Building Conversations

When it comes to construction costs, it’s easy to focus on what’s right in front of you—but what happens after the project is complete? In our latest Ask the Expert series, STOBG’s Vice President of Sustainability, Jennifer Taranto, dives into the balance between capital costs and long-term operational savings—and why thinking beyond the upfront investment can make all the difference.

In this episode of Building Conversations, STO Building Group's Vice President and Life Sciences Sector Leader, Jennie Taveras, and Nick Oddy, Strategy Director at Structure Tone London, explore the rapid growth of the life sciences sector and why London is emerging as a global hub for investment, innovation, and development.

What does it take to lead with authenticity, build trust, and create lasting impact in construction? In this special Women’s History Month episode of Building Conversations, host Christie Mullen—Director of Business Development at Structure Tone New Jersey—sits down with Wendy Castro, Director, Design & Construction at Rockefeller Group, and Christine Bunner, Project Manager at RC Andersen for an honest conversation about mentorship, inclusive team culture, problem-solving, and the power of women supporting women across complex projects.

What does it truly take to advance women in construction—not just recruit them, but retain, support, and elevate them into leadership? In this episode of Building Conversations, Claudia Healy—STO Building Group’s Chief Human Resources Officer—sits down with NAWIC CEO Sheronda Carr and Northeast Regional Director Jillian Penkin to unpack the real retention challenges—bias, culture, and the difference between mentorship and sponsorship.

In this Building Conversations Ask the Expert episode, David Hamilton, Senior Vice President of Construction Procurement Solutions, answers listener questions about construction procurement and the evolving strategies reshaping how projects are delivered. From industry fragmentation and supply chain complexity to direct manufacturer partnerships and technology-driven visibility, Dave explains how modern procurement approaches help reduce risk, improve cost certainty, and keep projects on schedule. Tune in to learn how smarter procurement decisions create more control, transparency, and better outcomes for clients.

In this episode, Greg Dunkle, Chief Operating Officer at STO Building Group, sits down with three pre-construction leaders—James Mezzadri, Estimating Manager at Structure Tone New York, Troy Addis, Senior Vice President at LF Driscoll, and Kurt Thomas, Vice President of Business Development at Layton Construction—to discuss how pre-construction sets the tone for project success. They explore how early collaboration builds client trust, drives schedule and cost certainty across sectors, and how tools like VDC, pull planning, and shared platforms help teams stay aligned from estimating through delivery.

In this Building Conversations Ask the Expert episode, Greg Dunkle—Chief Operating Officer at STO Building Group—answers listener questions on one of the industry’s toughest challenges: the national labor shortage. From the 500,000-worker gap to rising wages and shifting demographics, Greg breaks down how today’s workforce trends impact project cost, schedule, quality, and safety—and what clients should be asking when selecting a contractor.

In this episode of Ask the Expert on the Building Conversations podcast, Leah Ramos, Senior Vice President of Ethics, Compliance, and Audit at STO Building Group, breaks down the biggest myths around compliance and explains its true role in protecting integrity, reputation, and trust. From managing integrity-related risk and guiding teams through new markets, to vetting subcontractors, navigating bidding processes, and ensuring ethical practices across the supply chain, Leah shares how compliance works behind the scenes to help projects succeed.

In this episode of STO Building Group’s Innovation Expo Series, host Rob Leon sits down with Jessica Herrala, Regional Vice President of Buildots, to explore how Buildots is transforming progress through AI and computer vision.    

From fostering collaboration to sharing best practices, this episode goes inside the STO Building Group Superintendent Roundtable. Join Greg Dunkle, STOBG’s Chief Operating Officer, as he sits down with two Roundtable members—Ernie Tessein, General Superintendent at Structure Tone Philadelphia; Brian Bernhoft, Construction Manager at Abbott Construction—along with Superintendents Academy participant, Matthew Persico, Superintendent at Structure Tone New York. Together, they explore evolving industry challenges, their personal paths into the industry, and the unique value the Roundtable brings to field leaders across STOBG.

In this episode of STO Building Group’s Innovation Expo Series, host Rob Leon sits down with Alex Rothman, co-founder and CEO of Day 2+ and Michael Sci, STOBG’s Senior Vice President of Facilities Construction Services to explore how this next wave of construction technology is reshaping scheduling, material tracking, field communication, site-scanning robotics, and more.     

Ever wondered how modern construction delivery methods are reshaping the industry? Join Chris McGinnis, Senior Project Manager at LF Driscoll, Mike Dikon, Vice President at LF Driscoll, and Steve Greulich, Associate VP of Capital Projects for Penn Medicine, as they explore how Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) is transforming collaboration, boosting efficiency, and redefining success on projects.

