New York City, often referred to as the “city that never sleeps,” is a bustling metropolis that is home to some of the world’s most iconic buildings and landmarks. From the towering skyscrapers of Manhattan to the historic brownstones of Brooklyn, New York City is where old meets new, and any architectural vision is possible. The city is also a hub of commerce and industry, offering endless opportunities for businesses of all sizes and industries.
If you want to build a commercial space in New York City, the list below features the leading commercial contractors to consider. These contractors are known for their expertise in constructing some of the city’s most innovative and functional commercial spaces. Our team handpicked the firms after evaluating their portfolios, backgrounds, awards, industry affiliations, and press features.
JRM Construction Management
242 West 36th St., 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018
JRM Construction Management is a company that was founded in 2007 to provide construction management and general contracting services for commercial interior projects. The firm operates as a construction management, general contracting, and design-build firm, with a presence in both New York City and international markets. It has established a stellar reputation for its unique approach, and is therefore highly sought after by architects, developers, and major corporations alike. JRM has expanded its operations to include East and West Coast offices and a Core and Shell division that focuses on constructing base buildings for developers.
David G. McWilliams, the CEO of JRM, has over 35 years of experience in the industry and has overseen the construction of a wide range of building projects, from commercial and residential to high-end retail. He is widely regarded as a practical and capable construction expert and has been involved in virtually every aspect of the business, having started as the Director of Field Operations before rising to his current position at JRM.
Plaza Construction
360 Lexington Ave., 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10017
Plaza Construction is a renowned construction management and general contracting company that provides its services across the United States. Established in 1986, it has since expanded into a multifaceted practice with regional offices in major destinations such as New Jersey, Los Angeles, and San Jose. The company is led by Peter Wu, who is an industry expert with over three decades of experience in managing construction projects worldwide, particularly in the United States, Asia, and the Middle East.
Plaza Construction has a diverse background in real estate, building, investment, and development management, which allows it to draw from a wealth of collective knowledge across multiple industries. These industries encompass a range of structures, including commercial buildings, corporate offices, healthcare facilities, museums, transportation hubs, universities, and retail spaces. The company is also known for creating renowned and luxurious residential condominiums, hotels, and restaurants. Regardless of the sector, the firm’s success stems from its unique perspective of understanding the owner, developer, and builder aspects of the construction process.
Holt Construction Corp.
875 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 1100, New York, NY 10001
Jack Holt has been in a leadership position at Holt Construction for more than 49 years, ever since he acquired the company from his father, Fred A. Holt. Launched in 1919, Holt Construction has built a legacy of outstanding construction performance for clients nationwide. It is a full-service construction management and general contracting firm offering extensive services in various business markets, though it has experienced significant growth in the past 16 years through a strategic focus on the aviation, corporate interior, and healthcare sectors.
Under Jack’s leadership, Holt has expanded its clientele all across these markets and in new geographic areas such as New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Texas, and Florida. It has supported humanitarian and charitable organizations in the Hudson Valley, specifically the Rockland County area, and it has been recognized by organizations like the Associated Construction Contractors of New Jersey and the New York Building Congress.
Aurora Contractors, Inc.
100 Raynor Ave., Ronkonkoma, NY 11779
Aurora Contractors is a leading construction management, design-build, and general contracting firm that has served the New York metropolitan area for 40 years. Family-owned and operated since 1983, it is able to deliver outstanding projects due to its years of experience, extensive resources, and diverse services. The firm’s transparent planning process identifies challenges early, providing clients with the solutions they need on time and within budget.
Aurora Contractors excels in many out-of-the-ground market sectors, including fast-paced retail, industrial, cold storage, hospitality, and education. Regardless of sector, the same values and beliefs that guided Aurora at its inception are still its philosophy today under the guidance of its CEO, Frank Vero Jr. Under his leadership, the firm prides itself on developing and maintaining long-term relationships with its customers, local officials, subcontractors, and suppliers. It has always maintained that integrity and trust are essential to the success of any company.
Mc Gowan Builders, Inc.
