Janson Goldstein LLP

PROFILE

Janson Goldstein LLP was founded in 1995 by Mark Janson and Hal Goldstein, and joined by partner Steven Scuro in 2000.

Janson Goldstein creates beautiful and inspiring designs which respond to our clients’ challenges and aspirations. With attention to lifestyles, detail and functionality, market and brand positioning, and the management of project budgets and schedules, our many repeat clients over the years are a testament to our focus on these core principles.

We combine the disciplines of architecture and interior design under one roof, providing clients with the resources they need to conceive and execute a project seamlessly inside and out. The firm’s three partners share a common background, all having worked with both architecture and interior design firms prior to establishing Janson Goldstein. Janson worked on notable and award-winning projects for Steven Holl, Goldstein for I.M. Pei and Steven Holl, and Scuro for John Saladino. All three partners worked together at Naomi Leff & Associates, where they executed important retail and residential projects worldwide.

In addition to the idea of combining disciplines, we are interested in conceiving and executing a broad range of projects. We believe variety empowers the creative process as ideas generated to solve different types of design problems cross-pollinate and fuel creative thinking across typology and discipline. This keeps our thinking fresh and current and broadens our resources and knowledge.

With this approach, we have designed elements as small as home furnishings, and as large as a city block. Our retail and hospitality work can be found throughout North America, Europe, and Asia, and our residential work ranges from penthouse apartments in New York City to weekend homes in the country and at the beach.


BIOGRAPHY

Hal Goldstein
Hal Goldstein’s work is informed by his experience not only in architecture but also in engineering and interior design. Following his graduation with a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Cornell University, Hal worked for I.M. Pei & Partners and Steven Holl Architects before moving to structural engineering firm Leslie E. Robertson Associates, where he served as a project architect for the reconstruction of the World Trade Center in New York City. He met future partners Mark Janson and Steven Scuro after joining interior design firm Naomi Leff & Associates as a project architect, overseeing design of the Holt Renfrew flagship in Toronto and several residences across the country. He co-founded Janson Goldstein with Mark in 1995.
Having established a studio with a collaborative environment and well-rounded staff, Hal believes that the partners’ synergy of purpose yields successful, customized solutions for any project, whether a boutique, hotel, or private home. “As a team, the partners have complementary skill sets and we each have a different point of view. Bringing them together for one purpose makes us very strong.”

Mark Janson
With a lifelong interest in art and photography, Mark Janson gained appreciation for how this translated into architecture when he began his career with Steven Holl. Following his graduation with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Parsons School of Design in 1982, he joined Steven’s studio as an intern in 1982 and became his senior designer before leaving in 1986. There, he worked on the Van Zandt and Berkowitz residences, both winners of the Progressive Architecture Award, and the Bridge of Houses (an early High Line concept), which is now in the Museum of Modern Art’s permanent collection. Becoming a senior associate at Naomi Leff & Associates in 1990, Mark learned how design fuses with business, overseeing work on all Giorgio Armani stores in the United States and leading the team, with Steven Scuro, that developed the prototype concept for A/X Armani Exchange. In addition, Mark has designed several high-profile residential projects, including a recent New York City penthouse featured on the cover of Architectural Digest.
Mark is devoted to growing a practice that can fulfill a client’s dreams while bringing clarity to issues like branding and growth strategies that are integral to successful design today. “We get to know the people behind the companies and the people behind the homes. It’s not your own agenda; it’s their agenda. It’s listening and paying attention. It’s asking the right questions.”

Steven Scuro
A Janson Goldstein partner since 2000, Steven Scuro came to the firm from Donna Karan International, where he served as corporate vice president of retail development for seven years. Steven graduated with a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1985. Early in his career, his role managing the in-house group and developing worldwide retail concepts for Donna Karan Collection and DKNY divisions worldwide gave him an extensive background on the client side during hundreds of design projects. He worked with Janson Goldstein during design of the DKNY World Flagship on Madison Avenue, having previously collaborated with the firm’s partners while at Naomi Leff & Associates, where he managed Gucci, Holt Renfrew, and A/X Armani Exchange projects throughout North America. Steven also worked with interior designer John Saldino on residential interiors projects and furnishings for homes in California, Connecticut, and New York.
With his incomparable professional experience, Steven has the ability to see through the client’s eyes, enabling him to consult with clients on a range of criteria, from brand strategies to merchandise presentation and customer experience. “Companies hire us as a multi-talented design group. There’s no learning curve – from day one we can speak their language.”