How Two Women's Startup Is Shaking Up Construction
Rarely does the chance pop up to take up residence in a new condo on the Upper East Side, but New York City-based luxury residential developer Anbau is presenting just such an opportunity with its latest 14-story condominium project, which complements the city's already-impressive skyline.
Construction of 155 East 79th Street was completed with help from Bridgit Closeout, a punch-list platform for contractors and the construction industry with cross-device communication and record-keeping capabilities. Using this app allows construction and project managers to streamline their operations by creating pre-scheduled follow-up emails; sorting, reviewing, exporting and even creating PDF and Excel reports and projects; and enabling those with account access to undergo walk-throughs across multiple computers or mobile devices at once.
Co-founders Mallorie Brodie and Lauren Lake spent nearly a year of early mornings as college students at Canada's Western University "crane hunting," interviewing employees involved with all parts of construction — managers, contractors, project owners, the builders themselves — about their daily processes. Turns out, most of them were still using sticky notes and handwritten notes for their punch lists with little digital communication.
The two women immediately noted the construction industry's desperate need for a modernized, efficient solution. Thus, Bridgit Closeout was born in 2014, winning Google's first annual Demo Day for women entrepreneurs and $1.7M in seed funding. The success of the company is a win for women in traditionally male-dominated career spaces; Brodie said she has determinedly maintained a 50% female engineering staff.
It is that kind of forward thinking and innovation that has helped the firm grow out of Canada to help on the construction of a structure like Anbau's condominium at 155 East 79.
"For high-end residential projects, particularly those in Manhattan, construction quality and delivering a perfect final product is of the utmost importance," Lake said. "With this in mind, the Anbau team is using Bridgit's software to manage their punch list process efficiently, ensuring the final touches are completed with care."
Proudly positioned in one of the city’s most desirable locales, 155 East 79th Street is nestled on the north side of East 79th Street, walking distance from some of the Big Apple’s finest upscale restaurants, shopping and entertainment venues. The building features a brick façade and limestone base with Juliet balconies.
The luxury condominium, designed by BKSK Architects, edifice features seven duplex condos, five of which contain five bedrooms, five bathrooms and a powder room in its 4,100 interior SF and, with even 150 SF private balconies. Additionally, the property features a five-bedroom penthouse with a private rooftop terrace and a maisonette offering four bedrooms, four bathrooms, a powder room and a private garden. Notable interior details include an integrated Lutron lighting system, customized lighting design, casings and trim. Each residence has its own elevator entry.
Each of the apartments feature interiors carefully designed by Pembrooke & Ives architect Andrew Sheinman to create a seamless transition between separate living spaces and create an ample flow of natural light across the length of the condominium. The building’s façade is peppered with oversized windows and elaborate decorative metalwork, while every home’s interior features imported limestone Chesney fireplace mantels and wood-and-plaster crown moldings, blended with contemporary glass pocket doors.
An Upper East Side native, Anbau partner Barbara van Beuren believes the building is the perfect marriage of the Upper East Side she grew up loving and the present-day sensibilities of a 21st century Manhattan.
“This project truly offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to present buyers with homes that, we feel, convey the best characteristics of this iconic neighborhood through and through,” van Beuren said in a press release following its grand opening. “We sought to seamlessly blend classic, old-world elegance and the necessities of contemporary urban living with contemporary detailing.”
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