Author Archives: Laurie-Anne Haller

Earlier this week and in celebration of Women’s History Month, Kathleen Farewell, PE, joined a panel discussion hosted by Dattner Women+ centering women in the construction industry. Moderated by Deniz Secilmis and Tara Marandino, the conversation focused on each woman’s experiences working in their various roles in construction, their own professional journeys, challenges they face, and the development of the next generation of women in the design and construction field. Kate was joined on the panel by Carolyn Caranante, AIA, Senior Project Manager at AECOM Tishman and lecturer in Construction Administration at Columbia University, and Sarah Rosenblatt, AIA, Conservator at Integrated Conservation (ICR-ICC).

Zubatkin Owner Representation, A Cumming Group Company, is a proud sponsor of the MAAM Building Museums Symposium! The Building Museums conference brings together museum colleagues, design and construction professionals, and other consulting partners to discuss strategies and best practices for the successful planning and implementation of museum building projects. Learn more via the MAAM Building Museums website.

We hope you’ll join us in Philadelphia, where Andrew Bast will be speaking during the March 7th afternoon plenary session. Led by Amy Weisser of the Storm King Arts Center, the panel will discuss strategies for effectively advancing an institution’s mission throughout the capital project planning and delivery process. In addition, Zubatkin’s Cumming Group colleague Etienne Nel will be sharing expertise on budget development and cost management during the Ready Aim Build! Workshop on March 6th.

This past weekend, members of our Zubatkin team were joined by their families in celebrating the opening of the new Toby Devan Lewis Education Center at the Brooklyn Museum. The newly renovated gallery includes exhibit space for family-friendly installations, and three new studios that encourage visitors in art-making and creative expression, with room to host classes for visitors of all ages.

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 Art Sharon Matt Atkins, and Museum Architect Ken Kurtz, as well as collaborators Stephen Yablon, Sam Anderson, AYON Studio Architecture • Preservation, P.C., and Gilbane New York-New Jersey. We applaud this significant milestone!

Zubatkin Owner Representation is pleased to announce its merger with Cumming Group. Zubatkin will expand Cumming Group’s NYC headquarters headcount to more than 200 team members, while also growing the firm’s presence in Florida. Zubatkin’s experience in the institutional sector will enhance Cumming Group’s ability to serve the cultural and educational markets in the United States and Europe.

Our team is excited about this next chapter in our firm’s history! With the benefit of the additional resources and enhanced service offerings that come through this partnership, we have a solid foundation for a very successful future.  We look forward to our continued commitment to excellence in serving clients across the East Coast. Read more.

As we begin a new year, we are excited to share several new staff promotions. Anna Kluger is being promoted to Project Director. Lauren DeVito, Joyce Kim, and Mi Zhou are being promoted to Project Manager.

Each of these individuals is being recognized for their strong work ethic, commitment to our clients, and dedication to Zubatkin’s mission of delivering projects according to the highest quality standards. We are proud to have Anna, Lauren, Joyce and Mi Zhou as a part of our team. We look forward to their continued growth in their new roles. Congratulations!

We are pleased to announce the recent promotions of Avi Englard and Mahan Khajenoori from Senior Project Manager to Vice President. Avi and Mahan are being recognized for their strong work ethic, deep commitment to our mission, and ability to partner with our clients to deliver their goals. During their tenure at Zubatkin, they have established themselves as leaders within our organization and are well-respected by their peers. They are often sought out for their strategic approach, technical expertise, industry knowledge, and creative problem-solving skills. Please join us in congratulating Avi and Mahan, as well as wishing them continued success in their new roles!

We are honored to have two Zubatkin projects included in the Wall Street Journal’s recent article, “The Best Architecture of 2023: Solving Problems in Imaginative Style.” Both the American Museum of Natural History’s Gilder Center and Buffalo AKG Art Museum were highlighted – for their “imaginative problem-solving, masterly use of innovative technology, and concern for the human experience of a building.” Read more about both projects here.

Construction began last month on the 80,000 SF expansion to the New-York Historical Society’s landmarked Upper West Side building. Dubbed the “Democracy Wing,” the five-story addition was designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA) and will provide much-needed space for their growing educational programs, collection conservation and storage, exhibition galleries, and The American LGBTQ+ Museum.

Trustees purchased the adjoining lot in 1937, foreseeing the critical and always-evolving role N-YHS plays in teaching, documenting, and preserving New York’s history. According to NYHS’s President and CEO Dr. Louise Mirrer, this new expansion “will serve as a beacon for democracy education, a powerhouse of inclusive history, and a home for history enthusiasts of all backgrounds and perspectives.”

After being engaged to facilitate the initial feasibility study and development of the scope, Zubatkin continues to oversee the design and preconstruction – managing the day-to-day implementation of the expansion and advising on the procurement and contracting strategy. We are proud to be part of the team delivering this exceptional project that will help preserve and broaden access to New York’s diverse history. Read more about the project on N-YHS’s website and in the Architect’s Newspaper.

The Pennington School formally announced the launch of the Forever Pennington campaign, which outlines a historic investment in the campus and positions the 185-year old institution for the future.  With a $50 million goal, the campaign builds on the School’s core strengths and harnesses the momentum experienced in recent decades, ensuring future generations of students will benefit from Pennington’s transformational education. This visionary initiative will advance strategic priorities related to the student experience, faculty excellence, facilities and campus improvements, and financial sustainability.

Over the past five years, Zubatkin has served as a trusted advisor to The Pennington School in supporting its planning initiatives, including a landscape master plan and campus master plan with Digsau Architects and Quennell Rothschild & Partners in response to an updated strategic plan for its 55-acre New Jersey campus. Members of our Zubatkin team attended the official campaign launch event last month as a sign of our ongoing support. We were excited to see the realization of the most ambitious campaign in Pennington’s history and look forward to seeing the implementation of the next phases!  Learn more through the Campaign Video.

At Zubatkin, we have a deep respect (and love) for the buildings and sites that have influenced and contributed to not only their community, but also the urban and rural fabric of our city. Much of our work focuses on the adaptive reuse and restoration of these structures, ensuring the building has a longer and more sustainable life, while also retaining and revitalizing the cultural vibrancy of the surrounding area.

As proud members of the Professional Circle with The New York Landmarks Conservancy, an organization that helps to support these projects, we’d like to acknowledge the honorees of the Conservancy’s 50th Anniversary Living Landmarks Celebration – including our longtime collaborator His Eminence, Timothy Cardinal Dolan. Through his work leading the Archdiocese of New York, Cardinal Dolan’s contributions to New York City ensure that it remains culturally vibrant, resilient, and relevant for generations to come. Congratulations!