NAIOP NYC recently hosted its Cultural Developments Panel on Wednesday, September 18, 2019 from 8:30 to 10:30 AM at Gensler’s Manhattan office. The panel examined the complex process of planning, implementing and managing new construction, renovation and expansion projects for New York City’s major cultural institutions, as well as current trends related to building across a range of museum sizes, scales, budgets and scope.

Moderated by Jerry Salama, Principal of Janus Property Company, NAIOP’s lively panel was filled with leading professional experts in the field of museum design and construction, including Eric Hahn, Senior Director, Colliers Project Leaders USA;Brendan P. Weiden, PE and Partner, Jaros, Baum & Bolles;Chuck Kneaves, Vice President and Project Management, Leher Cumming; and Michelle Neary, Architect and Associate, Gensler.

“I was honored to have been part of a panel with other distinguished leaders in the field of museum design and construction,” said Hahn. “There’s a diverse array of projects across Manhattan thatare revitalizing landmark institutions with storied histories and new ones transforming the cultural landscape of New York.”

“I was excited to moderate this incisive panel, as well as share the exciting developments happening at the Manhattanville Factory District, which is transforming West Harlem into a vibrant hub for local art culture and business,” said Salama.

“The projects presented today highlight the arts and culture of New York through pioneering construction management and design, including JB&B’s own MEP engineering that has helped to deliver innovative cultural spaces across the city, including recently on Manhattan’s West Side and Hudson Yards,” said Weiden.”

“New York’s cultural institutions are in the midst of an exciting period of audience engagement,” said Tiffany Greenidge, President, NAIOP NYC. “These innovative leaders are engaged in the New York’s most complex projects and their experiences offered attendees thought provoking insights.”

About Jerry Salama

Jerry Salama has been a Principal of Janus for more than20 years. Previously, he was Deputy Commissioner of theNew York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, Acting General Manager of the New York CityHousing Authority and Counsel to the Deputy Mayor of New York for Finance and Economic Development.Prior to public service, he was a real estate attorney with Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison.For two decades, he has taught New York Land Use,Housing and Community Development at the New York University School of Law. He received a JD from Harvard Law School, MPP from Harvard's Kennedy Schoo lof Government and BA in Public Policy from the University of Pennsylvania.

About Eric Hahn

Hahn has been involved in the construction industry for more than 25 years and has completed multiple concurrent capital improvement projects for The Metropolitan Museum of Art, including the recent redesign of the outdoor plaza that extends from 80th Street to 84th Street along Fifth Avenue and the renovation of the Costume Institute Galleries.Additionally. He is also working on the development of a new building for a private school on the Upper East Side that includes a secondary modernization project of the existing facility.In addition to his work at the Museum, Hahn has worked as a construction manager and as a design engineer. His unique background as an owner, builder and designer has been of great value when working on complex projects with challenging site logistics, schedules and budgets.

About Brendan P. Weiden

Weiden has served as a Partner at JB&B since 1989 and has acted as the Project Manager on a wide variety of projects, including cultural, higher education, critical operations buildings and government buildings, as well as major upgrades of landmarked buildings.Weiden’s experience on museum and cultural projects includes the Whitney Museum of American Art and NASCAR Hall of Fame. As a leader of JB&B’s building infrastructure team, he has also been engaged in the repositioning of legacy buildings including landmarked properties such as Rockefeller Center, The Ford Foundation and 28 Liberty. Weiden holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Manhattan College, a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Stern School of Business at New York University and is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of New York.

About Chuck Kneaves

Kneaves is a proven construction professional with a 25-year track record of delivering complicated projects from his position on the owner’s side project management team.As a mechanical engineer with a design background, combined with a Master of Business Administration, Chuck brings a complete view of the technical and commercial aspects of construction management to ensure the highest result for the institutional and public owners for whom he has delivered projects.Some of the major projects that Chuck has been instrumental in include Alfred Lerner Hall and the Renovation of Low Memorial Library at Columbia University, the National September 11 Memorial and Museum and the MoMA Expansion.

About Michelle Neary

Primarily working on base building and cladding, Neary has enjoyed working through the development of interior spaces for projects ranging from residential renovations to million square-foot new construction.Throughout the design and construction phases, Michelle’s familiarity with codes translates into her ability to anticipate design conflicts and provide design solutions at the earliest stages of the project. Having completed projects on both coasts and in Texas, Michelle’s most recent experience has been in realization of unique exterior wall systems on projects for Columbia University Medical Center and the Museum of Modern Art.

About NAIOP NYC

Founded in 2008, the New York City chapter of NAIOP represents NYC’s most respected commercial real estate companies and is NAIOP’s fastest growing chapter. The chapter provides members unparalleled industry networking, educational and socially conscience programs and events, in addition to advocating for effective legislation on behalf of the commercial real estate industry members. NAIOP advances responsible, sustainable development that creates jobs and benefits the communities in which our members work and live.