PWC holds its annual awards reception at The Yale Club; 7 Bryant Park, developed by Hines, named Project of the Year

Professional Women in Construction (PWC) president Lenore Janis opened the ceremony honoring PWC's Project of the Year, 7 Bryant Park, an office tower currently under construction in midtown Manhattan. "We are glad to see so many key women playing major roles and are delighted to honor the women and the men heading the project," said Janis. The annual awards reception was held at The Yale Club. Tommy Craig, senior managing director for the project's developer, Hines, said, "Our world is dominated by teamwork. The people working on the project are emblematic of the ideals we believe in." Craig praised the work of PWC honoree Sarah Hawkins, a Hines director and the project manager for 7 Bryant Park. He spoke of her efforts in helping to negotiate the building's all-equity financing and execute a guaranteed maximum price contract with the general contractor and concluded that "I envision her as a leader for the next generation." Hawkins said that the building's location with "unencumbered park views" and the corner space that is maximized through "the genius of Pei Cobb Freed, the project's architects." Highlighted features will be: the curved glass overseeing the park; terraces on the 10th floor and penthouse; a stainless steel canopy; 10 ft. high ceilings; a column-free interior; a penthouse terrace; a ground floor programmed for a restaurant; and numerous LEED Gold features. The next PWC award went to Mary Ann Tighe, CEO for the Tri-State Region of CBRE, the exclusive leasing agent for the building. "No one else could represent the building and the team as well," said Craig. Accepting the award for Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, was Yvonne Szeto, FAIA, the first woman partner of the firm and the designer of 7 Bryant Park together with Henry Cobb. In granting the PWC award to Andrea Pierce, an executive director of J.P. Morgan Asset Management and the head of its Eastern U.S. office and industrial real estate asset management sector, Craig spoke of the important relationship between Hines and JPMorgan. Craig applauded PWC honoree Patrick Murray, project executive with Turner Construction Co. "In selecting Turner we knew that they will deliver all the construction capability the project deserves," said Craig. Murray is working closely with Frank Garigliano, Hines vice president-construction. Murray introduced Turner's Susan Fusi, project engineer. "I could think of no better person to have on our team in her pivotal role," said Murray. James Rizzo, northeast regional manager, Tate Access Floors, was the event chair. Visit www.pwcusa.org/ny and www.hines.com for more information.