New York Building Congress Industry Recognition Dinner

New York Building Congress Salutes Industry’s Best

Nearly 1,000 Attendees at 2005 Industry Recognition Dinner Honor Marilyn Jordan Taylor, Gene McGrath, Philip Altheim, Howard Hirsch and Patricia Lancaster.

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NEW YORK – Nearly 1,000 members of the building community gathered to honor five industry leaders – Marilyn Jordan Taylor, Eugene R. McGrath, Philip Altheim, Howard Hirsch and Patricia J. Lancaster – during the New York Building Congress 2005 Industry Recognition Dinner at the Grand Hyatt New York on October 20.

The annual gala event recognizes the brilliant careers and dedicated civic leadership of New York City’s foremost members of the design, construction and real estate industry.

In presenting a Recognition Award to Skidmore, Owings & Merrill Partner Marilyn Jordan Taylor, Building Congress Chairman Frank J. Sciame said, “Marilyn Taylor’s leadership

in urban design, and airports, and transportation has been extraordinary. She cares deeply about complex public and institutional projects, and her commitment to civic and
professional causes knows no bounds.”

Taylor used the occasion of the award to thank her family, including her late husband whom she credited with “getting me here.” She also thanked her children, adding, “It is nice to reflect on the fact that we do it (build for the future) for them – our kids. I am pleased to play a very small part in making this City extraordinary.”

In presenting a special recognition award to Lancaster, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Buildings, STV Group Inc. Chairman/CEO and 2005 Dinner Chairman Dominick M. Servedio noted that she took over an agency in dire need of reform. “In little over three years, she has taken on the twin challenges of creating a work structure that deters corruption and improving services,” Servedio said. “She is leading an extraordinary effort to revise the City’s building code, which we hope will become law this year.”
Lancaster thanked those in attendance for working with the Department of Buildings in modernizing the building code and creating a more efficient system. The Department had long been derided as an inefficient and difficult to navigate bureaucracy at the time of
her appointment by Mayor Michael Bloomberg. “We wanted to change that so that
companies could come here to live, work and build. We’re moving in the right direction but we’re not done.”

In presenting the 2005 Recognition Award to Consolidated Edison Chairman Eugene R. McGrath, Rudin Management C.O.O. John J. Gilbert III praised McGrath’s decades of work at Con Edision and his role in promoting the continued economic growth of New York City. In summing up Mr. McGrath’s critical responsibilities, Gilbert said, “If he
doesn’t do his job right, the City stops.”

McGrath in his acceptance said he was proud to receive an award from the men and women of design, construction and real estate, whom McGrath described as “the people who build New York.” He continued, “It has been an honor to light up the City and show the world the work that you have done.”

Tishman Construction Corporation President John T. Livingston presented Recognition Awards to Forest Electric Corp. Chairman/CEO Philip Altheim and President Howard Hirsch. “To me, Philip Altheim and Howard Hirsch represent what is so exceptionally
good and generous about this industry. Both are widely respected for leading a major company while being extraordinarily active in the industry and civic affairs. Just listing their charitable affiliations is breathtaking.”

Altheim said, “I’m blessed and proud to be honored with my partner Howard. I’m blessed and proud to be part of EMCOR. And I’m blessed and proud to be part of an industry that does so much to make this world better.”

The evening also included a video, which saluted the honorees for their vision and
resolve in creating long-term assets for New York City, and performances by the USO of Metropolitan New York Troupe.

“This is the tenth industry-wide celebration since the Industry Recognition Dinner was launched on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Building Congress in 1996,” said Building Congress President Richard T. Anderson. “Our thanks to our Dinner Chairman Dominick Servedio as well as to our Executive Co-Chairmen Anthony Florez, John Gilbert, Thomas Iovino, John Livingston and William Smith for their exceptional work in making this evening one of the most successful ever.”