Carl Galioto

Alumni Profile: Carl Galioto, FAIA, B. Arch. '76

Alumnus Carl Galioto, FAIA, B. Arch. '76, has come a long way from his childhood days playing in his grandparents' back yard by folding and stacking yard furniture to create a variety of forms and spaces. He recently joined HOK as senior principal of the global architectural design and services firm, with 23 regional offices on four continents. Previously a partner at Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, Galioto has worked in myriad sectors including aviation, transportation, health care, commercial high-rise, and mixed-use housing for more than three decades. He grew up near Flushing Meadows Park during the construction of the 1964 World's Fair Center and recalls being thrilled by the sound of the pile-drivers and fascinated by the fanciful forms of the pavilions, a feeling that has never left him.

Today a leading expert on building information modeling, Galioto was instrumental in the design of One World Trade Center (initially referred to as the Freedom Tower), which pioneered the use of 3-D Revit software on large-scale projects. He describes progress as "slow and difficult" though it builds on safety innovations he introduced on Seven WTC, especially the concept of an Emergency Access Core at the center of the building with a fire service elevator.

"The real key to success," Galioto explains, "lies with personal interaction supported by professional excellence. Another key is to always strive for continuous improvement as well as maintaining a spirit of invention and a sense of joy. What we do is serious but it is also a great deal of fun, and enthusiasm and energy are infectious."

Galioto fondly recalls the Pratt faculty for their "patience, caring, dedication, and willingness to engage students in one-on-one dialogue," which are sentiments shared by his daughter, Louise Galioto, M.S. Art Education '03, a second-generation Pratt graduate. His advice to young architects: "Seriously study the core competencies and use them as your foundation for creativity."

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Alumni Profile: Carl Galioto, FAIA, B. Arch. '76