Always satisfy the client

Real Estate Weekly, Nov 10, 1993 by Derek Alger

When Ken Colao and Stephen Guzzardi teamed together to form their own construction management firm, York Hunter, the two partners adopted a simple philosophy, to satisfy the client.

Over the past 10 years that philosophy, combined with the decision to serve a vast array of clients, has enabled York Hunter to continually grow, with the company currently boasting annual construction values of $200 million.

"We started the company in the fall of 1983 and we have a simple philosophy, we're service-oriented and we divided professional services among a diverse array of clients," said Colao.

"Client service is a priority, if we're on time and under budget with a project and the client isn't satisfied, it doesn't matter, we didn't do our job," Colao said.

The company's project mix in New York City includes major landmark renovations of the Tweed Courthouse, the former High School for the Performing Arts, and numerous projects at the Public Library. The former High School for the Performing Arts, used during the filming of the movie "Fame," stood vacant for two years and suffered major damage from a fire, until the city selected York Hunter to restore the school.

"Everybody was interested in high-visibility and ignored a large sector," Colao said. "We began to penetrate these markets and we also pursued commercial, hospitals and hotels, and residential work."

Colao said that York Hunter has undertaken seven major school projects with the School Construction Authority valued at $170 million, including PS 102, a $28 million modernization of a fully occupied, historic school building in the Bronx, and PS 158, an $11 million modernization and renovation to a landmark school building in Manhattan's Yorkville district.

For over seven years, York Hunter has supported Baxter Healthcare Inc.'s construction program throughout Puerto Rico in building a wide range of pharmaceutical production and research facilities. In Jayuya, Baxter's most remote location, for instance, Hunter York completed mix rooms, fill rooms, steam and gas sterilization facilities, heat seal lines, packaging facilities, quality control, and microbiology labs, all within an existing 93,000 square-- foot facility.

Guzzardi added that part of York Hunter's success over the years has been demonstrated by repeat clients, such as Long Island Jewish Medical Center which has used York Hunter for a variety of construction projects.

"I don't think there has ever been a situation where we worked for a client when we weren't invited back," said Colao, noting that York Hunter has been working on all construction projects for the New York Central Library for the past 5 1/2 years. "Sometimes we've gone back nine or ten times."

At Long Island Jewish Medical Center, York Hunter completed renovation of a maternity ward and nurseries without disrupting delivery room services or related hospital operations, completing the project three weeks ahead of schedule and saving 10 percent of initial budget through value engineering and intense trade negotiating. York Hunter also completed renovation of the hospital's central utility plant and computer room, upgrading both to state-of-the-art facilities while maintaining service to the hospital throughout construction.

"We were in markets the others weren't," said Guzzardi. "And as far as geography, we're not afraid to work out of this area, we just finished a job in Tennessee."

As Project Executives, Project Managers, and Project Superintendents, York Hunter has been responsible for the new construction and alteration of over 100 million square feet of governmental, residential, and industrial projects that ranged in size to over $75 million. York Hunter is expected to start construction on a new 8-story, 104,000 square foot industrial/commercial building at 148 Madison Street in the shadow of the Manhattan Bridge.

According to Colao, York Hunter begins to work with clients from the earliest phases of a project. In addition, he noted, York Hunter assists in the selection of a project's design teams, conducts site assessments, expedites regulatory approvals, and aids in preparing project financing pro formas.

"As principals, we do the same thing," Colao said about himself and Guzzardi, who both previously worked as construction executives with Morse Diesel.."We're responsible for all business matters. What's unique is our styles differ but we have the same answer."

Illustrating how similar the two partners think, Guzzardi said that one Christmas both he and Colao separately went through about 500 Christmas cards to decide which one they wanted tO use.

"Out of the 500 Christmas cards, we picked the same one," Guzzardi chuckled. "It drives people crazy."

Colao added, "We both have the same standards, there's always a constant flow and no mixed messages like in some companies where there's an inside partner and an outside one."

York Hunter has a technical staff of over 100 experienced construction professionals, the majority of whom hold degrees in civil, mechanical, or electrical engineering; architecture; planning; or related fields. Many also hold advanced degrees in architecture, engineering, planning and business management.