Becky Joseph.
Becky Joseph, 29
Project Manager at AECOM
Becky Joseph graduated from her MBA program and wrapped up a seven-year refurbishment of 425 Park Avenue all in one year. Needless to say, she had a busy 2020.
As a project manager, Joseph was 425 Park’s resident problem-solver. While she handled architectural trades, anything from making sure a building was waterproofed to closing out contracts with suppliers, she was responsible for ensuring that the little imperfections at 425 Park were corrected. Joseph knows the devil is in the details, and kept an eye out for anything as small as a chipped tile to make sure the 897-foot-tall commercial skyscraper was picture-perfect.
The $1 billion Midtown East tower — developed by L&L Holding Company, Tokyu Land Corp. and Bentall GreenOaks — got its temporary certificate of occupancy from the New York City Department of Buildings in January. Joseph said it was incredibly satisfying to see the project come to fruition, from start to finish.
“You walk in and it just fields grand,” Joseph said. “Finally seeing the lighting come together with this white stone floor and the stainless steel columns, and just seeing how massive and impressive it is, that’s been really exciting as well.”
At the same time as she was working on 425 Park, Joseph was attending New York University’s Stern School of Business at night to earn her master’s. After graduating during the pandemic, Joseph adjusted to having free time again, spending it activities from baking to restaurant hopping (though her favorite spot unfortunately closed).
“For a long time my free time was just business school,” Joseph said. “It was nice to feel like I had accomplished two really big things taking a lot of time, effort, energy and all of the different emotions that you go through in a project, studying for school and graduating. But it was sort of hard to celebrate [because] it was a bit of a difficult time for everyone in 2020.”—C.Y.
