ROMA Design Group is an

interdisciplinary Interdisciplinarity or interdisciplinary studies involves the combination of multiple academic disciplines into one activity (e.g., a research project). It draws knowledge from several fields such as sociology, anthropology, psychology, economi ...

firm of

architects An architect is a person who plans, designs, and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...

landscape architects A landscape architect is a person who is educated in the field of landscape architecture. The practice of landscape architecture includes: site analysis, site inventory, site planning, land planning, planting design, grading, storm water managem ...

, and

urban planners An urban planner (also known as town planner) is a professional who practices in the field of town planning, urban planning or city planning. An urban planner may focus on a specific area of practice and have a title such as city planner, tow ...

based in

San Francisco San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

, USA. It was founded in 1968 by American architect George T. Rockrise.

History

ROMA Design Group was founded in late 1968 by George T. Rockrise, FAIA, ASLA, AICP. Rockrise was an architect with a strong interest in landscape and site design. He began his career in Panama during World War II, and then returned to New York City, working for Edward D. Stone and Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill (United Nations). Rockrise then worked in

, for the landscape architect Thomas Dolliver Church.Jim Doyle (July 14, 2000
"George T. Rockrise"
''San Francisco Chronicle''. In 1950 he established his own practice in San Francisco; George T. Rockrise, A.I.A. In 1968 Rockrise formed George T. Rockrise and Associates with Robert A. Odermatt, Robert C. Mountjoy, and James J. Amis becoming principals. The firm later became Rockrise, Odermatt, Mountjoy, and Amis, and ultimately ROMA Design Group, as it is known today. In the 1980s Boris Dramov, Bonnie Fisher, and Jim Adams became Principals, having met at the

Harvard Graduate School of Design The Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD) is the graduate school of design at Harvard University, a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It offers master's and doctoral programs in architecture, landscape architecture, urba ...

. Jim Adams later went on to open ROMA's offices in

Austin, Texas Austin ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Texas. It is the county seat and most populous city of Travis County, Texas, Travis County, with portions extending into Hays County, Texas, Hays and W ...

. In 2000, ROMA's design for the

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial is a national memorial located in West Potomac Park next to the National Mall in Washington, D.C., United States. It covers and includes the ''Stone of Hope'', a granite statue of civil rights movement ...

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

was selected as the winning submission in an international

architectural design competition An architectural competition is a type of design competition, in which an entity that intends to build new work, or is just seeking ideas, invites architects to submit design proposals. The winning scheme is usually chosen by an independent panel ...

. The firm is currently under the leadership of Boris Dramov,

FAIA Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA) is a postnominal title or membership, designating an individual who has been named a fellow of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Fellowship is bestowed by the institute on AIA-membe ...

, FAICP, Design Principal and Bonnie Fisher, FASLA, Landscape Principal

Notable projects

Since the 1950s ROMA Design Group has become known for a wide variety of architecture projects, including San Francisco's

Cathedral School Cathedral schools began in the Early Middle Ages as centers of advanced education, some of them ultimately evolving into medieval universities. Throughout the Middle Ages and beyond, they were complemented by the monastic schools. Some of these ...

, the

Bahrain Bahrain, officially the Kingdom of Bahrain, is an island country in West Asia. Situated on the Persian Gulf, it comprises a small archipelago of 50 natural islands and an additional 33 artificial islands, centered on Bahrain Island, which mak ...

's U.S. Embassy in

Manama Manama ( ', Bahrani Arabic, Bahrani pronunciation: ) is the capital and List of cities in Bahrain, largest city of Bahrain, with an approximate population of 297,502 as of 2012. Long an important trading center in the Persian Gulf, Manama is ...

, the Domaine Chandon Winery in

Yountville, California Yountville ( or ) is an incorporated town in Napa County, in the Wine Country of California, United States. Located in the North Bay region of the Bay Area, the population was 3,436 at the 2020 census. Almost a third of the town's populat ...

Oregon Oregon ( , ) is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is a part of the Western U.S., with the Columbia River delineating much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while t ...

