ENDORSEMENTS
TRINITY SCHOOL
“Shana Lev was the owner’s rep for Trinity School’s $125 million enlargement of its campus. As the first member of the school’s construction team, Shana was involved in every aspect of this project. She assisted in hiring the architect and the construction management company as well as the school’s legal advisors and government relations counsel. She guided the school through the project’s extensive approval process with both the city’s Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA) and the local Community Board. She assisted in developing and managing the project’s budget, reviewed and negotiated all change orders, and prepared monthly financial reports for the school’s Board of Trustees. She attended every construction meeting, every owner’s meeting, and various meetings the school had with its legal and government relations advisors.
Shana’s extensive experience, integrity, fierce attention to detail, and ability to navigate frustrating construction challenges made her an invaluable advisor to us, the primary representatives of the school on this consequential project. She was a steady hand who had an uncanny ability to deal respectfully with multiple personalities and remain unflappable in the face of challenges. She worked tirelessly to support us and the school’s interests and was a key contributor to the success of this enormous undertaking.”
- Myles Amend, Associate Head of School for Advancement and Operations
- Joan Dannenberg, CFO
UPPER EAST SIDE LANDMARK TOWNHOUSE
Shana Lev offers high-level project management services as an independent consultant through her company, Project Management Collaborative LLC. I first became acquainted with Shana 5 years ago when she was brought in as Owner’s Representative (OR) to take over the OR role on a project for which I was the Architect of Record when the Owner terminated the initial Owner’s Representative for non-performance. Taking over the role of Owner’s Representative midway into an extremely complicated, bumpy, single family townhouse renovation on the Upper East Side of Manhattan that was progressing in a less than ideal manner is tantamount to jumping into a fire. It was impressive how Shana worked her way into the process, building relationships with the design and engineering team, the builder, and myriad consultants. She accomplished this through her inherently calm, thoughtful, and knowledgeable presence, based on years of experience in both the design world, and the construction industry. These tasks - striving to bring order, improved builder performance, team coherence, and expedience, were performed with an enormous advocacy focus on behalf of the Owner, all the while upholding the highest quality standards and intense fiscal diligence. Balancing these factors in a calm and professional manner is not an easy task.
In terms of fiscal diligence on behalf of her clients, Shana has an uncanny ability to be tough and fair when reviewing potential Change Orders. She has a remarkable ability to negotiate solutions that while primarily represent the Owner’s interest, also consider the realities of upholding design integrity during what is very often a complex and evolving project scope, especially in the world of high-end residential projects. When necessary and appropriate, she stands firm in her resolve to reject unwarranted additional cost proposals submitted by the contractor and yet still manages to keep all members of the design, engineering, and construction team working collaboratively to solve the inevitable twists and turns that arise during construction of a complex project.
Over the 40 + years that I have practiced architecture in New York and abroad on a wide range of cultural, institutional, and high-end residential projects, I’ve had numerous professional experiences interacting with Owner Representatives and coming from this rather seasoned perspective, I can say with total confidence that Shana is one of the best.
Any Owner looking to protect their interests on a design and construction project would be well served by engaging Shana as their representative. She has the project management expertise, sophistication, perseverance, attention to detail, and calm intensity to bring and maintain order to even the most complex situations.
It is my absolute pleasure to provide the highest recommendation for Shana and I hope to have the opportunity to work with her again.
- Paul S. Alter, Design and Managing Partner, SKOLNICK Architecture + Design Partnership
For the last 5 years I have been working with Shana on one of the largest and most complicated residences in New York, a renovation with an extensive structural and excavation program, combined with the highest level of finishes.
I consider her to be in the top tier of Owner Representation in New York City.
She has been a valuable member of the team in her role as Owners Rep and was as equally adept in all phases of the job. She maintains the balance between design and production, always guided by what is best for the job and client. She is meticulous, and fair.
We certainly did not always agree but there was never a time when I felt her position was unreasonable. With her expertise and firm hand she brings incredible value to the process. I recommend her without reservation.
- Sean Sweeney, President, Sweeney & Conroy
MULTIPLE PROJECTS
I have had the pleasure of working with Shana Lev over the past decade on a number of distinguished architectural restoration projects in NYC, two of which garnered several Excellence-in-Preservation awards each; and in no small part to Shana’s professional involvement.
Beyond Shana’s ability to guide the project team with a light-hearted but firm management style, she has a keen eye for material quality and construction details which demonstrates her dedication to, not only the timely completion of a project, but it’s ultimate architectural integrity.
As one who has been preserving buildings in Manhattan for over 35 years, I, without hesitation, would welcome the opportunity to work with Shana again.
- Robert C. Bates, Principal, Walter B. Melvin Architects, LLC