NYC’s Salvadori Center: Laying The Foundation for The Future
An industry’s success is built on its ability to engage future generations. As design and construction continues to advance and evolve at a faster and faster pace, this engagement becomes more important than ever. In order to stay ahead of this ever-expanding curve, STO Building Group is working with organizations like the Salvadori Center to inspire and educate the next generation of builders.
The Salvadori Center provides STEAM programs for elementary and high school students to develop their interest in architecture, engineering, and construction professions. Founded in 1987, the center’s goal is to ultimately give kids the opportunity to learn first-hand how STEAM topics are relevant in their own lives, through projects that involve communication, teamwork, critical thinking, and creativity. “The Salvadori Center brings STEAM learning to kids in areas that may not have the resources to learn about topics like engineering, architecture, math, and science,” says Renee Kiviat, an assistant account executive with Structure Tone New York. Kiviat is a volunteer and founding member of the Salvadori Center’s Emerging Leaders Advisory Group (ELAG), who are tasked with community fundraising, outreach, and, especially, awareness.
“The emerging leaders group is also a networking opportunity for those of us in the early part of our careers, where we can make friends in the business along with supporting the bigger cause,” Kiviat explains.
Kiviat was first introduced to the Salvadori Center by STO Building Group CEO Bob Mullen, who has been on the board of directors for over a decade. Bob, in turn, first got involved through Structure Tone’s former president Tony Carvette, another long-time Salvadori champion. Today, Kiviat and others are forming the next generation of STOBG supporters.
According to Kiviat, the Salvadori Center has not only given her the opportunity to match volunteer work with network-building, but it has also allowed her to experience the imagination and passion of these younger students firsthand.
The look on the students’ faces when they’re learning is instant feedback on the time you’re putting in,” Kiviat says. “You’re not just donating money to a charity and hoping it does something. I’m interacting with them, which is very rewarding, and the projects are fun, too.”
Organizations like the Salvadori Center are opening doors and creating opportunities for tomorrow’s generation. For Kiviat, that vision is not just about giving back to the community, but also inspiring and cementing a foundation of passion for the world’s future builders and creators.
“I would never have gotten into construction if I didn’t have these kinds of resources available to me in high school,” says Kiviat. “So it’s rewarding to be able to give back to the next generation and build this industry up with the best success it could possibly have.”
We build communities. We are so proud of our employees’ efforts to help those in need, from helping fight hunger, to providing much needed supplies to children, to raising money for disease-fighting research. Here we highlight just a handful of the many, many ways our employees and our organization invest in the success of those around us. While these numbers are impressive, they don’t include the millions of dollars our employees help raise through their roles as board members and volunteers in charitable organizations across our communities.
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For the second year in a row, the Structure Tone Dublin team took on the 4 Peaks Challenge, climbing four of Ireland’s highest peaks within 24 hours in aid of St. Francis Hospice. The team successfully climbed Carrauntoohil in Co. Kerry, Mweelrea in Co. Sligo, Slieve Donard in Co. Down and Lugnaquilla in Co. Wicklow, reaching the summit of Lugnaquilla just within the 24-hour goal. The team raised €47,000 to help St. Francis Hospice provide palliative care to the people of North Dublin, at no cost.
October 15, 2022
How Does Govan Brown’s Garden Grow?
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Govan Brown marked another year of partnership with The Stop Community Food CentreGo to https://www.thestop.org/, one of Canada’s first food banks. The Stop has seen enrollment in memberships increase 169% since the pandemic but donated food decrease by 22%. Govan Brown’s rooftop gardens produced a bountiful harvest thanks to their friends at MicroHabitat, and the fruits (and veg) of their labour were donated in part to The Stop. The garden is a living example of how little steps can amount to big change when we come together to support our communities!
June 6, 2022
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At STOBG, we’re involved in dozens of local and industry golf tournaments, road races, cycling relays, and other athletic events that support our communities. By putting our best feet forward, we continue to pay it forward through fitness to help those in need reach their own finish lines. LF Driscoll was able to raise $6,350 for the Cardiac Center of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
May 18, 2022
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“Gimme five” has a whole different meaning for Layton Construction. As a founding member of 5 For The Fight, Layton is working to help the organization raise money for cancer-fighting research—$5 at a time. This year, nearly 700 employees from across the company donated time, money, and energy to the cause, but Phoenix went big, raising a record $100,000 for the Phoenix Children’s Hospital. The team celebrated that milestone by building and delivering red wagons for the hospital. To date, Layton employees have raised nearly $1 million through 5 For The Fight, supporting multiple cancer research hospitals across the country. Learn more about Layton’s partnership with 5 For The Fight hereGo to https://www.laytonconstruction.com/5-for-the-fight.
April 10, 2022
Supporting Future Leaders
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Throughout our organization, we pride ourselves on developing a culture of safety and family, which includes supporting our youth. From fostering mentorship to donating school supplies, we’ve continued to raise awareness of important charities and causes for children while supporting their growth into future leaders.
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Throughout the world, hunger continues to be a growing concern. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of families have experienced food insecurity. In just two examples, this year Ajax and Structure Tone Boston hosted food drives to support local efforts.
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A food drive organized by Structure Tone Philadelphia in collaboration with Team Red, White, and Blue demonstrated the company’s dedication to our nation’s military. Team RWB aspires to engage veterans in their communities through physical and social activities and educational opportunities. Based in Atlanta and founded in 2010, Team Red, White, and Blue chapters and communities continuously provide local opportunities for veterans and members of the community to engage in physical and social activities on a regular basis. Their programs include hosting weekly fitness activities, monthly social events, and participating in local races and events together. On a number of jobsites and the Structure Tone Philadelphia office, donation boxes for non-perishable foods have been set up, including canned vegetables and fruit.
January 11, 2022
