According to Richard Wood, president of Plaza Construction, Allen Kasden, vice president, operations manager, whose career in the construction industry spanned 43 years, is retiring as of the new year from Plaza where he has overseen some of the city's most prestigious projects during his 12-year tenure with the company. A veteran of the construction industry, Kasden's career is highlighted by having been involved in such iconic projects as the MTA's Fulton St. Transit Center and Gateway Center at Bronx Terminal Market. His breadth of experience is exceptionally broad, encompassing virtually every field of commercial construction from courthouses, prisons, hotels, hospitals, nursing homes, and treatment facilities to co-generation plants, high-rise office buildings, resorts and airports. He has worked with some of the world's most renowned designers, architects and developers, among them SOM, HKS, Philip Starke and Olympia & York. "It is with mixed emotions that I announce Allen's retirement today," said Wood. "He has not only been a very important member of the Plaza team, assisting us as we grew to be the company we are today, but has also become my close friend. Fortunately, Allen's vision and values will continue to be felt at Plaza—his legacy is the many bright stars he has trained, mentored, and tutored, each of whom reflects his work ethic as they progress in their respective careers." Kasden is widely known and respected throughout the industry for his integrity, knowledge, professionalism, creativity and focus. In addition to managing the on-going 180,000 s/f Fulton St. Transit Center valued at $200 million, and the mega one million-square-foot, now-completed $230 million Bronx Gateway Center, Kasden oversaw such prominent projects as the renovation of the Shops at Atlas Park valued at $125 million; the recent development of PS331 in Brooklyn which opened in September to rave reviews; and such iconic historical projects as the $1 billion Newark airport renovation spanning 10 years; and the $1 billion Atlantis Casino and Hotel development in the Bahamas. "Allen has embraced and become the embodiment of our corporate culture, helping through the years to perpetuate our brand and generate new business. Personally, I will miss his insight, experience, judgment, loyalty and friendship but I wish him well as he segues into the next and well-deserved stage of his life," said Wood.