Getting to know Alexei Tajzler

With more than 14 years of experience, Alexei Tajzler serves as a Director at HLZAE. He manages a 14-person team responsible for projects ranging from single day leak inspections to multi-year capital improvement restorations. Alexei oversees Quality Control and Quality Assurance of his studio’s deliverables, works on relationships with existing and potential clients, and reviews budgets and studio project workload. Whenever needed, he steps in to offer a helping hand on difficult project situations, analyzes the situation, and provides solutions to his team and clients. In addition, he also manages his own restoration projects and is one of the Qualified Exterior Wall Inspectors on staff for our FISP Reports. What makes Alexei’s role unique is that there is always a balancing act between dealing with obstacles within his own individual projects, the needs of his team, and helping ensure the firm is moving in the right direction. Although it may seem hectic to some, he enjoys the challenge each day presents with this.

Let’s just say Alexei was destined to be an architect…  his father is a Contractor, his mother is an Artist, so in a way the profession chose him from birth.  On his sixth birthday his Aunt gave me a set of Legos, which sealed the deal. He eventually obtained a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Washington University in St. Louis and became a Registered Architect in New York State.

The best part of Alexei’s job is walking up to a new building and having access to unique and off-limit spaces. Each building has its own set of circumstances that must be investigated and tackled. Alexei believes that leaving the building (and client) in better condition than when you started is its own rewarding experience.  The most challenging part of Alexei’s role is hunting down the source of a leak, especially when you can’t seem to recreate it, no matter what probe or test you perform. It can prove to be quite frustrating, so there is often a great sigh of relief once the mystery is solved!

When it comes to a favorite building, Alexei has a few! “It never makes me popular at parties, but I really do like the look of 432 Park Avenue. The Dorilton and The Ansonia in the Upper West Side are two absolute architectural marvels.”

Alexei’s favorite project is 6 Harrison Street.  It was built in 1884 and was the first significant and historical project he handled as a Project Manager, combining a variety of materials (Granite, Brick Masonry, Terracotta, Slate, and Copper Cladding).  He learned an incredible amount about the profession and was very pleased with the outcome.

When Alexei steps away from work, you can find him playing the drums, or studying history and geography, which he loves! He’s also a sports buff and a huge fan of the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Yankees, Formula 1, and the World Cup. He and his wife love to travel, which they are looking forward to restarting now that COVID is (somewhat) over.

Believe it or not, if Architecture School didn’t work out for Alexei, his backup plan was to join the NYPD and become a Detective. “I guess I just can’t stay away from a good case to solve!”

At HLZAE, we integrate our inspection, design, and construction services to prolong the lifespan of the buildings. HLZAE has extensive experience in the investigation and renovation of building envelopes and structural systems dating from the 1800’s to the present. These building assemblies, which consist of numerous integrated components, vary greatly in terms of materials and degree of technical complexity. With the help of Alexei Tajzler and our knowledgeable and professional staff, we can manage the comprehensive requirements necessary to restore the function and performance of the building envelope.