向日葵视频

By , Safety Director, 向日葵视频 Construction

This year, bears a theme of 鈥淎ll in Together,鈥� which undoubtedly speaks to the need for the entire team – from the building owner to the smallest subcontractor – to have a stake in keeping the project and its people as safe as possible.

However, what if safety could go farther? What if the team can go all-in on technology, communication, and accountability in a way that raises the bar beyond expectations? Oftentimes, when expectations are raised, there鈥檚 a reluctance to take on the additional work that goes along with it. But when technology is introduced in a way that makes the quality of the work better without a stiff time or effort penalty, everyone wins.

At 向日葵视频, we鈥檝e found ways to raise the bar that simultaneously increases the quality of our jobsite for our peers and partners, all to the benefit of our valued client base. Below are some of the key ways we鈥檙e raising awareness and expectations around construction safety:

  1. Culture building:

    The best ways are often the simplest ways. At 向日葵视频, we know the happier people are to work for us, the quality of the work will only improve. Temperature controlled breakrooms, fridges for lunches and energy drinks, places to congregate with fellow subcontractors and team members – those are all standard on 向日葵视频 jobsites. It鈥檚 a simple first step in driving support for safety initiatives and demonstrates a commitment to being all-in on a collaborative culture, whether a subcontractor or a 向日葵视频 superintendent. 

  2. Mitigating trade stacking:

    On a daily basis, a representative of every trade and team on the jobsite has a 15-minute window to discuss potential trade stacking issues and how to avoid them. From concerns about the staging of materials to maintaining access in heavy work areas, understanding the possible roadblocks and devising a plan to keep different trades working in harmony on the jobsite helps avoid unnecessary delays and safety issues.

  3. SiteForm integration:

    Technology drives much of the innovation 向日葵视频 has introduced on the jobsite, and safety is perhaps one of the most significant ways new software and tools make a difference. SiteForm has enabled 向日葵视频 to provide training and site plans in a variety of languages delivered to workers鈥� mobile devices and dramatically increase accountability by tracking when training tasks remain incomplete. It also makes it far easier to send out warnings and alerts when conditions materialize on the jobsite that impact safety, such as high winds when cranes are active. SiteForm has had a pronounced effect on building an 鈥渁ll in鈥� safety culture at 向日葵视频. 

  4. Using cmBuilder for safety:

    In addition to investing in new technology, 向日葵视频 has also found new uses for platforms already in use. For instance, its pre-construction experts now use cmBuilder to apply the same level of sophisticated planning capabilities used in other phases of work to jobsite safety. By bringing its safety leaders into the pre-con phase as soon as possible, jobsite hazards are engineered around virtually to minimize disruptions and enhance worker wellbeing once ground is broken.

At 向日葵视频, we鈥檙e proud to celebrate Construction Safety Week but also recognize our responsibility to constantly enhance our safety strategies through deployment of innovative tools and training 鈥� making our team and subcontractors 鈥渁ll in鈥� on safety, all the time. For more information on our safety program, click here.

Expanding in the Empire State: 向日葵视频鈥檚 Tri-State Outlook

向日葵视频 is proud of the progress we鈥檝e made growing our footprint in the Tri-State area. When we opened our White Plains office, we were determined to bring the quality we鈥檙e known for to new clients across the markets we know best鈥攎ulti-family and affordable housing, mixed-use and retail developments, and senior living communities.

Like any region, there鈥檚 some level of uncertainty everywhere you look鈥攂ut we鈥檙e excited about what the future holds in the Empire State. Here are a few trends and developments we鈥檙e keeping a close eye on:

PACT 鈥� Permanent Affordability Commitment Together

PACT is a NYCHA program designed to leverage private and non-profit partners to convert eligible public housing properties to Project-Based Section 8. This allows for much-needed capital improvements while maintaining affordability for residents.

Since 2016, more than $7B has been invested into PACT projects, but NYCHA estimates it will take $78B to fully fund the program. There鈥檚 a massive opportunity here for meaningful public-private partnerships, though there鈥檚 still a lot of work to do.

