Hudson Meridian Construction Group by North American Constructors Journal

Hudson Meridian Construction Group |

Hudson Meridian Construction Group:

Shaping the Future Hudson Meridian Construction Group, “why” is as important as “how.”

Written by Tiffany Harbrecht Produced by Stephen Marino

www.hudsonmeridian.com

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Hudson Meridian Construction Group |

ollowing the fateful events of September 11, 2001, William Cote was at the center of a very important and life-changing project. In the aftermath of those destructive events, William was literally on the ground at Ground Zero, overseeing debris removal of the iconic World Trade Center. Out of those ashes, and his deep commitment to restoration and recovery, Hudson Meridian Construction Group was born. Officially founded in 2002, Hudson Meridian has since grown their specialty services to provide Construction Management, Program Management and General Contracting services for private and public sectors. The company has also added experience in coastal resiliency to their portfolio and are now leaders in vertical construction, disaster recovery, infrastructure, waterfront and coastal resiliency, as well as public projects. Right people, right time As an award-winning construction management firm, ranked among New York City’s Top 100 contractors and the nation’s Top 400 construction firms, Hudson Meridian is laser focused on delivering state-of-the-art projects that bring its clients’ visions to life. According to Sr. Vice President of www.hudsonmeridian.com

Construction Luciano Bana, that’s because Hudson Meridian believes in and aligns with their clients needs and goals, so “we can rise to the challenge to make [the project] a reality.” This involves building strong relationships with contractors, who they vet diligently. It’s important that they are business partners who are well versed in the project, the end game and how to get there, says Luciano. They are the ones who will be the most successful, he adds. It’s also important to Hudson Meridian that their contractors and subcontractors share in the client’s vision and “can deliver

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those goals that the project outlines from the onset,” adds Luciano. Having everyone on the same page is essential to success. Hudson Meridian is always open to new contractors bidding for participation in projects. Core to the company’s values is encouraging the next generation to rise up the ranks, and they give the opportunity for contractors to discuss what they have to offer with the

client directly.

Safety First As a premier construction manager, safety is paramount to Hudson Meridian, and over time, they have pre-developed programs to control safety on projects. This includes a sitespecific plan for every phase of work, which is part of an overarching project-specific safety plan that is appended

“Never not ask a question, no matter how you may be perceived. Always plan ahead or plan to fail. … And do this job because you love what you do, not because it is a job, and the success will come to you.” — Luciano Bana, Sr. Vice President of Construction www.hudsonmeridian.com

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to their standard safety plan. To ensure compliance with safety, Hudson Meridian designates a safety project manager who is well trained in all aspects of the safety concerns for the project. The nature of construction sites is hazardous, particularly in neighborhoods, so having these practices and programs in place helps to assure that project operations run safely and smoothly.

From Halo to Hoboken Hudson Meridian’s current slate of projects demonstrate their expertise for handling challenging and complex projects. Halo, a massive redevelopment of

downtown Newark, New Jersey, includes the area’s first-ever signature high rise and will establish a skyline within the city itself. The first phase, slated for completion in winter 2024, will consist of a 38-story tower on the northernmost section of the property. Hudson Meridian is also overseeing a port expansion at the Port of Albany that will result in construction of the first offshore wind tower manufacturing facilities in the United States. This is a public-private partnership focused on energy saving goals for the federal government. Due to the nature of its location and distance especially, this project does pose

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some difficulties with logistics, but the company is leveraging its strong partnerships with contractors to move it forward. Their Brookfield project at 2401 Third Avenue in the Bronx is a LEED-certified, mixed-use waterfront development on the Harlem River that has come together beautifully, despite facing the devastating loss of some of its contractors due to COVID-19. Ever committed to delivering for clients, Hudson Meridian stepped in to fill in where needed, even coordinating with multiple vendors to fabricate and deliver a specialty patented window system. Looking ahead, Hudson Meridian www.hudsonmeridian.com

is in pre-construction on its Hoboken Yards midrise in Hoboken, NJ, getting the footings and foundations in and starting to go vertical. Like Brookfield, Hoboken will also be LEED certified. The company is conscious of the environment in their building and works to incorporate sustainable elements and earth-friendly building practices into their construction to minimize impact on the planet. In fact, Hudson Meridian’s recent Charlotte of the Upper West Side, an eight-story condominium project in Manhattan, was recognized by the New York Times for its Passive House Certification and overall energy efficiency.

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www.hudsonmeridian.com

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Investing in the Next Generation Membership in key building associations is a part of how Hudson Meridian and President Cote stay up to date on the construction industry landscape, and William has been at the forefront of round table discussions that impact the industry at city and state levels. As Luciano describes, “We do share intent; we share stories; or we share legislative ideas that are impactful in our industry.” Hudson Meridian also takes a vested interest in its own people, encouraging its executive teams to promote from within — and

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they do so often. “We mentor and invest in our staff and help foster them to the level and success we want them to gain and grow into,” says Luciano. Much of his role with Hudson Meridian is focused on mentoring future professionals and helping guide them to success. As important as lifting up others is understanding “which candidates are the ones that want to succeed, the ones that want to learn, the ones that are asking questions, and they continue to,” he adds. “Those are the ones that we focus on, who we want to pay attention to. Because if they’re asking questions, they obviously must like

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what they’re doing. And you have to love your job. The money part of our business is secondary.”

New York metro area alone.

To that end, Hudson Meridian’s Human Resources department will work with employees to develop a roadmap for growth, so they can see a clear path to their own success as they continue work and gain experience. It’s clearly working; Hudson Meridian has grown in recent years, despite a tight labor market. The company employs more than 100 professionals and has completed $1.3 billion in construction projects in the last five years, averaging over $260 million per year in the

From the beginning, William has set an example from the top to deliver the best overall product for clients consistently, and implementing four key pillars into Hudson Meridian’s project management: budget, quality, safety and schedule. That’s why, time and again, the company has been asked to take on complex projects, including ones that may have failed for others.

Commitment to Consistency

Hudson Meridian has proven they can do more than deliver; www.hudsonmeridian.com

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“When you reach the top it is your responsibility to send the elevator back down to help those who want to get in.” —Luciano Bana, Sr. Vice President of Construction www.hudsonmeridian.com

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they adapt and evolve as digital technologies are transforming the construction experience. Seeking new techniques and continuous training are fundamental to ensuring they produce cuttingedge projects, and technology has helped to streamline operations. As Luciano describes, “The ideas of brick and mortar have now transcended to making sure that the project delivers its best effort for success, and applying technologies and world class professionals is paramount.”