PWC hosts "Meet the Architects & Engineers" event at Club 101

"The speakers here represent hundreds of millions of dollars in opportunities," said Lenore Janis, president and executive director of Professional Women in Construction (PWC) as the organization hosted "Meet the Architects & Engineers" on September 16th. The major B2B interchange with table-top exhibits drew a capacity crowd to Club 101. Thomas Amoia, P.E., engineer of construction NY airports, PANYNJ, said that the agency is budgeted for $27.6 billion for the next decade. He discussed M/W/D/SBE programs noting federally funded participation requirements for the FAA; FHWA - partly for the Goethals Bridge project; and the FTA for Sandy related work within PATH. Amoia stressed PANYNJ's commitment to "continuing our core mission of supporting trade and transportation and being good stewards of our infrastructure." Bruce Barrett, RA, VP of Architecture & Engineering, NYC SCA, said that in the past decade the agency has dedicated over $24 billion in capital construction projects in NYC Dept. of Education school buildings which involves 200 capacity projects for over 100,000 new school seats and 6,500 capital improvement projects. Over $750 million was awarded to M/W/LBE firms. The SCA is the city's largest contributor to green projects. The new $12.8 billion, five-year capital plan includes 1,500 capital improvement projects and anticipates 33,000 new school seats. Nicholas Garrison, AIA, LEED, partner, FXFOWLE, discussed the firm's longtime commitment to equality and diversity - many women have key leadership roles at FXFOWLE - and an approach to sustainability that "views buildings as part of the larger realm of nature" inspired by its co-founder, Bruce Fowle. He discussed such current projects as Columbia University School of Nursing; SUNY Purchase College Center for Integrated Technology; and La Central in the Bronx. Garrison then outlined trends of globalization; buildings suited to senior living needs that will favor a new urbanism over the suburban model; and the growth of immersive learning environments in place of the outdated classroom. Kathryn Hovis, Assoc. AIA, solutions strategist - education, NK Architects, spoke of the firm's focus on healthcare and education. In healthcare, she noted a growing demand for ambulatory and outpatient services as exemplified by NK's expansion and renovation project at Mt. Sinai Queens. She agreed that the classroom is being re-imagined and discussed NK's work in such innovative schools as Chapin on the Upper East Side. "Nothing is sure but that all will change," said Hovis who hoped that "new connections and partnerships have been crafted" at the PWC event. Gabriel Andres Calatrava, engineer, Santiago Calatrava New York/ Festina Lente, said, "Many of our projects including the Doha Bay Crossing, the Florida Polytechnic University in Lakeland Florida, and The Path Station at 1 World Trade Center have real social importance and will make a long-lasting impact. This presents a huge responsibility for all parties involved in their development. Our work is not merely building and designing, but rethinking the idea of smart, sustainable infrastructure and how it performs." Dr. Feniosky Peña-Mora, commissioner, NYC DDC (Department of Design & Construction), said that the agency has a portfolio of more than 800 active projects valued at nearly $10 billion including the NY Police Academy in Queens; the rehabilitation of High Bridge, Bronx/Manhattan; and City Hall renovation. The DDC relies on allies like PWC to advance M/WBE participation as "we all miss out when talent is not present in our environment." Post-Sandy, resiliency is a priority and there is a "sense of urgency" in the delivery. He noted the need to "marry the natural and built environment" and wed our "natural resources and our communities." He stressed that "our industry is a people industry - there is one New York, one city. Everybody counts." The evening's presenters were: Maria Wilpon, Assoc. AIA, education director, AECOM; Nicole Hunter, project manager, HNTB Corporation; Nancy Czesak, RA, first VP, Tishman, an AECOM Company; Andy Frankl, president, IBEX Construction; Barbara Armand, president, Armand Corp. Shown seated (from left) are: Feniosky Pena-Mora, NYC DDC; Gabriel Calatrava, Santiago Calatrava NY; Barrett; Garrison; Hovis; and Amoia. Shown standing (from left) are: Barbara Armand, Armand Corp.; Nicole Hunter, HNTB; Maria Wilpon, AECOM; Nancy Czesak, Tishman, an AECOM Co.; Janis; and Andy Frankl, IBEX Construction.