Jonathon Reeves CTS, LEED AP

Registrations/Accreditations

International Communications Industries Assoc. (ICIA)

Technology Specialist (CTS)

USGBC LEED AP

Professional Affiliations

United States Green Building Council

Coming to the U.S. was a life long dream for Jon and in the late 1990’s that dream came true when a video technology startup from the UK expanded their reach to New York. Jon relocated, becoming a key player in that company’s video system deployment for Bloomberg services.

Jon then turned his attention to the buzz on the west coast – interactive TV.  Working from San Francisco and Denver, he was integral in blazing the digital interactive trails for companies like Microsoft and AT&T
(now Comcast).

After the dot com bust, Jon came back to the east coast and joined the first interactive TV team at Cablevision.  There, he helped develop the advanced design of the IO Digital Delivery Platform…the first digital platform that offered the “triple play”.  Once the system was a success, it was time for Jon to get back to his core passion, media and AV.

That’s when Jon joined SM&W, a global IT, AV and Acoustics firm. There, he honed a skill that would continue to set him apart - truly listening
to and understanding his clients’ needs and the ability to develop
a tailored technology solution for them.  After leaving SM&W as
an associate principal, Jon realized another lifelong dream – the birth
of his own company, TAD Associates.  Soon after, he joined forces
with Guy LaFontant, who shared in his passion for architecture and creative design.

Thanks to Jon’s unique vision, Guy’s architectural sensibility and
the support of their inspired team of designers, TAD has had remarkable growth.

What’s next for Jon?  Product design development and expansion into new marketplaces, like LA and Boston.

Jon is also a registered LEED accredited professional with the USGBC and promotes the use of technology in America’s effort to become more sustainable. He has spoken at technology seminars including the American Bar Association’s Brick and Bytes Convention at Suffolk Law, the NYU School of New Media and at the SEGD NYC Conference.

Outside of TAD you can find Jon cooking, cycling, kayaking and perfecting his obsession with classic cars.

Guy Lafontant

Education

Associate’s Degree: Architectural Technology

Institute of Design & Construction

20 years of industry experience

Former architect and general contractor of high-end retail stores, Guy Lafontant brings the physical design and architectural sense to TAD.

Building upon his years of work in architecture, Guy is the former owner of a successful construction firm, where he developed an ever greater knowledge of craftsmanship, construction, and design, which he now employs at TAD.

Guy also has 18 years of experience as a mediatect at Shen Milsom and Wilke, one of the original AV design consultants.  It was during this experience that Guy discovered the need for architectural know-how 
in the audiovisual industry. Here, one of the foundational principals of TAD was formed; to merge the architectural and AV fields into singular design solutions.

Guy and Jon met in 2004 and after a few discussions on interactive media, construction, and audio and video technology, a new design business idea was hatched. The rest is history…

Guy leads TAD’s product research and development and oversees TAD’s drafting and documentation. His former background provides a unique approach to integrating audiovisual and multimedia components into architecture and interior design.

Guy’s pastimes include; woodworking, comics, movies, and fashion.

James D. Utterback, Jr.

Registrations/Accreditations

IDP, NCARB

Professional Affiliations

American Institute of Architects

Education

Master of Architecture II, Syracuse University

Master of Architecture I, Syracuse University

Bachelor of Arts, Wesleyan University

James’ work represents the multidisciplinary approach that makes TAD unique. His design experience spans the realms of architecture, audiovisual design and project management, while his academic pursuits have focused on the social impact of technology in space.  At TAD, James’ skills find their highest expression.

James has had the privilege to manage domestic and international projects varying from 2,000 to 750,000 SF. His projects have included the design and development of custom interactive presentation tables and walls, lobby and building signage, training rooms, immersive
trading floors, bespoke telepresence solutions, multi-purpose rooms and event spaces.

