Author Archives: Laurie-Anne Haller

Last month, the Studio Museum in Harlem received its Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO), a critical step that brings us closer to the planned opening of the Museum’s new facility in Fall 2025. This project has been more than ten years in the making and will amplify the voices of contemporary Black artists as part of Harlem’s incredible cultural landscape, as well as further advance the Museum’s mission on the global arts stage.

For our team at Zubatkin, this project embodies our dedication to supporting cultural institutions and community-based planning and construction projects. We’re humbled to be part of this landmark project, and we look forward to celebrating the opening next year alongside the Museum and project team Cooper Robertson, Adjaye Associates, and Sciame Construction. Read more: Studio Museum in Harlem to Open New Building in Fall 2025 – The New York Times

Photo by Dana Cohen

Doubling its footprint and making room for more classroom and hands-on exhibition space, The National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath) recently announced that it will move from its current temporary location to a new, 34,000 SF location in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan in 2026. The new space will allow the museum to feature its popular interactive exhibitions, as well as add areas for classrooms, early childhood education, and presentations.

Originally opened in 2012, MoMath is the first museum dedicated to mathematics in the United States, striving to enhance the public’s understanding and perception of mathematics, and highlighting the role of math in illuminating patterns and structures all around us. Zubatkin has been a trusted partner to MoMath since the institution’s founding. Working closely with the Museum’s leadership and exhibition teams, we supported the conceptualization and development of MoMath’s original space on Madison Square Park and are now overseeing the planning and construction of the temporary and new facilities. Read more in the New York Times.

We wanted to recognize our very own Kasey Pace, Vice President at Zubatkin Owner Representation, for volunteering her time with CREW NY at Bronx International High School. The event was aimed at inspiring young women to explore career paths in real estate, introducing them to a variety of roles.

As a panelist and longtime supporter of CREW NY, Kasey brought valuable insights to the discussion. She shared her personal journey working in construction management and her transition to the role of owner’s representative, emphasizing the importance of interpersonal and leadership skills in supporting her career.

We look forward to seeing the impact the next generation of female leaders will have on the industry. Kudos to CREW NY and Bronx International High School for fostering these valuable conversations!

Congratulations to The New York Historical on this significant milestone in its 220-year history!  It has been a privilege to partner with New York Historical in the planning, design, and construction of a new Wing devoted to American democracy.

Designed by Robert A. M. Stern Architects, the Wing will be named after two major benefactors, H.M. Agnes Hsu-Tang and Oscar L. Tang in honor of their $20 million contribution. The project is also receiving significant public funding, including $57 million from the City of New York.

We cannot think of a better way to prepare for the project’s opening in 2026.  Read more in the New York Times.

Ronald McDonald House New York recently opened a new Family Room at Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx. This new Family Room marks the latest exciting expansion of the program as the third Family Room to open, with a fourth following shortly this fall. These spaces provide families and caregivers with a quiet respite for meals, rest, and additional support while their children undergo treatment for serious illnesses. The Family Rooms are an important part of Ronald McDonald House New York’s outreach programs.

Zubatkin is proud to have been a long-term partner of Ronald McDonald House New York, working closely with them to support the ongoing expansion of their Family Room program across multiple locations. For this project, we collaborated with Fradkin & McAlpin Architects and Coyle Contracting Corporation to successfully deliver this critical space.

Zubatkin’s Kate Farewell and Caren Faye recently facilitated three workshops with pastors and congregational leaders during Princeton Theological Seminary’s Iron Sharpening Iron Seminar. Throughout the two-day event, speakers from different organizations and institutions led several workshops on decision-making around an institution’s real estate holdings. Following the seminar theme, The Future of Church Property: Evolving with Integrity, Kate and Caren discussed best practices to strategically approach facilities assessments and deferred maintenance while shaping an institution’s future planning and budgeting.

During the seminar, attendees and speakers also attended an evening event at the Farminary, which included a conversation between the seminar’s anchor speaker, Lindsay Baker, CEO of the International Living Future Institute and Director of the Farminary, Nate Stucky.

