The panelists included New York City Economic
Development Corp. President Andrew M. Alper,
Turner Construction Company Senior Vice President James McKenna, and New York Building Congress Chairman Marilyn Jordan Taylor, who also is Chairman of architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, LLP. Crain’s Insider Editor Philip Lentz and New York Construction News Editor Daniel Friedman interviewed the panelists.

The panel examined New York City’s continuing development and infrastructure needs, the prospects for public and private sector construction, and what actions must be taken now to spur and sustain a return to economic prosperity.

F.J. Sciame Construction Company President and CEO Frank J. Sciame, New York Construction News Publisher Heather Hatfield, New York Building Congress Chairman Marilyn Jordan Taylor and AIA New York Chapter Executive Director Rick Bell.

The participants were introduced by Frank J. Sciame, Vice Chairman of the New York Building Congress, after opening remarks from AIA New York Chapter Executive Director Rick Bell. Marilyn Jordan Taylor began by setting the context for the discussion regarding the overall state of the construction industry. “This is not 1991 or 1992, when the industry had a narrow-minded focus on only a few markets,” Ms. Taylor said. “Then, we were builders mostly of tall towers. Now, our industry is responsible for everything that holds cities and communities together and contributes to a new quality of life.”

Andrew Alper discussed how the many public infrastructure initiatives currently under consideration would ultimately affect the current economic situation. Mr. Alper said, “There is a direct relationship between the economic downturn and the need to rebuild and redevelop. Lower and Midtown Manhattan office construction has not been sufficient for the last 50 years to prevent losses in market share.”

“The opportunity to rebuild Lower Manhattan as a 24/7 community is unprecedented,” Alper continued. “That, coupled with the effort to bring the Olympics to the City in 2012, which has taken on a life of its own, has presented us with the opportunity to address the need to build a new central business district on Manhattan’s West Side.”

Added James McKenna, “The progressive thinking we’re seeing now is extraordinary, and will position New York City for growth and prosperity for 20 to 40 years into the future. This is what is encouraging about what’s happening in our industry today.”

Ms. Taylor also expressed confidence in the direction she sees being taken by the construction industry today. “Mayor Bloomberg and Deputy Mayor Doctoroff have been enormously energizing to all of us. They have presented us with marvelous visions of what was previously thought to be unplannable,” Taylor said. “The hard part, of course, is to get a vision implemented. In order to see this optimism through to fruition, we need to deliver, to be of assistance in getting through the planning stages, and to support our public officials.”
The panel was attended by Manhattan Borough President C. Virgina Fields, Mysore L. Nagaraja of New York City Transit, and more than 160 representatives of Building Congress and AIA New York Chapter member firms.