ABOUT
Reform Architecture is a Bronx-based full-service architecture practice founded by Karim Ahmed and Dionisio Cortes Ortega in 2019. Reform architecture is a young yet experienced Bronx based design studio committed to conscientious design. We believe spaces and building need to be designed in a thoughtful, respectful, and environmentally friendly manner without compromising beauty nor the clients interest, requirements, and most importantly budget.
In addition, our firm is committed to the study of the built environment with a critical and analytical eye to produce respectful, sustainable, and socially beneficial architecture. We value simple and minimal design, not only as an aesthetic, but also because of the lower costs, and the smaller footprint it has on our environment.
The team of professionals and creatives have extensive experience in the field of multistory residential buildings, high-end residential homes, art exhibition spaces, historic restoration, restaurant design, and local law.
Reform Architecture is a NYC and State Certified MBE business.
TEAM
Karim Ahmed, RA, AIA
Principal
Karim graduated from The Cooper Union with a Bachelor of Architecture in 2013. He is a registered architect in the State of New York and Florida and is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Bronx Chapter.
His experience prior to founding Reform Architecture worked as a contract draftsman for a variety of firms (Propylaea, AGA Architects, JFA Associates) primarily on official filing sets, construction documents and construction administration, mostly in luxury residential renovations and ground-up multi-family residential buildings. Additionally, Karim worked as a shop draftsman for subcontractors on projects ranging from exotic hardwood carpentry to structural steel assembly construction.
He is a part-time faculty member at Parsons School of Design at the New School where he was a 2020 faculty fellow at the Urban Systems Lab. Karim co-founded and sits on the board of Pillars of Peace, an organization dedicated to ending cycles of domestic violence.
Dionisio Cortes Ortega, RA, AIA
Principal
Dionisio Cortes Ortega graduated from the Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture at The Cooper Union in 2009. He is a registered architect in the State of New York and New Jersey and is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Bronx Chapter.
Before co-founding Reform Architecture and while at Selldorf Architects Mr. Cortes Ortega worked on the expansion to Christie's Auction House exhibition space in the Rockefeller Center, the schematic phase for the expansion of the Museum of Contemporary Art in San Diego, the design development for a twenty one story apartment building at 110 University place, and a 10,000 square foot residence located upstate New York. During his time at HapstakDemetriou+, Mr. Cortes Ortega worked on more than a dozen restaurants projects including Roses Luxury, an eclectic American restaurant named the new best restaurant in 2014, by Bon Appetit.
Apart from his architectural practice, Dionisio is an adjunct faculty member at The Cooper Union teaching Freehand Drawing, designs outdoor sculptures, is a part time photographer and artist with a focus on drawings. His two latest installation are:
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Sitting Together, built by Reform Architecture, was on view at the Joyce Kilmer Park in The Bronx in 2019.
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Croton Arch of Triumph, a sculpture/monument that is was on view from August 2020 to May 2021 at the Socrates Sculpture Park in Queens and now permanently resides at the Keepers House, a museum for the Old Croton Aqueduct, in Dobbs Ferry.
Leslie Dougrou, RA
Project Manager
Leslie Dougrou is a New York native who studied architecture at Cooper Union, earning her Bachelor of Architecture in 2018. She is a registered architect in the State of New York.
Before joining Reform Architecture, Leslie worked as a Project Designer at Allied Works, contributing to a wide range of civic and cultural projects in the U.S., such as the Jackson Heights Library, the Vero Beach Museum of Art, and the Museum for Disability History at the
Viscardi Center. She also gained international project experience as a Designer at WORKac, where she worked on the Beirut Museum of Art.
Outside of architecture, Leslie enjoys producing music and developing her sense of composition, rhythm, and acoustic atmosphere.
Dionisio Cortes Sr.
Project Manager
Dionisio Cortes received his Bachelor of Architecture from the Coahuila State University and holds a Master's of Fine Arts from Hunter College. He has completed courses in Construction Administration, and Building Restoration Technology. He is licensed to practice architecture in Mexico.
