Top NYC general contractor unveils Interiors Division.

In response to tremendous demand from corporations and their construction advisors for quality and scrupulous general contracting services, Nab Construction has formed a new division, Nab Interiors, to specialize in corporate interiors construction. The announcement was made by Gary L. Simpson, president of the 45-year-old general contracting firm that made its name on such high-profile jobs as the Jacob Javits Center, the reconstruction of Yankee Stadium and the restoration of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

"We enter this market from a position of strength and expertise, and a singular commitment to quality that will translate well from our large-scale projects to the world of corporate interiors," Simpson said. "Only the largest interiors firms can match our resources of professional personnel and breadth of expertise, and we look forward to debuting our quality-minded, team-focused operation in this very receptive market."

Nab Interiors shares the resources of the 140-professional-strong Nab Construction Corporation, including its engineering, scheduling, estimating, quality-control and safety departments. In addition, Nab Interiors is able to export its parent's expertise in both historic renovation and high-tech projects. According to Robert Scheinman, vice president and general manager, who heads up the new division after more than 24 years as an interiors general contractor, the firm's background translates well to the field of interiors construction in New York City.

"So many New York buildings are historic - or at least very old - that interiors work requires the supervision and expertise of a general contractor with a tremendous track record for sensitive, historic work," Scheinman said. "At the same time, every corporate interiors build-out contains high-tech elements - from computers to HVAC requirements to cabling for communications systems - which require the attention of a general contractor well versed in the language and disciplines of modern office systems and construction techniques."

"Nab has expertise in both arenas," he noted. "We also bring a sophisticated and unyielding commitment to quality that comes from a half century of work in the public sector. Any GC who's been through the scrutiny of a single public sector job knows how rigorous the standards are that must continually be met. We are anxious to put the same performance standards to work on behalf of the private sector."

Nab Interiors, which came into being in February, has already secured its first major assignment: the $1.5 million interior restoration of the courtroom and ancillary rooms at an important Manhattan courthouse. The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, located at 27 Madison Avenue, will benefit from a thorough historical revitalization by Nab Interiors. The parameters of the work include: Marble restoration, architectural woodworking, restoration and replacement of stained glass, installation of custom bronze grills, decorative plastering, and refinishing antique courtroom furniture. Nab's inaugural project begins immediately.

"We're off and running with this first assignment, which we are confident will be a showcase for Nab Interiors' ability to deliver superior interiors construction - on-time and on-budget - even in a delicate and historically sensitive building like the Courthouse," Scheinman said. He added that the firm is so optimistic, based on preliminary response from the market, that it is adding professional staff to its executive operation in order to meet pent-up demand.

Among the firm's new hires are Louis Araten and Michael Garone. Together, these two professionals bring more than 60 years of professional interiors work to Nab Interiors.

"We aren't just putting our toe in the water to test the temperature," Scheinman explained. "We are making a full commitment to the interiors business, including the recruitment of top industry talent, the dedication of significant company resources, and a very aggressive marketing program to introduce ourselves to the corporate market of the myriad advisors who play a role in the relocation and renovation decisionmaking process."

Nab Construction Corporation, founded in 1954, is one of New' York's most prominent general contractors, having successfully completed over $750 million in general contracting work during the past five years alone. Some of its most noteworthy and complex assignments include the restoration and renovation of New York City landmarks, including the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, Yankee Stadium, the Brooklyn Bridge, Grand Central Station and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Nab Construction is supported by fully staffed engineering, scheduling, estimating, quality control and safety departments.