It is with great sadness that ARC announces the death of ARC founding partner Robert Nathan Nizel.

An accomplished architect and inventor, Bob’s professional career began after his graduation from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in 1962 with a degree in Architecture. In the early 1960’s, Bob worked alongside a group of dedicated professionals at The Architects Collaborative (TAC) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. By 1969, Robert and his colleagues formed their own firm, Architectural Resources Cambridge/ARC.

Starting without clients or projects, ARC began with house renovations and new residential designs. Bob, ever the entrepreneur, always envisioned the firm having a business component beyond pure architecture. He partnered with a builder to design and construct "spec houses" for sale in the Boston suburbs. Ultimately, the focus of the firm’s business shifted from residential to commercial projects.

Bob's true design and building expertise shone in the laboratory sector. He was instrumental in securing MetPath Laboratories as a major client. ARC designed and built for MetPath the largest blood testing laboratories in the country, in both New Jersey and Chicago. These facilities processed samples flown in from across the nation, performed intricate testing, and delivered results overnight to hospitals. Bob also managed ARC's projects for Digital Equipment along the I-495 corridor in Massachusetts.

Bob’s entrepreneurial spirit and passion for invention led to the creation of the “Labmarc Bench System,” a flexible laboratory workbench system that he co-designed and patented. This innovative system featured changeable components and lab benches that efficiently carried water, gas, and power. ARC incorporated Labmarc into buildings they designed, and they successfully sold components to other clients. ARC also completed significant work for other major clients such as Abbott Labs, Bayer, and Bristol Myers. Bob was also a key ARC team member for many of the firm's Genzyme projects in Cambridge, located near Harvard Business School, and in Framingham.

To read the full text of Bob's obituary, please visit: Robert Nizel Obituary - Plantation, FL