New York City is known by several monikers, including “the City that Never Sleeps,” “Gotham” and “the Big Apple.” With its many names, it makes sense that people will know the city one way or another. Some may remember New York for its exclusive shops, entertaining Broadway shows and business tycoons; others will think of it as the home of tourist spots like the Statue of Liberty and Central Park. 

For those living in the area who would like to construct or renovate a home or an office building, we have created a list of the best construction cities in New York to help. These firms are known for their experience in building luxury structures and for going above industry standards to meet client expectations. These firms also work closely with clients to make sure each project is unique to their client.

Plaza Construction

360 Lexington Ave. 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10017

Plaza Construction is a construction management and general contracting firm headquartered in New York. The firm also serves clients in New Jersey, Washington DC, Miami, Tampa, Orlando, Los Angeles, and San Jose. Specializing in construction, Plaza Construction is skilled in real estate, investment, and development management. Its work is centered around three things: client, developer, and builder. Most of Plaza Construction’s projects are for sectors like hospitality, commercial, corporate, residential, education, public, healthcare, retail, transportation, and adaptive reuse. 

The MTA Fulton Center in New York is part of Plaza Construction’s commercial, mixed-use, infrastructure, and transportation portfolio. Having worked with Grimshaw Architects, the structure is a fully digital and accessible transit and retail hub with a more efficient floor plan that replaces a complicated series of ramps, stairs, and passageways. The facade is blast resistant, made of structural steel and glass, and topped with a glass dome skylight with stainless steel panels. The interior has exposed structural steel, glass storefronts, stainless steel panels, glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC) column covers and ceilings, granite flooring, and a cable net structure with reflective artwork panels. Plaza Construction completed the project while passengers were walking through the site on a daily basis. As an iconic transportation hub, the MTA Fulton Center was awarded the 2015 New York Best Project of the Year from Engineering News-Record (ENR) and the 2016 Building Design + Construction Building Team Platinum Award.

JRM Construction Management

242 West 36th St. 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018

JRM Construction Management (JRM) specializes in projects for the corporate, education, entertainment, healthcare, hospitality, life sciences, and retail sectors. Part of its list of retail projects is Etsy’s nine-story green building headquarters in Brooklyn. The goal of the project is to create a building that is good for the long-term health of the ecosystem. JRM worked on an auditorium, two galleries, a green library, a yoga studio, bike storage areas with showers, and multiple exterior terraces. There are also areas like a cafeteria, dining spaces, multipurpose rooms, a craft lab and woodshop, and a recording studio. While JRM and Etsy envisioned a greener structure to work in, the office building provides a comfortable, safe, and inspiring environment for employees. The Etsy headquarters is the largest Petal Certified Living Building Challenge (LBC) Project, a certification issued by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI).

JRM was founded on the philosophy that a construction firm should use proactive approaches to overcome challenges while openly communicating with clients. The firm’s foundations are based on solid construction and excellent on-site management, which limits the amount of future problems while maximizing efficiency. Clients are given a team made of principals, directors, project managers, estimators, and laborers to work with on-site.

STO Building Group

330 West 34th St., New York, NY 10001

STO Building Group provides clients with a wide range of services, including site selection analysis, design constructability review, aesthetic enhancements, interior fit-outs, new building construction, and building infrastructure upgrades and modernization. Its expertise lies in projects for the commercial, financial, media and broadcast, non-profit, restaurant, life sciences, hospitality, education, retail, corporate, technology, and law sectors. As an employer, it reviews applicants based on qualification and experience, which ensures clients work with professionals that can meet their expectations.

Pavarini McGovern, an STO Building Group based in Manhattan, worked on the Hudson Commons, a commercial project in New York. Cove Property Group, the client, requested the firm to modernize the nine-story EmblemHealth building while adding another 18 stories above it. This turned the structure into a commercial office building with abundant lighting, high ceilings, outdoor terrace spaces, and different types of amenities. After a full interior demolition, the floor slabs were opened to install a new structural core. The existing foundations and columns were reinforced with a cylindrical rebar cage and shotcrete to support the new overbuild. There is a new tower enclosed with a new curtain wall above the podium. This brightens the space with sunlight coming through the glass panels and expanded windows. The 18-story building has an all-glass facade with expansive ceiling heights per floor for natural light.

