Reconnaissance trips following natural or manmade disasters can provide valuable education because observing success is equally valuable to observing failure, as we can learn what to promote in our designs.

Trinity Church used to be connected to a 25 story parish building. A new 26 story Trinity Church Parish Center will take its place to engage with community through mixed use of space, including commercial space and nine floors dedicated to a parish center at the base.

Known as the Cubes, the project flanks the western edge of a through-block plaza at 120 West 42^nd Street between Avenue of the Americas and Broadways.

The former flagship Toys ‘R’ Us store in Times Square is now being converted into locations for clothing retailers Gap and Old Navy. The 65 feet tall Ferris wheel had been dismantled, and its towering T-Rex shredded and burnt.

Porcelanosa, a Spanish manufacturer of tiles and kitchen/bath finishes opened a new showroom at 202 Fifth Avenue, across the street from the Flatiron Building. Gilsanz Murray Steficek served as a prime consultant to the renovation of the former “Commodore Criterion” building.

The American Physical Society (APS) newly renovated its headquarters in Ridge, NY. Gilsanz Murray Steficek participated as a structural engineer, collaborating with Marvel Architects in a state of the art, high performance and cost effective facility.

330 Madison went under a renovation to stay competitive in the market. MdeAS Architects and Gilsanz Murray Steficek came up with direct attachment of new curtain walls to existing mullions as an “over-cladding”, an effective solution that reduced the overall cost, and minimized disruption to the tenants.

The old-fashioned department stores are booming, only in Manhattan, NY. Five new stores are to open, which defies the notion that these stores are being outrun by online shopping and other varieties of retail options.

Numerous studies show that a diverse workforce is stronger. Nationwide, 17% of civil engineers are women.  Engineers must encourage more women and minorities into our profession, because we need all the talents available to work towards more resilient structures.