Pirozzolo Company Public Relations

"Boston Voyager" Profiles Pirozzolo Company Client Jeffrey Ornstein, CEO of J/Brice Design International

A sure sign of Boston's cultural evolution is the debut of Voyager Media here.

 

After exceeding a million views with its flagship magazine VoyageLA - the trendy lifestyle media company came East to publish Boston Voyager.

 

Boston Voyager identifies local businesses, entrepreneurs, independent artists, institutions that matter and those who contribute to making our city a world-class destination. Part of their objective is to showcase the leaders in Boston's independent creative community, so we were honored when the editors chose J/Brice Design International as one of its Most Inspiring Stories. 

 

I hope you enjoy the Boston Voyager article about J/Brice Design —beginning, its influence as a hospitality design innovator, and its outlook.

 

 

Boston Voyager wants to introduce you to Jeff Brice Ornstein. So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don't you give us some details about you and your story. I have been a hotel designer all my professional life. I started with the Saunders Family which owned three of the historic properties in Boston, and worked for several other firms before starting JBrice Design. Founded in 1989, we are a global design firm, having directed projects in excess of $5 Billion USD.  Our most recent signature engagements include the fabled HMS Queen Mary, the iconic urban landmark The Helmsley Hotel in New York, The Royal Tulip Alexandria, and the Jeddah Crown Plaza, scheduled to open 2017. J/Brice Design has been a Certified Interior Design Giant since 1993, and Architectural Giant since 1995. We consistently ranked among the leading interior design firms worldwide, specializing in interiors for the hospitality industry. Recently named Top Interior Design Firm of The Year by NEWH, the nation's largest professional hospitality organization, JBrice has also twice been identified as one of the Top Ten Fastest Growing Design Firms nationwide by Interior Design Magazine. We have over 220 hotel and restaurant projects to its credit, as well as a diverse portfolio of corporate and residential interiors. JBrice has also been recognized for its work with distinctions such as Best Upscale Hotel Design of the Year, Hotel of The Year, and Intercontinental Hotel Group Renovation of the Year, Best Luxury Suite, Most Ambient Hotel Lobby, and Best Guestroom. J/Brice is a preferred design group for Hilton Hotels, Marriott International/Starwood Hotels, Intercontinental Hotel Group, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, and Wyndham Worldwide Properties. International credentials include work for TAJ Hotels, Kempinski, Royal Tulip, and boutique properties in Dubai, UAE, Qatar, and The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.I grew up in New York and graduated from Brandeis University with continued studies at Harvard University's Graduate School of Design. I am a guest lecturer throughout the Middle East, Europe and North America, and was the first American named keynote speaker of the Kingdom Hotel Expansion and Investment World Summit in Riyadh, KSA. I have twice been a featured speaker at Concepts Middle East in Doha, Qatar, as well as in Interior Design & Construction India, and many times at Heimtextil, the world's largest international textile trade fair in Frankfurt, Germany.  Other speaking engagements include lectures at HD Expo, HD Boutique, HOTEC USA, Asia and Europe, and Hospitality Match USA, and Europe.  I'm a contributing editor to Hotel Executive Magazine, and am featured in Boutique Design Magazine, Hospitality Design, Lodging and Hospitality, Gulf Interiors, Byouteit Magazine, Hotel Business, The Commercial Observer, Young Hotelier, The Improper Bostonian, and Scene Magazine, who named me one of Boston's 12 Most Influential People.  Academic associations include being on the Board of Advisers at the Prestigious New York School of Interior Design, a Visiting Critic at The Boston Architectural Center and The Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). I was called upon by my colleagues to be a Judge for the annual Hotel World Platinum Circle Awards in Las Vegas, and for The Boutique Design Global Hotel Design Awards. We're always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc - but we've spoken with enough people to know that it's not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you? Ouch... 30 years not all smooth! Three recessions in that time taught me a lot about business, people, my abilities (strengths and weaknesses) and priorities in life both personal and professional.  We'd love to hear more about your business. Much of this was included in your earlier questions, but I'm most proud of the character of JBrice. We are known to be exceptionally creative, responsible, and honorable. The average tenure of an employee at JBrice is well over 10 years.., with several over 20! WE take our responsibilities very seriously, and yet we never lose sight of the fact that work should be fun. (We're known to be a little irreverent as well). I am particularly proud of the many creative individuals whom I have played in part in their professional development, advancing the careers of so many who have go one to great things. When we were awarded top interior design firm of the year, dozens came out to celebrate. Many, if not most, expressed sincere thanks for my part in mentoring their careers, it was a magical evening. What were you like growing up? Brash. Funny. Confident. Loyal. Creative. Stubborn. Appealing. Troublemaker. Theatrical. Energetic. I loved having and cultivating new friendships, and adventure, and still do

