Last year CHP celebrated 20 years in New York.
Since 2002, our Americas team has delivered high-profile projects for global clients across the Americas.
Founding partner Gerry Hayes reflects on our first two decades stateside and remembers the friend who helped to make it happen.
“In early 2002 I picked up a call from a good friend and colleague Ardell Bunt. He was working client side in New York and knew of a project that required cost management services. “Fancy starting a business in New York?” he said.
It was one of those opportunities you couldn’t turn down – and following some introductions to local business partners, we were appointed to support the rolling refurbishment of the Time and Life Building in Manhattan.
It was all fairly speculative to begin with as cost management and quantity surveying wasn’t fully recognised as a profession in the states.
I spent six months in New York at the start to build a team and get things off the ground, and our first project with Time Inc., ran for five years.
During that time, we built a wider client base and a reputation for independent thinking, integrity, and quality commercial advice.
We’ve got a fantastic team in the US and I’m extremely proud of everything that they have delivered in the past and continue to deliver today.
The roof terrace at the WPP / Ogilvy building
We’ve provided cost management services for global clients including Barclays, Morgan Stanley and Jane Street, Time Inc., and WPP, American Water and luxury goods brands including Cartier and Céline. And we’ve developed strong, enduring partnerships with project managers, architects, contractors, and our clients alike.
Today cost management is better recognised and understood in the states, and it is great to see that it’s no longer a challenge to explain to the client the value of a cost management appointment within a project team.
With teams in the US and the UK, we’ve been able to develop a truly international perspective and attracted talent from across the world. Our expertise is broad and I can think of very few firms that can offer that same combination of global experience and insight, balanced with the bespoke, quality services that we provide as a boutique-sized consultancy.
Over the years to come we plan to expand our business and presence in the Americas, leveraging the experience and reputation we’ve developed delivering workspace, retail and industrial projects in the USA.
During my most recent visit to New York – I visited a project we’re completing for a global investment client, which is located – by coincidence – on Avenue of the Americas. Just a couple of blocks away from the Time & Life Building where it all started in 2002, it felt like a serendipitous spot to reflect on our business in the states.
Water Treatment Plant, New Jersey
Twenty years on, we still work with the same clients, business partners and consultants and that’s testament to our reputation and quality.
But I’m certain none of this would have happened had it not been for that unexpected phone call from Ardell.
Poignantly, Ardell recently lost his battle with cancer. He was a vastly talented individual within the real estate world and was a Managing Director and Global Head within Barclays and JLL respectively.
His enthusiasm and positivity are greatly missed by everyone who knew him and all of us at CHP, and my thoughts are with his wife Jane and their three children.”