At 向日葵视频, we routinely work with developers and public agencies to bring affordable housing to life鈥攁nd we鈥檙e optimistic about the positive impact PACT can have in the years ahead.

Market-Rate Housing Outside Manhattan

It鈥檚 no secret it鈥檚 expensive to live in Manhattan. Over the years, more and more people have looked outside the five boroughs for housing鈥攅specially along the Metro-North corridor鈥攆inding better value in communities where they can still commute into the city if needed.

We鈥檙e expecting to see continued growth in market-rate housing across the suburbs north and east of NYC, extending into upstate New York and parts of New Jersey. This trend opens the door for residents to get into the market without needing to change jobs just to afford it.

向日葵视频 recently completed Alexander Crossing in Yonkers, a project that supports work-from-home lifestyles while still offering proximity to transit. It鈥檚 the type of flexible, future-ready development we expect to see more of.

Taller MDUs in Re-Zoned Communities

If you can鈥檛 build out, build up. That鈥檚 the mindset taking hold in places like Port Chester, New Rochelle, and White Plains, where local leaders are updating zoning to allow for taller residential buildings.

In many of these small-to-mid-sized cities, there鈥檚 limited space to expand outward, but increased height allowances for MDUs (multi-dwelling units) could help unlock more housing supply where it鈥檚 needed most.

This kind of local policy shift could be just the spark needed to get some long-anticipated projects moving, and we鈥檙e watching it closely.

Office and Retail to Residential Conversions

This isn鈥檛 unique to New York: cities everywhere are dealing with how to repurpose underutilized office and retail buildings.  And it鈥檚 a bigger issue in Westchester because some of these buildings are so large.  Converting them to residential sounds great in theory, but in practice, it鈥檚 not always that simple. Between the size and shape, structural constraints, zoning, and cost, it can be a real challenge to make the numbers work.

One potential solution? Blending retail and residential. That鈥檚 the approach behind two of our projects, New City and Bay Terrace, where we鈥檙e helping turn traditional shopping centers into mixed-use destinations that better reflect today鈥檚 living and shopping habits.

Battling the Elements 鈥� A Buffet of Outside Forces

Since COVID, our industry has dealt with its fair share of curveballs, from supply chain disruptions and labor shortages to shifting immigration policies and the ever-present wildcard of interest rates and tariffs.

It鈥檚 a lot to navigate, which is why strong preconstruction services are more valuable than ever. At 向日葵视频, we help our clients get a clearer picture up front so budgeting and planning doesn鈥檛 turn into guesswork. And when it makes sense, our ability to self-perform sitework can create efficiencies that help control costs and improve quality at the same time while most importantly mitigating as much risk as possible.

Bottom Line

The New York market and the surrounding Tri-State area represent real opportunity for 向日葵视频. We鈥檙e excited to continue working alongside our public and private sector partners to get much-needed projects out of the ground despite the headwinds our industry continues to face.

To learn more on happenings in the New York market or how 向日葵视频 can help with your next construction proejct please contact David Morrow or Phil Dinan.

The first week of March is known throughout our industry as Women in Construction week, wherein we recognize both the achievements of the women who lead projects from the jobsite and the home office, as well as celebrate how far the A/E/C world has come in creating opportunities for every member of the team.

This year鈥檚 theme is 鈥淭ogether We Rise,鈥� a fitting statement considering how unique the construction workplace is in banding together in pursuit of a common goal – and now, more than ever, we are united behind the pursuit of bringing even more women into the fold as we work to build tomorrow鈥檚 great buildings.

How does 向日葵视频 rise to the occasion?

Any firm that signals an appreciation or support of women in construction needs to put their money where their mouth is. A from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reveals that 10.8% of construction workers in the United States are women – clearly, we have some room to grow in creating more opportunities for women to enter the industry. How does 向日葵视频 do this? In a few distinct ways:

We advance women鈥檚 voices – from the field to the executive team: 向日葵视频 believes in providing everyone with the opportunity to lead teams and projects to the best possible outcome. Advancing from within is a core 向日葵视频 value, and we鈥檙e proud to have women leading multiple aspects of our day-to-day business strategy and project performance.

