T.J. Gottesdiener

T.J. Gottesdiener’s career as an architect has been defined by his interest in highly complex, large-scale urban projects that shape cities. Prior to his time at Georgetown, he was a Partner at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill for thirty years. T.J. has overseen a wide range of projects, from speculative developments and owner-occupied buildings to civic facilities and office interiors. In addition to his project leadership, he was responsible for the management and operations of SOM’s New York office for more than two decades.

T.J. has led many complex and challenging projects in New York City, including the revitalization of the World Trade Center site. He has played a major and involved role in the planning, design, and construction of two key projects: 7 World Trade Center, which opened in 2006, and One World Trade Center, which opened in 2014. Other high-profile Manhattan projects include the Time Warner Center, Disney’s New York headquarters, a new global headquarters for Citi, a new library for Barnard College, a residential tower at 101 Warren Street, and the renovation of the landmark Lever House tower. T.J.’s distinguished portfolio also features interiors for financial and corporate clients such as Citi, New York Stock Exchange, Alcoa, JPMorgan Chase, and Hudson’s Bay Company.

The breadth of T.J.’s experience is further demonstrated by his global work. International projects include Ben Gurion Airport in Israel, AIG Tower in Hong Kong, Tokyo Midtown in Japan, and Guoco Tower in Singapore. Moreover, he has been responsible for projects in the Philippines and Brazil totaling more than nine million square feet.

T.J. has shown his commitment to New York City through involvement in numerous civic organizations, including the Real Estate Board of New York, The Skyscraper Museum, the Lower Manhattan Association, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Real Estate Council. He is a member of the Urban Land Institute, the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, and the American Institute of Architects, which in 2003 elevated T.J. to its prestigious College of Fellows.