Thomas J. Fariello, R.A., became the acting commissioner of the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) on February 1, 2019, following the resignation of Commissioner Rick Chandler. In the DOB’s February issue of Buildings news highlighting the Build Safe | Live Safe Conference, he says, "No building is worth a life, and that's a belief every person in the development industry should keep in mind whenever they step onto a construction site."
Fariello has 30 years of experience in architecture and construction and has been an essential part of the Department’s leadership. He played a key role in bringing to life several iconic NYC projects including Coney Island’s rejuvenation and the new Yankee Stadium.
His career with the DOB began in 2003 as a deputy borough commissioner in Brooklyn, followed by several years as borough commissioner in Brooklyn and in the Bronx before he was appointed the DOB’s first deputy commissioner in 2011.
Prior to joining the DOB, Fariello worked as a private-sector architect and plan examiner with the New York City School Construction Authority. A Queens resident, he holds a B.S. in Architecture from the New York Institute of Technology.