City Grill

Lee Sommerman 
Senior Vice President 
LeChase Construction 

The Rochester area is currently “seeing more design-build opportunities and a greater influence of national firms partnering on projects,” says Sommerman, noting the approach provides a “more cost-effective and efficient method to build all kinds of projects.”

He says health care, life sciences, high-tech, higher education and multi-unit housing sectors “have been consistently strong in the Rochester area over the last 10 years.” 

But there are not “significant opportunities in commercial office spaces and manufacturing,” Sommerman contends, with “escalating construction costs and higher interest rates keeping some private development opportunities from moving forward.”

Aside from the continued need for skilled workers and growing “technologies to make completing work in the field more efficient,” he believes that “health care and multi-unit housing development will remain strong.” In addition, he points out, “We are continuing to see an increase in project volume from the life sciences and food and beverage industries.”