­ at Club 101; speakers included Caban of the PANYNJ
New York, NY "We rely on the expertise of you and your firms to keep us going - each project has different challenges," said Wally Caban, P.E., assistant chief engineer of construction, PANYNJ, at the March 6, Meet the Construction Chiefs networking and table top exhibit event hosted by Professional Women in Construction (PWC) at Club 101. Caban was addressing a rapt crowd drawn from small, mid-sized and large AEC businesses and related service industries as well as numerous professionals and vendors.
He noted that $3 billion in active construction occurred over the past four years then offered glimpses into the $500 million capital program for his construction unit for 2013, with 110 new contracts planned for the Bayonne Bridge; Goethals Bridge; all metro area airports - JFK, LaGuardia and Newark; plus improvements and hurricane Sandy repairs for the PATH and Port Commerce.
He encouraged all to inspire their staffs to grow and develop and noted that the PANYNJ encourages the participation of W/MBE firms.
Marcelo Velez, associate VP, Manhattanville Development Group Columbia University, gave updates on multi-phased plans for the new academic mixed-use campus to be built in Manhattanville in West Harlem that will include development of 17 sites totaling 6.8 million s/f of academic, academic research, recreational and residential space.
Construction is underway on a 450,000 s/f Jerome L. Greene Mind Brain Behavior Institute and the Central Energy Plant and design is progressing on the Lenfest Center for the Arts; the Academic Conference Center; and the 450,000 s/f Columbia Business School.
Velez also noted that Columbia is committed to providing opportunities to achieve a participation rate of 35% of all contracts dollar value to minority, women and local firms and 40% of the workforce to the same target populations.
Julie D'Orazio, P.E., VP, Northeast Transit/Rail market sector manager, AECOM, said that with her firm's acquisition of Tishman, "We have moved from an A/E firm to an E/C firm. It's an important distinction as it mirrors where the market and our clients are moving towards - which is looking for turnkey solutions that can expedite the design phase to construction completion. Nowhere is that more important as with needed repairs and mitigation measures to rail infrastructure after Super Storm Sandy. AECOM is working closely with our clients to restore rail systems destroyed by Sandy including PATH, which sustained significant damage."
AECOM plays a key role on a many large complex projects ongoing in NYC - including East Side Access, Second Avenue Subway, WTC PATH Terminal and Moynihan Station Phase I Construction.
AECOM takes pride in its partnership with many minority-owned firms. D'Orazio said "we are not just meeting goals but developing strong working relationships".
Joe Keane, P.E., chief engineer, MTA Bridges and Tunnels, the toll agency behind the MTA, spoke of a 2.1B capital program over five years with 15% committed for 2013. Thirty five design and construction management contracts and 25 construction contracts will be awarded over the next two years. In addition, there will be three design/build contracts awarded. He noted a major $200M project, the replacement of the Bronx Toll Plaza and work on restoration following Sandy.
Keane spoke of The Agency's two-tier small business mentoring program (SBMP) which includes minority and women-owned business enterprises (M/W/BEs) and provides training and an opportunity to work on MTA construction projects of $25,000 to $1 million.
He noted that the MTA is "committed to a diverse workforce" and seeks to "broaden our base of opportunity."
Joseph Mizzi, president of F.J. Sciame Construction Co., Inc., noted such recently completed or under construction projects as: FDR Memorial Four Freedoms Park on Roosevelt Island designed by Louis Kahn which opened to the public last fall; 51 Astor Place, a 365,000 SF core and shell commercial office building with Edward J. Minskoff Properties completing spring 2013; and the newest 100,000+ SF engineering building at Princeton University. Just launched projects include the Columbia University Medical Center Physicians and Surgeons Building; a building for CUNY on the NYC College of Technology campus; and work on High Line Section III at Hudson Yards with the NYC EDC.
Mizzi told all that Sciame employs women in key management positions who come to the firm with education and experience as architects, engineers and construction management professionals.
For information on upcoming PWC programs contact PWC at 212.486-7745, email: [email protected] or visit www.pwcusa.org/ny.
Shown are the speakers seated (from left): Joe Keane, MTA Bridges & Tunnels; Velez; D'Orazio; Joseph Mizzi, F. J. Sciame Construction Co.; and Caban. Shown are the presenters standing (from left): Lenore Janis, PWC; Maria Wilpon, AECOM; Barbara Armand, Armand Corp.; and Nancy Czesak, Tishman, an AECOM Co. Photo Credit: Marc Becker. Tags: