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AIA Central New Jersey Spotlight on Members 

George Sincox, AIA 

Leaving a Legacy of Humility and Innovation in Practice 

AIA Central is proud to spotlight George Sincox, AIA, who is leaving a legacy through uplifting other professionals and the profession throughout his continued tenure of engagement in the AIA.  George has served the AIA New Jersey since 1983, from Director to Secretary.  He continues to empower and support the AIA CNJ section through steadfast presence, wisdom and knowledge.  We would like to share with you a bit about his story.  From emerging professional, to owning his own practice, through to a semi-retired, fully engaged present.  We are grateful for his role; impact and we think you will enjoy his message: 

Q1: What sparked your interest in becoming an architect?  

George: My early interest in math, science, and art.  Architecture seemed to have all of the components to build and interesting career 

Q2: What skills have you developed in your architectural journey that you have been able to apply into other aspects of your life? 

George: There's hardly a skill that I've developed which hasn't been used somewhere! 

Q3: What are the kind of projects that you most value working on throughout your career? 

George: Houses of worship, followed by supportive housing.   Things that make life better for people. 

Q4: Give us some examples of meaningful memories that you have from your years working as an architect. 

George: Each and every worship space has a story attached from a member of the congregation. Opening a supportive housing project that derives pleasure for the family. 

Q5: You mentioned that you were doing virtual work, decades before it was an accepted for of work, can you tell us more about that?  How did it work for you?  Are there any take aways you might share? 

George: I have always had talented people work here.  That was simply a way to keep them with me. 

Q5: Can you share with us some challenges you faced, that left you with wisdom that could be shared with others? 

George: The challenges were mostly economic. It took me 5 years to make the wage of an employee and 10 years to start making more substantial money. 

Q6: How do you think the architecture profession can improve?  For example, what do you think we are doing right, and where do you think we need to be better? 

George: Solving problems always requires ingenuity.  

Q7: You have dedicated so many years to the AIA.  You have been uplifting to membership.  How has being involved with the AIA impacted you personally, and professionally? 

George: Maintaining professional competency requires interactivity with the best and brightest.     There are wonderful friends to be made as well. 

Q8: You have been practicing as a firm owner for about 43 years, what would you say to professionals looking to start their own architectural firm? 

George: There are few things more rewarding, but also few things more demanding and unsure at times.  Be optimistic but with eyes open. 

Q9: What are your favorite books or subjects in Architecture?  If you could only have 3 books, which would they be? 

George: I've never been a casual reader. Most of what I enjoy has some historical context, so most of my reading is in contemporary magazines. I do refer to Bannister Fletcher's book for context. 

Q10: If you had one message you wanted to share with the Central New Jersey community, what would it be? 

George: Take the time to be involved. You will ultimately get back far more than you put in. Even if you do not want a leadership role, there are plenty of support roles to  play. 

Q11: What surprised you about the architecture profession? 

George: Just how little I actually understood about it when I decided to become an architect. 

Q12: What has been your favorite part of being an Architect? 

George: The diversity of problems to solve and the ability to see a tangible result and how that improves people’s lives.   The appreciation shown is hard to describe. 

Q13: If you could go back in time, would you still choose to be an Architect? What would you have done differently (if anything)? 

George: I had considered becoming an ordained minister while I was considering architecture.   Looking back, I could not have written a better outcome having chosen architecture as a profession. 

Q14: Tell us about your family, how did they impact you? 

George: It has always been difficult for me to put myself forward in spite of some pretty nice things happening to me through life.  My mother always had an expression "SPS" for all three of us brothers growing up, which meant "self-praise stinks".  My youngest brother, Mark who passed away earlier this year, made and lost millions of dollars through life and was a client of mine in developing projects in Aruba, Arizona, and Poland.  None ever worked out, but the chase was exciting.  My younger brother, Bruce, joined the USAF during the Viet Nahm war.  During his service he was named NCO of the year, 3rd Air Force in Europe and participated in a US exercise at the Brandenberg Gate to demonstrate US resolve during the cold war, was invited to Buckingham Palace for tea while serving in England and after his military service wound up in the US State Department serving as Director of Fire Protection Services, Overseas Operations.  Outside of the family no one would likely know any of that. 

Q15:  Tell us about your early days, what you remember, and how you started your own firm? 

