New York City Mayor Eric Adams and the New York City Football Club (NYCFC) announced that a new, 25,000-seat professional soccer stadium will be built in Queens, NY. The new stadium, which is expected to cost $780 million, will be built in the Willets Point area of Queens (see rendering below). The site is very close to Citi Field (home of MLB's NY Mets) and the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center (location of the annual US Open Tennis tournament). According to a NYC press release, the project is projected to create 1,550 permanent jobs and 14,200 construction jobs. It is expected to be completed by 2027...
Happy Veterans Day!
On behalf of everyone at Beacon Consulting Group, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all the veterans who have helped to protect the freedom and democracy which we all value so highly in our country.
I hope your fall is going well. October is a great month here in the Boston area. Foliage is at its peak, the weather is crisp and clear, and there are plenty of great outdoor activities going on. On a beautiful Sunday earlier this month, my wife and I went to see the New England Patriots play the Detroit Lions at Gillette Stadium. It was a great all-around game by the Pats, who won 29-0, led by their rookie quarterback Bailey Zappe who did a fantastic job in his first NFL start. To top things off, the Patriots wore their vintage bright red uniforms and throwback helmets for the first time in many years, thanks to an NFL rule change (see photos here). However, what really made the day fun was watching the game with our long-time friends Pat and Marianne Tompkins.
The throwback uniforms and helmets featuring the old team logo ("Pat The Patriot") reminded me just how fast time flies by and how important it is to make the most of every day. The Patriots were wearing those same red uniforms when my friend Pat and I attended high school back in the 1980s. Faster than I would like, 35+ years have flown by, and Pat and I have both been working in the construction industry for 25+ years. Click below for full message and photos...
If you have visited the greater Boston area in the past two years, you most likely noticed one or more major construction projects underway or at least spotted some giant cranes looming in the distance. The city currently has many large construction projects underway, including major projects in the commercial, residential, educational, R&D, and public housing areas. The city's diverse economy is driving the need for new commercial space, particularly in the areas of biotech/life sciences, consulting, and technology. As a well-established center for higher education and a leading destination for young professionals seeking career opportunities in growing industries, the demand for residential space has also been growing fast. Click below for full article and project photos...
The Construction Financial Management Association (CMFA) 22nd Annual Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference was held September 24-26, 2022 in Cambridge, MD. This year, Beacon Vice President Kieran O'Connor was a speaker at the event, participating as part of a panel of Surety industry professionals. The panel members focused on all of the following areas: (1) Trends in Surety results Mid-Atlantic & Nationwide; (2) Outlook for Underwriting and performance and losses of Surety and Subcontractor Default Industries; and (3) Legal or claim trends.
Looking at the topic from the Construction Consultant's perspective, Kieran's portion of the presentation covered current trends in the U.S. Construction Industry, Surety Claims trends, and Solutions to current challenges...
Beacon was retained by a leading Surety company to provide construction consulting / surety consulting services related to a school renovation project taking place in Coral Springs, Florida (part of the Broward County School District). Beacon's Florida team is taking the lead role in supporting the Surety by providing the following construction consulting services:
- Cost to Complete Analysis
- Surety Consulting (Project Support & Monitoring)
- Construction Management Services
Click below for full article...
As I write this message, I am taking a week off to visit Ireland. My wife Laura and I are visiting with my extended family here, which is always a pleasure. Ireland is such a unique and fun country. If you have never visited, I highly recommend it. From its beautiful countryside, scenic coastline, quaint historic towns, dynamic cities, music, and culture, Ireland really has something for everyone. Most of all, Ireland's people are warm, friendly, and very funny.
One of the highlights of our trip was getting a tour of the historic Leinster House in Dublin, where the Irish government meets, including their Dáil Éireann (House of Representatives) and Seanad Éireann (Senate). Irish Senator Mark Daly was a fantastic tour guide (see full article for photos). Mark is currently head of Ireland’s Senate (and is a close friend of my cousin Tomas).
Thanks in part to its well-educated, tech-savvy workforce, Ireland has also become one of the leading business capitals of Europe. Major companies such as Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Apple, AirBNB, and PayPal all selected Ireland as the location for their European headquarters. Of course, let's not forget Beacon Consulting Group. We have had a presence here through our strategic partners for more than one year now...
Beacon was retained by a leading surety company to provide construction consulting services related to a high-profile project in New York City. TSX Broadway is a 46-story mixed-use hotel tower being built at 1568 Broadway in Times Square (see rendering). Located in the heart of Times Square, the project included the installation of massive computerized LED Screens / Electronic Billboards which wrap around the lower section of the building, as well as up its side and near the top of the structure. The LED signage system is reportedly the largest and most technologically advanced in all of Times Square, a neighborhood which is world famous for its many gigantic high-tech billboards and signs.
Josue Rivas Bermudez is the newest member of Beacon's construction consulting team. Based out of Beacon's Fort Lauderdale, Florida office, Josue holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering and has extensive experience working on major construction and engineering projects around the world. Having worked in the oil and gas industry for a number of years, Josue has worked in several different countries—traveling and living wherever the job took him. Along the way, Josue developed his foreign language skills. He can now communicate in four languages (English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian). At Beacon, Josue is using his knowledge of construction project management and engineering to help provide our clients with outstanding service on a wide range of construction consulting assignments...
Beacon's staff is always on the go. Whether flying to project sites around the country or traveling to participate in events related to surety claims and construction consulting, you can always find a Beacon staff member getting ready to catch a plane. Below are some photos from recent events and activities around the country, including photos from industry meetings, fundraising events, and other fun get togethers. Click below to learn more and view photos...
