Professional Profile: Dominick Roveto
Dominick Roveto, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP
Lab Design spoke to Dominick Roveto, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, principal and Science + Technology Leader at DLR Group’s studio in New York, NY. Read more about how he got started in architecture, his current lab projects, and his goals for the next few years.
Q: How did you get started in your career? Did you major in your field in college, get an internship, switch careers mid-stream, etc.?
A: I was first exposed to the world of architecture as a sophomore in high school. After spending a year in my high school’s mechanical drawing class, I eagerly enrolled in a class on architecture, where we spent a whole semester hand-drawing a single-family home of our own design. From that point on, I was hooked and knew that I wanted to become an architect. While still in high school, I went on to learn more about wood-frame construction—and the joy of making blueprints(!)—by working part-time in a small architectural firm in my hometown that specialized in residential design. Following graduation, I attended the Boston Architectural College, continually combining practice and theory by working as an intern during the day for a large Boston firm and attending classes in the evenings.
Q: What lab projects are you working on at the moment?
A: Currently, I am working on two very interesting and challenging projects. One is a plutonium and neptunium academic research laboratory and the other involves the design of research and office spaces for “Tough Tech” companies. Tough Tech refers to transformational technology that solves the world’s most important challenges through the convergence of science and engineering—think biotechnology/medical devices, batteries/energy storage, robotics, artificial intelligence, etc.
Q: What is one important skill you think that all lab design experts should have?
A: I believe the central challenge for a lab designer is to create environments that help educators inspire the next generation of scientists and assist researchers to make breakthroughs that improve our lives. While science and technology environments are often technically complex, it is critical to be equally committed to making a rich experience for the many people who use these spaces. At DLR Group, we do this by not only meeting the technical demands of today’s modern teaching and research laboratory, but also by designing healthy, sustainable environments infused with daylight, views, color, and transparency, as well as places to relax and collaborate.
Q: What do you hope to accomplish in the next few years in this new position?
A: As a Science + Technology Leader for DLR Group, I am committed to driving growth on the East Coast for the firm’s higher education, workplace, and healthcare sectors by guiding the direction of Science+Technology initiatives and reinforcing our position as a recognized leader in the programming, planning, and design of laboratory facilities. In this role, I look forward to strengthening relationships with DLR Group’s current clients, creating new opportunities, and to expanding the firm’s reach into new areas.
Q: If you weren’t in this profession, what job would you like to have instead?
A: As an architect, it is incredibly rewarding to play a role in helping educators inspire the next generation of scientists and in assisting researchers to make breakthroughs that improve our lives. If I had not become an architect specializing in science and technology, I would have perhaps pursued a career as a medical doctor for the direct role that they play in improving human health and in saving lives.
