Christian Giordano is the most innovative person in the architecture field today. A visionary who is radically changing the industry through tech-first innovation, he has been highlighted as one of Building Design + Construction’s “40 Under 40.”
Driven by a quest for disruption with 25+ years of experience, he is reimagining the building industry with a progressive approach as president and majority owner of Mancini Duffy, a NYC architecture and design firm. Christian saw a unique opportunity to recalibrate Mancini’s approach — emphasizing technology to transform the way designers across disciplines work.
In 2020, Christian revolutionized the design process as the inventor of the patent-pending The Toolbelt, a software suite that allows users to explore and manipulate 3D models to make decisions together.
In 2021, Christian launched “The Anti-Architect Podcast” to share his futurist approach to design and architecture taking a critical look at how architects work with their clients and how clients view architects.
What is Mancini all about?
Mancini is a 100+-year-old tech-first design firm specializing in architecture, planning, and interior design. With offices in New York City and New Jersey, the practice complements its century of expertise with a contemporary entrepreneurial spirit and technological skills for clients in the commercial, education, financial and professional services, retail, hospitality, sports, tech, and media sectors.
To redefine Mancini as a top design firm, I am driven to spark industry‐wide change drawing inspiration from some of the tech-forward companies Mancini works with—like Peloton, Disney, Verizon, and Soho House — focusing on technology that can propel the world of design forward.
I saw a unique opportunity to recalibrate Mancini’s approach — emphasizing technology to transform the way designers across disciplines work. In 2020, my team and I completely revolutionized the design process as the inventor of the patent-pending The Toolbelt, a software suite that allows users to explore and manipulate 3D models collaboratively to explore and make decisions together.
Tell us a little bit about your background and how you started your company?
With over 25+ years of experience, I have reimagined the building industry with a progressive approach as president and owner of Mancini. I came into Mancini with a drive for innovation and change to modernize the company with a focus on technology to propel the design world. I launched the research and development incubator—dubbed the Design Lab— bringing together designers, technologists, and clients into virtual reality to break barriers on design capabilities.
In 2021, I launched “The Anti-Architect Podcast” to share my futuristic approach with others and dive into how architects work with their clients and how clients see them.
What would you say are the top 3 skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur, and why?
Have a flexible vision because it’s important to set goals and begin to hire people that have a shared vision so that you’re all working towards that goal. Along the way, you may find other avenues that begin to shift your vision or tweak it. So you may end up on a different path.
Do not be afraid to make mistakes and change course. A lot of it is trial and error, follow your gut to be able to look back critically and identify what worked well and what didn’t. Agree on mistakes and move on to the next, rather than trying to make up for the thing that isn’t working.
Be more open-minded or vulnerable to people and their feelings. In creating a company culture, everyone is marching to the same beat. If you create a company culture where everyone has a vested interest in the outcome, you’ll succeed in your goals. But along the way you need to be compassionate and be respectful of what their goals may be as things ebb and flow.
What are your plans for the future, how do you plan to grow this company?
I plan to grow Mancini by beginning to establish a national footprint, using the technology and new processes that we’ve invented at the firm.
What were the top three mistakes you made starting your business, and what did you learn from them?
Trying to be friends with everybody that works in the office. The boss relationship is sometimes more important…you can’t be everybody’s friend.
At first, I would follow a lot of shiny new objects meaning if there was a new idea or a new piece of tech, we would immediately go down that path rather than seeing where it fit into our overall direction.
When our leadership team was starting, we didn’t trust our instincts. We initially sought a lot of outside opinions, yet we always returned to our initial way of doing things.
Tell us a little bit about your marketing process, what has been the most successful form of marketing for you?
In our case, the best form of marketing is doing great design and having repeat clients. That includes publishing it, showing our work, and using our social channels to showcase our work because our work is visible and tangible.
Starting the podcast…The Anti-Architect Podcast.
What are you learning now? Why is that important?
Right now, what I’m learning is patience from the transition out of working from home and the pandemic. While I’ve been through many recessions, in a certain sense, you could plan and see them coming. While this one was instantaneous and managing through that and keeping the staff that we’ve spent so many years building, what a learning lesson.
What helps you stay driven and motivated to keep going in your business?
I am driven and motivated by a sense of responsibility to everyone that works there, to Mancini’s 100+-year-old history, and my family.
What is your favorite quote?
“The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying small stones.”
– Confucius
What valuable advice would you give new entrepreneurs starting out?
For new entrepreneurs, I recommend having patience because starting a business is a journey, and also try to self-fund if possible.
Who should we interview next and why?
Yann de Rochefort of Boqueria, because he has a fascinating success story in a very challenging industry with lots of smart advice to share.
How can readers get in touch with you?
Readers can get in touch with me by my LinkedIn, and Instagram. They can also visit Mancini’s website, and Facebook for more information. I also recently launched The Anti-Architect Podcast.
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