Sustainability / LEED Coordinator, Sharon Small, Honored Amongst NYREJ’s 2025 Women in Construction
Sharon Small
LEED Coordinator
JT Magen
2025 Women in Construction: Sharon Small, JT Magen
What is one project or achievement in your career that you are most proud of? And how did it impact your organization or community?
BlackRock’s new offices at 50 Hudson Yards required Platinum certification from the beginning of this large, multi-year project. Platinum projects cannot let LEED requirements slip through cracks. I review all construction materials for LEED compliance AND adequate documentation. I collect monthly waste reports to check the diversion rate and total waste. I check and photograph all Indoor Air Quality measures on site. LEED Indoor Air Quality testing required intense coordination with the project schedule. When the project achieved Platinum certification, it was a victory for the whole team.
What trends or innovations do you believe will shape the future of your field, and how are you positioning yourself (or your firm) to be at the forefront?
Larger companies made public commitments to investors and customers to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions in both operations and construction projects. For construction projects, this affects how equipment is fueled or powered and how the fuel and power are tracked. It also means accounting carefully for material quantities, especially steel and concrete, and the amount of GHG emissions created during their manufacture and shipment. More manufacturers will need Environmental Product Declarations and more installers will need to track fuel use and material quantities.
What’s your favorite way to recharge or get inspired outside of work? Movement! It can be a barre class, swimming laps, tennis, shooting hoops or just using the stairs!
Macquarie Group HQ New York: A Workspace Shaped by New York
From the outset, the design emphasized New York’s constant movement and energy. To bring this vision to life, A+I created The Avenue, a striking diagonal staircase that winds across multiple levels. This feature links cafés, lounges, libraries, and terraces. It also fosters connection, circulation, and energy in a way that mirrors the city’s rhythm.
In addition, abundant daylight floods the space, while brass accents, warm wood, and glass details ground the design in timeless elegance. These choices were intentional. They bring together the scale of a corporate headquarters with the personal feel of a city neighborhood.
JT Magen carefully managed each stage of construction to uphold this vision. The team oversaw budgeting, scheduling, procurement, and subcontractor coordination. They also worked closely with engineers, millworkers, and fabricators to solve challenges without delaying progress. With this approach, the design intent remained intact from start to finish.
Moreover, the headquarters integrates 25,000 square feet of outdoor space. These terraces expand the workplace beyond the walls, offering fresh air, skyline views, and informal meeting areas. As a result, employees benefit from both productivity and well-being.
The new Macquarie HQ reflects the company’s values of collaboration, flexibility, and innovation. It is also a highly sustainable project. The headquarters earned LEED Platinum certification and won the 2025 NYCxDESIGN Award for Large Corporate Office. Together, these recognitions highlight the blend of technical skill and human-centered design.
With this project, JT Magen strengthens its reputation as a trusted builder of landmark interiors and a partner in shaping New York’s modern workplaces.
Inside La Tête d’Or One Madison Avenue Built by JT Magen
JT Magen has completed La Tête d’Or at One Madison Avenue, a 12,000-square-foot steakhouse from Chef Daniel Boulud. The project transformed the Midtown South space into a refined dining destination marked by Art Deco–inspired design, marble and brass details, and a dramatic central bar. With its open kitchen, private dining rooms, and high-end finishes, the steakhouse highlights JT Magen’s expertise in hospitality interiors.
The firm acted as construction manager and guided every stage of the project, from budgeting and scheduling to procurement, subcontractor coordination, and final delivery. To bring the design to life, JT Magen partnered with Beyer Blinder Belle, the Architect of Record responsible for code compliance and documentation, Rockwell Group for interiors, and Jaros Baum & Bolles for engineering and MEP systems.
Preparing the space required major structural work. JT Magen built two steel mezzanine platforms for mechanical equipment, including A/C units, hot-water heaters, and smoke eaters. Walls were removed, floors were opened, and reinforced beams were installed—all while the building’s hoist remained fully operational.
