The New York office of global architecture and design firm Perkins+Will announced today the addition of two leaders to its workplace practice: Meena Krenek and Jennifer Graham.
Meena Krenek, IIDA, LEED AP, is an associate principal and interior designer with experience creating workplaces for Fortune 500 companies and other high-profile institutions.
Krenek comes to New York from the Atlanta office of Perkins+Will, where she spent 10 years earning global recognition for her work on transformational branded interiors projects.
These include the U.S. corporate headquarters for AutoTrader Group, Newell Rubbermaid, and The Weather Channel, as well as office renovations for WME | IMG Media, Colliers International, and McKinsey & Company.
Jennifer Graham, IIDA, Associate AIA, LEED AP, is a senior project manager whose clients have included legal and financial institutions, media companies, healthcare groups, and government agencies.
Graham, who holds degrees in both design and business administration, has 25 years of experience and is highly regarded for her organizational leadership skills and an enthusiasm for community-focused projects.
She is working with the New York office’s Social Responsibility Initiative on various pro-bono assignments as part of Perkins+Will’s commitment to the 1% Solution, and is also the founder of LMNOP NYC Inc., a training, mentoring and networking group for the architecture and design community.
Krenek and Graham join a team at the New York office of Perkins+Will, which is led by Casanova, John Sadlon, and Joan Blumenfeld.
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Skanska USA announced two promotions. Jim O’Shea was named Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer and Nicole Didda was promoted to Chief Communications Officer.
Both report directly to Richard Cavallaro, president and CEO of Skanska USA.
In the six years since she joined Skanska, Nicole Didda has built an operation that spans all US units and promotes the brand across multiple audiences.
In her new role, she will continue to develop strategy for all internal and external communications and leverage her change management expertise to define and drive the cultural shifts needed to support Skanska’s 2020 business goals.
Prior to Skanska, Didda served as a Partner at global management consulting firm Oliver Wyman and as an Executive Vice President/General Manager at global communications firm Edelman.
She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Georgetown University.
A 13-year Skanska veteran, Jim O’Shea previously served as Senior Vice President, Human Resources, overseeing all compensation, benefits and administration for more than 10,000 US-based employees and was a key member of Skanska’s Ethics and Compliance Committee.
O’Shea holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resources from Trinity College & University and a Master of Science in Industrial and Labor Relations from Baruch College’s Zicklin School of Business. O’Shea is a native of Roscommon, Ireland.
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David Thurston has been named a vice president and national technical director within the transit and rail technical excellence center of WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff, a global engineering and professional services organization.
In his new position, Dr. Thurston is responsible for increasing the firm’s capabilities in rail systems, developing technical staff, project management for major rail undertakings, marketing support and review of business practices and technology innovations.
Dr. Thurston has more than 37 years of experience in rail systems engineering and integration, with an emphasis on the design, construction supervision, and installation of railroad and transit systems.
Prior to joining WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff, he was a vice president of an international engineering firm, serving as the rail and transit sector manager.
Dr. Thurston received a bachelor of science degree in electrical and computer engineering from Clemson University; a master of science in electrical and computer engineering from George Mason University; and a doctorate in engineering from Temple University.
He is a Fellow with the Institution of Railway Signal Engineers and a member of the American Society for Quality, American Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way Association, National Fire
Prevention Association, American Society of Civil Engineers, and the Institution of Electrical and Electronic Engineers.
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Lendlease announced the promotion of Joseph Maraia to Executive General Manager – Development Project Management, reporting to Jeffrey L. Arfsten, Americas Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Construction.
Maraia assumes responsibility for leading the newly created Americas Construction Development Project Management team, which is focused bridging the gap between the Americas construction and development businesses and working through the early steps of acquisition, design, project management and cost planning.
In addition, the team will focus on enhancing the Americas design/build skills across the portfolio.
Previously, Maraia served as the Principal-in-Charge responsible for overall leadership of the New York Healthcare business.
