Mr. Gaskin is a Jamaican-born, Caribbean, and Scottish-educated Architect. He has more than 40 years of experience in all aspects of Architectural Design and Master Planning. He holds a BSc in Architecture from the Pratt Institute and is a member of the AIA, NCARB, and NOMA. He is licensed in several states throughout the U.S., including The Board of Trinidad and Tobago Architects (BoTTA). Before founding RCGA Architects in 1997, Mr. Gaskin worked as an Associate Principal with Architectural Firms in New York, Florida, and the Caribbean. His offices have been based in Jamaica, Queens, for over 26 years, which is close to his passion – aviation and our local airports.
Mr. Gaskin has completed numerous Feasibility Studies, Design Programming, Architectural and Interior Designs, Phasing, Cost Estimating, and Construction supervision for projects throughout the United States, Europe, and the Caribbean. His expertise and multi-faced accomplishments in residential projects, transportation, hotel/restaurants/retail, academic/educational, airport developments, light rail systems, commercial, industrial, and houses of worship make Mr. Gaskin unique in his field. Mr. Gaskin is a member of the ASCE, the Wings Club, the JFK Rotary, and the JFK Airport Chamber of Commerce. He is the proud father of four adult children, two of whom are in the military, and is an avid golfer and, when he gets the opportunity, sailing.
1 How and when did your interest in aviation and architecture begin?
I grew up in Scotland and started to attend flight school there. I also had an interest in architecture, and I thank my parents for insisting that my brother and I read at least one passage from the Children’s Encyclopedias they purchased for us daily. Those books piqued my interest in everything global and, more so, to travel.
2 When did you start flying, and do you continue to actively fly?
I was 12 when I first got to sit in the cockpit of a crop duster and, a few days later, got the chance to go up. The “flying bug” immediately took hold and has been within me ever since. Fortunately and unfortunately, as my architecture practice grew, I was no longer available to fly; but I thoroughly enjoy and am grateful to be able to be working on some exciting projects in and around some of the leading airports and aviation arenas in the world.
3 What brought you to the design and planning of “Built Environments”, particularly at New York Airports?
Our headquarters have, from inception, been in Jamaica, Queens, and we have, over the past 27 years, successfully completed over 300 hundred projects combined between John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA). As a result, we have keen regional knowledge from lessons learned in the design standards, review, and inspection/project close-out procedures required of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) and its related agencies.
This working knowledge has also allowed us to provide professional design services on projects at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and New York Stewart International Airport (SWF).
4 Tell us about some of your most notable projects completed at John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia, and Newark Liberty International Airports.
RCGA+DM Architects have been fortunate to have worked on some great aviation and transportation projects, including:
- American Airlines Terminal 8 – JFK
- JFK AirTrain Station – Terminal 8 Stop – JFK
- JFKIAT Terminal 4 – JFK
- New Terminal One – JFK
- New Terminal B – LGA
- DELTA Terminal C – LGA
- Rehabilitation of Terminal B – EWR
- Alaska Airlines – EWR
5 What is your most proud career accomplishment?
It has been an absolute honor to be working closely with members of our RCGA+DM Architects team. Most of us within the office have worked together for over 25 years, and we are a tight fit “A Team.” From day one, we have made a conscious effort to include fellow M/WBE sub-consultants on our design team and, furthermore, the inclusion of local supply companies and construction manufacturing and fabrications when we are developing our projects.
It has also been wonderful, over the years, to be able to mentor many Junior Architects on their journeys through their careers through to Senior-Project Architects within our office, many if not all of whom have secured their professional license and started their own firms. Being part of the growth of our firm’s team members has been such a personal reward.
