About Us

The West New York Public School No. 2 holds a great deal of meaning for RSC as the first new educational facility the firm was commissioned to design, kickstarting a five-decade relationship with the District that continues through to this day.

RSC’s partnership with the Hudson County Schools of Technology began with their Jersey City Vocational School – the first new educational complex within Hudson County in many years – and the first of four new academic facilities that RSC would design for the District over the next fifty years.

John joined RSC as an architectural intern after graduating from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, setting in motion a professional journey that would culminate in his leadership of the firm as CEO and President.

The pace at which RSC was evolving led to an office relocation – from West New York in Hudson County to Cliffside Park in Bergen County – to support a staff of twenty.

John S. Schnitzer and John P. Capazzi became partners as Richard Rivardo retired, triggering the creation of Ricardo-Schnitzer-Capazzi Architects – a byproduct of the firm’s growth and expansion.

As with all of RSC’s ventures, the advent of the firm’s healthcare studio began with the identification of a need – to offer improved access and patient-centered services to our communities – coupled with impassioned staff who were willing to champion the cause.

The design of the José Martí Freshman Academy and Public Library – RSC Architects’ first school initiated via the New Jersey Schools Construction Corporation – laid the foundation for a series of new K-12 projects that would establish the firm as an educational, bridging design, and Design-Build expert in the years to come.

The establishment of RSC Architects both acknowledged and honored the legacy of the firm, while also signaling a new era of vision, influence, and impact.

The specialized nature of RSC’s educational practice led to the design of the Hudson County Schools of Technology’s Frank J. Garguilo Campus High Tech High School – the first bridging design project pioneered by a school district within NJ.

A trailblazer that revolutionized New Jersey’s project delivery process, the Union City High School served as the first school built using the pilot for the Design-Build method within the state, with RSC acting as its Architectural Designer.

While RSC has employed sustainable design strategies since 1971, Hudson County Community College’s North Hudson Higher Education Center served as the firm’s first LEED certified facility, complete with solar panels, a rainwater harvesting system, light shelves, daylight sensors, and a white roof.

Settling in the County’s seat placed RSC close to key clients and centralized the firm’s various departments in order to accommodate a steady influx of prominent design opportunities and strategic hires.

RSC was recognized by AIA-NJ for their impact on the architectural profession and incredible year of service – reflected in immediate-need COVID and community projects, mentorship and volunteer initiatives, exemplary healthcare and educational ventures, and staff growth.

2021 was a significant year in RSC’s history – marking the firm’s “golden” anniversary, and honoring the staff members and clients who were instrumental in its evolution from a five-person K-12 and municipal practice to a fifty-person, multi-market industry leader.

The Passaic Board of Education’s long-term planning initiatives were realized through the Design-Build of the 448,000 s.f. Dayton Avenue Educational Campus – the largest NJSDA project at the time and a core investment that delivers world class instruction – with RSC as the Architectural Leader of the Design-Build team.

Hackensack University Medical Center’s Central Utility Plant – for which RSC served as the Architect-of-Record and Project Lead – is the first medical center in the nation to be certified by the GBCI at the Gold level, the first PEER certified project in NJ, and the third medical project to be PEER certified in the U.S.

The establishment of the Principal role within RSC was both strategic and visionary – recognizing Pat, Jeff, and Ralph for their individual achievements, while also positioning the firm for future growth and opportunities.

RSC was named a NJBIZ 2023 Leader in Real Estate, Construction, and Design – acknowledging the ways in which the firm is changing New Jersey’s commercial real estate landscape through the opening of several high-profile projects, in conjunction with a number of firm growth initiatives and promotions.

RSC’s role as the Architect-of-Record for the 530,000 s.f. Hackensack University Medical Center Helena Theurer Pavilion involved the complicated design challenge of spanning the tower over a public roadway, providing the necessary programs within the site’s available floor plate, and implementing the proper framework for pandemic readiness.