Gardiner & Theobald to serve as project manager for 2 WFC job

Real Estate Weekly, Jan 1, 2003

International construction consultancy Gardiner & Theobald, Inc. has been retained as project manager and cost manager for the new offices of Thacher Proffitt & Wood at 2 World Financial Center, signifying the return of one of the country's preeminent law firms to downtown New York City, announces Andrew Mann, FRICS, principal of Gardiner & Theobald's New York office.

"Thacher Proffitt is finally going back home," says Jack Williams, managing partner of Thacher Proffitt & Wood. "We are proud of all that we have accomplished in our quick recovery from the disaster on Sept. 11, 2001 and our ability to continue to serve and expand our client base since that date. We look forward to working with Gardiner & Theobald in expediting our return to the downtown area."

Originally based at the south tower of The World Trade Center, the venerable law firm, which has conducted business in New York's Financial District for more than 150 years, is reuniting 315 of its displaced staff into a space comprising 135,000 SF on the 26th through 29th floors of 2 World Financial Center. The firm will be relocating from its temporary offices at 11 West 42nd St. The anticipated move-in date is August 2003. "This is an extremely important project for us for both symbolic and practical reasons," says Mann. "The significance of a major downtown firm returning to its roots in the aftermath of 9/11 could easily spearhead a trend to hasten the economic recovery of the area. In that respect, we are equally pleased that Gardiner & Theobald was able to direct the relocation of Brown Brothers Harriman to its new 400,000-SF headquarters at 140 Broadway."

The new headquarters for Thacher Proffitt & Wood will include extensive fit-outs for private offices, administrative offices, war rooms, conference rooms, a library and high-density filing areas. In addition, the construction team will implement base building infrastructure upgrades and build a three-floor interconnecting interior staircase.

Gardiner & Theobald Project Supervisor Christopher Carlin will oversee and coordinate the entire project, which includes cost management, construction, interior fit-outs and relocation. Carlin also advised on construction issues relating to the lease negotiations for the space. The architect for the project is Mancini Duffy and the MEP engineer is Edwards & Zuck.