Cuban immigrant escaped Fidel Castro to become an architect

[Jimmy2]

He was 8 years old when Antonio (Tony) Argibay escaped Fidel Castro's promise of a worker's paradise. Today, Argibay does his own part for workers everywhere. As a founder of Meridian Design Associates, the architect is an acclaimed innovator in creating modern workspaces.

You won't find any cubicles in the Meridian Design midtown offices. "We hardly even use this conference room," says Argibay, settling in at his own offices.

Meridian's clients include trendsetting companies such as CNN, Martha Stewart Living, and Telemundo. Their open designs are built for workspaces where people gather around computer monitors instead of conference tables.

"Things like cubicles," Argibay, 55, explains, "show a lack of understanding of the workplace. We realize that the primary drive for both the worker and management is that they want to be efficient. Everyone who wants to work gets a job in this country. Then they want a place where they can do their job efficientl y."

Argibay's enthusiasm for the American workplace is part of his own immigrant experience — although his trip here didn't go smoothly.

The architect originally fled Havana to be with his grandparents in Spain. Then, at the age of 15, he took a ship to New York City where he reunited with both his parents.

"My focus in life," Argibay recalls, "was always to be an architect. I was a monster with Lincoln Logs. And even as a child, I knew there was this place called New York. It was the Emerald City and the Promised Land. Now I could look up and see the skyscrapers. It was everything to me."

"I came to America not speaking English," he continues, "and with a sausage in each pocket. We came here from the ocean, arriving at 5 in the morning to the harbor. Some were in first class, but some were in steerage. I wasn't in first class. We came from under the Verrazano Bridge, and you could see the Statue of Liberty in the first rays of dawn. There wasn't a dry eye on the boat. To this day, I think it's a vision."

Argibay's tale of New York would actually begin with that boat docking in Jersey City, and a month spent in a Union City apartment watching television.

"It was August," he says, "and I was afraid to go out in case anyone wanted me to speak English. That's the great immigrant fear. I got a few words together, and went off to school in September. It was a Catholic parochial school. The nun teaching the class started talking, and I didn't understand anything. I knew I needed something to write with, so I raised my hand and said, 'pencil.' The next thing I knew, I was in special ed. It took a few days to get out of there."

Things got better. Argibay's childhood ambitions would lead to architectural school, where he first met partner Bice C. Wilson. The team is now coming on three decades of sharing an office.

That's partly because Meridian Partners practices the firm's own beliefs in a collaborative workplace. Also, it's been the kind of partnership that endures close quarters.

"Tony and I are tremendously different," explains Wilson. "At the same time, our differences reinforce each other, and provide us with a reality check. In that same spirit, our staff is incredibly diverse. Actually, we don't even like to use the word 'diverse.' It's just what we are. Tony and I have found great strength in our differences, and in the differences of those who've worked with us."

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Argibay is also quick to credit New York City.

"When I dreamed of success," he explains, "I never dreamed of success like this. Our clients are the people who shape culture across the world. We've been able to have a real influence, and it's all because of New York City. I originally survived here by being an optimist. You just have to be a hard worker, and a person who really wants to succeed. From there, I learned to what degree New Yorkers would go to help you. They'll take the shirts off their backs."

And while the architects may avoid the word, diversity remains an inherent part of Meridian Design's success. The growing firm has partners worldwide.

"If you want to be the best," says Argibay, "you have to be doing it on a global stage. We're not a minority firm. We're a majority firm, because that's where you find the best people. Sometimes they're from Italy, or Germany, or Switzerland, or Korea, or ..."

Argibay pauses. "I shouldn't have started listing places. I'm going to forget to include a country." Then he laughs. "Well, there's Cuba, of course."