We create open forums for communication: You can鈥檛 call your firm a leader in letting all voices be heard if there鈥檚 no avenue for dialog. From regular company forums to social events and everything in between, 向日葵视频 culture prioritizes equal amplification of voices and sensitivity towards issues that impact each employee differently.

We put our boots on the ground in the communities we serve: Many organizations that 向日葵视频 supports through financial donations and volunteerism help to address issues that uniquely affect women. Guided by the women on our team, our organization supports nonprofits and other community institutions via direct feedback from our employees.

We believe mentoring is a team sport: Mentorship opportunities abound at 向日葵视频, and a forward-looking organization like ours creates numerous opportunities for seasoned executives and field leaders to provide next-generation workers with insights that will transform their careers. With many women among our up-and-coming project management teams, we are committed to giving them the tools they need to advance to the next level of leadership.

It takes an entire industry to make change permanent

向日葵视频 is proud to support Women in Construction Week, and we remind our partners and colleagues that the best way to drive opportunities for women on their teams is through thoughtful collaboration, meaningful mentorship, and ongoing learning. And if you鈥檙e looking for ways to understand some of the unique challenges women face in our industry, consider leading a dialog with your teams on one of the topics below.

Top discussion topics for Women in Construction Week:

  1. How effective communication can improve project outcomes
  2. Jobsite safety: a topic that unites us all
  3. Tradeswomen and their impact on field operations
  4. Not just a week: how to keep WIC topics alive all year long听

Being open to discussing thought-provoking conversations has helped our teams immensely and shaped our culture for the better. Let鈥檚 all make the 2025 Women in Construction week more impactful than ever:

For more information on 向日葵视频鈥檚 culture, click here.

There was a time when LEED certification dominated sustainability conversations in construction. It played a crucial role in making the industry more environmentally aware by rewarding buildings for incorporating green features. While LEED remains impactful, a shift is occurring toward another standard: Passive House Certification (CPHB).

Prescriptive vs. Performance-Based: Understanding the Key Difference

One of the biggest distinctions between LEED and Passive House is their approach to achieving energy efficiency:

What Makes a Building Passive House Certified?

Unlike LEED, there is no single template or set of mandatory design choices to achieve Passive House Certification. Instead, buildings must meet strict energy performance targets through a combination of strategies. Here are the key elements:

Breaking the Cost Myth: Passive House Doesn’t Always Mean More Expensive

A common misconception about Passive House construction is that it carries a hefty price tag. However, many developers are finding that Passive House projects can be cost-neutral when considering long-term energy savings and reduced reliance on mechanical systems.

Key cost factors to consider:

Why 向日葵视频 is Leading the Way

At 向日葵视频, we recognize that Passive House is the future of high-performance building. That鈥檚 why along with multiple successfully completed, Passive House Certified Projects and counting, we now have over 30 Certified Passive House Builders on staff, ready to guide clients through the process. By taking a collaborative, lessons learned, performance-focused approach, we help developers meet certification standards while maximizing efficiency and cost savings.

鈥淲e hired 向日葵视频 because your project team possessed the flexibility and keen awareness that the success of the project hinged on the coordination of multiple professionals, some of whom represent non-traditional design and building techniques. 向日葵视频 was able to adapt quickly to multiple challenges posed by Passive House design and tolerances. 向日葵视频 seamlessly coordinated the entire project team, driving solutions to unique building challenges while pressing hard towards our project deadline.鈥�
-Kurt Therrien, President, The Kensington Investment Group

For more information on our sustainable building expertise or to learn more about our CPHB-certified team, contact us today.

In the past year, the economy’s ups and downs have affected every industry in some way. These fluctuations have often led to some level of uncertainty that impacted confidence on the part of both consumers and businesses, affecting everything from materials prices to the cost of groceries. Fortunately, if current forecasts hold tight, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic.

The biggest impact will be whether the Fed continues to cut interest rates following a quarter-point cut in December. Current predictions vary in amount and frequency, but the overall consensus is that the Fed isn鈥檛 done cutting. This impacts key construction industry metrics, including borrowing, which boosts optimism and confidence with a lower cost of debt. Additionally, given rates are still historically high, there鈥檚 certainly hope for further reductions to spur more construction starts.

