Encouraging team collaboration and new perspective.
Just like his move from New York City to Miami five years ago, Manny’s move from healthcare and higher education architecture to mixed-use projects might seem like switching between different worlds. But these big changes have made Manny’s work all the more eclectic and inclusive. As a key part of RSP’s Miami team, Manny was able to transfer his expertise in large hospital campuses to retail-led mixed-use settings with ease. He explains that in the grand scheme of things, a hospital is just a different type of mixed-use setting, with its own set of challenges and programming. And that some of the biggest challenges with both project types is the complexity of the phasing, with the need for different parts of a project to function during design and construction. “Our team solves client challenges, whether that’s for a hotel, an office, or a mixed-use center like CocoWalk,” he says.
As for Manny’s team, he always likes to start with the “why” instead of being a typical taskmaster. He says, “I like to give my team the bigger picture and explain the client’s challenges and how we’re solving them with our work. It helps them get more invested in the project and it brings new perspectives to the table that can only make our projects better.”
Manny has become a true Miami local over the last few years, spending his free time playing beach volleyball, visiting local galleries, and keeping up with the city’s Caribbean and Latin American art scene.