EW Howell Construction Group

48 West 37th St. 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10018

Having been in the industry for more than 100 years, EW Howell Construction Group (EW Howell) has worked on adaptive reuse/restoration, arts and culture, assisted living, education, healthcare, interior, life science, retail, and commercial projects. The New York Botanical Garden Enid A. Haupt Conservatory Palm Dome restoration project, in particular, is part of its arts and culture portfolio. EW Howell focused on the central dome on top of the Palms of the World Gallery alongside the heating and lighting systems. The work the firm made the structure more energy efficient while respecting its landmark status. EW Howell’s scope also included metal coating system upgrades, reflecting pool waterproofing, paving, planting, and restroom renovations.

EW Howell was founded in 1891 and has since become known for its general construction, construction management, preconstruction, and construction services. It provides services to multiple clients in the Manhattan and Long Island areas. The current president and CEO is Howard Rowland; he leads the firm in ensuring projects are completed within budget and schedule and with minimal fuss.

Rusk Renovations

39 West 37th St. 15th Floor, New York, NY 10018

Rusk Renovations is known for its luxury townhouses and apartments in the Manhattan area. The team has years of experience working with managers, architects, designers, and tradesmen, which has led to creating well-known residences within schedule. Founder John Rusk created the firm based on his standards of workmanship and business ethics. Rusk uses a multidisciplinary approach to project development and management; firm professionals hold degrees in construction management, architecture, and engineering.

Architecture: John B. Murray Architect; Interior Designer: Katie Ridder; Photography: Francesco Lagnese

Rusk Renovations worked on a home project called House Colorful. This home’s rooms have unique designs with a variety of molding and color schemes. Each space was designed with the owners to ensure Rusk Renovations understood the purpose it would serve in their day-to-day life. Some of the features include ceilings painted and wet sanded down to a reflective finish, a frosted glass and bronze door for the master bathroom, and a bronze-inlaid mahogany door.

Hobbs, Inc.

450 Lexington Ave. 4th Floor, New York, NY 10017

Hobbs, Inc. has worked on new homes, additions, and renovations in the New York area for the past 60 years. In providing its services, the firm works alongside architects and clients to ensure the entire process is easy and efficient on all sides. The team is made of experienced craftsmen who are consistent with their building quality standards and output. All projects Hobbs, Inc. has worked on adhere to a process that uses an analytical cost, quality, and time matrix to make sure client goals are met.

Hobbs, Inc. has projects close to its offices in New York, New Canaan, and the Hamptons. The Empty Nest project in New York is one of them. This project required a complete apartment update, including replacing the old molding and marble with more streamlined millwork and wood flooring. The foyer has a restored 1908 art-glass window while the bedrooms have custom built-ins for a study and home office that can be converted into guest rooms.

Scordio Construction

560 4th Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11215

Scordio Construction is a high-end residential contractor based in Brooklyn. It provides clients with project management, custom renovations, new construction, historic restorations, service and maintenance, and advisory services. As a luxury home builder, Scordio Construction places emphasis on quality and works with reputable designers and architects. It works based on the principles of integrity, partnership, hard work, and innovation.

Scordio Construction worked on a Soho Loft in 2017; the work was done mainly in three areas: the kitchen, bathroom, and stairwell. The bathroom features a bathtub carved out of hand-picked stone; the remaining pieces were used for matching slabs. Meanwhile, the kitchen has a hand-chipped marble mosaic tile floor, a black granite countertop with a rain wash finish, and handpainted cabinetry. Lastly, the staircase has solid blocks of cantilevered petite granite and handmade bronze railing with a patina finish.

Paula McDonald Design Build & Interiors

27 West 20th St. 7th Floor, Suite 706, New York, NY 10011

Paula McDonald Design Build & Interiors based in New York. The firm’s projects can be found around the New York Metropolitan area, including a contemporary penthouse in New York City. This project features a kitchen entrance the firm opened to create an immediate view of the Manhattan skyline. The kitchen also has stainless steel cabinetry, white high gloss cabinets, and a honed statuary backsplash. The kitchen island features an Okite quartz countertop with gray veining paired with a blue accent wall and dark gray porcelain floors. 

Paula McDonald Design & Interiors works to create spaces with innovative designs that reflect a client’s vision and lifestyle. The firm provides clients with a hands-on custom residential building experience, which allows it to understand how to approach each project. Many spaces worked on by Paula McDonald Design & Interiors have maximized space and this allows the firm to use concepts based on modern and traditional styles.