How is artificial intelligence transforming the way we build? In this episode of Ask the Expert, host Rob Leon, Chief Innovation Officer at STO Building Group, explores how AI is reshaping the construction industry—from streamlining project workflows to turning massive amounts of data into smarter, faster decisions. 

In this episode of STO Building Group’s Innovation Expo Series, host Rob Leon sits down with Franco Giaquinto, founder and CEO of Outbuild, to explore how the company is transforming construction project management through collaborative, integrated scheduling tools. From outdated processes like whiteboards and Excel sheets to AI-powered insights, Outbuild is helping owners, general contractors, and trade partners streamline planning, improve relationships, and deliver projects more efficiently.

How can the construction industry shift from a “take, make, waste” cycle to a circular economy? In celebration of Zero Waste Week, host Jennifer Taranto, VP of Sustainability at STO Building Group is joined by Tim Conway, VP of Sustainability at Shaw Industries, and Avery McKitrick Sustainability Coordinator to explore how takeback programs and supplier partnerships are transforming waste management on jobsites.

In celebration of Zero Waste Week, join Jennifer Taranto, VP of Sustainability at STO Building Group, Michael Orbank, Sustainability Manager, Northeast Region at STO Building Group, and Andrea Love, Principal and Director of Building Science at Payette, as they explore how Boston teams are turning demolition into deconstruction—leveraging partnerships across owners, designers, contractors, and vendors while navigating policy, storage, and market challenges.

In honor of Zero Waste Week, join Jennifer Taranto, VP of Sustainability at STO Building Group, Ryan Hughes, Sustainability Manager at Structure Tone New York, and Tiffany Williams, Sustainability Manager at Rudin, as they explore how selective deconstruction, material recovery, and take-back programs are transforming NYC construction.

In the latest episode of Ask the Expert, Michael Signorile, Exterior Envelope Supervisor at Pavarini McGovern, dives into the world of building façades. From design considerations and constructability reviews to cutting-edge technologies like BIPV and electrochromic glass, Signorile shares strategies for delivering high-performance, energy-efficient, and visually striking façades on complex projects.

What does it really take to build high-performance cold storage facilities in today’s market? Join Layton Construction’s National Building Group as Executive Vice President Eric Nay hosts a dynamic conversation with Thomas Gubbins, Director of Client Relations and Pre-Construction, Christopher Webb, Design Manager, Sean Doherty, Project Manager, and Mike George, Vice President of Operations on the booming world of cold storage construction. From refrigeration systems to convertibility, automation, and emerging trends, the team shares real-world insights and what sets Layton apart in this highly technical and fast-growing sector.

In the latest episode of the Ask the Expert, series, Michael Walsh, Vice President of Elevator Construction Consultants at STO Building Group, shares key insights into elevator system planning, coordination, and innovation. From design-phase red flags to the rise of AI-powered elevators, Walsh breaks down strategies that keep projects on schedule and performing at their best. 

How is reality capture technology changing the way we build? Join Greg Dunkle, STO Building Group’s Chief Operating Officer, Jon Ferguson, Vice President of Virtual Design and Construction at Layton Construction, Austin Lay, Senior VDC Manager at Layton Construction, and James Pipe, Chief Product Officer at Drone Deploy as they explore how tools like drones, 360 cameras, and AI are transforming project accuracy, documentation, and data management on today’s jobsites.

In the latest episode of the Ask the Expert series on the Building Conversations podcast, STOBG’s Senior Vice President of Safety, Keith Haselman, explores the cutting-edge innovations—like drones, wearables, AI, and radar—reshaping how we keep jobsites safe.

Could mass timber be the catalyst for the next era of construction efficiency and sustainability? Join Doug Kroll, Director of Business Development at Layton Construction, Pete Kobelt, Director of Mass Timber at STO Building Group, and James Litwin, Vice President of Construction at Harbor Bay, as they dissect how this groundbreaking material is streamlining project delivery, enhancing design flexibility, and reducing environmental impact.

In the latest episode of the Ask the Expert series, STOBG’s Global Services Account Executive, Stephen Dennis, breaks down the biggest cost trends shaping commercial interiors in 2025—from finish levels and permitting pain points to post-pandemic design priorities. Join Stephen as he dives into practical insights on workplace densification, sound design, and how companies are planning for the next decade of office space.

What’s the future of procurement in construction? At STO Building Group's Innovation Expo, Chief Innovation Officer Rob Leon was joined by David Hamilton, Senior Vice President of Construction Procurement Solutions (CPS), and Ben Lyddane, COO of BuildVision, to discuss how technology is reshaping procurement processes. Their conversation explored the challenges facing traditional procurement, the innovative solutions BuildVision brings to the table, and how smarter procurement strategies can drive efficiency and success in project delivery.        

