NEW YORK CITY TOWNHOUSE EXPERTS
Architects
S.D. Don Zivkovic, RA AIA FARA
Principal
Don Zivkovic brings a rare combination of design sensitivity, technical knowledge, and project leadership to the New York City-based practice that he founded.
His work is shaped by an expansive understanding of architectural history, proportion, materials, construction, and the details required to provide a building of lasting and distinctive character that fosters a sense of place.
For clients, that depth of knowledge translates into clear design direction, insightful decision-making, and a steady hand throughout the execution and invariably successful completion of complex projects.
Don is closely involved in the development of each design, guiding the work from early concept through detailing, approvals, coordination of all specialist consultants, contractor selections and eventual on-site administration of construction. Among many other projects completed by the firm, under his guidance, he personally led the team that executed the design, documentation and construction of the renowned Carhart Mansion, which has been described as “… quite simply one of the best buildings in Manhattan in the last half century”. And apart from his vast New York City townhouse and mansion experience, some of his other notable works include a new Student Center at the New York Institute of Technology, post-fire resurrection of the historic Trinity Chapel by Richard Upjohn, and a 30-acre residential estate in Greenwich, Connecticut.
He is especially skilled at seeing the whole project at once - architecture, interiors, structure, systems, budget, schedule, and client priorities - and bringing those pieces into alignment, to ensure a unified and coherent final product. The work of his firm has thus been regularly published in national and international journals and books, as well as honored with numerous awards from various professional and community organizations, including the Ordre of Palmes Academiques by the French Republic, for his significant contribution to building for education.
His management style is direct, collaborative, and highly attentive to both the larger vision and the smallest detail. He readily incorporates and is responsive to the proven skills and experience of all team members, consultants and contractors alike, that will make a project better.
Licensed in the United States and Australia, and educated at the University of Western Australia, with a Master’s Degree from Columbia University, Don brings international perspective to a longstanding architectural practice in New York.
The breadth of his experience and leadership qualities assure clients that their projects are being considered thoroughly, creatively, and with the long-term value of their architectural investment in mind.
Brian J. Connolly, RIAI
Of Counsel
Brian J. Connolly brings decades of design, technical, and project leadership experience to his advisory role with the firm of which he has been principal and a long-time leader responsible for its enduring success.
Trained in Dublin and licensed in New York, Brian has a deep-rooted understanding of architecture as both a creative discipline and a carefully managed process.
His professional strengths lie in design development, detailing, documentation, restoration, and the intricate coordination required to move complex work from concept through the completion of construction. He has been instrumental in the long-term success of numerous projects for a prestigious clientele that has included the Juilliard School of Music and American School of Ballet at the Lincoln Center, West Point Military Academy, United Nations and American Express, among others.
In his emeritus role with the firm, he continues to provide senior perspective, institutional knowledge, and skilled guidance in the critical matters of design quality, craft, and architectural judgment.
His ongoing involvement supports the firm’s abiding commitment to thoughtful design, disciplined execution, and lasting architectural distinction.
Laura Cassar, RA, Certified Passive House Designer
Principal
Laura Cassar brings more than twenty years of direct experience with Zivkovic Connolly Architects, in her central role of managing large projects from early concept through completion.
Licensed in New York and as a Certified Passive House Designer, Laura combines strong design judgment with a detailed understanding of construction, documentation, coordination of engineering and other building design specialists, and energy performance.
She graduated from Virginia Tech in 2001, where she received the Pella Prize, the university’s top design award. She has also worked with a number of other boutique high-end architecture firms throughout her career, since graduation.
Her work is informed by a particular interest in the contextuality and sustainability of modern design, through energy efficiency, construction detailing, and thoughtful space planning.
Laura has extensive experience with complex residential building work throughout New York City, including gut-renovations and ground-up additions to several prominent and historic mansions and townhouses, as well as the proposed reconfiguration and refurbishment of Columbia Island, in Long Island Sound, among other work. Her portfolio also features a diverse range of specialized projects across the Hudson Valley and Catskills. The regional work also spans residential commissions and community-driven initiatives, including a ground-up animal shelter and proposed Veterans Hall.
Her overarching professionalism and close attention to detail help clients move systematically through the design and construction process with clarity, organization, and confidence.
Senior Associate
Anthony earned his Bachelor of Architecture in 2010 from the University of Notre Dame, an institution pre-eminently recognized for its tradition-based approach to architectural and urban design, from vernacular through classical to contemporary precedent. He began his professional career at Zivkovic Connolly Architects PC, as an architectural intern from 2010 to 2011, returning to the firm in 2014 as a full-time team member and project architect with an eye for both contemporary and traditional design.
Since then, he has contributed significantly to the practice and provided design-oriented leadership in its various aspects, on a range of townhouse and residential projects throughout various neighborhoods of New York City. In 2026, he was promoted to Senior Associate, and in addition, has earned his professional architectural license in the State of New York. With over 15 years of experience, Anthony remains dedicated to creating timeless, thoughtfully crafted spaces, leading projects from initial concept through final completion with a focus on design excellence and lasting quality. His expertise encompasses the design and technical development of interior and exterior architectural elements, including custom millwork and cabinetry, staircases, fireplaces, and other finely resolved architectural detail.
Outside the office, he values time with friends and family, and enjoys exploring new destinations and architectural cultures across the world.
Anthony Fiorino, RA
Senior Associate
Binu Mathew is a registered architect with more than 15 years of experience in architecture and design. He earned both a Bachelor of Architecture and a Master of Architecture in Urban Design from the New York Institute of Technology in 2010 and 2011, respectively.
Binu began his career at New York City design firms, where he contributed to competition submissions and design documentation. He later joined a boutique residential practice specializing in single-family homes in Brooklyn before joining Zivkovic Connolly Architects, where he has worked for more than a decade and currently serves as a Senior Associate, centrally involved in all facets of major townhouse renovation and historical restoration projects, including along the 5th Avenue corridor of the Upper East Side Historic Districts.
Licensed in New York and New Jersey and an active NCARB Certificate holder, Binu brings a carefully considered, construction detail-oriented approach to each project. He is committed to creating well-resolved architectural spaces and providing the design, technical and administrative project support needed to carry work successfully through completion, with a particular expertise, as well, in negotiating the procedural complexities of the NYC Department of Buildings and Landmarks Preservation Commission approvals procedures.
Binu lives in the suburbs outside New York City with his wife and their two children.
Binu Mathew, RA
The architects of Zivkovic Connolly Architects remain directly involved in the design, technical coordination, approvals, and construction administration of complex residential work. This hands-on leadership is especially valuable in New York City townhouse projects, where landmark conditions, structural alterations, building systems, zoning, and high-end detailing must be carefully integrated.
Explore our NYC Townhouse Projects to see selected examples of this expertise.
Featured NYC Townhouse Projects
Award-winning landmarked Upper East Side mansion in New York City reconfigured through a full gut renovation, selectively restoring historic interiors while introducing a new penthouse and an open-to-sky domed rotunda.
West Village townhouse designed as a contemporary residence for entertaining, organized around a light-filled multi-story central atrium.
Upper West Side townhouse renovated as a contemporary single-family home, centered on a skylit six-story stair gallery for the display of a major modern art collection.
High-performance Upper West Side townhouse designed to Passive House standards, integrating energy efficiency with gallery-like living spaces for a modern art collection.
Landmark Upper East Side limestone mansion restored and reimagined alongside a new ground-up townhouse, recognized as one of Manhattan’s most distinguished new residential buildings of the past half century.