J/Brice Renews Role as Uber Luxury Interior Design Powerhouse for Boston's Seaport District and Waterfront

“ The old New England conservatism with Chesterfield sofas and ship paintings with angry seas is over,” Jeffrey Ornstein, CEO, J/Brice Design

Burroughs Wharf Boston, a  J/Brice Design

During its 30 year history, the Boston-based design firm J/Brice Design International, Inc. has become the world leader by redefining luxury hotel, resort and residential interiors in oil-rich Gulf States.

The Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Dubai wanted to rebrand their sovereignties as the newest hot world destinations for wealthy travelers from Europe, North America and Asia. They began to host international entertainment such as world-class football, Formula-1 Racing and derby level horse racing and... they brought in Jeffrey Brice Ornstein, founder of J/Brice Design, to orchestrate a new international look for the five star hotels that were cropping up throughout the region.

"I was told I had an uncanny ability to recast the regional look in an international style that was also rooted in traditional Arabian themes
and esthetics. One of my clients said I was so good at putting the two worlds together that he dubbed me 'a cultural spy' and the name stuck." Ornstein made a name for himself designing properties such as The Kempinski Hotel and Towers, AL Khobar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Grand Heritage Hotel and Spa in Qatar, as well properties in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Egypt.  

He is now bringing his global design sense home to Boston where he is setting new standards for luxury on Boston's Gold Coast, home to the city's most affluent residential real estate—The Waterfront and Seaport Districts. "This is where property values have soared to record-breaking levels paralleling San Francisco's and Manhattan's toniest neighborhoods. The new Boston urbanite demands an intentionally inspired high style. Staid New England traditional motifs are out," said Ornstein.

The firm is fully engaged in Boston with an array of recently commissioned residential projects. J/Brice’s hottest new-construction design contract is for 50 Liberty, being developed in Boston’s sizzling Seaport District by The Fallon Company as the ultimate in waterfront living. "50 Liberty is on track to establish a new benchmark for Boston residential property values and an A-list clientele," said Ornstein

J/Brice Design recently turned the clock ahead on I.M. Pei’s iconic Boston landmark, Harbor Towers, where Ornstein’s firm recently completed a $2.3 Million reinvention of the pioneering waterfront condominiums with fashion forward interiors. “Jeff took our 40 year-old buildings and made our public space new with sophisticated reimagined interiors that appeal to a wide variety of tastes,” said Ann Thornburg, former president of the condominium association board of trustees.

Ornstein’s firm also won accolades for its interiors at Burroughs Wharf. Marilyn Stempler, chairwoman of the design committee, noted, “Burroughs Wharf is a unique, high-end condominium development on the waterfront. Our vision was for a fresh, new elegant timeless design, which Jeff successfully fulfilled.”

In addition to 50 Liberty, Harbor Towers, Burroughs Wharf and Lewis Wharf, J/Brice Design current contracts include The Residences at The Intercontinental, The Residence at The W and, across the river in Cambridge, The Regatta Riverview, and The Riverfront Condominiums.

 Ornstein emphasized, “There is a style revolution going on and we’re putting Boston at the vanguard by creating an international luxury residential environment here. The city now parallels New York and other major cities for high-style, in-town luxury living. Wealthy young professionals here increasingly forego the suburbs. They are trading manicured lawns and six-car garages for high-end in-town properties with multiple amenities and, we are meeting that demand by delivering a fresh international style and luxurious flair to high-end residential life in Boston.”