's Sun River Resort, and the Inn at the Tides in

Bodega Bay, California Bodega Bay is a village and census-designated place (CDP) in Sonoma County, California, Sonoma County, California, United States. The population was 912 at the 2020 census. The town, located along California State Route 1, State Route 1, is on ...

. ROMA Design Group has become known for revitalizing declining urban districts of at least 25 cities, for example

Suisun City, California Suisun City ( ; Wintun for "where the west wind blows") is a city in Solano County, California, United States. The population was 29,518 at the 2020 census. Etymology The city takes its name from the adjacent Suisun Bay, which in turn is name ...

. In particular the firm has long been associated with the transformation of the

waterfront after the demolition of the

Embarcadero Freeway Embarcadero, the Spanish word for wharf, may also refer specifically to: Places * Embarcadero (San Diego), California ** Embarcadero Circle, waterfront re-development project in San Diego * Embarcadero (San Francisco) The Embarcadero (Spani ...

, ROMA's new Ferry Terminal was welcomed by the ''Baycrossing Magazine'', saying the terminal created new hope for the city. According to Boris Dramov, "The effect is intended to speak to the role this space has as a gathering place, counter-pointing the modern and the traditional. You see it with the granite portals through which passengers pass to enter the floats. The stainless steel on floats’ canopies recalls the new trolley stops.""San Francisco Ferry Terminal Project Lurching to the Finish Line"
Baycrossings Magazine, October 9, 2001. Retrieved from archive 2013-08-12. In 2006 ROMA's 637-foot long Pier 14 was completed, which the ''San Francisco Chronicle'' described as "compelling".John King (October 31, 2010
SFGate "The Embarcadero, Extended"
''San Francisco Chronicle''. It designed

Santa Monica Santa Monica (; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Santa Mónica'') is a city in Los Angeles County, California, Los Angeles County, situated along Santa Monica Bay on California's South Coast (California), South Coast. Santa Monica's 2020 United Sta ...

Third Street Promenade The Third Street Promenade is a pedestrian mall esplanade, shopping, dining and entertainment complex in the downtown area of Santa Monica, California which originally opened as the Santa Monica Mall on November 8, 1965. It is considered a premi ...

Kathleen Rawso
Third Street Promenade - Case Study 39
Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Centre. and other projects in the Santa Monica downtown and Civic Center.

International

::*

Viaduct Harbour Viaduct Harbour, formerly known as Viaduct Basin, is a former commercial harbour on the Auckland waterfront that has been turned into a development of mostly upscale apartments, office space and restaurants. It is located on the site of a for ...

Plan,

America’s Cup The America's Cup is a sailing competition and the oldest international competition still operating in any sport. America's Cup match races are held between two sailing yachts: one from the yacht club that currently holds the trophy (known a ...

Auckland Auckland ( ; ) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. It has an urban population of about It is located in the greater Auckland Region, the area governed by Auckland Council, which includes outlying rural areas and ...

, New Zealand (1997) ::*Makati Pedestrianization Project,

Makati Makati ( ; ), officially the City of Makati (), is a highly urbanized city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines, known for being one of the leading financial centers in the country. As of 2013, the city has the highest concent ...

Manila, Philippines Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City, with a population of 1,846,513 people in 2020. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on the island of Luzon, it is ...

(1998) ::*Greenbelt Master Plan,

(2003) ::*Zhanggui Zhang New Town Master Plan,

Tianjin, China Tianjin is a direct-administered municipality in North China, northern China on the shore of the Bohai Sea. It is one of the National Central City, nine national central cities, with a total population of 13,866,009 inhabitants at the time of the ...

(2003) ::*Zhanggui Zhang Town Center Plan,

(2003) ::*

Bonifacio Global City Bonifacio Global City, also known as BGC, Global City, or The Fort, is a 240-hectare mixed-use estate and central business district located in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Philippines. It is the home of the Philippine Stock Exchange, the national ...

Master Plan,

(2006) ::*Konstantinovo New Town Community,

Moscow, Russia Moscow is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Russia by population, largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva (river), Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents with ...

