Darren, architect of the Times

Darren Brathwaite’s induction into the world of architecture came with a bang! Fresh out of MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) where he obtained a full scholarship to pursue a Masters degree in architecture and urban design, the young architect’s skill was enlisted in designing the world’s first and still the largest “green,” environmentally friendly, building in the United States of America. Working along with a small team of highly skilled architects at Fox and Fowl, Darren, 35, was a designer for the Conde Nast Tower, an office building located at No 4 Times Square, New York City. Conde Nast Tower is approximately 2 1/3 times the height of Nicholas Tower, in downtown Port-of-Spain and is entirely self-sufficient. The building is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified, which means that its design is energy efficient.

During the North American blackout in August 2003, the Conde Nast Tower was the only building in Times Square which remained operational. In December 2003, Darren’s team which included his mentor and Harvard University professor David Lee received a fifth place ranking according to Boston Globe’s ten best buildings nationwide, for work on Orchard Garden Kindergarten School located in Boston. Darren deems the ranking his most significant accreditation to date. However, he informed, “My most significant project in urban planning was replanning the entire city of Roxbury, MA. The scale of that revitalisation plan was roughly ten times the size of Port-of-Spain.” Darren’s skill was also engaged in redesigning the new Ellipse dormitory at Princeton University.

The Diego Martin born urbanist and city planner felt fortunate to have worked on projects, not only in the USA, but also in Singapore, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and St Croix in the Caribbean. “St Croix was most rewarding, it was like coming home,” he said. His past projects range from residential, institutional to commercial high-rise commissions. A graduate of Newtown Boys RC and Diego Martin Secondary where he studied Technical Drawing, Darren decided on a career in architecture following his “love affair with the old Picton Street and St Clair area. I enjoyed walking through and viewing the Magnificent Seven buildings. They were sort of an inspiration,” he revealed.

He migrated to the USA at age 18 and enrolled in a degree programme in Architecture at New York City Technical College. Upon graduation he was admitted to Cornell University — The Ivy Leagues most prestigious design programme. He completed the five-year programme in only three years and in his final year at Cornell, he travelled to Italy, Sicily, Malta and Tunisia to study the history of ancient cities. Upon returning to the USA he completed his thesis entitled “Carnival Centre” which received a unanimous design citation from the Architecture and Planning department. The thesis explored largely urban design issues in PoS and how the city enhanced the Carnival experience.

He subsequently received a full scholarship to MIT, where he also taught students in both graduate and undergraduate programmes. After 16 years as a resident in the US, Darren has returned home with a zeal for rebuilding (along the lines of planning and urban design) the historic realm of Port-of-Spain. He is currently employed as an architect with acla: works in PoS. “In my six to eight years practice in the USA I have attained a great experience. I had the willingness to come back because I think the time is right, the country is on the road to economic vitality,” he said.

He expressed interest in reclaiming historic buildings and transforming abandoned lots in Port-of-Spain, which, he said, “makes cities unsafe.” However, his pet peeve remains the waterfront in Port-of-Spain. He found that the waterfront was underutilised and could be redeveloped as a  mixed use site comprised of museums, civic spaces, monuments, cafes, commercial, corporate activity and of course a residential component! He added: “Any waterfront development in PoS should enrich the quality of life for residents and visitors alike, which really should be the measure by which all development in the city should be assessed.”