New York Building Congress Honors Doctoroff, Calatrava and Mancini During 85th Anniversary Leadership Awards Luncheon

George A. Fox Public Service Award Focuses on Education Advocates

More than 1,000 members of the design, construction and real estate community joined to honor renowned architect Santiago Calatrava, Deputy Mayor Daniel L. Doctoroff and construction executive Salvatore Mancini, during the New York Building Congress 85th Anniversary Leadership Awards Luncheon, at the Hilton New York on May 11.
When presenting an 85th Anniversary Leadership Award to Deputy Mayor Doctoroff, Building Congress Chairman Dominick M. Servedio said, “One of the heroes of this City’s dramatic resurgence is Dan Doctoroff. In 2005, the City achieved record levels of jobs, visitors, population and the greatest number of housing starts since the 1960’s. We are fortunate to have his leadership – a leadership that will have lasting benefit for decades to come.”

“We are experiencing a truly historic era and one of the most extraordinary periods of construction the City has ever seen. People are noticing what a spectacular time it is for our City and are embracing a belief in the future,” said Deputy Mayor Doctoroff.

Former Building Congress Chairman Frank J. Sciame, who is working with Santiago Calatrava on his proposed 80 South Street Tower in Lower Manhattan, presented the Leadership Award to the famed architect, who is Principal of Festina Lente, LLC. “It is especially meaningful to me to present this award. Santiago is truly one of the great designers of our generation,” said Mr. Sciame. He added that Mr. Calatrava exemplifies the phrase, “Men who say it cannot be done should not interrupt the men doing it.”

Mr. Calatrava used his acceptance to praise his adopted home. “There is something in this country that is very unconventional. The great quality you have is your enormous capacity of welcoming people from all over the world. You inherited this from many generations of people. This makes you the leader. Thank you for allowing me to call all of you my friends.” Attending the luncheon in honor of Mr. Calatrava were the Honorable Magdalena Alvarez, Infrastructure Minister of Spain and the Honorable Carlos Westendorp, Ambassador of Spain to the United States.

Parsons Brinckerhoff Chairman and CEO Thomas J. O'Neill, who served as Chairman of the Building Congress Luncheon, presented the Leadership Award to Skanska USA Civil President and CEO Salvatore Mancini. “Sal Mancini's impressive career over the past 40 years has included diverse projects such as the Air Train at JFK International Airport, the Cooper River Bridge in Charleston, South Carolina, and many New York City heavy construction projects.”

Accepting the award on behalf of Mr. Mancini, who was called out of the country for
business, was William McGuinnes, Senior Vice President of Skanska USA Civil, who said,“Sal extends his great appreciation to you and the New York Building Congress. He regrets he could not be here personally to receive this award from the industry he loves so much.”

The New York Building Congress also honored Syska Hennessy Group Chairman and CEO John V. Magliano and Boston Properties Senior Vice President Robert E. Selsam as recipients of the fifth annual George A. Fox Public Service Award. Both men were honored for their voluntary efforts in education – Mr. Magliano as President of the ACE Mentor Program of New York and Robert Selsam as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Salvadori Center.

In presenting the Fox Awards, STV Group President Michael S. Della Rocca said, “Since assuming the role of President of the ACE Mentor Program of New York three years ago, John Magliano has helped expand the number of students by 52 percent. He has
significantly increased the program’s fund raising and organizational participation.” Of Mr. Selsam, he noted, “The Salvadori Center sends technically-trained educators into the classrooms of more than 100 students each week. Since 1987, the Center has reached more than 120,000 students through its programs. With Robert Selsam at the helm, the Salvadori Center has grown in reach, resources and diversity.”

" This award really belongs to the volunteers and the mentors in the program, as well as the individuals and firms that provide resources to the program and for scholarships,” said Mr. Magliano. Thanks to their efforts, ACE is able to provide “career guidance at a point in (students’) lives when it can be most effective.”

Said Mr. Selsam, “The important thing is that we teach students that learning is fun. We encourage them to be the type of citizens New York needs, and we know that it works. I am especially touched by this award because of the high esteem I held for George Fox. He set a tremendous example.”

In commenting on the success of the luncheon, Building Congress President Richard T. Anderson said, “The Building Congress is grateful to each of you for your participation and support of this annual celebration. For the past 85 years, this organization has brought together members of the design, construction and real estate community of the City of New York.”

The Executive Co-Chairmen for the luncheon were Gregory Hodkinson of ARUP, Gregory Kelly of Parsons Brinckerhoff, Dominick Servedio of STV Group and Sam Spata of HOK Architects.