school of art and design 167
Robert Nassar
Visiting AssistAnt Professor
B.F.A., Syracuse University; principal, Robert Nassar
Design, New York, N.Y.
Joseph E. Nocella
Visiting AssistAnt Professor
B.S., University of Missouri; M. Arch, The
University of Kansas; RA, AIA, LEED AP; practicing
architect, focusing on BIM technologies, since 1996;
previously worked for architectural firms SOM, HOK,
NBBJ, and FXFowle.
Tetsu Ohara
Visiting AssistAnt Professor
B. Arch., University of California, Berkeley; Certificate
of Architecture, Harvard University; principal designer,
SpatialDesignStudio, Inc. in N.Y.C.; has engaged in
design projects in both the East and West ranging
from product design, exhibition design, interior design,
to architectural services; recently published project
includes Japan Brand “Unfolding” exhibition with
Japanese Ministry of Trade at Felissimo Design House
in Manhattan.
Brian Osborn
Visiting AssistAnt Professor
B.L.A., California Polytechnic State University; M.
Arch., Pratt Institute; founder of BOTH Landscape and
Architecture, Inc. located in New York City; also teaches
landscape architecture at Rutgers University.
Jon Otis
Professor
B.A., Moravian College; M.S., University of
Massachusetts; principal, OlA – Object Agency, a
multidisciplinary design studio and design strategy
agency, whose work ranges from interior architecture
and design, exhibition design, branding and visual
communications, product design and consulting; clients
have included Tandus Flooring, George Nakashima
Woodworker, Scotts Inc., Vitra Design Museum, Corning
Glass, Contract Design, Tuva Looms, and World Moto
Cross; recipient of Fulbright and Lusk fellowships to
Italy; named Most Admired Educator in Interior Design
in DesignIntelligence in 2009.
Andrew Pettit
Adjunct AssociAte Professor
B. Arch., Pratt Institute; RA; principal, Andrew L. Pettit,
Architect; firm’s work encompasses many residential
and renewal projects from single family homes and
brownstone restorations to multi-family dwelling
complexes; projects completed or in process include
renovated lofts, commercial offices, and custom
residences as well as industrial adaptive re-use projects
and restaurants, a night-club, and other hotel and
hospitality lifestyle designs, commercial retail outlets,
and high end design fashion shops; clients include
several corporate groups from General Electric Plastics
Division to a major international publishing firm,
an international insurance company, a private legal
firm, and a specialty paper goods manufacturer;
restored Memorial Hall on Pratt’s Brooklyn campus
with Philip Farrell. Salvatore Raffone
Visiting AssistAnt Professor
B.S., Northeastern University; M. Arch., Harvard
University; RA; associate, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill,
where he began in 2000; projects include Terminal 4
at JFK International Airport, Seven World Trade Center,
John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Lotte Super Tower
(Seoul), and Mt. Sinai Center for Science and Medicine;
focus has been on bringing technical clarity to the
design process on complex projects; previously worked
for various firms in the Boston area, including Chan
Krieger and Associates, Office dA, and Machado Silvetti.Woodson Rainey
Visiting AssistAnt Professor
B.F.A., B. Arch., University of Utah.Denise Ramzy
Visiting AssistAnt Professor
B.A., Williams College; M.S. RED, Columbia University;
M.I.D., University of the Arts, LEED AP; designer whose
work bridges multiple disciplines within the built
environment; after working in architecture and real
estate development, she recently established Field
Dimension, a research-based practice focused on
sustainable urban redevelopment; also teaches at New
York University and Parsons The New School for Design;
a LEED AP BD+C, she serves as a volunteer for the U.S.
Green Building Council, advising on their educationaland research initiatives; also curates Design Diversions,
a series of design-related tours and events in and
around New York City.Christian Rietzke
Visiting AssistAnt Professor
Diplom-Ingenieur, University of Applied Sciences,
Münster, Germany; M. Arch., Pratt Institute; project
manager, McKay Architecture/Design; has designed
several single family residences located in the area
of New Paltz, N.Y., informed by the principles of
sustainability and has managed the construction of
several full building conversions in Lower Manhattan
and Newark, New Jersey; has worked for a variety of
firms in Germany, Sweden, and Spain on large scale
hotels, shopping centers, and industrial complexes; work
has been published in Domus and ICON Magazine.Gustav Rohrs
Professor
B. Arch., M.I.T.; worked in the offices of Werner Both,
BDA, Essen, Germany; later served for extended periods
as project architect in the offices of Edward Larrabee
Barnes and then, Richard R. Moger; in the mid-1970s,
set up his own cabinet shop while teaching architecture
and design part-time at Parsons, Orange County
Community College, and NYIT; in 1979 began teaching
at Pratt Institute and in 1986 was appointed chair of
the Interior Design department, a position he held until
1997, at which point he joined the full-time faculty.Edward Russell
Adjunct AssistAnt Professor
B.A., Wichita State University; M.F.A., Parsons the New
School for Design; president, Lighting Workshop, Inc.;
LEED, IES.Mary-Jo Schlachter
Visiting AssistAnt Professor
B.S., M. Arch., University of Pennsylvania; RA; USGBC
committee member; co-founder, d3, an organization
committed to advancing innovative positions in art,
architecture, and design by providing a collaborative
environment for artists, architects, designers, and
students from throughout New York City though
a program of exhibitions, events, competitions,
and publications; prior to independent practice as
MJIT Studio, she worked extensively in affordable