Mario Zacharjasz, AIA

Mario Zacharjasz, AIA, is Co-founder and Principal of PZS Architects, LLC, President of Puente Construction Enterprises, Inc., and President of 503 Corporation, an award-winning Latino-owned supply company. As a child he emigrated from Cuba with his family and was raised in Puerto Rico. In 1982, Mario moved to Philadelphia to attend Temple University to pursue a degree in Architecture, and has called Philadelphia home ever since. PZS Architects offers planning, programming, and design for institutional, commercial, multi-family residential and corporate clients. Since founding PZS in 1992, Mario has guided the firm's growth, engaging in many exciting projects including Villiger Hall, a new student residence hall at St. Joseph's University; Morgan Hall, a new student residence and dining complex at Temple University; 10 Rittenhouse Square, a new luxury condominium residence; and The Ayer Building, a transformative restoration of the N.W. Ayer & Son headquarters into luxury residential condominiums. Mario is committed to serving the Latino community in the region. He supports many non-profit organizations, and actively serves on several boards and committees throughout the city. He was recently appointed to the Philadelphia World Heritage Committee by Mayor Nutter, and is the Past President of the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Additionally, he is the current Chairman of the Board for the Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, where he oversaw the creation of the first ever The State of Hispanic Business Report for the Greater Philadelphia region. Mario also serves on the Advisory Board for the Salvation Army of Greater Philadelphia, and on the Advisory Council for the Salvation Army Kroc Corps Community Center in Philadelphia. In each of these capacities, Mario focuses his energy on community sustainability, encouraging his partners, staff, and colleagues to do the same.