(2008) ::*Konstantinovo West Village Urban Design Plan,

(2009) ::*Orchard Road Concept Plan,

Singapore Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country and city-state in Southeast Asia. The country's territory comprises one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet. It is about one degree ...

(2010) ::*Bomonti Hotel Conference Center/Residential Complex,

Istanbul, Turkey Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical heart. With a population over , it is home to 18% of the population of Turkey. Istanbul is among the largest cities in Europe and in th ...

(2012) ::*Altinyildiz Mixed Use Project,

(2012) ::*Concept Plan for Hotel/Conference Center,

Tashkent, Uzbekistan Tashkent (), also known as Toshkent, is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Uzbekistan, largest city of Uzbekistan. It is the most populous city in Central Asia, with a population of more than 3 million people as of April 1, 2024. I ...

(2012) ::*Mountain Resort/Hotel Complex, Shahdag,

Azerbaijan Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a Boundaries between the continents, transcontinental and landlocked country at the boundary of West Asia and Eastern Europe. It is a part of the South Caucasus region and is bounded by ...

(2012) ::*Visioning for

Heydar Aliyev International Airport Heydar Aliyev International Airport (; IATA: GYD, ICAO: UBBB) is one of the seven international airports serving Azerbaijan. It is the busiest airport both in Azerbaijan and in the South Caucasus as well as one of the busiest in the post-Sovie ...

Baku, Azerbaijan Baku (, ; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Azerbaijan, largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and in the Caucasus region. Baku is below sea level, which makes it the List of capital ci ...

(2012)

Awards

*Partners for Livable Communities Investors in America Award: A Celebration of Vision & Community Spirit *ABAG Urban Design Award, City Station District Pedestrian Open Space, Union City, California. *Ferry Building Plaza, National AIA Urban Design Award of Excellence *Outstanding Brownfield Redevelopment Award: Phoenix Awards, 2003. South Downtown Redevelopment Project, Portland. *Award of Excellence: Congress for the New Urbanism, 2001. Robert Mueller Municipal Airport Redevelopment and Reuse Plan. *Design Competition Winning Submission. Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial Foundation Inc., 2000. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, Washington, D.C. *Honor Award: Urban Design Category, National American Institute of Architects, 2000. Mid-Embarcadero Open Space/Transportation project. *Honor Award: Mixed-Use Category, The Waterfront Center, 1999. Suisun City Waterfront Project. *Merit Award: Planning and Urban Design Category, American Society of Landscape Architects, National Chapter, 1995. Civic Center Specific Plan, Santa Monica. *Ahwahnee Community Design Award, Local Government Commission, 1995. Civic Center Specific Plan, Santa Monica, California. *Ahwahnee Community Design Award, Local Government Commission, 1995. Suisun City Redevelopment Plan, Suisun, California. *Ahwahnee Community Design Award, Local Government Commission, 1995. Community Design Principals, Chico, California. *Ahwahnee Community Design Award, Local Government Commission, 1994. Downtown Recovery Plan, Santa Cruz, California. *Honor Award: Design Category, National Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, 1993, Pier 7, San Francisco, California. *Merit Award: Design Category, National Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, 1993. Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica, California. *Outstanding Planning Award,

American Planning Association The American Planning Association (APA) is a professional organization representing the field of urban planning in the United States. APA was formed in 1978, when two separate professional planning organizations, the American Institute of Pla ...

, Sacramento Chapter, 1993. Capitol View Protection Plan, Sacramento, California. *Grand Award: Best Community Site Plan, Under 100 Acres. Pacific Coast Builders Conference, 1993. Navy Broadway Complex, San Diego, California. *Urban Design Award of Excellence, National Chapter American Institute of Architects, 1992. Railyards Specific Plan, Sacramento, California. *Urban Design Award of Excellence, National Chapter American Institute of Architects, 1992. Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica, California.

References

External links

Official Website

Official YouTube
{{DEFAULTSORT:ROMA Design Group Architecture firms based in California American landscape architects Architects from San Francisco Companies based in San Francisco Design companies established in 1949 1949 establishments in California