Cocktails & Conversations
June 20, 2014 Center for Architecture, New York City
The Pairing:
Morris Adjmi, Morris Adjmi Architects
William Higgins, Higgins Quasebarth & Partners LLC
Cocktail designed by:
Toby Cecchini, Bartender + Author
Morris Adjmi, FAIA, Founder and Principal, Morris Adjmi Architects
View Morris Adjmi's projects
Morris Adjmi's passion for the aesthetic of industrial architecture and his practice of painstakingly searching for the intrinsic character of each district and building has contributed to the movement to revitalize old industrial buildings and restore meaning and purpose to historic neighborhoods. Morris Adjmi Architects is known for architecture and interior spaces that are contemporary in form, innovative in materials and technology, and inspired by context and history. Based in New York City, MA has thirty architects and interior designers providing comprehensive services to commercial, corporate, hospitality, and residential clients. Recent projects designed by the firm include the Wythe Hotel in Williamsburg, named Travel + Leisure's Best Hotel of 2013 (under 100 rooms); the award-winning High Line Building in Manhattan's Meat Packing District; and the LEED Platinum-certified Wilf Hall for New York University's School of Law.
Adjmi established MA in 1997 following a successful 10-year partnership with the renowned Italian architect Aldo Rossi. The firm continues to draw upon this rich history while looking toward the future to make buildings that are both modern and timeless. Current work includes the Atlantic Plumbing development in Washington DC, 837 Washington in the Meatpacking District of NYC, and numerous residential and commercial developments across New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. Raised in New Orleans, Morris Adjmi received his Master of Architecture degree from Tulane University. He attended the Institute for Architecture and Urban Studies in New York where he met Aldo Rossi. Morris is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and licensed in NY, CT, LA, and PA. He sits on the Board of the Tulane School of Architecture and the Board of Directors for Open House New York.
William Higgins, Higgins Quasebarth & Partners LLC
William J. Higgins received a BA degree in English Literature from Boston College (magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa), and an MS degree in historic preservation from Columbia University. His more than twenty years of historic preservation experience encompasses nearly all aspects of the profession, including documentation, historic construction analysis and conservation; regulatory and design review at state, federal and local levels; museum restoration; historic rehabilitation; real estate development; and writing and lecturing. Previous to the past fifteen years as principal of his historic preservation consulting firm, Mr. Higgins was the statewide director of restoration for New York State-owned historic sites, and project development manager for a real estate firm specializing in rehabilitation and historic preservation. He has extensive experience in applying and interpreting the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation, both as a government reviewer for the New York State Historic Preservation Office and as a private consultant. to a range of private, public, corporate and institutional clients including the American Museum of Natural History, CBS, CS First Boston, Scholastic Inc., The Gap, New York Hospital, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and others. Mr. Higgins has written and lectured widely on preservation theory and practice, including historic preservation tax incentives, stone conservation and historic building maintenance. Mr. Higgins is a Trustee of the James Marston Fitch Charitable Trust, which provides research grants to mid-career professionals in historic preservation. He is also past Secretary of the New York State Chapter of the Association for Preservation Technology.
Toby Cecchini, Bartender & Author
Toby is a writer and bartender based in New York City. He has written on food, wine and spirits for GQ, Food and Wine, and The New York Times. His first book, Cosmopolitan: A Bartender's Life, was published in 2003. He is currently at work on his second book, a travelogue of spirits based on his travels for The New York Times' Living and travel magazines. He began bartending at the Odeon in 1987, where he is credited with creating the internationally recognized version of the Cosmopolitan cocktail in New York. He followed that with stints in several bars including Passersby, which he owned until 2008. In 2013 he reopened Cobble Hill's Historic Long Island Bar.