Today’s episode features a conversation from STOBG’s Innovation Expo Series—a video series designed by STOBG Innovation to help professionals in our industry learn more about the construction technologies and process improvements revolutionizing construction. This session features a conversation between Rob Leon, STOBG’s Chief Innovation Officer, and Andrew Zukoski, Founder and CEO of Join, a collaborative preconstruction platform.

What does it take to balance motherhood and a career in construction? In this special Women’s History Month collaboration episode, join Rebecca Leonardis, STO Building Group’s SVP of Marketing and Communications, Stacey Dackson, Structure Tone New York's Vice President of Operations, and Tonia Rivers, host of Mothers in Construction and owner and president of WLS Construction Consultants, as they dive into what it means to build not just structures but legacies—juggling deadlines, leadership, and the unique challenges of being not just women, but mothers, in the industry. 

In the latest episode of the Ask the Expert series, STOBG Senior Vice President of Building Repositioning, Brooks McDaniel, explores the complexities of office-to-residential conversions. Join Brooks as he debunks common myths, breaks down cost comparisons, and discusses design challenges, zoning impacts, and government incentives shaping these transformative projects.

In our Ask the Expert series, STOBG Vice President & Life Sciences Sector Leader, Jennie Taveras, discusses the intricacies of life sciences construction. Join Jennie to learn what we mean when we say ‘life sciences,’ how builders are keeping up with the rapid advancement of medical and research technology, and what strategies are helping us deliver projects faster and safer than ever before.

In our newest Ask the Expert series on the Building Conversations podcast, STOBG’s Vice President of Sustainability, Jennifer Taranto, explores the evolving world of net zero buildings—what it means, key drivers behind the movement, and how government regulations, renewable energy, and emerging technologies are shaping the future of sustainable construction.

Have you ever thought about where all your favorite podcasters record? Join Kiera Brady, Structure Tone New York Project Manager, Scott Corneby, Structure Tone New York Executive Vice President, Michael Farrell, Structure Tone New Jersey Regional Vice President, and James Dunn, Pavarini North East Project Manager, as they discuss what goes into constructing broadcast and media spaces—and how our approach as builders is evolving with the advancement of technology.

Ever wondered how modern construction delivery methods are reshaping the industry? Join Chris McGinnis, Senior Project Manager at LF Driscoll, Mike Dikon, Vice President at LF Driscoll, and Steve Greulich, Associate VP of Capital Projects for Penn Medicine, as they explore how Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) is transforming collaboration, boosting efficiency, and redefining success on projects.

With more than 25% of the country’s office stock projected to become obsolete by 2030, how is an international commercial hub like New York City adapting? Join STOBG’s SVP of Building Repositioning, Brooks McDaniel as he discusses the city’s trend towards residential conversion with commercial design leader and managing partner at MdeAS, Dan Shannon. 

Join STOBG’s VP of Human Resources, Keith Lodge, as he interviews Lauren Moss, SVP and Chief Sustainability Officer at Vornado Realty Trust, Dr. Whitney Austin Gray, SVP at the International Well Building Institute (IWBI), and Jennifer Taranto, VP of Sustainability at STOBG about the connection between the built environment and mental health.

From the controlled implosions of two existing towers to groundbreaking sustainability efforts, the design and construction of Vanderbilt’s newest residential colleges has it all. Join Brooks Rutledge and the project team as they reflect on the highlights of this one-of-a-kind campus transformation.

Exploring the essence of leadership: Join Claudia Healy, STOBG's Chief Human Resources Officer, as she interviews three members of STOBG's Board of Directors—Jane Chmielinski, Natalie Gochnour, and Julie Schoenfeld—on their experiences, challenges, and lessons on shattering glass ceilings and redefining leadership in their respective fields. (Part 2 of 2)

Exploring the essence of leadership: Join Claudia Healy, STOBG's Chief Human Resources Officer, as she interviews three members of STOBG's Board of Directors—Jane Chmielinski, Natalie Gochnour, and Julie Schoenfeld—on their experiences, challenges, and lessons on shattering glass ceilings and redefining leadership in their respective fields. (Part 1 of 2)

The post-pandemic data center boom isn’t slowing down, so how are hyperscalers, builders, and manufacturers keeping up? Join STO Mission Critical Project Executive, Jim DiNoia, as he discusses the influx of mission critical work with SVP of STO Mission Critical, Martin O’Neill, and Vice President of Data Center Engineering at Sentinel Data Centers, Nick Marzorati.

