While some people are more logical and analytical, others thrive in an environment that embraces and inspires creativity. For Raymond Caliendo, the latter is true, and he credits his creative side with leading him toward his professional calling.

“Since I was a very small boy,” he explains, “I just had this unexplainable impetus that drove me to want to be an architect.”

This knack for innovation was “encouraged” by his mother, who was also a “very talented artist” herself. In fact, it was unlikely to find Caliendo doing something that didn’t involve his imagination.

“I was always drawing, and doing things like inventing my own toys when I was a little kid,” he sentimentally recalls.

"I love the design part. I love sketching. I love coming up with concepts."

Caliendo’s passion for creativity eventually resulted in his founding of Art-Of-Form Architectural Services, PLLC, a New York-based architectural firm that caters to wide-ranging commercial and residential consumers.

Designing is Caliendo’s favorite part of a project, whether for an office interior, industrial, automotive or retail space.

As Caliendo explains, a typical, new-construction project can take about “a year to three years, from design conception to completion.” During that time, he especially enjoys developing ideas and components to include in a space:

“I love the design part. I love sketching. I love coming up with concepts. That’s the dreamlike part of it, before reality sets in,” he laughs.

But with any project comes challenges that may cause the design to change. This is especially true nowadays, when utilizing advanced technologies is the norm. While this poses several benefits, in terms of bringing a design to life, it could also cause the price to surpass the initial budget:

“You can put anything on paper, and especially now, with computer graphics, you can design almost anything,” says Caliendo.

Making it a reality, on the other hand, and paying for it, is when problems can arise. This is one of the reasons there are stages to the process, from systematic design through design development.

Other obstacles that can occur during a project vary, depending on the region.

The New York area, for example, requires securing several municipal approvals, explains Caliendo. But this may not be as much of an issue in other locations, such as New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Arizona—states his architectural firm services, too.

Since he cannot always physically be there, Caliendo explains that such projects pose other complications. Luckily, it’s not as difficult as it used to be, however.

“These days, it’s not very difficult to manage projects long-distance," he says. "And the need to actually be on site is much less than it used to be. But, naturally, the convenience of having something, say, within 100 miles, is something that’s beneficial.”

Managing projects and knowing how to overcome challenges is something Caliendo learned a lot about in the early days of Art-Of-Form Architectural Services, PLLC.

Caliendo’s first projects after founding his firm in 1994 taught him tremendously about working in the industry—knowledge and skills he continues to utilize today.

For example, client relations is one key aspect of the job he mentions. This is especially important for him, since one of his roles is as a client liaison, establishing a strong professional relationship with customers.

Caliendo also learned “how to deal with municipalities and various governmental authorities,” which, he reiterates, can be difficult at times. As a result, understanding what’s required of him during this part of a project is critical.

In terms of design, grasping “the difference between what’s on paper and what’s actually brick and mortar” was another lesson Caliendo learned at the start of Art-Of-Form Architectural Services, PLLC. This is something, again, that can still be a challenge today, but is easier to handle due to his expertise and experience.

Clearing these hurdles makes seeing the finished product that much more satisfying.

When all is said and done, it’s always fulfilling to behold the end result of a project. In little more than two decades, Caliendo and his team have worked on various assignments—from renovating the historic Brooklyn restaurant Gage & Tollner and former Grumman facilities to transforming the automotive company Habberstad BMW, nonprofit American Heart Association, and software company KWI buildings.

“As we contribute to the design, it turns into something more special than we had originally envisioned.”

Art-Of-Form Architect also reimagines institutional and dining applications, having left its mark on the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) in Old Westbury, NY and Sarabeth’s in Manhattan.

Sometimes, certain projects become an unexpected favorite.

“That happens with office interiors, very often,” explains Caliendo. “As we contribute to the design, it turns into something more special than we had originally envisioned.”

With its 'busy season' spanning the entire calendar year, Caliendo and his team are always looking ahead.

“There’s really no differentiation” between slow and busy seasons, he says.

For his firm, there are always clients to meet and projects to work on. In fact, there are several upcoming projects in the works he is extremely excited about.

As time goes on and new projects arise, trends do the same. For Caliendo, there are three main requests his clients are increasingly making: “Brighter colors, better lighting, better environmental control.”

With the dedication and talent he and his team possess, the results are always exceptional.