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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

Given the complexity of this system, this is one civic matter where a little bit of curiosity can go a long way.

Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

Having a better grasp on how code changes can affect our built environment can help us make better-informed decisions when it comes to electing committee members or when voting for newly introduced statutes.

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

As expected, there are a lot of second-order effects that increase complexity and cost, often resulting in the opposite of what these laws were originally intended to promote.

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

To end: This is not meant to be a comprehensive explanation, rather a simplified starting point, to help explain why building can be so complex once all these laws are layered and then changed, removed, added, or updated.

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

For this reason, we often run into situations where certain design/historic requirements are at odds with life safety or zoning codes (as an example). Knowing how to navigate the process and intersections of these is key to executing projects.

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

TL;DR: Zoning: Where & what Building: How & how safe Design: Look & feel Special/ Historic Districts: Unique character & function Each of these plays a different role in development, and they are meant to work together to shape our built world. None of these laws are meant to be standalone.

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

6 - Transit-Oriented Districts (TOD): Future-focused development. Methods used to encourage density near transit: -Mixed-use zoning -Reduced parking requirements -Pedestrian-friendly design -Incentives for affordable housing Goal: Reduce car dependency, promote walkable communities

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

5 - Special Districts: Tailor-made zones to promote specific activities. -Arts districts -Entertainment zones -Waterfront development -University campuses -Custom rules to foster specific environments or uses

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

In some instances, preservation efforts have kept some truly significant buildings from being demolished. In those instances, historians, preservationists, and specialized architects are involved in the efforts to document and meticulously restore structures so that future generations may enjoy them

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

This is one of the hottest topics when it comes to laws that reign our built environment. Historic preservation is often misused to block development, not to preserve history (which is a shame).

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

4 - Historic Districts: Time capsules in the city. Special rules to preserve character: -General guidelines that classify buildings as "contributing" or as "landmarks" -Strict renovation guidelines -Limited demolition -Period-appropriate materials -Review of exterior changes

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

Design review tends to be highly subjective and often overseen by an appointed or elected committee. Knowing if a jurisdiction you're hoping to build in requires design review approval is key, since it can prolong approvals and often disallow projects that otherwise meet zoning and building reqs

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

3 - Design Review: The beauty police. Doesn't exist everywhere (thankfully). Evaluates proposed projects for: -Architectural quality -Materials & colors -Landscaping -Compatibility with surroundings -Public space design -Aims to enhance community aesthetics & prevent eyesores (some of the time)

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

2 - Building Code: The construction rulebook. Ensures buildings are safe & habitable. Covers: -Structural integrity -Fire safety -Electrical systems -Plumbing -Energy efficiency -Accessibility (Often based on International Building Code (IBC) with local amendments.)

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

Sometimes zoning is approved through an administrative process that simply reviews proposals vs. the code requirements. Other times, new projects are reviewed by elected or appointed committees, which can make the process less straightforward and overall more costly.

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

1 - Zoning Code: The town's/city's overall vision. Divides land into districts (residential, commercial, industrial, etc). Sets rules for: -Building height & size -Lot coverage -Density (units per acre) -Parking requirements -Permitted uses

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

When trying to illustrate the complexity of the rules that shape our built environment to someone new to the industry, I've found it helpful to start by explaining the different types of codes. This is my cheat sheet:

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

When discussing our built environment, people often mention "the code." However, there isn't really one "code," and most people have no reason to know exactly how codes affect our towns and cities.

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

Schedules should be reviewed weekly with the owner, architect & contractor, & upcoming items (submittals, milestones, procurement, etc) should be on everyone's mind. While the GC/CM should have a PM in charge or keeping schedule, it is ultimately the owner's responsibility to keep track of the job.

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

Bonus Tip: Use it as a tool While including the schedule in the agreement makes the whole thing a legal matter, using the schedule as a project management tool is the best way to ensure the project is on time.

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

Make it contractual The one thing that will help ensure these items are considered during the project is to include the schedule as an exhibit to the prime agreement with the CM/GC. This also helps ensure the GC/CM makes all trade schedules part of their subcontracts with the trades.

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

Some trade start & completion milestones I look for and make sure to track via weekly meetings are: foundation, framing, roofing, windows, facade, initial punch, final clean & turnover to ops.

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

5-Milestones Most people typically look at the construction start & end dates & call it a day. While those milestones are important, ensuring they happen when they're supposed to comes as a result of targeting smaller milestones along the way.

