DBI Projects

Onsite On Campus: DBI Senior Project Manager Jason Ivaliotis, AIA is Back in the Classroom as a Visiting Assistant Professor at Pratt Institute’s School of Architecture

Jason Ivaliotis is back in the swing of things leading undergraduate students on Pratt’s tree-lined campus in Brooklyn’s Clinton Hill neighborhood. In addition to his role as Senior Project Manager with DBI Projects, where he oversees strategic planning, design management, and construction administration on a national portfolio of commercial projects, Jason is teaching the Professional Practice course to third-year students in the Bachelor of Architecture Degree program. The course covers all aspects of the architectural profession, including the social framework and regulatory environment in which the architect operates, the historical and theoretical models of practice, and methods for managing and delivering a complete architectural project. Students are also introduced to the contractual and ethical responsibilities of an architect.

“Teaching has enabled me to participate in the exchange of ideas between professional practice and the design studios of academia,” Jason said of his 17 years in higher education, “Engagement with the students requires an open mind to fresh ideas and new perspectives. They inform my personal growth as much as I help facilitate their development into successful young professionals.”

When we visited him on campus, Jason was conducting a seminar on the evolution of New York City zoning regulations and their influence on large scale redevelopment. The seminar featured a screening of the documentary film “The Return: Essex Crossing and the Rebirth of a Neighborhood”, which offers a rare glimpse into the history of the Seward Park Urban Redevelopment Area and the emergence of the Essex Crossing Neighborhood through the eyes of the development team and community stakeholders. Jason offered a personal perspective on the evolution of Essex Crossing through his experience as the lead architect on its two largest buildings. The students engaged in a discussion about the power of public-private partnerships and the architect’s role in facilitating a successful process of collaboration, where community groups, designers and private developers can foster a socially sustainable approach to urban development.

After serving as a member of the faculty at Columbia University GSAPP and the Parsons School of Design for several years, Jason joined the distinguished faculty at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Architecture. He began his professional career in 2002 and joined DBI Projects as Senior Project Manager earlier this year.

DBI Projects and Drive Change Feed the Community!

Earlier this Fall, DBI’s Impact Council, the firm’s philanthropic and volunteer initiative, prepared and served food to 250 families at Drive Change in Brooklyn. The organization, which provides opportunities for young people to further their social and professional development through quality employment, launched a food distribution program, CARE (Culinary Access Relief Events), in 2020 to combat rising food insecurity in New York as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Drive Change invited the team from DBI to assist in one of its weekly grocery giveaways, in which recipients receive a week’s worth of healthy produce.

In addition to supporting Drive Change through its volunteer efforts, DBI worked with the organization to identify a permanent home for its operations, overseeing lease negotiations and construction of its headquarters at the historic former Pfizer Plant on Flushing Avenue in Williamsburg. Completed in 2023, the new space includes a commercial-grade kitchen, flexible teaching space, and administrative offices.

DBI has had the pleasure of working alongside countless non-profit organizations to help them achieve their missions and continue their inspiring work. Over 70% of DBI’s clients are non-profits, ranging from community service to education, arts and culture, religious, and workforce development organizations.

We were proud to gather 13 coats for the Annual New York Cares Coat Drive! Thanks to @[Sarah Braginsky](761) & @[Lillie Chong](819) for spearheading the initiative and all of those from the DBI team who donated.

New York Cares works hand-in-hand with a wide variety of organizations across New York City to make sure donated coats are distributed to New Yorkers who need them as quickly as possible. With the help of volunteers, coats are sorted in their Coat Drive Warehouse, and then distributed to nonprofit social service agencies, public schools, religious institutions, and transitional housing shelters - all of which serve some of our city's most vulnerable populations. Their goal this year is to collect 100,000 coats.

We're so happy to make a contribution to this impactful cause.

A couple of weeks ago we had the chance to revitalize planter boxes around DREAM’s Mott Haven Campus.

A special thanks to DREAM for the opportunity, John Mini Distinctive Landscapes for their generous donation of plants and soil, and to the DBI volunteers who weren’t afraid to get their hands dirty! We appreciate everyone’s willingness to contribute their time, effort, and green thumbs to benefit the local community.

