Archinect
Christos Athanasopoulos

Christos Athanasopoulos

Brooklyn, NY, US

 
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About 

Seasoned architect with a demonstrated history of delivering outstanding results spanning various industries and geographies. Senior management professional skilled in overseeing the design and construction of top-tier projects worldwide while providing services to leading corporations, institutions, and real estate investment trusts. Expertise in developing innovative and efficient strategies backed by a broad range of experience working across different disciplines.

Christos trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki within a rich theoretical framework that prevailed at the time. After a brief time in architecture theory, he focused on practice and gained valuable experience during the concurrent construction boom in the European Union. He started his career in Athens, where he rose to leadership positions at AETER, one of Greece's most prominent architectural firms, before co-founding Path. This integrative architectural firm practicing architecture, interior, and urban design made a mark with its cross-combination of different disciplines. In the wake of the Great Recession, he relocated to New York and collaborated with renowned corporate firms such as Hill West, N. Ashihara, and FXC. With vast experience in leading building design and project management across institutional, commercial, and residential sectors, Christos currently manages the team effort and contributes to the success of established companies. He is an International Associate at the AIA.

Employment 

OLI Architecture PLLC, New York, Senior Technical Architect

Oversee signature architecture for high-profile clients, ensuring quality, timely delivery, and budget adherence across all phases, including a $75M brand house/distillery for Diageo in South China, a $50M stone-carving museum in China, and a $12M art collector's residence in Florida.
* Orchestrate smooth collaboration with global teams, consultants, and stakeholders to manage projects, consistently meeting client expectations and ensuring attention to detail and regulatory compliance throughout the project lifecycle.
* Provide leadership on technical design, specifying innovative methodologies and material applications and utilizing advanced project delivery methods to enhance quality standards throughout construction.

Feb 2022 - current
 

Unplanned Career Break, Brooklyn, NY, US, Principal

While prioritizing family matters, worked on personal side projects involving residential renovations for a Brooklyn arts and crafts house, a Chelsea art loft, and an Athens suburban duplex. Blended modern functionality with historic elements to create unique and vibrant environments.
* Led a team of specialized consultants across varied design expertise and construction services fields.
* Elevated property values through strategic design choices and creative partnerships with measurable results.

May 2020 - Dec 2021
 

FXCollaborative, New York, NY, US, Project Architect

Oversaw building envelope documentation across high-value NYC projects for a firm among the top 50 in the US.
Projects included premier office towers, residential complexes, and educational facilities for notable clients such as Boston Properties and Columbia Business School.
* Directed envelope documentation of a 2M SF supertall office tower, valued at $3B, delivered timely for bidding while controlling envelope-specific construction administration tasks for other projects.
* Ensured seamless integration of envelope designs with overall architectural plans, developing custom details and specifications and adhering to stringent quality standards.
* Collaborated with specialized consultants and top-tier vendors to create innovative solutions for diverse projects, ranging from mixed-use towers to educational facilities.

Jun 2018 - Apr 2020
 

Nobutaka Ashihara Architect PC, New York, NY, US, Project Manager

Supervised two hotel projects in Midtown across design, permitting, and early construction phases while navigating complex high-rise commercial development challenges for a firm with a background in designing large, ground-up hospitality projects.
* Acquired proficiency in zoning regulations and hospitality industry trends for future-focused projects. Submitted Construction Documents for a 122-key hotel on time, coordinating with consultants and interior designers.
* Implemented creative solutions for space utilization in NYC hotel projects, optimizing luxury amenities with practical designs. Elevated ROI and guest satisfaction in a competitive market.
* Fostered strong partnerships with clients, contractors, designers, and regulatory bodies, proactively resolving conflicts. Facilitated smooth project progression through effective communication.

May 2016 - May 2018
 

Goldstein Hill & West Architects, LLP (GHWA), New York, Senior Architect

Participated in designing and overseeing the construction of diverse multi-family developments for an industry-leading firm, including luxury condominiums and rental towers in Flatiron, Long Island City, Williamsburg, and Prospect Lefferts Gardens.
* Oversaw construction contract administration for diverse projects, including LIC's tallest rental tower, ensuring precise adherence to design intent, specifications, and construction timelines.
* Fostered strong partnerships with diverse teams, consultants, and developers, driving smooth project progression in complex urban architecture initiatives.
* Contributed to transformative urban development, participating in designing towers up to 58 stories, leaving a lasting impact on city landscapes.

Jun 2015 - May 2016
 

Path ARCHITECTURE, Athens, GR, Founding Partner

Co-founded and led an architectural studio delivering commercial and residential projects in Greece. Seeking more significant challenges, relocated to NYC to expand my expertise by taking on more substantial projects and further building upon my proven track record of success.
* Managed diverse portfolio, including retail, hospitality, and mixed-use developments. Specialized in adaptive reuse, using a sustainable design approach to transform existing structures into modern spaces.
* Created proposals and oversaw high-profile projects ranging up to 160,000 SF, with budgets up to $22.5M. Completed all projects on time and within budget.
* Fostered strong client relationships and led cross-functional teams to execute innovative commercial and residential developments across Greece, resulting in repeat clients.

May 2005 - Dec 2014
 

AETER Architects, Athens, GR, Associate Director

Over a decade of collaboration with a leading Greek firm (top 300 globally), overseeing numerous medium-to-large-scale institutional, commercial, and civic projects, providing design leadership while holding executive positions and supervising organizational functions within an ISO-certified business.
* Provided concept development and strategic design leadership for landmark projects, taking account of the local climate conditions to reduce environmental impact and create comfortable and energy-efficient buildings.
* Led teams from start to finish for significant projects, such as venues for the 2004 Athens Olympics, retail megastructures, and corporate headquarters. Managed project lifecycles to ensure on-time completion and adherence to budget.
* Adapted to unique client needs and site constraints, consistently delivering high-quality results with meticulous attention to detail and client satisfaction.

Oct 1994 - May 2005
 

Kizi Studio, Athens, GR, Architect, Designer I

Started my career by leading BIM adoption for architectural design and documentation, setting new standards in project delivery, and conducting research for a studio focused on architectural preservation.
* Leveraged BIM software expertise to achieve comprehensive outcomes, recognizing its potential in architecture before it became an industry standard.
* Managed design projects while delivering technical drawings to restore substantial listed buildings, such as educational facilities and institutional venues.

Sep 1990 - Sep 1994
 

Education 

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloníki, Greece, MArch, School of Architecture

AUTh is the largest state-accredited university in Greece. The undergraduate degree programs for architecture/engineering have a minimum duration of 5 years. The students receive a Diploma in Architecture / Engineering.

DIPLOMA RESEARCH THESIS
"Athens 1834-1837, Analytic Description and Conditional Tours"
Architectural variations of a virtual tour in the reborn city, based on conceptual models and analytic drawings of the city's initial planning proposal and its two crucial revisions during the aforementioned period. The thesis was concurrent with the architectural competition held for the redesign of the unrealized part of the original planning.

Sep 1984 - Sep 1990
 

Areas of Specialization 

Skills