Congratulations to Rob Fornataro, AIA on being promoted to Design Director of the firm. Rob has been with us since 2008 and in the industry for 20 years. In his new role as design director, he will be involved in every detail of the project design and construction of buildings that not only respect the environment, but also stand the test of time. He will now give his team the courage and tools to maximize their potential as designers. Rob will continue to challenge his clients to maximize their goals and exceed their vision from an architectural and design perspective.
“For a design firm, the role of Design Director can have critical influence on the success of individual projects as well as the direction and culture of the firm,” said SWBR Project Architect Robert Simonetti, AIA. “Rob has a long history of great design across our studios at SWBR, is an effective team leader, is passionate about process, and is a great mentor. What I am most excited for is to watch Rob cast a new vision for the role and bring his energy more broadly to impact design at SWBR.”
Rob is passionate about urban design and revitalization, mixed-use projects, and sustainability. He has worked on various design projects around the world during his career. “This has given me a broader perspective of society and how architecture and design can positively influence people and the environment,” he said.
Rob has served in leadership roles for several notable projects, including The Lake House on Canandaigua and the new three-phase Charlotte Square mixed-use development located in the East End in downtown Rochester. He was the design lead for the Carriage Factory Apartments in downtown Rochester and is currently the design lead for the Hickey Freeman Apartments, also in Rochester.
“I love the opportunity to weave the history of what took place in a building and memorialize that into our designs,” Fornataro says.
He earned his Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Architecture from the University of Utah. Rob previously served as a board member of the Community Design Center. He regularly attends colleges to be a guest critic for their design studios and lives in Pittsford with his family.
Rob shows his clients and colleagues that the design process can be fun, and if it derives itself from that side of the emotional spectrum, more authentic and positive creativity will emerge.