What is Day 2+? Join Executive Chairman of STOBG, Jim Donaghy, SVP of Technical Operations, Steve Neeson, and Structure Tone New York’s Director of Special Projects, Marc DeLuca as they explore how this cutting-edge platform will transform the construction process, the roles of project team members, and the way CMs collaborate with clients and partners. (Part 2 of 2)

What is Day 2+? Join Executive Chairman of STOBG, Jim Donaghy, SVP of Technical Operations, Steve Neeson, and Structure Tone New York’s Director of Special Projects, Marc DeLuca as they explore how this cutting-edge platform will transform the construction process, the roles of project team members, and the way CMs collaborate with clients and partners. (Part 1 of 2)

On September 11th, 2001, our Structure Tone team lost a number of friends, clients, family members, and partners, as well as three of their own—Brendan Lang, Anthony Peluso, and Kieran Gorman. In their memory, we're re-releasing Episode 6 of Structure Tone’s Oral History series, featuring a number of long-time New York employees remembering their experiences that day.

How can builders leverage the full strength of our communities? Join Jay Smith, President of Ajax Building Company, as he interviews Ajax’s Director of Outreach and Vendor Diversity, Ted Parker, and two members of the Tallahassee-Leon County Office of Economic Vitality, Keith Bowers and Darryl Jones. Together, they discuss the power of partnership when it comes to engaging MWDBE businesses and how these DEI efforts help drive Tallahassee-Leon County’s economic well-being.

What role does the built environment play in influencing our well-being? Join STOBG’s VP of Human Resources, Keith Lodge, as he interviews Lauren Moss SVP and Chief Sustainability Officer at Vornado Realty Trust, Dr. Whitney Austin Gray, SVP at the International Well Building Institute, IWBI, and Jennifer Taranto, VP of Sustainability at STOBG about the connection between the built environment and mental health.

With more than 25% of the country’s office stock projected to become obsolete by 2030, how is an international commercial hub like New York City adapting? Join STOBG’s SVP of Building Repositioning, Brooks McDaniel as he discusses the city’s trend towards residential conversion with commercial design leader and managing partner at MdeAS, Dan Shannon. 

The 2010s sparked an age of reformation—for the construction industry and for New York City. Inspired by the momentum, Structure Tone invested in a new HQ that would not only reflect the company’s roots but serve as a beacon for progress. Tune in to Episode 7 of Structure Tone’s 50th Anniversary Oral History series to learn more about building this space and the impact it had on the company’s culture. 

What does it mean to be a woman in the field in New York City? Join Structure Tone New York's Superintendent, Kiera Brady, VP of Operations, Stacey Dackson, and Project Manager, Eileen McCarthy, as they share their experiences, their insights, and the challenges they faced building some of NYC’s most iconic projects.

It’s Irish American Heritage Month! In honor of Structure Tone's Irish roots, we’re resharing a favorite podcast episode from Structure Tone’s Oral History series—featuring founder, Pat Donaghy, telling his immigration story. 

TSX Broadway is being transformed into an unprecedented, entertainment-driven destination that will redefine how people engage with Times Square. In this special joint episode with The Anti-Architect Podcast, Pavarini McGovern Vice President, Jason Vesuvio teamed up with Christian Giordano, President & Co-owner of Mancini Duffy, to tell the story of this iconic project—including lifting the historic Palace Theatre 30 feet in the air.  Featuring insights from Bill Mandara Jr., CEO and Co-owner of Mancini, Tony Mazzo, President of Urban Foundation/Engineering, Benjamin Alper, Associate Principal of Severud Associates, and Joe Levi, Project Manager at Pavarini McGovern, and co-hosted by Jason and Christian, this episode covers the who, what, when, and why of the TSX Broadway theater lift, as well as what’s next for the team as construction continues.  https://tsxbroadway.com/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-anti-architect-podcast/id1552247664  

Design-build, design-assist, IPD, hybrid approaches—what’s the difference between each of these delivery methods, and how do owners determine which approach is right for them? Join Govan Brown’s Colin Gray, Structure Tone New York’s Stephen Soviero, Layton Construction’s David Burton, and LF Driscoll’s Ed Hanzel as they compare their experiences leveraging alternative delivery models in markets across North America.

It’s been 21 years since the tragic events of September 11th, 2001. We lost a number of friends, clients, family members, and partners, as well as three of our own—Brendan Lang, Anthony Peluso, and Kieran Gorman. In their memory, Episode 6 of Structure Tone’s 50th Anniversary Oral History series features a number of our long-time New York employees remembering their experiences that day, the people we lost, and our company’s role in recovery and rebuilding.