About us

Velarde Architecture & Design provides full architectural services with a focus on clear, thoughtful design and well-coordinated project delivery. The firm serves clients throughout New York City and Long Island, working across a range of residential and commercial project types.

Our aim is to create functional, well-designed environments that reflect each client’s goals, delivered with clarity, care, and attention to schedule and budget.

Marino Velarde, AIA – Principal

---

Marino is the founder and principal of VAD Associates, bringing over a decade of experience across architecture, design, and project delivery within the AEC industry. His work spans a wide range of sectors, including self-storage, industrial and warehouse facilities, cannabis retail and distribution, and single- and multi-family residential developments, with a focus on projects that require clear strategy, coordination, and execution.

As a firm leader, Marino provides oversight from early planning and design through approvals and construction, ensuring alignment between client goals, regulatory requirements, and project realities. He is known for his ability to guide teams through complex conditions, manage multidisciplinary coordination, and maintain design integrity while meeting schedule and budget expectations.

Marino approaches architecture as both a professional service and a business, emphasizing communication, accountability, and long-term partnerships. He has built and led project teams, developed internal systems, and mentored emerging professionals, creating a culture focused on clarity, collaboration, and quality outcomes.

His foundation in architecture is rooted in art and design, having studied architecture at New York City’s High School of Art & Design before earning a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Technology from the New York Institute of Technology. As principal of VAD Architecture and Design, Marino continues to focus on strategic growth, trusted client relationships, and delivering architecture that is thoughtful, well-executed, and grounded in real-world performance.

– Excellence Through Partnership