Shay Alster  -

Principal at GF55 Architects, LLP

SHAY ALSTER, AIA
Shay Alster, AIA is a Principal at GF55 Architects, LLP – an Architecture & Interior Design firm based in New York City with an office in Miami, Florida.
Shay’s firm, GF55 has successfully completed many different projects throughout the United States including Multi-Family, Mixed-Use apartment buildings, Hotels (Marriott, Hilton & Boutiques), Commercial Retail, Showrooms & Offices (for Perry Ellis Int’l, Greg Norman, Kenneth Cole, PNB, Corneliani, Laundry, Pinguin and others) and Institutional projects (Schools, Synagogues, Churches & Child Care Centers).
Alster has been the Architect of several large Urban Development Projects, including developments of entire NYC blocks composed of different type & size of buildings and open spaces. With over 20 years of experience, Shay has completed dozens of large Multi-Family, Mixed-Use apartment buildings with thousands of Affordable and Market Rate units.
His efforts resulted in several awards from the New York State Association For Affordable Housing and recently several other real estate industry professional awards.
Alster’s firm was awarded the Andrew J. Thomas Award – Pioneering in Housing from The American Institute of Architects.
Shay is a guest speaker at Baruch College Real Estate School, he served as an expert on the TAP (Technical Assistance Panel) of The Urban Land Institute, consulting to New York City Planning Department on Zoning and Urban Development issues.
Prior to joining GF55, Alster worked as an Architectural Designer with RKK&G / The Museum Group in NYC (1995-6) where he was responsible for projects such as The Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico in San Juan and in Ponce & The Museum of Natural History in NYC. While at Kupiec & Koutsomitis Architects P.C. (1996-8), Alster was also involved in the Redevelopment of 42nd Street – Time Square, NYC, the Port Authority Bus Terminal and the Rehabilitation of Carnegie Libraries.
Shay graduated from Pratt Institute School of Architecture in NYC in 1996 with a Bachelor of Architecture where he was awarded the Excellence in Design Award and the Pratt Circle Award for Outstanding Academic Achievements.
He also holds a Certificate in Real Estate Investment and Finance from NYU.
Earlier, Alster studied Design at the Center of Technology Education in Holon, Israel and served as a Captain in the Israeli Air Force.
Alster is a registered architect in New York and Florida, is a member of the New York State Association of Affordable Housing, a Housing Committee Member at the AIA NY Chapter, a member of the Urban Land Institute and REBNY and holds a certificate from the NCARB.