut stops was the Yale ...
10/12/2026

Dinosaurs, Gothic architecture, and a museum that has learned how to evolve! 🦖

One of our Connecticut stops was the Yale Peabody Museum in New Haven, where I found myself going back and forth between admiring the prehistoric skeletons and looking up at the architecture. Neither disappointed!

Originally opened in 1925, the museum’s beautiful Neo-Gothic building recently underwent a major renovation and expansion, reopening in 2024. What I particularly enjoyed was how the historic architecture remains such an important part of the experience, while new light-filled spaces, updated galleries, and contemporary exhibits bring the museum into another generation.

And the transformation goes well beyond aesthetics. With expanded exhibition space, improved accessibility, and admission now free to everyone, the Peabody has become a more welcoming place to explore and learn.

There’s something particularly fitting about that for a natural history museum. A place dedicated to understanding how life has changed over millions of years has its own story of preservation, adaptation, and evolution.

It’s a wonderful example of how historic places can continue to grow without losing the character that makes them special.

And naturally, we couldn’t leave without a few dinosaur encounters of our own! 😂

An icon of New York City, and apparently an important destination for coffee lovers, too! 😂☕️No matter how many times I’...
10/10/2026

An icon of New York City, and apparently an important destination for coffee lovers, too! 😂☕️

No matter how many times I’ve visited New York, I never get tired of looking up at the Empire State Building. Completed in 1931, it’s one of the great expressions of Art Deco architecture, from its dramatic setbacks and soaring spire to the incredible materials and geometric detailing of its lobby.

There’s something about the optimism of that era that I absolutely love. The idea that architecture could represent ambition, progress, and a bold vision of the future. Nearly a century later, the Empire State Building still captures that spirit and remains one of the most recognizable silhouettes in the world.

And while I was busy admiring the architecture, Ed was equally excited about another landmark inside the building: the Starbucks Reserve! Naturally, we couldn’t leave without making that stop. 😂

One building, two very happy visitors, and two slightly different architectural priorities!

Growing up in New York, I visited the city frequently, but usually by car. So, despite knowing the city for much of my l...
10/09/2026

Growing up in New York, I visited the city frequently, but usually by car. So, despite knowing the city for much of my life, I never really appreciated just how much of its history is embedded in the mass transit system.

Traveling through the city by train this week gave me an entirely different perspective.

From the grandeur of Grand Central Terminal to the century-old tilework and mosaics of the subway, you can see generations of design and infrastructure evolving alongside the city itself. Even the decorative beavers at Astor Place tell a story about the neighborhood’s history.

And that story continues through contemporary public art, modernization, and preservation. At 14th Street, Tom Otterness’s bronze sculptures bring a little humor and social commentary into the subway. At the World Trade Center, preserved doors still carry markings left by search-and-rescue teams following September 11, while the Oculus represents another generation’s response to transportation, architecture, and the city’s history.

None of this makes commuting glamorous, and it certainly doesn’t erase the challenges of navigating a century-old system. But it does reveal how much of New York’s evolution remains visible in places people depend on every day.

I find something fascinating about that. These spaces aren’t simply preserved pieces of history. They’re still being used, adapted, maintained, and experienced by new generations.

Sometimes seeing a familiar place differently reveals an entirely new story.

I promised more on Volcano Bay! 🌋🌴What surprised me most wasn’t the water slides. It was the storytelling woven into the...
10/08/2026

I promised more on Volcano Bay! 🌋🌴

What surprised me most wasn’t the water slides. It was the storytelling woven into the entire built environment.

Universal created the Waturi, a fictional seafaring people whose travels and mythology shaped the island. That story is reflected in everything from the architecture and landscape to the pathways, waterfalls, and attractions. Even the volcano has its own creation story!

As an architect, I find this kind of environmental storytelling fascinating. And while I don’t believe entertainment excuses misrepresenting real cultures, I do think thoughtful, culturally sensitive storytelling can introduce us to different traditions and inspire curiosity. It’s another form of edutainment, where learning happens through experience rather than explanation.

What struck me most was how immersive it all felt. At some point, I stopped thinking about everything outside the park and simply enjoyed being there. No agenda, no responsibilities, just the experience.

That’s the power of great design. Sometimes the most meaningful thing a place can do isn’t teach us something directly, but change how we feel while we’re there.

Water is Life. Life is Joy. And Volcano Bay really does bring that philosophy to life.

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