Scarangello of Thornton Tomasetti elected chair of New York Building Congress

Thomas Scarangello, a structural engineer, has been elected chairman of the N.Y. Building Congress, succeeding AECOM chairman and CEO John Dionisio. Scarangello was installed as chairman during the Building Congress' annual membership meeting, held on Jan. 13th. Scarangello is chairman and CEO of Thornton Tomasetti. Throughout his 30-year career, all at Thornton Tomasetti, he has been involved in the structural engineering of a wide variety of building types worldwide, from long-span sports and entertainment arenas and stadiums - such as the new Yankee Stadium and the Barclays Center - to high-rise commercial and mixed-use buildings. At present, he and his firm are working on such major projects as the new Hudson Yards and the Cornell N.Y.C. Tech campus. Scarangello is also credited with leading Thornton Tomasetti into the forefront of project delivery services and engineering technologies for building analysis, design and construction. Since becoming chairman in May 2007, he has overseen the development of the firm's strategic plan for growth and innovation in areas such as building information modeling and integrated project delivery. "The leadership at our firm, especially Richard Tomasetti, has been active, long-time supporters of the N.Y. Building Congress," said Scarangello. "We have dedicated our professional and personal efforts in the belief that our industry is at its best when everyone is working together to identify and promote best practices in our cities." Dionisio, who completed his two-year term as chairman of the Building Congress, said, "It has been a privilege to serve the Building Congress during this period of renewed growth in the building industry and to have had the opportunity to help guide our collective response to the great challenges posed to our industry and this city by Superstorm Sandy." In addition to Scarangello, the Building Congress' 2014 executive committee slate has been filled by treasurer Joseph Mizzi of Sciame Construction; secretary Lawrence Roman of WDF Inc.; general counsel Michael Zetlin of Zetlin & De Chiara; and vice chairmen Richard Cavallaro of Skanska USA; Louis Coletti of the Building Trades Employers Association; Ralph Esposito of Lend Lease US Construction; Sharon Greenberger of New York Presbyterian Hospital; Gail Grimmett of Delta Airlines; Joseph Ienuso of Columbia University; Gary LaBarbera of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater NY; and Jeffrey Levine of Douglaston Development. The Building Congress also welcomed the following to its 2014 board of directors: Joseph Aliotta of Swanke Hayden Connell Architects; Cosema Crawford of The Louis Berger Group; Marian Klein of the Park Tower Group; Jill Lerner of the AIA New York Chapter; Anthony Mannarino of Extell Development; Cheryl McKissack Daniel of McKissack & McKissack; Michael Della Rocca of AECOM; and Robert Sanna of Forest City Ratner. "Tom Scarangello and John Dionisio as well as the new and returning members of the executive committee and board of directors represent the strength, innovation and diversity of this industry," said Building Congress president Richard Anderson. "These men and women are a clear representation of the Building Congress' vitality and exemplify our industry's history of dedicated and intelligent service to New York City."