Who

Pasquarelli is a principal at the buzzy downtown architecture firm SHoP.

Backstory

Bronx-born Pasquarelli initially planned on a career on Wall Street. After majoring in finance at Villanova, he spent a year working at an investment bank, an unhappy experience he refers to as the "midlife crisis" that convinced him to pursue another career path. He enrolled at Columbia's school of architecture, interned for Frank Gehry, and after picking up his master's worked for noted architect Greg Lynn for a short stint. In 1996, Pasquarelli co-founded SHoP with four Columbia classmates—his wife Kimberly Holden, Christopher and William Sharples (they're twins), and Coren Sharples (Chris's wife). They've since become one of the hippest young architecture firms in the city.

Of note

SHoP specializes in architecture that could almost pass for abstract art—sparse buildings with off-kilter glass walls and clean steel frames. Over the last few years, the firm has worked on Porter House, the modern condo tower in the meatpacking district; the Rector Street Bridge, the first piece of infrastructure built at Ground Zero post-Sept. 11; and the Museum of Sex on lower Fifth Avenue. Recently, ShoP won the sought-after contract to prepare a master plan to redesign the East River waterfront, as well as a commission to come up with a master plan for Sector 61, a sustainable development in Gurgaon, India that will eventually feature 100 buildings and house 73,000 people.

Personal

Pasquarelli's wife is the "H" in SHoP, Kimberly Holden. The two were hitched in a Quaker wedding in 1997 and now live in Chelsea.

On the side

The architect's job is often to play referee between contractors, developers, and clients. Pasquarelli uses his diplomatic skills in other arenas, too—he's a fellow on the National Committee on US-China Relations. He also occasionally teaches at Yale's school of architecture.