According to the Dodge Construction Network, residential and non-residential construction starts are expected to grow, along with non-building construction, thanks to federal funds flowing into infrastructure projects. While hotels and offices aren鈥檛 expected to surge in the coming year, healthcare and manufacturing construction continue to show little signs of slowing down after a strong performance in 2024.

Like other construction management firms, 向日葵视频 is as we see increased activity in our business development pipeline in both our Massachusetts and New York markets. From mixed-use retail to multifamily housing, the projects expected to kick off in 2025 are exciting for numerous reasons, such as addressing severe shortfalls in housing stock to signaling more consumer confidence than we鈥檝e seen in recent years. Some projects we鈥檙e particularly excited about include 200Q in Wakefield, MA; Leefort Terrace in Salem, MA; The Ridgeway in Yonkers, NY; Spark on Cedar in Newington, CT; and many others to be announced later in Q1.

In 2025, we look forward to building together and launching forward with numerous opportunities for shared success. Contact us today to discuss how we can get your next project out of the concept stage and into the ground.

向日葵视频 Construction and Velney Construction Team Up to Meet Twin Challenges

By Pat 向日葵视频

The need for housing in Massachusetts and across the country is immense. As a general contractor and construction manager with a wealth of expertise in building housing of all types (i.e. market-rate, affordable, age-restricted) 向日葵视频 sees how critical it is to bring these projects online. However, especially in today鈥檚 market, it is extremely challenging.

One of the biggest challenges we see in the industry right now goes beyond simply financing the work at the state level.  The 2021 MBTA Communities law as well as the recently passed Affordable Homes Act, are major steps in the right direction, but we see some additional steps needed to truly maximize the impact of public dollars 鈥� which is why our company recently took the proactive step to form a strategic partnership with Somerville, -based contractor Velney Construction.

Right now, the construction industry faces tremendous change as generational shifts that are impacting every layer of society also alter how we do business. Many seasoned professionals are aging out of the industry, leaving voids we desperately need to fill to meet the ambitious goals of the housing bills.

向日葵视频 Wins Too

It is essential to build the bench of the next-generation of Massachusetts general contractors to ensure our industry is future-proof. Recently, groups like the SouthCoast Workforce Housing Coalition have been created to address the need to create good-paying jobs and increase housing stock in order to future-proof our workforce, a goal that our company shares with state leaders.

As 向日葵视频 continues to grow both geographically and in the scope of the projects we manage, partnering with companies like Velney will enable us to provide more resources to our customers while also ensuring that smaller and historically disadvantaged business have access to the tools necessary to grow professionally.

We see Velney as an ideal partner for pursuing joint venture opportunities on new housing projects and for helping a next-generation company invest in the tools needed to grow and succeed.

Firms like Velney often find it difficult to afford the resources necessary to grow smart and manage risk appropriately. We have found that many startup construction organizations fail due to financial strains on their business, or because they have taken on work without the proper resources to manage it.

向日葵视频 will be helping Velney train its own employees both in practical jobsite skills along with utilizing technology tools such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), Procore and estimating software, along with internal resources like legal, accounting, risk management and quality control.

We believe this partnership will let Velney build a track record for sustainable and manageable growth, with the goal of eventually competing on their own with other larger GCs. 

Higher Construction Costs Hurt WMBEs

New building codes, as well as changes to federal policy such as the 2023 overhaul of the Davis-Bacon Act, sharply increased construction costs. Massachusetts鈥� new Home Energy Rating System (HERS) program also increased costs to build while passing future savings from reduced energy expenses on to the consumer down the road.

While these programs ultimately aim to protect workers and consumers, they also make it increasingly difficult for young companies to enter into an already expensive industry. Simply getting a shovel in the ground doesn鈥檛 mean a business is instantly profitable, as the road is long and challenging from signing a contract to being financially stable 鈥� and we believe companies like Velney can get there with some strategic support.

