2015 Year in Review - Alexis Newman

What was your most notable project, deal, transaction or professional achievement in 2015? In September, SGH brought together a select group of AEC experts for a successful, full-day symposium on residential/mixed use design, investigation, and rehabilitation, titled “CREATE+CONSTRUCT 2015: dwell.” This AIA-accredited event drew approximately 100 architects, developers, owners’ representatives, and other industry professionals, who learned about the current and future state of the New York residential market. Highlights included keynotes by the founders of CetraRuddy and GHWA, as well as insightful presentations by executives from industry-leading firms like Dattner Architects, FXFOWLE, KPF, Witkoff, and Workshop/APD, just to name a few. Don’t miss CREATE+CONSTRUCT 2016, set for this fall with a focus on the design, investigation, and rehabilitation of cultural/religious institutions! How will you be supercharging your productivity in 2016? SGH will celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2016, so we look forward to making it an especially productive and successful year. I will continue to curate and manage our educational seminar series and symposium for our seven office locations: Boston, Chicago, Houston, New York City, San Francisco, Southern California, and Washington, D.C. What real estate project, transaction, market trend or product had a significant impact on your industry in 2015? According to our principals, one market trend that impacted our industry this year was the June 2015 threatened expiration of New York’s 421-a tax breaks for new development.  This pushed the schedules on many residential projects in an effort to meet the deadline, and contributed to the biggest spike in building permit applications since 2008.