Upbeat architects predict $36b construction boom.

"The industry predicts $36 billion in construction in New York City over the next 10 years--and that's in addition to the City's 'normal' average of $16 billion a year," said NYC Department of Buildings Commissioner Patricia Lancaster, FAIA, setting the upbeat tone for "Meet the Architects," presented by Professional Women in Construction on August 24 at La Maganette Ristorante in New York City.

A similarly optimistic David Resnick, newly appointed associate commissioner with the NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC), forecast continued growth and uncompromisingly high standards.

"We're at a point now where we have the opportunity to build New York City into a site of international caliber," said Resnick.

The representatives from City government were two from a roster of guest speakers introduced by PWC President Lenore Janis as members of an all-star cast from the architecture and design community.

The program, which also included table-top exhibits and networking, was sponsored by AXA Advisors LLC; Donaldson Acoustics Co.; Meadows Office Furniture; Milrose Consultants; F.J. Sciame Construction Co.; and SimplexGrinnell.

Lancaster credited Mayor Michael Bloomberg for the groundswell of activity and told the audience that residential property values were up 15% while building permits had increased by 5% over the previous fiscal year. Since, she explained, every $1 million in construction spending generates 18 jobs in the city, the numbers signify a huge growth.

Resnick explained that the DDC handles $4 billion of the city's construction portfolio. In the last five years, the city has undertaken 400 projects a year for an annual average of $1 billion in spending. He outlined Bloomberg's new Design and Construction Initiative, an innovative procurement effort targeting small (under 10 people) and large architectural firms in a push to draw new talent to city agencies, and a new Peer Review process.

Donald Fram, AIA, made his first public appearance as the new chief architect of the Port Authority of NY and NJ.

He said that the Authority was "raising the bar" on all standards and had gained increased understanding of the "importance of architecture and good engineering."

He noted that the Authority's "multidiscipline interaction makes us better able to serve the design community." Fram spoke too of an active consultant program, particularly regarding the city's infrastructure.

Fanny Gong, AIA, a partner with HLW International, one of the largest global architectural engineering firm's in the country, applauded efforts to have the A/E/C community come together to exchange ideas and share lessons learned.

Gong spoke of several projects including Avon, a 225,000 s/f corporate headquarters in Rockland County, the United Nations Federal Credit Union, and science labs designed for 32 schools for the NYC School Construction Authority.

Hilary Bertsch, AIA, senior associate of Ehrenkrantz, Eckstut & Kuhn, Architects (EE&K), explained the firm's guidelines for waterfront projects currently in progress in LA and Bayonne, New Jersey: integrate the new with existing elements, heed precedents, and include a water plan.

Mary Jane Eastman, FAIA, MRAIC, principal with Perkins Eastman Architects and recipient of many awards for design projects, identified current trends in the building community: Housing is a bubble, with "buildings sprouting up all over;" development of K-12 schools is particularly busy in the suburbs; healthcare is a strong growth market with a great design interest; public buildings are going up as city agencies receive asked for budgets;" lab research work is also doing well. Corporate interiors are as "iffy" as the employment picture and senior assisted living has subsided somewhat for now.

JJ Falk, IIDC, president of JJ Falk Design LLC, opened her firm seven years ago. A certified woman / minority-owned & small business enterprise, it is a full-service architectural firm specializing in corporate interiors that counts as clients industry showrooms, high-end retail, corporate headquarters and high-tech studios.

Falk calls her firm a "principal-oriented, service company."

Scott Kurland, principal of the Kurland Passaretti Group, spoke of his firm's unique collaborative and integrative approach to interior design and architecture.