He has over 30 years of comprehensive construction management experience during which he has supervised and managed a wide range of healthcare projects in the New York Metropolitan area. His specialty is bringing large scale, logistically complex, multi-phased programs – requiring the coordination of several team members and numerous trades – from preconstruction to construction.
Maraia received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University.
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Racanelli Construction Company announced that Laurie Lozada has rejoined the company as Project Manager.
She formerly served at Racanelli Construction in the same role for 13 years between April 1998 and March 2011.
She will lend extensive project management experience and skills across key areas of construction management, general contracting, design/build, value engineering and LEED construction.
Since May 2012 and prior to rejoining Racanelli, Lozada served as a Project Manager with E.W. Howell, LLC. Before that, she was a Project Manager with RXR Realty.
Lozada earned her Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc) in Architecture from New York Institute of Technology. Additionally, she holds an Associate’s degree in Design Drafting & Mechanical Technology from Queensborough Community College.
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Hunter Roberts Construction Group introduced Michael Beirne, Vice President and General Manager of Interiors based out of its New York office.
Beirne will oversee the planning, organizing, and executing of our New York commercial interiors and retail markets.
He will manage a staff of 28 and contribute to the overall discussion of Hunter Roberts’ sales, finances, and annual business plan.
With more than 31 years of experience in the metropolitan architecture, engineering, and construction industries, Beirne has led teams of all sizes to deliver some of the most significant corporate interiors, high-end retail, and hospitality jobs in New York City.
His move to Hunter Roberts comes after many years at another leading construction management firm, where he contributed to the build-out of the four-level, 240,000 s/f World Trade Center retail concourse; the addition of all food, beverage, and merchandise components suites at the new Yankee Stadium; and the 225,000 s/f interior fit-out of the Frank Gehry-designed IAC Building.
Most recently, he completed the Nomura Securities project at Worldwide Plaza, an 800,000 s/f fit-out and infrastructure upgrade project, as well as the 1.2 million SF anchor tenant fit-out for Conde Nast at One World Trade Center.
Prior to this, Beirne served as a Principal and Chief Operating Officer for a renowned architecture studio.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture from New York Institute of Technology.
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Sissy Nikolaou has been named a principal multi-hazards and geotechnical engineer in the New York office of WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff.
Dr. Nikolaou is responsible for the firm’s multi-hazard resilience engineering practice as well as applying her expertise in the fields of geotechnical and earthquake engineering.
Nikolaou’s technical capabilities range from structural to geotechnical and seismological engineering with emphasis on performance-based design, seismic hazard analysis, liquefaction evaluation and mitigation, soil-structure interaction, and risk/resiliency assessment of critical facilities under extreme events.
Prior to joining WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff, Dr. Nikolaou was a senior associate with a New York foundation engineering firm, where she established and directed the organization’s geoseismic services.
In the Eastern United States, she is known for bringing earthquake awareness and establishing seismic design standards addressing the regional geology and tectonics, including chairing the seismic committee for the current New York City building code.
Around the globe, she has provided geoseismic services for large projects in earthquake-prone areas and has contributed to seismic regulations.
Her experience of more than 20 years includes technical leadership and management of numerous geotechnical and seismic designs and retrofits including the new Tappan Zee Bridge, the AirTrain to JFK Airport, the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and Headquarters of the National Institutes of Health outside of Washington, D.C., and the Queensboro and Robert F. Kennedy (Triboro) bridges. S
Dr. Nikolaou received her diploma in structural engineering from the National Technical University in Athens, Greece, and her M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in earthquake/geotechnical engineering from the University at Buffalo, where she is now a member of the advisory board for the dean of engineering.
She is licensed professional engineer in New York, director of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI), and advisory panel member of the Geotechnical Extreme Event Reconnaissance (GEER) Association, and has been part of reconnaissance and recovery missions after disasters including 9-11, Hurricane Sandy, and several earthquakes worldwide.
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ONELUXstudio announced the appointment of Senior Lighting Designer, Gene Lambert, LEED AP.
