Joe Chase is an expert in navigating the technical challenges of building in New York City. His path to architecture is rooted in a desire to merge creativity and practicality. As a leading technical architect, he excels in solving the complex administrative, functional, and mechanical requirements of large-scale, mixed-use developments. Joe has contributed to delivering such high-profile projects as Manhattan West, a 7-million-square-foot development; and 35 Hudson Yards, which includes more than one million square feet of hotel, retail, office, and residential uses. Both projects were built over active train tracks, a challenge that required an integrated approach to architecture, structural engineering, mechanical design, and life safety to reclaim two of the largest underutilized sites in New York City.

Joe fosters collaboration between design teams, consultants, and contractors. He oversees the construction documentation of each project, spearheads the city agency approval process, and leads the building system strategy to meet LEED and net-zero-energy standards. This approach is emblematic in his work for The Walt Disney Company, where Joe synthesized vast programmatic requirements, including studios, offices, amenities, and mechanical systems for an all-electric building that significantly exceeds New York’s local code for energy and carbon.