Events

Architects Leadership Council

Architects Leadership Council

NEW YORK BUILDING CONGRESS HONORS FOUR BUILDING COMMUNITY TITANS FOR SERVICE TO CITY AND THE INDUSTRY

NEW YORK – Nearly 1,000 members of the building community gathered to pay tribute to four industry legends during the New York Building Congress 2014 Industry Recognition Dinner on November 19 at the Grand Hyatt in Manhattan.

Parsons Corporation Chairman, CEO, and President Charles L. Harrington and Perkins Eastman Chairman Bradford Perkins, FAIA, AICP, MRAIC were honored with Industry Recognition Awards. The George A. Fox Public Service Award was presented to Jones Lang LaSalle Vice Chairman Raymond Quartararo, and the Building Congress offered Special Recognition to DASNY President and CEO Paul T. Williams Jr.

New York City School Construction Authority President and CEO Lorraine Grillo delivered greetings to the dinner attendees. “It is an honor to be here tonight, and I know I speak for most of you in the audience when I say how proud I am to be a part of the Building Congress, which does so much for our industry and our City.” The evening’s award recipients, she said, are “truly the finest representatives that our industry has to offer, and they are so deserving of the honors they are about to receive.”

Building Congress Chairman Thomas Z. Scarangello praised Parson Corporation Chairman, CEO, and President Charles Harrington for expertly leading a global firm with more than 15,000 employees and annual revenues of $3 billion. Mr. Scarangello, who also serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Thornton Tomasetti, added, “Since joining Parsons in 1982, he has worked across the globe and steadily risen in the ranks. For his innovations and industry leadership, the Building Congress is pleased to present him with our 2014 Industry Recognition Award.”

Mr. Harrington, who noted that Parsons’ roots in New York City go back over 100 years, said of all the people in the room, “What drives us all is our desire to do great things; to leave a legacy and create an example for future generations.” Mr. Harrington, whose firm is currently working on the Second Avenue Tunnel, the WTC transit hub, and renovation of the Goethals Bridge, added, “Great cities are built on great infrastructure, but infrastructure does not have an infinite life, and replacing it is always more complicated and expensive than building it the first time.” As a result, he said the industry must always look for ways to innovate and form dedicated partnerships with the public sector. 

Douglaston Development Chairman and Dinner Co-Chair Jeffrey E. Levine presented the second Industry Recognition award to Bradford Perkins. “Brad’s contributions to the design and construction community have extended over 40 years, but his impressive career has covered much more than design excellence. He is the author of more than 80 articles and book chapters, as well as five textbooks on a variety of architectural and planning topics,” said Mr. Levine. He added, “His awards include Lifetime Achievement from the New York Society of Architects and the Platinum Circle Award from the Hospitality Design Association, and he has served as Chairman of Helen Keller International.”

Mr. Perkins used the bulk of his acceptance to praise the City where he has lived and worked for the past four decades. “Unlike most of you in this room, I did not grow up here. But for an ambitious person with an idea and a willingness to work hard, New York is the best place in America to start a firm,” he said, adding, “New York offers more opportunities and a more level playing field than any city I know.”

Sciame Construction LLC President and Dinner Co-Chair Joseph G. Mizzi praised George A. Fox Public Service Award winner Raymond Quartararo for his substantial contributions to multiple charitable and civic organizations, which go well beyond his professional responsibilities.  “Raymond has taken a leadership role and shared his enthusiasm and expertise to organizations ranging from the United Way to the March of Dimes and the Westchester Children’s Museum.  He is a Governor of the New York Building Foundation, serves on the Board of St. Dominick’s Home, and is the Board President of the Greater New York Councils of the Boy Scouts of America.”

Mr. Quartararo used his acceptance to highlight the building community’s generosity of spirit and to thank his colleagues at Jones Lang LaSalle and around the industry for supporting his and many other causes. “In totality, the need around us is overwhelming – so many organizations, so many and people who need and deserve our help.  But look at the impact we have all had collectively.”

New York-Presbyterian Senior Vice President for Facilities Development and Engineering Sharon Greenberg presented a Special Recognition to Paul Williams, who has served as DASNY President and CEO, saying, “Paul’s outstanding record in leading a workforce of more than 500 employees led to his reappointment by Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2010. He has successfully restructured the organization, transforming its culture and launching new products and business models. Throughout his career, he has been a highly-effective advocate for diversity and equal opportunity. He has served as President of One Hundred Black Men, Inc. of New York and is the co-founder and board director of the Eagle Academy Foundation, among many other activities.”

Mr. Williams, who credited his family as his inspiration, accepted the award “on behalf of all of the men and women at DASNY whom I have had the honor and pleasure to serve as President and CEO over the past six-and-a-half years.” He said his DASNY career has been blessed three-fold. “We have a dedicated and smart Board of Directors who help support and guide us in our mission. We have a talented, committed staff of professionals who serve the people of this great State to the best of their ability.” His third blessing, he said, is the opportunity to work directly and indirectly with the design, construction, and real estate industry.

“Beginning in 1996, the Building Congress takes one evening to salute the extraordinary leadership and professional accomplishments of top leaders in our industry. Including this year, we have honored 58 amazing individuals and organizations from design, construction, real estate, and government in the City of New York,” said Building Congress President Richard T. Anderson. “I am delighted to report that this is our most successful dinner, thanks especially to the dinner underwriters – Douglaston Development, Sciame Construction, and Parsons.”