A few words from Gary and Cyrus
With the holidays fast approaching, we are reflecting on the year that is ending. Although 2020 altered our lives because of the pandemic, we are grateful to our team members and our clients, who have demonstrated creativity, flexibility and resolve in staying the course. Situations like these spark the power of our teams to positive action.
The challenges of remote working inspired our team to innovate using available technologies.
When our spring edition of Connections was released, the world was reeling from the effects of sudden lockdowns. Thanks to the outstanding efforts of our trusted IT team, we were able to go remote within days, allowing our employees to work within a safe environment.
The challenges of remote working inspired our team to innovate using available technologies. Like most firms, we used Skype and Zoom to talk to each other and to our clients; and we employed MS remote teams to complete site visits, enabling us to communicate design needs with clients and project partners in real time.
By adopting these technologies, we were able to deliver on our commitments, as we have always done. The team also worked on projects within the healthcare sector that were fast-tracked due to the severity of COVID-19 in New York. In this issue, we will review the impacts of COVID-19 on the vertical transport and buildings industries. And don’t miss the story on Project Héroe: You will learn how a group of AEC leaders is developing ways to prevent future pandemics. This year we witnessed many social injustices. At Syska, we know that we must continue to improve our diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Our SHAPE (Syska Hennessy Advocating for Professional Equality) committee is helping us do so.
When we think about our firm, we think of our people, our employees and all that they had to do this year to be successful.
SHAPE recently hosted a panel on DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) with our colleagues at Miller Hull and Gensler. The panel reinforced our belief that our future can only be truly inclusive if we work together to move forward. When we think about our firm, we think of our people, our employees and all that they had to do this year to be successful. In 2020 we were able to celebrate the best in people and projects through our internal awards program called the Visionaries, which supports our strategic plan: Vision 2025.
We realize it’s hard to think about the future when this year has presented so many unknowns, but this one thing is clear: At our core, when people come together, the possibilities are endless. The title of this newsletter is apt. “Connections” speaks to the work we do, but also to how we do it – partnering with internal and external colleagues alike. Through such connections, we can achieve a better tomorrow.
Happy reading.
Cyrus and Gary
At our core, when people come together, the possibilities are endless.