Dionisio Cortes, carries forward thirty-six years of professional experience including project planning, design, and construction for a wide range of private and public buildings. Since graduating in 1982, he founded several design firms in northern Mexico, including: Chroma, Diseña, and Artectura. All of them earning special reputation in design and construction. Mr. Cortes’ firm Artectura designed, managed and built a series of successfully executed Cultural Centers for a Teachers Union. After relocating to New York City, he joined the firm of Ivan Brice Architecture from 1999 to 2010. Prior to joining Reform Architecture, Mr. Cortes worked as an independent architectural consultant in NYC metropolitan area, specializing in the development of technical specifications and construction detailing.
Mr. Cortes has ample experience working with city agencies such as NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) and School Construction Authority (SCA). He has filed and managed numerous historic exterior restoration projects with NYC Landmark Preservation Commission (LPC). In addition, Mr. Cortes also holds over 30 years of experience as an architectural illustrator. His vibrant but accurate drawing technique brings to each illustration a fresh, yet elegant style.
Mr. Cortes is also an active artist focusing on painting and drawing. His work can be viewed on his artist website: Dionisio Cortes
Gamal Osman
Project Architect
Gamal holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Pratt Institute, where he has also served as a tutor and mentor through the Learning and Access Center since 2017.
Prior to joining Reform Architecture, Gamal led several impactful projects across New York City, including Herkimer Gardens, an 8-story, 121-unit senior housing development in Brooklyn, and the Muslim American Society Community Center in Staten Island, a two-phase civic and religious facility designed to serve future generations.
At Reform, he focuses on aligning client goals with thoughtful design, regulatory compliance, and on-time delivery—while advancing the firm’s BIM integration and project management systems. His work is grounded in precision, collaboration, and a commitment to impactful, purpose-driven design.
Khadem Zaved
Project Architect
In the early 70's, along with his father, as a child KZ grew up watching in awe the very slow but grand construction of the Parliament Building of a war-torn newborn nation, Bangladesh, imagined by the late great Louis I. Kahn.
Attended the Savannah College of Art and Design (B. Arch. 1996) and Columbia University (M.S. Landscape Design, 2012)
Notable projects: Creation of NYU Langone's Cyclotron Research Lab for nuclear medicine and radioactive pharmacology in midtown Manhattan (2014-16). Renovation of the El Museo del Barrio in Spanish Harlem and the restoration of the historic Heckscher Theater within the museum (2018-19). Renovation and new construction projects for both the NYC Public School system in Brooklyn and the Governor's Island as well as in the private school sector for the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Greenwich, CT (2005-6, 2012-14), St. Lukes School, New Canaan, CT (2012-13), Far Hills Country Day School, Far Hills, NJ. (2005-6).
KZ likes to create sculptures carving, manipulating and forming stone, metal and hardwood, human anatomy drawings with graphite and charcoal, city and urbanscape painting in oil. He loves studying English Picturesque and American Woodland style gardens, as well as woodland conservation and restoration and protection of the natural forest. Also the guy speaks Bengali, German and Swedish. And a little bit of Hindi, Urdu and Dutch.
Brandy Vazquez
Architectural Designer
Brandy Vazquez graduated from the Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture at the Cooper Union in 2021. She is a first-generation New Yorker of Mexican descent who currently resides in Queens.
Brandy has previously worked at Interboro Partners as an intern designer focused on designing public installations and reports like the NYC Comprehensive Waterfront Plan.
Her personal work and interests includes large charcoal still life drawings, ink-wash paintings, digital collages, and graphic design.
Julia Maevski
Architectural Designer
Julia Maevski received her Bachelor of Architecture from the Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture at the Cooper Union in 2022 and was the Graduation Award Recipient of the George Ledlie Prize and holds a Master's in Advanced Architectural Design from Columbia University.
Julia has previously worked at Concept Design Group Architects as an intern designer focused on healthcare, retail and commercial spaces.
Her personal work and interests lay in cultural, civil and political movements in the form of short animated films, graphics, and various materials and textiles.