Iron Sharpening Iron is an executive leadership program for women from diverse sectors of leadership in church, business, and public service that promotes women through theological integrity and sophisticated philosophy and practice. Learn more about the program here.

This week, our very own Mark Minkley and Alan Clark, will join Tannenbaum Helpern Construction & Design attorneys Kenneth Block and Brandon Reiner for a session on “An Owner’s Guide to Controlling Construction Costs on Capital Projects”.

The webinar will provide practical advice for owners and their advisors in preparing and maintaining the budget and obligating their contractors to meet the budget through different types of contractual delivery methods and cost control strategies. The panelists will discuss how to select the right project delivery method for the job, best practices for “de-risking” the project, managing change orders and contractor delays, and ensuring overall QA/QC.

Join us on Thursday, October 24^th at 1:00pm (EST) by registering for this interactive webinar.

We are pleased to share the promotion of Krista Kennedy to Senior Project Manager.  Krista is being recognized for her strong work ethic, commitment to excellence, and key contributions to many of our institutional projects. We look forward to her continued contributions and growth in this new role.  Please join us in congratulating Krista!

Last month, our team was thrilled to take part in the ribbon cutting of Long Island Lutheran Middle and High School (LuHi)’s New Classroom Wing and Innovation Center. The newly renovated 31,000 square foot facility includes modern, bright, and flexible educational and ancillary spaces that will inspire students and foster collaboration for decades to come. With cutting-edge technology, modern furnishings, and flexible workspaces, the new wing provides the ideal environment for LuHi students to thrive.

Zubatkin is honored to have partnered with LuHi, Sage and Coombe Architects, and Archstone Builders on this project.  We look forward to our continued collaboration supporting LuHi’s incredible community. Congrats team!

Over the past weekend, members of our Zubatkin team celebrated the completion and opening of the new Brooklyn Museum Café. Designed by Office of Tangible Space and in celebration of the Museum’s 200th anniversary, the new café brings together food, art, design, and community into its naturally lit front pavilion. Driven by its mission to bring people together through art and experiences, the final space embodies the Museum’s philosophies with its open, inviting, and impactful layout and design.

Zubatkin continues to provide project management services to the Museum, representing its interests throughout the capital planning process. We are honored to work alongside the Museum’s in-house team, including Director Anne Pasternak, President & COO KP Trueblood, Deputy Director for Operations, Engineering & Facilities Hardat Raywat, and Museum Architect Kenneth Kurtz, AIA, LEED AP; as well as collaborators Office of Tangible Space; Andre Hueston Mack; Friend of Chef; Oyster Sunday; Kitchen Connect; Great Performances; and Meveca. Congrats to the entire team!

Earlier this week, Kathleen Farewell, PE joined Laura Berman, Assistant VP, Architecture and Design | Assistant University Architect at Rutgers University, and Petar Mattioni, Partner at KSS Architects at the Eastern Region of Association of Physical Plan Administrators (ERAPPA) Annual Conference to discuss best practices for maximizing institutional resources through multimodal design. The conversation focused on how colleges and universities can best approach underutilized campus assets and close gaps in student experience by utilizing high-impact, capital-conscious design strategies.

The ERAPPA conference brings together educational facilities professionals in order to support the common interests of planning, maintenance, and operations of facilities within the region’s institutions. Learn more about ERAPPA here.

Zubatkin Senior Principal Julie Geden recently sat down with AIA New York | Center for Architecture to discuss her career overseeing projects in the cultural and educational sectors, as well as her roots in design advocacy. Serving as this year’s Chair of the Dinner Circle for Common Bond: The Center for Architecture Gala, Julie elaborates on her 20-years collaborating with some of the most highly regarded institutions, the people who have impacted her professional path, and the lessons she’s learned along the way. Read about her journey here.

Join Julie in celebrating New York City’s architectural history and those who work to advance its tradition of design. Visit AIANY’s event page to purchase tickets and for additional information about sponsorships.