Peter Morandi, Eastman Cooke ConstructionNew York, NY Ever since Peter Morandi, the CEO of Eastman Cooke Construction, was a young boy, he knew that his life’s work would be in construction. Coming from a long line of contractors, he watched as his father, grandfather, uncles, and cousins built a successful company by consistently providing quality work that lived up to the clients’ vision.
“I was exposed to construction at a very young age, and was really drawn to its entrepreneurial spirit,” said Morandi. Using the skills he learned in trade school, Morandi founded a masonry business to fund his studies in construction management at Roger Williams University in Rhode Island. Upon graduation, he headed to the city to begin his construction career.
After 10 years as a construction manager, director of operations, and chief operating officer for a leading NYC contractor, Morandi started Eastman Cooke Construction in 2009. Since then the full-service general contracting and management firm, which provides ground-up building construction, major renovations, core and shell projects, and fast-paced build-outs, has grown to become a multi-million dollar construction company.
Morandi credits a lot of his firm’s growth to the people he works with. “I learned quickly that the key to success is to surround myself with talented, creative problem-solvers whom I can trust to give me the right answer or challenge me to think differently about addressing a change,” said Morandi.
Communication and collaboration are hallmarks of the way Morandi does business. “We’re a results-driven company that’s passionate about giving our clients what they envision,” said Morandi. “To do that, there must be open communication with everyone involved on the project, which is why we developed our Work Smart System. This step-by-step process resolves problems before construction begins to avoid costly delays. In fact, its creation was a collaborative effort among our executive management, project managers, estimators, field staff, and FMI construction management consultants.”
Safety is critically important to Morandi. “We maintain the highest levels of safety, security, access, and environmental quality,” said Morandi. “Our construction crews work diligently to verify compliance with OSHA standards and regulations. I am extremely proud of the fact that during our last site safety inspection, we actually exceeded construction safety standards and were praised for our efforts by the risk control consultant.”
Having diversity in leadership roles is paramount at Eastman Cooke. The staff includes women in key roles such as assistant project managers, controller, and the director of branding, who has been with the firm since its inception. These department leaders also belong to the strategic planning team that develops the firm’s short-term and long-term goals for the firm’s development.
Eastman Cooke serves clients in education, corporate, retail, healthcare/life sciences, and not-for-profit. While each project has its own challenges, they typically involve meeting tight deadlines and budget requirements while avoiding disruptions to normal operations during construction. Sometimes a project holds distinct logistical challenges as well.
Equity One Building - Bronx, NYFor example, Morandi’s firm was hired to construct the core and shell of a $9.6 million, 34,000 s/f, two-story extension of Broadway Plaza in the Bronx, a large retail center owned by Equity One.
The logistical challenge was the site’s close proximity to other buildings and an elevated subway. Morandi was involved in the process from the beginning, including the building’s design and engineering, to find a successful construction approach. The structure was built on piles extending 40 ft. into the ground for suitable foundation support. High-strength concrete was used for the base structural slab, while the exterior was a mix of storefront glass, brick veneer, EIFS, and aluminum panels. Morandi and his team worked closely with various regulatory entities to obtain all required permits, and the project finished on time and on budget.
Morandi has seen an increase in the number of healthcare/life science and not-for-profit projects, including hospitals, medical offices, labs, research facilities, clinics, and assisted living residences. These projects require a specific knowledge of medical facilities, occupancy requirements, and infection control.
Morandi has done a number of projects for NYU Langone Medical Center, including the seamless transformation of a multi-tenant corporate office space into a specialized healthcare facility. A recent project required the demolition of an existing medical office to expand the oncology department, without disrupting staff, medical patients, and other building occupants during construction.
Hospital-grade materials for the millwork, ceilings, wall coverings, and countertops were installed to meet Dept. of Health building requirements and design standards for Article 28 space. The existing glass atrium wall was modified to accommodate a new entrance. Building systems were upgraded through a BMS tie-in and new HVAC units, which were installed on the rooftop.
Morandi at Queens Centers for ProgressMorandi hopes to take on more not-for-profit building projects, such as clinics, educational facilities and residences, and is himself involved with local charitable organizations. He received the 2016 Business Leadership Award from the Queens Centers for Progress, which serves individuals with developmental disabilities, and sponsored an event for Unique People Services, which operates supportive housing for the formerly homeless. He was recently named to the board of directors for ACDS, which serves individuals with Down Syndrome, Autism, and other developmental disabilities. Morandi also donates to the charitable organizations that Eastman Cooke supports including City Harvest, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and Contractors for Kids. When a noted recruiting company asked Morandi in a recent interview what was the best part of his job, he replied: “I am most proud to see something that my firm has built stand the test of time. Watching a project come together, knowing that it has served a purpose and will remain there for many years, is a feeling like no other. Construction isn’t an easy industry. You will work hard, but it can be the most rewarding career in the world.”
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