Morris Adjmi, Morris Adjmi Architects
William Higgins, Higgins Quasebarth & Partners LLC
Cocktail designed by:
Toby Cecchini, Bartender + Author
Cocktails & Conversations - Morris Adjmi, FAIA and William Higgins, AIA - 6.20.14
Morris Adjmi, FAIA, Founder and Principal, Morris Adjmi Architects
View Morris Adjmi's projects
Morris Adjmi's passion for the aesthetic of industrial architecture and his practice of painstakingly searching for the intrinsic character of each district and building has contributed to the movement to revitalize old industrial buildings and restore meaning and purpose to historic neighborhoods. Morris Adjmi Architects is known for architecture and interior spaces that are contemporary in form, innovative in materials and technology, and inspired by context and history. Based in New York City, MA has thirty architects and interior designers providing comprehensive services to commercial, corporate, hospitality, and residential clients. Recent projects designed by the firm include the Wythe Hotel in Williamsburg, named Travel + Leisure's Best Hotel of 2013 (under 100 rooms); the award-winning High Line Building in Manhattan's Meat Packing District; and the LEED Platinum-certified Wilf Hall for New York University's School of Law.
Adjmi established MA in 1997 following a successful 10-year partnership with the renowned Italian architect Aldo Rossi. The firm continues to draw upon this rich history while looking toward the future to make buildings that are both modern and timeless. Current work includes the Atlantic Plumbing development in Washington DC, 837 Washington in the Meatpacking District of NYC, and numerous residential and commercial developments across New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. Raised in New Orleans, Morris Adjmi received his Master of Architecture degree from Tulane University. He attended the Institute for Architecture and Urban Studies in New York where he met Aldo Rossi. Morris is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and licensed in NY, CT, LA, and PA. He sits on the Board of the Tulane School of Architecture and the Board of Directors for Open House New York.
William Higgins, Higgins Quasebarth & Partners LLC
William J. Higgins received a BA degree in English Literature from Boston College (magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa), and an MS degree in historic preservation from Columbia University. His more than twenty years of historic preservation experience encompasses nearly all aspects of the profession, including documentation, historic construction analysis and conservation; regulatory and design review at state, federal and local levels; museum restoration; historic rehabilitation; real estate development; and writing and lecturing. Previous to the past fifteen years as principal of his historic preservation consulting firm, Mr. Higgins was the statewide director of restoration for New York State-owned historic sites, and project development manager for a real estate firm specializing in rehabilitation and historic preservation. He has extensive experience in applying and interpreting the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation, both as a government reviewer for the New York State Historic Preservation Office and as a private consultant. to a range of private, public, corporate and institutional clients including the American Museum of Natural History, CBS, CS First Boston, Scholastic Inc., The Gap, New York Hospital, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and others. Mr. Higgins has written and lectured widely on preservation theory and practice, including historic preservation tax incentives, stone conservation and historic building maintenance. Mr. Higgins is a Trustee of the James Marston Fitch Charitable Trust, which provides research grants to mid-career professionals in historic preservation. He is also past Secretary of the New York State Chapter of the Association for Preservation Technology.
Toby Cecchini, Bartender & Author
Toby is a writer and bartender based in New York City. He has written on food, wine and spirits for GQ, Food and Wine, and The New York Times. His first book, Cosmopolitan: A Bartender's Life, was published in 2003. He is currently at work on his second book, a travelogue of spirits based on his travels for The New York Times' Living and travel magazines. He began bartending at the Odeon in 1987, where he is credited with creating the internationally recognized version of the Cosmopolitan cocktail in New York. He followed that with stints in several bars including Passersby, which he owned until 2008. In 2013 he reopened Cobble Hill's Historic Long Island Bar.
- 1 ounce Cognac
- 1 ounce Rye
- 1/2 teaspoon demerara sugar syrup (equal parts demerara sugar and water)
- 3 dashes Peychaud's bitters
- rinse of Absinthe
In a mixing glass, stir together the first four ingredients. Rinse a double rocks glass with absinthe and pour off. Strain drink into rinsed double rocks glass with one large ice cube and garnish with a large twist of lemon.