Rockwell Group’s design draws heavily from the Art Deco era. The restaurant features soaring 18-foot ceilings, seating for 120 guests, plush banquettes, and a curved bronze quartzite bar. Wood- and leather-clad walls, parquet flooring, imported Italian stone, and custom lighting further elevate the space. A metal art installation above the wood-burning grill adds a bold focal point.
Project Manager Charles Russo called La Tête d’Or “a true work of art” and praised the seamless coordination across all teams. The project also extends JT Magen’s decades-long partnership with SL Green, following work at One Vanderbilt and 245 Park Avenue. Together, these projects underscore JT Magen’s growing presence in high-end hospitality interiors.
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- Credit: Jason Varney
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- Credit: Jason Varney
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- Credit: Jason Varney
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- Credit: Jason Varney
JT Magen Builds Lord Abbett Headquarters Jersey City
JT Magen has delivered the new Lord Abbett global headquarters, a 178,107 sq ft office build-out occupying the top five floors of 30 Hudson Street in Jersey City. The relocation consolidates the firm’s operations into a right-sized, efficient, and modern workspace.
JT Magen SETU scholarships support Irish construction students
JT Magen SETU scholarships support six South East Technological University students, each receiving $5,000 in recognition of their academic achievement and potential in the construction industry.
The recipients study in fields such as construction management, quantity surveying, engineering, and architecture. By investing in students across these disciplines, the program reinforces the importance of collaboration and building a network to shape the next generation of industry leaders.
JT Magen SETU scholarships continue annually, strengthening the bond between academia and the construction field. The program gives these students consistent opportunities to pursue their ambitions in the .
“We are proud to contribute to the education of such outstanding students at SETU, as their skills and enthusiasm reflect the quality of talent that will drive the construction industry forward,” said Pete Moran. This initiative also demonstrates JT Magen’s longstanding ties to Ireland and its commitment to supporting early-career professionals.
JT Magen Builds Paramount Club at 1301 Avenue of the Americas
JT Magen has built the new Paramount Club, a 32,000 square foot private amenities space at 1301 Avenue of the Americas in Midtown Manhattan. The club is located on the concourse level of the tower. It was created to enhance the tenant experience with spaces for wellness, leisure, and collaboration.
The Paramount Club provides a wide range of amenities. Tenants can enjoy a game room, wellness and fitness center, flexible meeting areas, and a boardroom. In addition, the club offers a café, an atrium restaurant, and an auditorium. As a result, the space brings together dining, fitness, and work environments in one central hub.
JT Magen managed the project from start to finish. The team directed scheduling, procurement, subcontractor coordination, and final delivery. Furthermore, the firm partnered with Loffredo Brooks Architects, CFS Engineering for MEPS, and the Office of James Ruderman for structural engineering. This collaboration ensured accuracy, efficiency, and quality at every stage.
The project also strengthens the property itself. Paramount Group’s 45-story Class A tower is a well-known landmark in the Sixth Avenue corridor. With the addition of the Paramount Club, the building offers a new standard of tenant amenities. Consequently, the property now stands out in New York’s competitive office market.
This project reinforces JT Magen’s expertise. The Paramount Club highlights the firm’s role as a trusted general contractor in New York City. By completing this space, JT Magen once again proved its ability to deliver high-profile amenity spaces, corporate interiors, and complex construction projects on time and with exceptional craftsmanship.
JT Magen Completes Office for Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
JT Magen has completed the new office build‑out for law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer at 3 World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan. The project involved a full fit‑out across four floors, totaling 180,000 square feet. Freshfields relocated from 601 Lexington Avenue to establish a new, modern, light-filled workplace.
The design, led by Gensler, introduces open layouts and collaborative amenity zones, including kitchens, cafeterias, a barista station, Grab‑&‑Go coffee service, and breakout meeting areas. These spaces support Freshfields’ focus on interaction, collaboration, and engagement.
JT Magen served as construction manager, overseeing budgeting, scheduling, material procurement, subcontractor coordination, and final handover. The team executed precise MEP and structural work, while Robert Derector Associates provided engineering expertise.