330 Seventh Ave., Suite 1902, New York, NY 10001
Mc Gowan Builders is a top-tier construction company that specializes in general contracting and construction management for private and institutional clients. Since its inception in 2001, the firm has been building various spaces, including office interiors, retail establishments, financial spaces, and cultural and educational institution buildings.
Images licensed to McGowan Builders Inc. use only
The company’s extensive portfolio includes residential units, condominiums, hotel complexes, and major conversion and rehabilitation projects throughout the greater New York City area. Under the leadership of Patrick J. Mc Gowan, who has over 30 years of experience in the construction industry, every project is executed with unparalleled quality. Mc Gowan’s expertise encompasses various roles, such as laborer, foreman, superintendent, estimator, project manager, vice president of marketing, and president of a large regional construction company. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management and Engineering Technology, as well as an Associate’s degree in Civil Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Reidy Contracting Group
58 West 40th St., 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10018
Established in 2010, Reidy Contracting Group works with some of New York’s most well-known names to provide exceptional general contracting and construction management services. The firm successfully handles its clients’ needs through extensive renovation, new construction, construction infrastructure, and refurbishment solutions. Highly competent and qualified experts staff the firm to execute in-house budgeting and estimation, purchasing, pre-construction, construction phase scheduling, quality control, value engineering, and building strong partnerships with experienced subcontractors.
The firm’s expansive portfolio includes projects completed in a wide variety of markets, including residential, corporate, infrastructure, mission-critical, media, health and fitness, retail, and hospitality. The firm has received numerous awards for its superior work, including the 2021 Project of the Year Award in the 25,000 to 50,000 RSF Category from CoreNet Global New York, the 2020 Award of Merit from ENR New York for the LMCC Arts Center at Governor’s Island, and the 2019 Best of Year Award: Best Small Corporate Office from Interior Design Magazine for its work on the Soros Capital Management.
Vanguard Construction & Co.
350 Fifth Ave., Suite 5500, New York, NY 10118
Founded in 1986 by Michael Strauss, Vanguard Construction & Development Co., Inc. is a New York-based builder specializing in pre-construction, construction management, and general contracting. Strauss received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the City University of New York — Hunter College and holds an architecture degree from the City College of New York. He initially founded Vanguard Construction & Co. to offer his clients a unique type of service; now, he has over 40 years of experience overseeing complex projects, from high-end interiors to ground-up construction.
Since its founding, the firm has grown to include over 100 employees and expanded its services to include all types of construction projects. The firm’s team is a cross-section of highly talented individuals with decades of collective experience in architecture, engineering, construction management, and estimating. The entirety of the team works with the core understanding that balancing value and quality is critical to the success of any project.
Consigli Construction Co., Inc.
1441 Broadway, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10018
Consigli Construction Co., Inc. is a fourth-generation, 100% employee-owned construction management and general contracting company with offices located throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. Its extensive portfolio features projects of various scales and sectors, including life sciences, historic preservation, academic, residential, and cultural industries.
Anthony Consigli, the studio’s CEO, received his degree in economics from Harvard University. Under his leadership, Consigli Construction holds affiliations with the Associated General Contractors, the American Institute of Architects, the Brick Industry Association, the American Society for Health Care Engineering, and the Business Council of Westchester. He is also part of the Historic Boston Incorporated Massachusetts Business Roundtable Council of Advisors and the Milford Regional Medical Center Foundation Board of Directors.
L&K Partners, Inc.
104 East 25th St., 9th Floor, New York, NY 10010
Founded in 1997, L&K Partners provides industry-leading general contracting and construction management services across various sectors, building types, and regions. Over the past 25 years, it has earned a reputation of excellence by constantly delivering some of the most creative, exciting, and sophisticated spaces to hit the architectural market. Therefore, its work has been featured in a wide array of media publications, including Building Design + Construction, 6park News, The Real Deal, REBusinessOnline, Business Wire, Commercial Observer, and many others.
Under the leadership of president Jonathan Lewis, the firm continually evolves its scope of services and seeks new, efficient ways to complete its projects. It offers an end-to-end client experience guided by the core pillars of clear communication, collaboration, and clarity throughout the entirety of the construction process.
