By Joshua Burd
Land use consultancy Dresdner Robin has expanded its platform with a new division focused on guiding the construction associated with environmental cleanup projects.
The Jersey City-based firm said the unit, Dresdner Robin Construction Management, will manage remediation projects throughout their life cycle and draw on a team that includes remediation and construction professionals, engineers and certified hazardous material managers. It will also design and manage the safety components of the project, while offering a menu of project delivery options, such as construction manager as agent, design-build and construction manager at risk.
Additionally, Dresdner will hold all remediation and associated construction subcontracts for the work, managing cost, schedule, scope, safety and quality as part of its full-service offering, according to a news release. The firm added that it’s able to provide comprehensive and project-specific environmental liability insurance programs at the highest levels available in the industry.
“Dresdner Robin’s expansion into construction management will allow our firm to provide an end-to-end solution, from due diligence to occupancy on the development of contaminated properties, while offering risk management and value to our clients,” said Tony Ianuale, the firm’s chief operating officer. “Dresdner Robin has always been known for its technical capabilities, and the expanded services will enhance that expertise while streamlining the process for new and existing customers.”
The firm announced the new division while noting that it will be overseen by Jim Blaney, who joins its team as director of construction management. He brings more than 25 years of specialized management, technical and regulatory compliance experience in managing large site remediation and redevelopment projects, having served as construction and remediation risk manager for multiple brownfield sites in the region in both the public and private sectors.
Blaney’s experience includes work for the New York City Economic Development Corp., where he served as construction manager for the remediation of heavily contaminated former manufactured gas plant sites in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx, the news release said. He also managed the construction for Hudson County’s chromium cleanup projects in Jersey City.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from Ramapo College and a master’s in environmental policy and planning from the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
“I am thrilled to lead Dresdner Robin’s expansion into construction management services,” Blaney said. “My more than two decades of project and site construction management experience will help guide clients and foster simplified and streamlined solutions for all our projects, whether that be a phased project or complete turnkey approach to an environmental remediation or redevelopment project.”