James’ clients represent a diversity of industries, needs, and office environments. He has worked with legal, financial, fashion, media, technology and publishing sectors. The breadth of clientele has instilled a sensitivity to the unique needs of each project. This sensitivity is expressed in the minutely detailed minimalist video wall of ten square tiles, composed in a horizontal swath of continuous media, shrouded in bronze and floated in the glass of their lobby façade for the Gemological Institute of America; a curved 5’ x 120’ 2.9mm LED wall wrapped around the rotunda for an immersive media experience at NBC Universal’s 30 Rockefeller; and the undulating 520’ of media walls of Bank of New York Mellon which feature marketing content, cable TV and custom data visualizations of BNYM proprietary market data.

James was one of the early members at TAD and has been integral
in the company’s expansion. His focus and dedication to the client and the team means he treats each project as an extension of himself
and uses his rich architectural and project management skills to consistently deliver.

When not at work, James can be found in Prospect Park with his wife and son.

Jeffrey Casserino

Registrations/Accreditations

IDP, NCARB

Professional Affiliations

American Institute of Architects

Architectural League of New York

Education

Master of Architecture I, Syracuse University

Bachelor of Science, Architectural Technology,

SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Jeffrey’s recent project management & design roles include work for
the NBA, Time Warner, UBS, Viacom, Dunkin’ Brands, Y&R & Warby Parker.  Within the profession, Jeffrey most enjoys working with his
team, fabricating scenarios, and building relationships between society and technology.

Jeffrey has directed the technology vision for media and audiovisual clients globally. Recently the NBA has deployed recreational spaces in WuQuing, Manilla and Madrid.

A part of his process includes directing and appropriating an organization’s content resources into new technology strategies. His contributions have ranged from the creation of custom content for apps to digital programming. Design concepts can be as simple as a digital backdrop or complex with intelligence that may include touch interactivity and motion sensors to make the content more accessible.

Jeffrey graduated within honors from Syracuse University’s Master of Architecture program with his thesis focusing on architecture and cinematography on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood, CA.

He currently resides in Park Slope Brooklyn, where on the weekends you’ll find him biking, bird watching, and attempting to find fish in Prospect Park.

Peter Stern CTS

Education

Baruch College; CUNY

Professional Affiliations

ICIA CTS Certification

Peter Stern brings 38 years of experience in the field of engineering and integration. Starting as an independent service technician certified by most of the projection manufacturers, Peter joined Maya Video Products (MVP) as a bench technician and field service engineer.  Peter rose to become MVP’s Engineering Manager, where he started using AutoCAD for systems designs.  After MVP, Peter went to Verrex where he managed their largest project at the time: the reconstruction of the South Carolina State House in Columbia, SC.

Peter was then recruited by Shen Milsom & Wilke, one of the largest Technology Consulting firms in the US, to help with the design of the AT&T Network Operations Center.  During his tenure at the firm, Peter partnered with Guy Lafontant on some of the biggest projects at SM&W, including the American Museum of Natural History (IMAX Theater and Hall of Ocean Life renovations), multi-building campuses for Merrill Lynch, an award-winning corporate boardroom with multi-site video-conferencing, and a high-end video-conferencing suite for the Federal Reserve Bank.

Peter’s experience is integral to TAD’s work approach. At TAD, Peter heads up the systems portion of the design and develops solutions by working hand in hand with the lead designers of each team. Peter has a passion for audio systems and music and this evident during his design sessions.

Peter’s passions include music and guitar, sports and he has been a Little League coach for the last six years.

Adrienne Buccella

Registrations/Accreditations

IDP, NCARB

Professional Affiliations

American Institute of Architects

Education

Master of Architecture I, Syracuse University

Bachelor of Science in Architecture, University of Michigan

Adrienne brings to TAD a history of exploring the intersection between digital and physical space. Her professional experience in architecture includes contributing to the design and development of mixed-use residential towers in Chengdu, China; schematic urban relationships for the Technological University of Monterrey, Mexico; and redevelopment of economically depressed and physically isolated communities in Puente del Fuego, Colombia.