He brings over eight years of experience in the fields of architecture and lighting design, engaged in a variety of projects, including the $20 million, Dwight Englewood School STEM Center in Englewood, NJ, 200,000 s/f headquarters office space for Warner Music Group in New York City, and multiple nationwide renovation projects for Deloitte.
Lambert earned his Bachelor of Architecture degree from the Pratt Institute School of Architecture and is an active member of the U.S. Green Building Council, American Institute of Architecture, and the Architectural League of New York.
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Gregory Kelly has been appointed to the CEO Council for Growth in Philadelphia, a group of business, higher education, and civic leaders committed to enhancing economic growth and prosperity in the 11-county region across northern Delaware, southern New Jersey and southeastern Pennsylvania.
Kelly is president and chief executive officer of the U.S., Central and South America region of WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff.
The CEO Council is an initiative of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, influencing regional and national policy through advocacy.
WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff is currently engaged with the Greater Philadelphia Energy Action Team, a multi-industry energy consortium of more than 80 business, public sector, labor and academic leaders assembled by the CEO Council for Growth.
Active in the infrastructure services industry, Kelly frequently speaks on engineering and construction issues and is a member of the executive boards of many leading industry organizations.
Elected to the National Academy of Construction in 2014, he is also a member of the Construction Industry Roundtable and on the board of directors of the New York Building Congress, Regional Plan Association.
Additionally, Kelly has earned degrees from Temple University and the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
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The New Jersey chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA-NJ) announced that Robert Cozzarelli, AIA, will serve the American Institute of Architects as Regional Representative to the organization’s Strategic Council.
Cozzarelli is one of 35 representatives to the AIA Strategic Council, each of whom represent different regions across the United States.
The council is designed to allow the organization to confront the future of architecture proactively and investigate emerging issues in business, practice and design.
Cozzarelli also founded AIA-NJ’s CANstruction event, the charitable design competition the organization arranges each fall which encourages contestants to design unique “sculptures” built entirely out of canned food. Food and proceeds are donated to local food banks.
He is an award-winning architect and planner with over 30 years of professional experience. He specializes in educational, recreational, institutional and residential design for federal, state, municipal and private-sector clients.
Cozzarelli is a principal of both Rutherford-based Cozzarelli-Cirminiello Architects and Bertone Cozzarelli Healthcare Architects, the latter of which specializes in designing long-term care facilities, such as hospitals and nursing homes.
He earned his bachelor of architecture degree from the New Jersey Institute of Technology School of Architecture and is a licensed architect in four states.
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Gilbane Building Company has promoted Brennan Gilbane Koch, a fifth generation family member, to the role of Business Development Manager in New York.
Koch has worked for three years in the role of Manager of Partner and Clients Relations where she has been an integral part in the implementation of the Promoter program, measuring client satisfaction and determining the company improvement strategy from stakeholder feedback.
The transition to Business Development Manager is a natural progression for Brennan, where she can transfer her client communication skills into the new role and further strengthen Gilbane’s client support.
Brennan will continue to manage Gilbane’s Promoter program in addition to her new responsibilities.
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Adler Windows has appointed Brian Greenspan as Director of Operations.
Greenspan will oversee project engineering, project management and field operations.
His previous roles include Vice President of Sundial Schwartz Inc. and Glass Division Manager with Manhattan Shade & Glass.
Adler Windows is a family owned and operated New York window contractor specializing in window installations.
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Skanska USA announced the promotions of Marshall Jones to national creative director, and Elizabeth Miller to director of communications for the northeast region of Skanska USA.
Marshall Jones has spent more than 10 years developing Skanska’s graphics and communications channels.
He continues to play a pivotal role in leveraging sophisticated technology to optimize Skanska’s communications platforms.
Since joining the company in 2010, Elizabeth Miller has led Skanska’s communications efforts in the northeast.
Miller also provides communications support for the firm’s Design-Build Center of Excellence, Sports Center of Excellence and Building Information Modeling/Virtual Design and Construction service groups.
Prior to joining Skanska, Miller was director of communications for the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs for the Bloomberg Administration. She received her bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Tennessee.
