Nelson Vega, Assoc. AIA

Nelson Vega, Assoc. AIA, is an Associate Principal at RKTB Architects with nearly 30 years of experience leading the design and delivery of residential, mixed-use, adaptive reuse, and institutional projects throughout New York City. Since joining the firm in 1997 after graduating from The City College of New York School of Architecture and Environmental Studies, he has become a trusted leader known for guiding complex projects from concept through construction while building lasting relationships with clients, consultants, and project teams. He was named Associate in 2003, Senior Associate in 2014, and Associate Principal in 2018.

As an Associate Principal, Vega leads all phases of project delivery, overseeing design development, consultant coordination, technical quality, construction administration, client relationships, and multidisciplinary teams. He is recognized for balancing thoughtful design with technical expertise and practical execution, consistently delivering projects that meet the highest standards of quality while responding to each client’s vision and the needs of the communities they serve.

Throughout his career, Vega has helped shape many of RKTB’s most distinguished projects. He played a key role in the award-winning 455 Central Park West, a landmark adaptive reuse that transformed a historic institutional building into luxury residences. More recently, he has led the successful delivery of prominent developments including The Williamsburg Social, the award-winning 433 Broadway office building in SoHo, the award-winning One Sullivan Place, and Pope St. Francis Apartments. His portfolio also includes affordable and mixed-income housing developments across New York City, including Madison Putnam Housing, the award-winning Maynard Co-ops, and Msgr. Anthony J. Barretta Apartments.

Beyond project leadership, Vega is committed to mentoring emerging architects and fostering a collaborative culture that strengthens both project teams and client relationships. He believes the most successful projects are built on collaboration, trust, and careful attention to detail. His approach combines thoughtful design, technical expertise, and practical problem-solving to create architecture that serves its users, enriches communities, and delivers lasting value.