Adrienne’s academic experience integrated digital media creatively and elegantly into real-world design. Her contributions include the design and curation of an exhibition on Walter Benjamin, exploring his Passagenwerk through the lenses of social media, programming, and the database; the graphic design and editing for the books After Autopia: Visions for Light Rail in the Motor City and Dimensions 22 attempting to re-interpret the hyperlink into print media. She served as Assistant Instructor for both Design and New Media at Syracuse University from 2011-2013.

Adrienne’s Master of Architecture thesis envisioned a simultaneous design process of the architectural and audio-visual in a re-circulating design loop, hoping to blur the lines between the digital and physical worlds. Her research explored the intersections and similarities between architecture and digital content and exploited these findings to create interconnected and beautiful physical and digital spaces.

Recently, Adrienne has worked with others in the team at TAD to develop design concepts and large media environments for Christie’s auction house, Microsoft’s headquarters in New York, and PNC Bank headquarters in Pittsburgh. By investigating in new software platforms, Adrienne has shown her ability to take our designs to the next level and produce the animated TAD story. In addition, Adrienne is managing and leading several large-scale projects.

Adrienne’s off-hours are taken up by eating at fabulous NY restaurants and slowly running around Fort Greene to make up for it.

Heecue Yang

Registrations/Accreditations

IDP, NCARB

Professional Affiliations

American Institute of Architects

Korean Institute of Architects

Education

Master of Science in Advanced Architecture Design, Columbia University

Bachelor of Architecture, Pratt Institute

Heecue’s experience demonstrates a broad spectrum of the profession as she was worked with several design firms each with their own style.  From the design-based practice Asymptote Architecture, to the tiny high-end residential Sawa Rchitects where she was one of two employees, to the largest international design company in Korea, Heerim Architects & Planners. She has played many roles as designer, project manager, and even Korean-English translator. One of the largest projects Heecue has worked on is the YRP-KORCOM headquarters near Seoul; the main building of a newly constructed military base for US forces. She was also part of the design team for the EBS studio and headquarters, the Korean equivalent of PBS in the US.

Heecue’s interest in architecture and digital design started with digital facades. During her early years of study at the Pratt Institute and Columbia University she learned to appreciate the value that sound and moving images add to architecture. She came to TAD looking to develop those rare chances she had to explore technology and its effects on spatial logic, program, and purpose into a career.

One of Heecue’s dreams is to work on a large-scale community-based urban renewal project. She some day hopes to use her knowledge of technology, architecture, and design to improve public safety and social space through small gestures which would grow into a distributed community-building network.

When not in the office, Heecue spends her time working with inner city and overseas outreach programs teaching math and science, playing music, writing, and taking photographs.

Zack Ranieri

Registrations/Accreditations

IDP, NCARB

Professional Affiliations

American Institute of Architects

Education

Bachelor of Architecture, Syracuse University

With his zest for historical and contemporary design trends and a foundation in the fine arts and architecture, Zack is one of the many reasons TAD lives up to its name.

Zack’s educational background speaks to a wide range of interests, from the use of color and camera techniques in eighties cinema to the tenants of nonverbal communication. His thesis work focused on the introduction of virtual experiences into physical environments. Recognizing the way this subverts the agency of real spaces, his presentation eschewed traditional plans, sections and elevations for storyboards of individuals’ augmented experiences through a space.

Prior to joining the team at TAD, Zack honed an attention to detail on a number of residential and small commercial projects up to 12,000 square feet. An important part of this work was related to the ongoing reconstruction vof the New Jersey coastline following Hurricane Sandy.  During this time, he prepared construction and presentation drawings, created custom millwork specifications, and helped to develop interior layouts and exterior elevations. He also has also leveraged his fine art skills through freelance graphic design work.

