News: Brokerage

SWBR names Fernaays and Purdy to Board of Directors

Steven Fernaays,
SWBR

 

Kristin Purdy,
SWBR

 

Rochester, NY SWBR announces the addition of Steven Fernaays, AIA, and Kristin Purdy, AIA, to its Board of Directors. SWBR’s board includes its president and six board members elected by shareholders for a three-year term.

Fernaays, a principal, has been with SWBR since 2009 and spent the majority of his career designing higher-education spaces, such as labs, classrooms and collaboration spaces that enhance student experiences. 

His clients include Nazareth College, Cornell University, Monroe Community College, Alfred State and University of Rochester. He earned his Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University and resides in Williamson.

Purdy is a project architect in the firm’s education studio, with a particular focus on higher-education projects.

, including the Nazareth College Jane and Laurence Glazer Music Performance Center, opening in the fall of 2018. As SWBR’s sustainable design manager, she’s responsible for the U.S. Green Building Council LEED certification process, particularly in higher education. In addition to being heavily involved with the AIA and CSI boards, she’s worked with the Women in Architecture program through the AIA, the ACE Mentor Program, and has volunteered with Lollypop Farm. Purdy started at SWBR as an intern and joined full time in 2007 after graduating from the University at Buffalo with a Bachelor of Science in architecture.

As members of the board, their responsibilities include the implementation of corporate procedures and controls and formulation of overall business plans, operations, market objectives and strategies.

MORE FROM Brokerage

NYSCAR June 2026 president’s message - by Mercedes Brien

As I write this letter, we are preparing to be at the Annual Conference being held at the Rivers Casino, Schenectady, New York. I look forward to reporting on the conference in my next letter. We have some great courses coming up via Zoom. Please be sure to keep watch on upcoming courses by visiting nyscar.org/resources and tools/professional development.
READ ON THE GO
DIGITAL EDITIONS
Subscribe
Columns and Thought Leadership
A fresh start - by Shallini Mehra and Amit Doshi

A fresh start - by Shallini Mehra and Amit Doshi

For the past several years, the New York City multifamily housing market has been defined by disruption. The combined impact of the HSTPA rent laws and a sharply higher interest rate environment has fundamentally reduced
The anticipated effect of Basel III and ISO 20022 implementation on commercial real estate - by Michael Zysman

The anticipated effect of Basel III and ISO 20022 implementation on commercial real estate - by Michael Zysman

July 1, 2025 is the deadline for US banks to begin to adopt Basel III banking standards and July 14, 2025 is the deadline for U.S. banks to adopt ISO 20022 messaging standards. Both will have a significant effect on the banking and commercial real estate (CRE) finance sectors.
The death of the generic offering memorandum: What buyers expect in 2025 - by Kimberly Zar Bloorian

The death of the generic offering memorandum: What buyers expect in 2025 - by Kimberly Zar Bloorian

There was a time when an offering memorandum (OM) was pretty bare bones, some photos, a few bullet points on income, and a rent roll thrown in at the back. That used to get the job done. Not anymore. In 2025, buyers are sharper, faster, and more selective. They’re looking
Tri-state capital  migrates nationally amid  regulation pressure - by Reese Weaver

Tri-state capital migrates nationally amid regulation pressure - by Reese Weaver

New York tri-state multifamily investors are increasingly reallocating capital to less-regulated markets across the U.S. as rent control and legislative risk erode returns at home. With over 60% of New York City’s rental housing stock classified as rent-stabilized, the traditional value-add model — buying under-performing buildings,