George: I was in awe of the old guard back when I started working.  Almost all of the leaders had large firms back then.  Bouman, Blanche & Faraday; Short & Ford; Scrimenti, Shive & Perantoni.  Hillier was growing fast, and Joe Bavaro was president shortly after Herman Bouman.  Nadasky-Koppelson was growing fast too.  My former partner Bob Eckman left them to start Eckman-Sincox.  Alan and Ray were very hands on and were grooming Bob to continue with the firm.  I am not sure if Ben was with them then, it was 1980.  Bob and I were roommates in college and always talked about going out on our own.  The economy was in the dumps then and I was laid off on December 31, 1979.  We went out for an early New Year's Eve dinner with our wives and decided to start up the firm then.  I worked in my den for a few months when we decided that Westfield was the best location to work.  The only office we could afford was his attic where I worked for the remainder of the year while he and his wife went off to work.  We found a suitable office in the middle of Westfield and set up shop there in 1981.  Bob joined me then. 

Q16: Could you please tell us more about your firm’s work and development over the years? 

George: The original firm, established as Eckman Sincox Architects, was formed on January 1, 1980. Early commissions for clients such as Gulf Oil, The Lutheran Church of America and The Museum of Modern Art provided such growth that within one year the firm moved to a larger office in the center of Westfield.  We continued the general practice of Architecture from 100 Quimby Street for the next four years. During that time the firm continued to grow every year, receiving national recognition for work in the areas of energy conservation and church design. In 1985 the firm (then known as ESB Architects) relocated to 238 Saint Paul Street.   

This new office, located in Westfield's professional zone, was the first designed by the firm for its own use. The pleasant, comfortable office was large enough to accommodate the growth experienced throughout the 1980's. During that period many projects of varied size and scope were completed, and several were recognized with awards or in publications. These projects included such building types as churches, accessible, affordable & supportive housing (NJHMFA, HUD 202 & HUD 811 funded projects), shopping malls, school and daycare facilities, movie theatres, offices, medical facilities, and private residences. In 1986 a full commitment was made to growth through technology. That year, a multi- station computer drafting system was implemented (and is constantly updated) to assist in considering design options and improve efficiency. In 1992 Sincox Associates Architects/Planners was formed to continue the high level of personalized service which has always been the trademark of the predecessor firms. The office relocated to 414 First Street in 1995. 

Q17: What stands out as highlights of the Sincox Associates years?  Is there anything you are proud of, or that stands out? 

George:  In 1998 Sincox Associates was one of only seventeen architectural firms in Central New Jersey to be listed in The Network to Home Repair & Decorating Services, a Lairhouse publication, which according to the editors "leads the user to a list of professionals who were recommended for their excellent work and service."  I was presented with citations from the City of Newark, the NJ State Assembly and the NJ State Senate in 2003 for my efforts in working with a local non-profit organization to establish viable neighborhoods with affordable housing in the City of Newark.  Then, in 2014 I was certified as a FEMA first responder to assess structure viability after a natural disaster occurrence, dispatched from Cal OES (California Office of Emergency Services). 

The success of the firm was a result of close working relationships with our clients.  We functioned from the belief that good design responds to the client's needs in innovative ways.  The Architect, as interpreter, must translate the dialogue into physical reality.  Aside from the obvious technical abilities needed to accomplish these criteria, our firm believed that the continued involvement of the principal throughout the course of the project benefits not only the client, but also provides high quality architectural solutions.  So, in this way I was always personally involved in each project, working with a team approach, inviting the experience and insight of our associates. 

AIA CNJ: For more on George’s history of positive impact see the list of selected highlights below: 

PUBLICATIONS AND AWARDS 

Passive Solar Church, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Route Nine, Tuckerton, New Jersey, Published: "Solar Age" Magazine, December, "Architecture NJ" Magazine, 1983 

Energy Conservation & Alternative Energy Award, Ocean County Energy Council, July, 1984

Trinity Lutheran Church, Mercer and Blackwell Streets Dover, New Jersey, Published: "The Lutheran" National Edition, November 1986

First Place Industrial Division, Eatontown Bus Maintenance Facility, Pinebrook Road, Eatontown, New Jersey. Fifth Annual Masonry Awards NJ Conference of Bricklayers June, 1988 

Our Savior Lutheran Church, King of Kings Lutheran Church Pompton Plains, New Jersey, Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, Published: "The Star Ledger", 4th in a Series of Articles Titled "Building of Faith" October 25, 1989, Special Report by Monica Maske 

Blairsden Mansion Restoration, Peapack, New Jersey, Published: "The Star Ledger" Feature Article, Titled, "A Real Estate", May 3, 1996 by Bev McCarron 

Good Neighbor Award, City of Newark, 2003, Unified Vailsburg Services Organization

City of Newark Citation, City of Newark, 2003

NJ State Assembly Citation 2003

NJ State Senate Citation 2003 

Good Neighbor Award 2006, Trinity Lutheran Church, Dover, NJ  

Heroes of Affordable Housing 2009, United Way of Morris County Housing Alliance of Morris County 

Outstand Community Service 2009, Alternatives Inc., Raritan NJ