Zack’s work at TAD reflects another facet of his passion for good design. He’s worked to develop multimedia installations for projects like Lexus Intersect, and coordinated tower-wide audiovisual strategies for larger ones such as Citi’s headquarters in Tribeca. With clients like MetLife, Zack’s design abilities come through in strong graphic presentations and effectively convey his teams’ visions. With TAD, Zack hopes to continue his exploration of how technology can enhance spaces and our perception of them, and allow for new ways of realizing architecture’s potential as a vehicle for communication.

While not in the office, Zack can be found fine-tuning his knowledge of pop culture, and wondering if he’ll ever make it through all the books he owns.

Rob Badenoch

Awards/Speaking Engagements

American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System

Systems Panelist at Audio Engineering Society conference

Winner, Engineering News Record New York 2013 “Top 20 Under 40 Rising Stars”

Professional Affiliations

Member of the Audio Engineering Society and Syn-Aud-Con

Education

Lehigh University, Bachelor of Arts, English, Minor, Architecture

Over the past twenty years, Rob Badenoch has cultivated a multidisciplinary expertise in audiovisual, acoustics, and converged systems design.  His experience spans a wide array of vertical markets including cultural, education, corporate, government/military, hospitality, and healthcare. He brings to TAD a specialized skillset that includes expertise in acoustical modeling, auralization, intelligibility prediction and measurement, broadcast video production systems, large venue sound systems design, and systems calibration.  He balances these technical skills with a strong proficiency in client management and communication, and takes pride in his ability to illustrate technical
topics to non-technical audiences.

Much of Mr. Badenoch’s project work is with clients who have unique and varied systems requirements.   A media retrieval system for the New York Library of Performing Arts, a concert venue with distance learning capability at Carnegie Hall, and HDTV production studios for the media arts curriculum at Kuwait University are examples of his work.

Mr. Badenoch is well versed in large venue sound system design and has more than twenty years’ experience developing computer models for simulation of loudspeaker systems and room acoustics.  He devotes equal attention to the testing and field calibration of sound and video systems using the latest acoustical data acquisition and signal analysis tools.

Mr. Badenoch has presented at USITT, AIA, and AES conferences on the design of technology systems for the performing arts, specifically with regards to curriculum-driven design for education as well as architectural integration of technology.  He balances his design efforts at SM&W with sound and video production work in New York City theater and music venues, thus maintaining a direct connection to the needs of facility users and performers.

Dimitry Pesochin

Education

University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Psychology/Computer Science

Dimitry brings over fifteen years of professional experience in the field of web development and computer programming. His previous experience includes working on several high-profile websites such as www.mta.info , www.nycgo.com , www.nationalgridus.com.  Dimitry is a full-stack developer with focus on front-end technologies and user experience. His professional experience includes consulting for small and medium-sized businesses as well as project management.

Dimitry’s background in psychology had helped in his role as UI/UX designer at National Grid. He has extensive experience in software localization and working with international clients. Dimitry enjoys investigating software platforms, learning new technologies and making his background in social sciences relevant in the fields of technology and design.

Cecile Lu

Education

Bachelors of Science in Architecture, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Before arriving at TAD Associates, Cecile had a variety of different experiences that fueled a passion to combine her love for space and her love for technology. While at school, she interned at a small architecture firm, working on projects such as interactive swings that lit up when sat on and helping to engineer a vaulted masonry memorial to commemorate an MIT Police officer. She also spent a summer creating website pages and data visualizations from scratch to teach readers about the healthcare system in the United States. Cecile is able to combine those skills and passions as a user experience designer at TAD Associates.

Cecile's passion for usability and good design began at MIT, where she chose to study Architecture in order to combine her technical and creative minds. While MIT's undergraduate architecture program showed her how to think about designing for users, she found it lacking in a good foundation for technical skills, driving her to take foundational courses in programming and pursue projects where she could combine her newfound programming skills and her passion for good design. Before leaving MIT, she designed and coded an augmented reality application intended for touring customer experience centers and museums.

Cecile divides her free time between finding new spots to sketch and eat in the city and creating homemade gifts for her friends and family at her place in Crown Heights.