By Vita Duva
RED BANK – Mancini Duffy, a tech-driven architectural and design firm, has recently opened a regional office in Red Bank in the historic 1920s Anderson Building, located on the West Side of town at 200 Monmouth St. Initially based in New York City, the industry leader has been in operation for over 100 years.
Acquiring the company from the previous owners 10 years ago, Christian Giordano, president, and Scott Harrell, principal, have not looked back, diversifying their practice from not only a market sector point-of-view in terms of the type of work they do, but also in geographic location.
“Expanding to the Monmouth County area is really important for us because we are grounded here,” Harrell told The Two River Times of the co-owners’ decision to move into town.
Long-standing residents of the greater Two River area, Giordano and Harrell reside in Lincroft and Aberdeen, respectively.
“We have a lot of relationships down here and why not parlay that and become the premier design firm in Monmouth County?” Giordano said.
According to a press release issued by Mancini Duffy last month, Giordano and Harrell are also excited to be a part of the redevelopment of Red Bank’s cultural arts and antique district.
“As there has been migration out of New York City, more company leaders who reside in Monmouth County realize their company can be here, too, to cater to their existing local clients. It is essential to be nearby to foster relationships to fuel our growth,” Giordano said. “Right now, it is the busiest Mancini Duffy has ever been with projects in New Jersey. In some respects, the focus of our projects has shifted from larger corporate headquarters to more regional offices and specialty buildings and interiors.”
“I see tremendous opportunity for Mancini to expand throughout New Jersey. Industrial warehousing is a booming market sector with millions of square feet currently available to be developed, and to be part of that growth would be fantastic,” Harrell added. “The wave of the future in the build world is distribution centers and warehousing. I also foresee mixed-use projects becoming a significant opportunity for growth, including the master plans at (the former) Fort Monmouth, the Monmouth Mall and so on.”
While Mancini Duffy is known for its corporate interiors, the firm has since expanded into retail, experience centers, hotels, restaurants, industrial warehousing distribution and even aviation work, which includes a list of well-known airports up and down the northeast corridor.
“What a normal architect can do in three weeks, we can do in about three hours, or actually even less at this point,” Giordano said of the firm’s industry-leading tech approach and patented designs.
According to the Mancini Duffy website, Giordano launched a barrier-breaking research and development incubator called “The Design Lab,” which s brings together designers and their clients using technologies like virtual reality, 3D printing, drones and generative design. Clients can log-in through any computer or go to a Mancini Duffy office to walk through a project at any stage of its existence.
In 2020, Giordano invented “The Toolbelt,” a software design suite that allows users to explore and manipulate 3D models collaboratively. And in 2021, he launched “The Anti-Architect Podcast” a platform where he now shares his futurist approach to design and architecture.
A favorite spot of the two locals is Tommy’s Tavern + Tap in Sea Bright and more recently, Freehold. The popular restaurant, bar and pizzeria is now a client; they are helping the restaurant expand.
“My wife and I love trying new restaurants. We are always about adventuring out,” Harrell said. He went on to share what he enjoys most about being in Monmouth County. “I like visiting breweries as well. I always make sure to stop in and taste the beers that are available and buy local.”
While Giordano agreed with Harrell’s sentiments, the beach is more of the driving factor for him. “I think the minute the weather turns over and we have the ability to go to the beach, you forget about those months that suck where it’s gray, cold and freezing. It just becomes one of the most amazing places to live and raise a family.”
Giordano is also a diehard Bruce Springsteen fan. He claims to have attended over 200 concerts and hopes to run into “The Boss” someday.
Over the next few months, Mancini Duffy will also be working with Red Bank’s Count Basie Center for the Arts, melding it brand with newly acquired ventures and finishing up where the latest additions left off.
“This is a huge opportunity for us to get involved and develop something that is going to be really big for the Monmouth County area. For us, it is initially about getting into the ground floor and really helping to put together some of these new developments that are going to be happening over the next few years,” Harrell said.
Mancini Duffy has previously partnered with a number of companies throughout the state, including Bell Works, Commvault and Jersey Central Power & Light.
“We see this as the beginning of our next 100 years,” said Giordano.
“Our vision for the company is to grow 10 times the size in the next five years and really bring our design methodology and technology to the forefront. Red Bank is kind of just that first stop for us.”
The article originally appeared in the April 14 – 20, 2022 print edition of The Two River Times.
