Posen People: Meet Thomas Fantacone
Thomas A. Fantacone, AIA, LEED AP, has been a Design Principal since joining the firm in 2016. With each project, he makes sure he fully understands the client’s vision and then creates a design concept that brings that vision into three-dimensional form. Fantacone believes strongly in sustainability and has designed projects in the region that are LEED Certified.
Read below to learn more about Fantacone’s background and his approach to design.
Tell us a little more about your role at Posen Architects, LLC.
As a Design Principal, I establish the overall design concept and then ensure the concept remains true through the completion of the project. To do that, I work with the client as well as many team members, including our project managers, engineers and interior designers.
Who or what inspired you to be an architect?
I’ve been fascinated with space and organization of plan elements since I was about five or six years old. I remember thinking at that time how interesting it was that a ranch home down the street had a recessed porch and entry. They had eroded the basic rectangle of the house instead of applying the porch to the form like the rest of the houses on the block. I later would be introduced to Le Corbusier, my favorite architect who, designed my favorite building, the Villa Savoye in France. It is a study in solids and voids and is a design concept that I have embraced in much of my work.
What do you love most about your career?
The best part is working with clients to help translate their vision into three-dimensional form.
What has surprised you the most in your work as an architect?
I was surprised about the impact you can have by realizing your client’s vision. As Winston Churchill said, “We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us.” I think this is so true.
Do you see the architectural industry changing much in the future?
Technology will continue to evolve, giving us better tools to express our ideas. For example, we now have software that can develop documents in three dimensions so we can show the client exactly how the building will look. This has been revolutionary??for the industry because frequently the client can’t visualize the final project.
Is there a particular type of project you would like to do that you haven’t yet?
I’ve been blessed to have been involved with a diverse range of projects during my career. Regardless of the project type, the same basic principles of design serve to guide the solution.
If someone is considering a career as an architect, what would you tell them?
Be passionate about your creativity. It must come from both the mind and the heart.
What is one of the main characteristics you believe is necessary to be a successful architect?
You have to be an attentive listener and collaborator. You must “get inside your client’s head.”
What makes Posen Architects different than other firms?
Our unwavering commitment to our clients.
Sustainability is important to you. Can you explain why?
As humans we have an obligation to be respectful of the environment and reduce carbon footprints to the best of our abilities. Sustainable strategies should enter into everything we do, and I bring that to every design concept when possible. Specifically, I have been involved with a number of LEED Certified buildings over the last several years, including the LEED Gold Certified Science Building at Middlesex College in New Jersey.