We’re always on the lookout for volunteering events – if we can be of assistance to your organization, please get in touch!

Last week, Sumeet & Christina from the DBI Projects team were lucky enough to volunteer with the New York Building Congress Young Professionals Committee, supporting the Special Olympics.

Sumeet shared:

The day was filled with engaging activities and meaningful interactions. We actively participated in various playing activities with the kids, ensuring they had a fun and enjoyable time. We also helped manage these activities, ensuring everything ran smoothly, including ensuring the kids stayed hydrated and energized. Additionally, we had the opportunity to spend time with fellow volunteers and real estate professionals, fostering new connections and strengthening existing ones. We were lucky to met the principal of the school, who expressed her excitement for the event, highlighting the positive impact it had on the students and the broader community, which was truly inspiring.

Happy Earth Day from DBI Projects!

To celebrate, here's a photo of our project in Monteverde, Costa Rica - CIEE’s Latin American Life Sciences Headquarters.

Despite only representing 0.03% of the earth's surface, Costa Rica is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. Around half a million species are known to live there, which is equal to about 5% of the estimated species on Earth. Costa Rica's approach to conservation is inspiring and we hope other areas in the world can learn from their success.

Earlier this year, we organized a blood drive to support the New York Blood Center and We Are Blood in Austin, Texas. We're very proud of the 16 team members who braved the needle and donated. With each blood donation up to three lives can be saved, this means our team have potentially helped save the lives of 48 people in need.

Hospitals and patients rely upon a steady flow of volunteer donors to receive life-saving donations. Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. Blood is essential to help patients survive surgeries, cancer treatment, chronic illnesses, and traumatic injuries. This lifesaving care starts with one person making a generous donation. The need for blood is constant. But only about 2% of age-eligible people donate blood yearly.

Consider making a donation yourself and make sure that supply meets patient demand.

We are excited for our clients, Drive Change, to see their incredible work acknowledged as one of five 2024 Spark Prize winners!

Congratulations on this fantastic achievement.

Brooklyn Org’s two key goals are to build the capacity and power of organizations that serve Brooklyn and to activate and mobilize greater resources for community impact. Over the past 15 years, they have reimagined the role of philanthropy and provided support to communities and nonprofit partners that are leading transformational change for Brooklyn. Their network includes nonprofits, donors, partners and communities as a force of change for those doing good in Brooklyn.

We are currently working with Drive Change to develop their new home to support a growing program. This included helping them find a new, larger location and managing the required improvements such as a major kitchen upgrade, teaching space, and dedicated administrative area.

We look forward to sharing more about this project in the coming months.

January is National Mentoring Month! This month we highlight the work of Exalt Youth which empowers youth who’ve been involved in the criminal justice system. The organization inspires youth at a critical crossroads to believe in their worth and equips them with the tools and experience to avoid further criminal justice system involvement.

Over the past 10 years, DBI Projects are proud to have hosted and mentored over 40 interns from Exalt Youth. Over the years Exalt has achieved undeniable results, with nearly all graduates of the program returning to finish high school and a remarkable 95 percent avoiding further convictions — the average state recidivism rate is 60 percent.

You can become an internship provider too, check out the link below for more details!

https://www.exaltyouth.org/internships

We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend!

DBI Projects was honored to volunteer for our client, Kingsbridge Heights Community Center (KHCC), during their Holiday Meal Giveaway by helping distribute more than 500 special meal packages to Kingsbridge families.

Established in 1974 by a dedicated group of community organizers, KHCC has been a pillar of support for Bronx residents. Spearheaded by three community-driven women—Mary McLoughlin, Patricia Burns, and Janet Athanasidy—the organization is committed to empowering individuals from infancy through to professional life. KHCC strives to enhance education and well-being in the community, fostering academic milestones, literacy, mental health support, nutrition, technology, and the arts within an enriching environment.

Thank you KHCC for all you do for the community, we are proud to work alongside you and are inspired by your impactful work!

@[Mo Diop](780) @[Ofer Ohad](743) @[Mariela Abreu](745) @[Hilary Bingnear](766)