News
A TOUR WITH SIOR
February 27, 2009
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| Yesterday morning, we joined members from local SIOR chapters for a tour of 7 WTC. Although Larry wasn’t around, Silverstein’s gracious Gianna Frederique rolled out the red carpet , brought us up to date on the project, and took on our many questions. Looks like Tower 4 is moving along with below-grade construction. The Freedom Tower is now 300 feet above street level, and once PATH is fully excavated, work should begin on Towers 2 and 3. |
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| The scrolling art installation in the lobby is just a cover— Cushman’s Frank Frizalone, NAI Long Island’s John LaRuffa, and CresaPartners’ Richard Caputi and Ralph Benzakein stand in front of what’s also laminated glass with springs. If there’s ever a car explosion, the glass would push projectiles back outside, protecting the elevator banks. This was only one of the many features incorporated to make 7 WTC the safest building in NYC, Gianna says. |
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| The brokers look out on Ground Zero and the Hudson from 7 WTC’s 52nd floor, the highest tenanted and soon home to German bank WestLB, which took a total of 129k SF on the top three floors. The bank should begin the build out shortly, Gianna says. Interesting fact: the building was the last to fall on 9/11, but the first to rise again. |
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| SIOR Downstate New York chapter leaders : M.C. O’Brien’s Bill O’Brien, president; Richard Caputi; Frank Frizalone, and Sutton & Edwards’ Jeff Schwartzberg. Bill and other members are preparing to head off to San Diego for SIOR’s spring convention; he also notes that the association is working to start a new chapter in England with the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. Bill’s firm is also celebrating its 100th birthday this year while moving to a new office on Brooklyn’s Avenue N. |
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| NAI James E. Hanson’s Kenneth Lundberg, John LaRuffa, United Realty’s Gary Joel Schacker, Bussel Realty’s Gregory Irving,Ralph Benzakein, CBRE’s Mitchell Katz, Richard Caputi, Jeff Schwartzberg, Frank Frizalone, Grubb & Ellis’ Jerome Norton, Bill O’Brien, Gianna Frederique, Commercial Realty Services' Jack Britvan, M.C. O’Brien’s Karen Cohen and Michael O’Brien, NAI Friedland’s Steve Kornspun, and NAI James E. Hanson’s William Hanson. And all 17 kept their eyes open for the photo—a Bisnow record! |