To maximize natural light while preserving privacy, private offices feature glass fronts and doors. JT Magen collaborated with Longman Lindsey to incorporate state-of-the-art single- and double-glazed wall systems, enhancing both transparency and quietness without compromising confidentiality.
A standout architectural feature is the interconnecting stair system, developed with M. Cohen & Sons, which links the 51st through 54th floors. These staircases serve as dynamic focal points, clad in decorative precast concrete, with timber handrails and glass guardrails. The reception atrium provides sweeping views of the Brooklyn Bridge and the East River skyline.
This project reinforces JT Magen’s reputation as a premier general contractor in commercial interiors and law firm office build-outs. The firm continues to deliver complex, high-profile environments on time and with exceptional craftsmanship.
JT Magen Completes Wayfair’s First Store in Wilmette
JT Magen has successfully completed Wayfair’s first brick‑and‑mortar retail store at Edens Plaza, 3232 Lake Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois. The 150,000-square-foot, two‑story project repurposed a former Carson Pirie Scott department store and introduced a dynamic shopping destination for the home goods brand.
Working as a construction manager, JT Magen led the full gut renovation and outdoor expansion. The team overhauled facades, roofing, utility systems, vertical transportation, and interior finishes. They also added a 110,000-square-foot exterior extension featuring a plaza, parking lot, landscaping, storm detention center, and an indoor/outdoor café named The Porch at Wayfair.
The store interior offers interactive experiences, including a “Dream Center” for mattresses, a Design Studio for materials and furniture selection, and display areas for showers and faucets. Moreover, JT Magen executed extensive structural work to create a glass-enclosed, three-story atrium featuring a millwork-clad statement wall and a 20-foot by 20-foot display screen that greets and navigates visitors.
On the exterior, the team installed a custom terracotta rainscreen panel system in Wayfair’s signature purple, manufactured in Germany. The design also includes ACM-clad canopies and a dramatic 70‑by‑40‑foot backlit metal feature wall at the entrance.
This project reinforces JT Magen’s reputation as a leading general contractor in retail construction and experiential brand rollouts. By delivering Wayfair’s inaugural physical store on time and on budget, the firm demonstrates its ability to manage large-scale transformations and deliver standout tenant environments.
Inside Cartier of Chicago’s Flagship Built by JT Magen
JT Magen has completed the new Cartier of Chicago’s Flagship boutique at 15 East Oak Street in the city’s Gold Coast. The 6,460-square-foot, two-story retail store reflects Cartier’s Art Deco heritage while introducing modern elements that strengthen Oak Street’s reputation as Chicago’s premier luxury shopping corridor.
The centerpiece of the boutique is a custom white oak radius staircase with curved steel stringers and textured glass, designed to connect both levels with a sense of fluidity and craftsmanship. Gold leaf accents highlight the interiors, complementing bespoke furniture, wallpaper, art, and light fixtures. On the second floor, a rift-cut white oak mosaic floor and a custom elevator cab add further layers of detail.
JT Magen also rebuilt the façade with imported travertine and radius glass supported by an aluminum honeycomb system. The complexity of this work required careful structural planning and precise coordination to meet client standards.
As construction manager, JT Magen oversaw every phase of the construction process—including design coordination, scheduling, material procurement, subcontractor management, and budgeting. Collaboration with Atmosphere Design Group, Henderson Engineering, and Turner Townsend ensured the boutique’s technical and design requirements came together seamlessly.
With Oak Street home to many of the world’s leading fashion houses, the new boutique reinforces Cartier’s presence among international luxury retailers. The project demonstrates JT Magen’s ability to deliver flagship retail spaces that balance design excellence with practical execution.
Building on a portfolio that includes Hermès, Gucci, and Nike, JT Magen continues to establish itself as a trusted partner for luxury retail construction. The completion of Cartier of Chicago’s Flagship reflects the firm’s expertise in executing complex, high-profile projects with precision and craftsmanship.