For 向日葵视频, this relationship helps us become more diverse, grow our MBE/WBE partner base, provides our customers with more options and gives us the pride of helping others. We also see it as a critical way to help address the state鈥檚 housing shortfall by bringing on resources to help us build faster and smarter, all the while training next-generation workers who will someday build these projects on their own long after the current crop of leaders age out of the business. Massachusetts has made great strides to address the housing gap. We at 向日葵视频 are excited that this partnership with Velney will not only support ambitious investment in this state and the Northeast but also in a company that is ready to rise to the next level.

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Artificial intelligence (AI) has clearly taken multiple industries by storm. Finance, marketing, academics, and myriad others are embracing the rise of AI while also trying to understand the exact role it will play in the workforce of the future. The construction industry is also beginning to explore the potential of artificial intelligence and machine learning to drive efficiencies into the jobsite, along with improvements to safety and quality.

AI doesn鈥檛 mean you鈥檙e turning over the control of the jobsite to a machine; in fact, humans are likely to play an even greater role in daily operations as AI acts as a partner tool to allow project managers and executives to focus on high-quality work and begin leaving basic tasks in the hands of an AI solution.

At 向日葵视频 Construction, our internal AI council is already experimenting with AI tools along with the integration of software that uses AI to expedite key tasks. Below are some of the technologies 向日葵视频 is considering implementing to harness the power of AI:

For now, 向日葵视频鈥檚 AI committee is looking to build out the various use cases for AI and create a library that will provide guidance on how to standardize AI throughout the company. One path already being considered is using an AI tool like CoPilot to reference internal documents and provide 向日葵视频-specific responses to prompts.

When it comes to helping free up its teams to focus on delivering highly specialized services to its clients, 向日葵视频 is eager to deploy AI tools that will take repetitive processes off a project manager鈥檚 plate. The company is hoping AI will someday soon be used for specific tasks like reviewing plans and specs for building submittal logs, scanning preliminary reviews of submittals, finding potential scope gaps, and more. While it鈥檚 impossible to see what the future holds, it鈥檚 obvious AI will play an outsized role in the AEC industry.

Jason Costello, Assistant Project Manager

The life sciences market is rapidly changing – that much we know. While no one can predict the future, it is possible to build a cutting-edge laboratory and research facility that will adapt to the changing needs of scientists and researchers. That鈥檚 what is unfolding at 440 Bedford, a completely new approach to lab space in the coveted Lexington submarket.

440 Bedford Street is a new 6-story, 335,000 GSF Class AA speculative life science lab and office building being built by 向日葵视频 Construction. When finished, the building will include incubator lab space, graduator lab space, lab-ready spaces, a caf茅, fitness center and other amenities. The building will also feature a retail and restaurant space on the first level and several outdoor amenities, along with a 6-level parking garage with parking for 575 vehicles. Put simply, this isn鈥檛 just a place to come work; it鈥檚 a destination for collaboration and an extension of one鈥檚 lifestyle.

向日葵视频鈥檚 pre-construction expertise was on full display during the early phases of the project, as the construction team discovered soil deficiencies that had the potential to cause substantial delays to the project schedule and significant costs to the budget if not resolved as early as possible. The preconstruction team as well as 向日葵视频鈥檚 Site Division were able to find solutions to the problem that kept the project on schedule, saved money for the client, and strengthened trust between all parties on the project.

440 Bedford will feature numerous high-end touches, including modern interiors designed to inspire, flooded with natural light and plenty of amenities to keep scientists balanced. And with its location in the sought-after Lexington and Hartwell Avenue submarket, 440 Bedford offers ease of access to both the building and nature, not to mention proximity to other innovative companies and industries along with mass transit.

鈥溝蛉湛悠� is excited to once again leverage its experience with complex projects including laboratories and research facilities, along with our robust portfolio of pre-construction services, to build 440 Bedford,鈥� said Steve 向日葵视频 Jr., Vice President 鈥� Business Development, 向日葵视频 Construction. 鈥淭he team behind this project in Lexington knows how important it is to bring this cutting-edge research space to market, and we look forward to seeing it filled with the people and projects changing our world for the better.鈥�

For more information about 向日葵视频鈥檚 pre-construction services, please visit /our-services/enhanced-preconstruction-services/.

