Architect brings his world view to Bethesda

Caggiano focuses on residential projects for Ponte Mellor

Born in Argentina, Caggiano grew up in New Jersey and has lived in several areas, including San Francisco and Philadelphia. He applauds the architectural vision of professionals in Bethesda.

‘‘In walking around Bethesda, it reminds me a little of London,” said Caggiano, 55. ‘‘It’s clear developers and officials put a lot of care into what goes up here.”

Caggiano has the vast experience in custom-home design the firm sought, having worked in Philadelphia’s Main Line suburbs and nearby ‘‘design-sensitive” New Jersey neighborhoods, said design director Rui A. Ponte and operations manager R. Bradley Mellor in a statement.

‘‘We look forward to being able to improve our delivery and client service to both current and new residential clients as Bob’s talents are applied to design, technical drawing and construction administration,” they said.

After earning a bachelor’s in interior design from Pratt Institute in New York City and a master’s in architecture from the University of California, Berkeley, Caggiano started working for architectural firms in San Francisco.

He moved to others in New Jersey and Philadelphia, including a stint as project architect for The Office of Charles King in Philadelphia. Much of Caggiano’s work has been in residential projects, such as converting a 150-year-old warehouse into condominiums in Philadelphia. But he has also worked on commercial projects, including a big-box furniture store in Leesburg, Va.

With the residential market shaky, to say the least, it’s important to diversify, Caggiano said.

‘‘The economy always has a significant impact on architecture,” he said. ‘‘I don’t want to stay in one sector of architectural services.”

With King in the process of retiring, Caggiano discovered the opening at Ponte Mellor. The Bethesda firm formed in 1989, with a portfolio that includes Chevy Chase Cars in Bethesda and The Park Bethesda apartment building.

Single with a 15-year-old daughter in New York, Caggiano is renting temporarily while looking for a permanent residence in the area. He likes to travel when he has time.

‘‘I have been all over Europe,” he said.