Inside Third & Bond: Week 111

The Third & Bond bloggers get up close and personal this week…
Taking a break at Third + Bond to mug for the camera are Kiska’s Assistant Project Manager, Yigit Unlu and Site Superintendent, Alper Kaya. Though not yet 30 years old, they each carry a large load of responsibility for Third + Bond. Yigit works primarily in review of contracts and drawings while Alper spends his time walking the job site.

What is your role at T+B?
YU: As an assistant project manager, my job is to make sure the project in Rogers Marvel’s blueprints is built on time and on budget, which means a lot of procurement work at the early stages like reviewing contracts and hassling suppliers for deliveries. It is mostly organizing and quality control of subcontractors at this stage.
AK: The superintendent monitors the work of the subcontractors and solves problems in the field. I have to know the plans inside and out so that if a sub is doing the wrong thing, I can correct it before it becomes an expensive problem.

What was the last project that you worked on?
YU: The Heritage at Park Slope. It was similar in scale to this project.
AK: NV on North 5th between Bedford and Driggs. Williamsburg forever!!!

Kiska’s office is in Williamsburg, right? But you’ve been working at the corner of Third and Bond for awhile now. What are your favorite neighborhood haunts?
YU: So many of them around the area… to pick one I will say Caputo Bakery on Court Street. Their olive bread is delicious.
AK: There is a Cuban bar/restaurant on Smith Street. They make very good mojitos.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
YU: I enjoy the construction process from foundation to finish but the real satisfaction lies at the finish line when you look at the building from across the sidewalk and see the outcome of your work!!
AK: I really enjoy our jobsite, especially when all the trades are gone for the night.

If we were to give you a unit (which we aren’t), which one would you choose?
YU: I would pick any one of the duplex one bedrooms at the top floor. I like the view from the terraces.
AK: If I were married I would choose the 3+ bedroom duplex at 115 Third St. As a SINGLE, I would choose that building’s penthouse.

What are the toughest challenges for the next few months?
YU: I am not worried about the building. Keeping the owners happy is the challenging part in this case!
AK: Snow and rain.

Is this your first LEED project? Would you do one again?
YU: This is my first LEED project but not my first green project. I worked on a Danish Governmental Project in Friland, Denmark. I used to doubt the categorization and grading of being green but it seems to be working ok!!! I would love to do another one.
AK: Yes, it is. I would love to do it again. I learned a lot of things.

How many guys are on the job today and which trades?
AK: Carpenter: 26, Plumber: 7, HVAC: 2, Wood floor: 4, Electrician: 3, Tile: 8, plus Kiska’s team of laborers and project management.

Some of our blog readers have been complaining about how long the project is taking. When will we get the certificate of occupancy?
YU: TCO is expected April 2010.

What’s your dream project?
YU: I have many projects that I want to be a part of: a Calatrava bridge, a Nouvel high rise or a giant football stadium are my dreams…
AK: To add another skyscraper into the concrete jungle.

Who are your favorite subs and why?
YU: I respect our miscellaneous steel subcontractor. He is always there for us whenever we need him. Ozela has worked with everyone, not like any other contractor. He worked with Aircraft (HVAC) on dunnages, Turano and Innovative on windows, drilled plumbing run holes for Starlite (plumber) and worked on radiator covers with them. He worked on terraces and handrails with PDP (carpenter). He worked with SMI and A.Silva on staircases, corrected Empire’s soldier beams. He even worked with the electrician on the Bond Street courtyard gate. You will never hear trash about him from any of these contractors, that makes him my favorite.

AK: I have worked with the electrician and carpenter before and they are good. I am really happy to work with the plumbing sub, they are very organized and professional.

What do subs do that piss you off?
YU: Do not answer their phones… the worst impression a subcontractor can make is not being responsive.
AK: Careless behavior. And when they realize a problem but don’t inform us and do whatever they want to do.

What’s the most annoying thing about owners?
YU: I’ll tell you after I see the bonus check!
AK: No patience.

Okay so that’s no bonus check for Alper. Making a note… Ok, what’s the most annoying thing about architects?
YU: None, Eugene Colberg from Rogers Marvel is a great professional to work with.
AK: Eugene is pretty cool and a very good architect. But his dog is very lazy.

Not lazy, Milo Pepperoni is just old. What’s the most fun part of the job?
YU: Being able to laugh about the stress you’ve had all day.
AK: You are the Boss at the site.

Except for when we’re around. Coffee break’s over!

Inside Third & Bond: Weeks 1-110 [Brownstoner]
The complete offering terms are in an Offering Plan available from Sponsor. File No. CD080490. Sponsor: Hudson Third LLC, 826 Broadway, New York, NY 10003.