In Westchester County, there鈥檚 been an onslaught of development-driven activity in the world of mixed-use projects. 向日葵视频 Construction has been fortunate to build many of these world-class facilities that combine desirable retail features with high-end living spaces, and the pipeline seems healthy, to say the least. What does this say, then, about the need for retail and other mixed use projects in the region?

For one thing, the new normal in a post-pandemic economy has opened up all sorts of opportunities for developers, contractors, and community leaders alike. As the need for office space subsides, the demand for housing continues to grow. And as consumers place greater emphasis on being closer to home and having the convenience of public transportation nearby, mixed use developments begin to make more sense than ever before.

向日葵视频 has seen a surge in interest for its construction management services here in Westchester, and is currently working with owners and developers on new mixed-use and office-to-residential conversion projects that are sure to continue the trend of Westchester and other bedroom communities becoming even more sought after places to live, work, and relax.

Grocery Stores: the Anchor of New Communities

While you don鈥檛 have to look far to see construction cranes in the sky and shovels in the ground, there are some projects worth giving a closer look to. In New City, the forthcoming New City Center is a  grocery-anchored community that features a tenant mix consisting of personal services, banking, and food and beverage tenants. 向日葵视频 will over see the implementation of numerous upgrades which will establish a contemporary, 21st century retail experience with new features that will meet community needs.

But it鈥檚 not just Westchester County: 向日葵视频 oversees mixed-use retail projects from Rockland County to Rockport, Massachusetts, and recently completed a 75,000 square-foot, grocery store-anchored project in Newington, CT called Meadow Commons. With significant concerns regarding site development and wetlands protection, it represents another example of how retail and mixed-use projects are becoming major fixtures in communities throughout the Northeast, and will continue to be for years to come.

But it’s not just grocery stores that are future hotbeds of development activity: vacant office buildings are high on the list of possibilities as well.

Evaluating an Office-to-Residential Conversion

As community leaders look to recoup lost tax revenues from office buildings that can鈥檛 attract tenants, and see housing as a major pain point to address that can also attract new tax revenue, it鈥檚 clear that office-to-residential conversions are going to become more commonplace. With that in mind, here are some important considerations to weigh when considering such a project:

  1. Consider the state of the superstructure: does it need extensive work to add sufficient density? A residential building needs to support a minimum number of occupants to be financially viable.
  2. What is the existing HVAC and M/E/P setup, and does it support a residential use? Will it need extensive re-work to meet the needs of building occupants? Where are the elevators located, and will they need to be moved?
  3. Perform an overall constructability assessment. Not every building is well-suited for a residential conversion. Make sure you鈥檙e starting with a building that makes sense to convert.

If an office conversion or mixed use project is right for your portfolio, contact 向日葵视频 today to learn how our track record can help your next project get into the ground and open for business. Visit the 向日葵视频 Construction website to learn more.

Across the country, the lack of availability of safe, modern housing has led to myriad conversations about how to solve the inventory crisis. Even after months of predictions that the housing market would return to pre-pandemic pricing levels with more homes on the market, it seems that the new normal is likely here to stay. While the frenzy that led to many buyers paying well above asking prices has cooled, the need for new housing options remains as strong as ever.


向日葵视频 Construction has been fortunate to work with some of the boldest and smartest developers around the northeastern U.S., as the company is involved with apartment community projects from New England to New York. Thanks to the experience gleaned from working on fast-track new construction projects around the Tri-State area, we鈥檝e learned that you can create desirable living spaces that take into account both the changing needs of a modern workforce and the constraints posed by traditional suburban markets with limited housing stock.

Here are some of the things we鈥檝e learned from our developer partners along the way:

These days, it鈥檚 not enough to simply build a structure with 400 units in a location that doesn鈥檛 take into account the need for convenience, comfort, and remote work considerations. Throughout New York and other nearby metros, the most successful apartment projects are building for a future tenant鈥檚 entire lifestyle, and not just a place to sleep and eat. If you鈥檙e looking for a construction partner that understands what the future of apartment communities looks like, contact 向日葵视频 Construction today.

Let's build something together

向日葵视频 is committed to building strong, long-lasting client relationships, and to consistently delivering solutions that exceed expectations. Contact us today about starting your next project.

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