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

While this is not something anyone can comment on without prior experience, it is a feature of the schedule that an owner should ask the GC/CM to explain. Often, the exercise of going through the overlap & sequencing can reveal moments when a week can be gained here & there.

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

4-Installation (trade overlap) A good GC/CM will have sequencing & trade overlap down to a science, but often, there is some 'meat left on the bone' when it comes to overlapping trades.

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

3-Submittals Similarly to procurement, every trade should include submittals as part of their schedule. The assumptions made for submittal review times must jive w/ consultant agreements & w/ the overall project timeline. Often, late submittal issuance & review times are a major cause of delays.

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

a) Ensuring the trades are brought on board on time. b) Timing the total project buy-out vs. when the GMP will be executed. Often, people want to make sure they have a certain % of the hard costs under contract before they sign a GMP amendment This helps ensure that the GMP budget isn't inflated

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

2-Buy-Outs In a cost-plus + GMP setup (this is what every commercial project should have), knowing when all the subcontractor contracts will be executed is crucial. There are two main reasons for this:

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

Not knowing when materials will be purchased can be a major issue on a project. Reviewing the procurement section for each trade is key. This is the time to question long-lead times & plan accordingly.

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

1-Procurement This is the most important part of a schedule. Every trade should have a schedule for when they are planning to purchase materials. It should be based on material lead times.

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

You know those 50-page documents with complicated charts that contractors issue (AKA schedules) that nobody looks at? You need to look at them & reviewing them is not that hard. This is how I do it & the things I look for: 1-Procurement 2-Buy-outs 3-Submittals 4-Installation/overlap 5-Milestones

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

One of the golden rules of building: The longer you wait to make a decision, the less options you have.

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

Thank you! You're always so kind 🖤

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

(I’ve met some wonderful characters through social media, so if you want to chat about working with me or investing in our NY projects don’t be shy to reach out!)

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

Earlier this year, along with a partner, I started a new development company in NY. We are raising a fund and pursuing condo deals in Manhattan. In the meantime, we have continued delivering for our national development management clients.

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

Last year, I was invited to speak at several conferences and events, which strengthened some bonds and expanded my world. Of all my work, I’m most proud of and energized by the relationships I have built. Many have become close friends, and some have become family.

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

The work we’ve done spans from hotel renovations to master-planned communities, and we’ve had the fortune of working with a dozen groups of emerging and established shops, including family offices.

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

Since then, we have completed ~$200M across national projects. We have been a part of ~20 different collaborations, including turnkey fee development and strategic advisories.

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

In 2020, I moved to Utah for family reasons and launched MADDPROJECT to provide fee development and professional project management services across the country.

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

I’d had the fortune of designing buildings in Manhattan as an Architect and managing the development or renovation of thousands of residential units and hotel keys on behalf of developers.

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

Up to that point, my work had spanned over 30 US jurisdictions, including collaboration with complex jurisdictions like the NY Port Authority and the National Park Service.

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

During that time, I also built a team of 6, and over the course of 18 months, we completed ~78 hotel projects ranging from small lobby upgrades to full hotel renovations.

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

Some years later, I went to work for a large national hotel owner/operator, where I got the opportunity to work on the restoration and repositioning of the Eero Saarinen terminal building at JFK airport as part of the TWA Hotel project.

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

During that time, I launched MADDPROJECT in NY. Mostly to help non-real-estate friends navigate the entitlement and construction process related to running their businesses (restaurants & gyms).

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

After that, I went to work at a big development shop (also a GC) with a lean team working exclusively on the repositioning of office buildings into luxury rentals. While I was there, I saw every stage of development over two projects totaling ~1M SF.

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

Then, I worked at Beyer Blinder Belle in NY as a designer until I became a registered architect in 2015. I was fortunate to work on a very wide range of projects, from public RFPs with major urban design components to the new construction of major developments in Manhattan.

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

Partly because I wanted to teach and partly because I graduated at a time when there were few jobs, I went on to graduate school at MIT, where I received a MS in Urban Design (the degree name is much longer, but essentially, that’s what it is).

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

Hello BSky! Here’s a bit of a personal intro. I was born in Colombia and came to the US when I was 9. I grew up with my mom in Miami where I went to the University of Miami, where I completed a 5-year professional degree in architecture.

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Antonia @antoniamdprjct.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

I mean, buying 15 mins on TV for $6.2mm is Super Bowl-level marketing. Banana was going to rot anyway.

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