On the Scene: New York
The New York Build Expo held the state’s largest free-to-attend construction show March 3-4 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City.
PHOTO BY DIANE SOISTER/ENR
Engineering News-Record anticipates the construction industry’s resumption of events—including ENR’s Award of Excellence and Best Projects recognitions that are set for Aug. 4-5 in New York City—assuming that normal business resumes and in-person gatherings are permitted under COVID-19 restrictions. In the meantime, here’s a look at some notable events held in the region earlier this year.
The New York Build Expo held the state’s largest free-to-attend construction show March 3-4 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City. The packed roster of events included the Women in Construction panel discussion, pictured at left. Moderator Ingrid Sletten, director of sales at X-Act Contracting Corp., led panelists Marilisa Stigliano, director of project controls for AECOM’s metropolitan New York division; Jermaine Huell, national diversity manager at STV; Sara Ngan, senior associate at FXCollaborative Architects; Alexandra Schmidt, project executive at Turner Construction Co.; and Julia Murphy, managing director of architecture firm Skidmore Owings & Merrill. The speakers talked about equality in construction and how to drive change in the built environment.
Christine Keville, at left, founder, president and CEO of Marshfield, Mass.-based Keville Enterprises and the first woman president of The Moles, presided over the organization’s annual national black-tie dinner Jan. 29 in midtown Manhattan. The principal speaker was Steve Kroft, an Emmy-winning journalist and “60 Minutes” correspondent, who also became an honorary member of the heavy construction professionals group. The group also recognized the following individuals for Outstanding Achievement in Construction: J. Fletcher Creamer Jr., a fourth-generation leader of Fletcher Creamer & Son, and James M. Marquardt, senior vice president of J.F. Shea & Co.
The New York Building Congress annual membership meeting and industry luncheon was held Jan. 24 in Manhattan. It followed an earlier board meeting at which Elizabeth Velez was elected chair of the organization, making her the first Latina and second woman in the role. The president of the Velez Organization, a second-generation construction firm, vowed to continue the industry’s “tremendous growth.” Other speakers included Building Congress CEO Carlo Scissura, pictured far left. The group also released its 2020 policy agenda for the city, the broader metropolitan region and the country, calling for improvements in infrastructure, transportation, affordable housing, sustainability initiatives and urban resilience.
The Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation held its sixth annual Leadership Awards Gala on March 5 in New York City, celebrating achievements of firms and individuals who actively support, promote and retain women in design and construction. The 2020 award recipients are, from left: Inga Saffron, architecture critic at The Philadelphia Inquirer; Joseph Tortorella, president of Silman; Sharon Egretta Sutton, distinguished visiting professor of architecture at Parsons School of Design and adjunct professor at Columbia University; Joan Blumenfeld, design principal at Perkins+Will; Samantha Josaphat, founder and principal of Studio 397 Architecture; and Linda Chiarelli, senior vice president for capital projects and facilities at New York University. The foundation was started by architecture pioneer Beverly Willis.
Anchin Block & Anchin LLP, a New York City-based accounting firm, hosted its Future Forward 2020: What’s Next for New York Real Estate and Construction event on Feb. 4 in Manhattan. Keynote speaker Peter Riguardi, chairman and president of Jones Lang LaSalle’s New York tristate region, attributed New York City’s exponential market growth to low unemployment rates. Panels led by Anchin executives included Trends in Multifamily, New Development Trends and P3 Partnerships and Design Build. The MWBE Issues in Construction session was moderated by Charles E. Williams III, pictured at the podium, who is a partner at law firm Peckar & Abramson.
