Columbia University M.S. in Construction Administration

For a long time, I thought my education had ended with my bachelor’s degree. Like many in our industry, I believed the most valuable lessons came from hands-on projects rather than the classroom. However, 2023 changed that perspective with the birth of my daughter. Amid the new demands of motherhood, I found myself rethinking my approach to the future and my goals. My career now has a deeper purpose—I want to set an example of perseverance, ambition, and resilience for her. This renewed drive led me back to school. This month, I’m excited to begin the Master of Science in Construction Administration program at Columbia University. Balancing full-time work, part-time school, and motherhood will undoubtedly be challenging, but I’m eager to embrace this opportunity for growth. Through the program, I aim to refine my role in bridging the gap between engineering and construction, bringing designs to life on the ground. Looking back on my journey, I’m reminded of the determination I had when I first set out to build a career and future in the USA. That same drive continues to fuel my passion to keep striving forward—and to one day share that journey with my daughter. I’m deeply grateful to my colleagues, friends, and especially my husband, Devin Balkind, who have shown nothing but unwavering support as I take on this new chapter. Here’s to new beginnings, growth, and the pursuit of dreams! Columbia University M.S. in Construction Administration

Happy New Year! We are currently accepting applications for 2025 summer internships and new graduate positions at Populous. Whether you are a student studying Architecture, Interior Design, Graphic Design, Event Management, Landscape Architecture, or Sustainable Design, we have a position for you. Use your winter break to update your resume and portfolio and apply before the spring semester gets rolling.   Be a part of something legendary! Learn more and apply at populous.com/join

The subway complex at 14th St between Sixth and Seventh avenues is now fully accessible! We recently completed elevators on the downtown F/L/M platform and the downtown 1/2/3 platform, improving access to this critical transfer point. Thank you to Senator Schumer, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, and the Federal Transit Administration for their help funding this important accessibility project!

🌟 𝗬𝗲𝘁 𝗔𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗴𝗮 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿! 🌟 This week, the 𝗗𝗕𝗜𝗔 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 had the incredible opportunity to visit the 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘄𝗮𝘆 - 𝗣𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝟮 construction site in the heart of Manhattan. 🚇✨ As one of New York City's largest and most ambitious infrastructure projects, 𝗣𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝟮 will extend the Q line from 96th Street to 125th Street, improving transit access to the East Harlem community. Seeing this mega-project in action was nothing short of inspiring! This project is even more remarkable because it’s being delivered using a 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻-𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 contract—a collaborative approach that integrates design and construction under a single entity. This method is streamlining complex coordination, accelerating timelines, and fostering innovation to overcome the challenges of working in one of the busiest cities in the world. During the visit, we gained invaluable insights into: 🔹 The challenges of building in a dense urban environment. 🔹 How the design-build approach enhances efficiency and teamwork. 🔹 Innovative solutions for tunneling, staging, and minimizing urban disruption. This visit marked yet another mega-project visited by our Student Chapter, further enriching our understanding of what it takes to deliver transformative infrastructure. Walking through the site and hearing from the passionate project team emphasized the importance of collaboration, adaptability, and ingenuity in delivering infrastructure that serves millions. Thanks to MTA Construction & Development and Saibal Basuroy, PMP for arranging this site visit and making it happen. Your efforts are deeply appreciated and made this unforgettable experience possible! 🙏 Thank you to the project team, Tectonic Engineering Consultants, Geologists & Land Surveyors, D.P.C., for hosting us and showcasing the remarkable work being done to transform New York City's transit landscape. 🌆 Thanks to our partner, Columbia University AGC Student Chapter. #DBIA #MegaProjects #SecondAvenueSubway #DesignBuild #Infrastructure #Engineering #UrbanDevelopment #DesignBuildInAction

Register today! The DBIA Liberty Region NYC Metro Chapter invites you to their 'DBIA Panel Discussion: Design-Build & Alternative Delivery at NYCHA: An Owners Perspective' on January 16, 2025 at 6:00PM at the AECOM offices. This panel discussion will go over how NYCHA has employed design-build and alternative delivery models to help meet project delivery, innovation, sustainability, funding, & resident/community needs. We will also discuss the Pros & Cons experienced, how lessons are learned, shared, & adopted from program to program. finally, we will discuss what is the future of the NYCHA programs. Don't miss your opportunity to listen to informative and interesting perspectives from our panelists regarding Design-Build! Register: https://lnkd.in/euJWb_jT

Laura Perez, an architecture associate at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, is bridging her architectural expertise with construction administration as she pursues a Columbia University M.S. in Construction Administration degree. As part of the inaugural cohort of Columbia’s SPS CUNY Fellowship, Perez is gaining invaluable insights from top industry professionals while her passion for community-driven design and mentorship is shaping her path to becoming a future leader in construction and architecture. Read more about Laura here: https://bit.ly/3ZK8cd2 The application for next year's fellowship program is January 9. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/48YGATD

Applications for the 2025 Summer Internship Program at The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey have started opening! If you're a college student continuing your studies through Summer 2025 and into the Fall 2025 semester, you're eligible. This summer, we’re looking for paid interns in all types of fields like: transportation (air, land, rail and sea), engineering, architecture, construction management, sustainability, finance, human resources, data analytics, operations, continuous improvement, planning, communications, project management, technology, security, DEI, and much more! All the applications can be found here: https://lnkd.in/e8M9dG7D? There are multiple pages, so you'll want to click NEXT to see all the different opportunities. #internship #internships #summerinternship #summerinternships

Special congratulations to our Assistant Vice President, Mark Hildreth, LEED Green Associate who received the Distinguished Young Professional Award at the Construction Management Association of America’s (CMAA) National Conference in San Francisco, CA. The Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) Distinguished Young Professional Award recognizes and celebrates a full-time, individual member, for a commitment to the industry and outstanding professional accomplishments early in their career.   CMAA is an industry association dedicated to the practice of professional construction management. This organization represents more than 23,000 members including federal/state/local government and private sector owners, construction consultants, technology suppliers, academia, and legal organizations all with a common goal: to improve our nation's infrastructure. #CMAA2024 #McKissackLegacy CMAA Metro NY/NJ Chapter   Photos courtesy of CMAA.