< PreviousProject: NYC Public Health Laboratory Location: Harlem Hospital Complex, Address: 16 W 137th Street, New York, NY 10037 General Contractor: Skanska USA Building Inc., Architect: SOM Size: 10 stories/230,000 square feet, Year Completed: 2026 | 10 JULY 2026F or nearly three decades, Utopia Construction has built its reputation across New York City through a combi- nation of technical expertise, long-term relationships, and a disciplined approach to facade construction. Operating throughout the tri-state area, the company specializes in complex metal and glass systems, delivering projects that range from educational facilities and cultural institutions to large-scale commercial towers. Founded in 1998, Utopia Construction remains a family-owned and female-owned business, with leadership spanning multi- ple members of the Sclafani family. Linda Sclafani serves as president and owner, while founder and vice president Michael A. Sclafani continues to play a central role in the company’s WRITTEN BY ELIZABETH HOWELL operations. Their sons, Michael F. Sclafani and Thomas Scla- fani, contribute through leadership roles in operations and esti- mating, continuing a family-driven structure that has remained consistent as the company has grown. That continuity has become a defining part of Utopia’s iden- tity. With roughly 75 years of combined management experi- ence across the leadership team, the company has steadily expanded its capabilities while maintaining a close connec- tion to both clients and workforce. Today, Utopia focuses on the design, fabrication, and installation of curtain walls, cladding systems, storefronts, and custom architectural met- als, serving projects across some of the most demanding construction environments in the United States. Project: NYC Public Health Laboratory Location: Harlem Hospital Complex, Address: 16 W 137th Street, New York, NY 10037 General Contractor: Skanska USA Building Inc., Architect: SOM Size: 10 stories/230,000 square feet, Year Completed: 2026 | 11 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONThe company operates throughout all sectors of the New York City market, including educational institutions, public works, cultural buildings, and commercial high-rise devel- opments. Its primary systems partner is Kawneer, a major manufacturer of aluminum architectural systems for com- mercial construction. Through these partnerships and its union-trained workforce, Utopia has positioned itself within projects that require precision, coordination, and a high level of technical execution. Certifications and approvals form an important part of the company’s operational framework. Utopia is WBE certified and maintains approvals and prequalifications with agencies and institutions including NYC School Construction Author- ity, DASNY, CUNY, SUNY, and the Metropolitan Transporta- tion Authority. Its workforce also operates under OSHA 30 and OSHA 10 safety standards, reinforcing the company’s emphasis on training and compliance. That commitment to safety and consistency extends across every phase of a project. Utopia’s project management ser- vices cover the full lifecycle of facade work, from planning and scheduling through closeout. Coordination between contractors, suppliers, engineers, and field crews is central “Through these partnerships and its union-trained workforce, Utopia has positioned itself within projects that require precision, coordination, and a high level of technical execution.” Project: SUNY FIT New Academic Building Location: Chelsea, Manhattan, Address: 220 W 28th Street, New York, NY 10001 General Contractor: Forte Construction, Architect: SHoP Architects Size: 10-story, 100,000+ square feet, Year Completed: 2025 Project: SUNY FIT New Academic Building Project: Pendry Hotel – Manhattan West Address: 438 W 33rd Street, New York, NY 10001, Client: Brookfield Properties – New York Architect: SOM, Building Height: 272 feet, Stories: 21, Gross Area: 200,500 square feet Rooms: 164, Year Completed: 2021 | 12 JULY 2026MILGO/BUFKIN has more than 100 years of experience fabricating fine metalwork that has contributed to the buildings that transform the skyline of New York and cities around the world. +1 (718) 388-6476 sales@milgobufkin.com 68 Lombardy St, Brooklyn, NY 11222 MilgoBufkin.com to this process, particularly on projects operating within compressed urban schedules. The company’s long-term relationships with general contractors have also contributed to stability and repeat business, with some partnerships con- tinuing for approximately 20 years. Construction and installation remain at the center of the com- pany’s operations. Leveraging decades of union construction experience, Utopia delivers curtain wall systems, storefronts, cladding, and architectural metal installations while main- taining on-site supervision and quality control throughout the process. In a market like New York City, where projects often involve complex logistics and occupied buildings, this level of oversight becomes critical to maintaining both safety and schedule performance. The company also places strong emphasis on design-assist services, working collaboratively with clients and project teams to balance design intent, performance requirements, and budget considerations. This process allows owners and contractors to participate in system selection and project staging early in development, helping streamline commu- nication and improve coordination before fabrication and installation begin. Project: VIA 57 West Location: New York, NY, Facade Contractor: Enclos General Contractor: Hunter Roberts Construction Group, Client: MoMA Architect: BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group), Facade Consultant: Israel Berger & Associates Project: VIA 57 West | 13 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONEngineering and technical support are integrated into that process as well. Utopia’s team works closely with engineers to evaluate system compatibility, connections, acoustic performance, water performance, testing requirements, and documentation. This level of technical review helps ensure that systems are prepared for fabrication and installation while minimizing conflicts during construction. Value engineering has become another important compo- nent of the company’s work, particularly as project costs continue to rise across the industry. Rather than reducing quality, Utopia approaches value engineering as a process of refining systems and installation methods to meet both design expectations and long-term performance require- ments. The company evaluates fabrication techniques, materials, and sequencing with an emphasis on durability and lifecycle performance. Project: David Geffen Hall, Location: New York City, NY, Architect: Diamond Schmitt General Contractor: Turner Construction Company, Developer: Lincoln Center / New York Philharmonic Material By: Eventscape, Completed: October 2022 Project: David Geffen Hall | 14 JULY 2026The Exterior Building Envelope. Rainscreen Cladding · Engineered Attachment · Continuous Insulation Air & Water Barriers · Roofing & Waterproofing · Translucent Daylighting Architectural Manufacturers’ Representative — Metro NY & Northern NJ. metrobuilding.biz · (908) 284-1676 · info@metrobuilding.biz Procurement also plays a major role within the company’s operations. Through long-standing relationships with manufacturers, suppliers, and fabricators, Utopia works to secure facade materials well in advance of installation schedules. In a market where supply chain disruptions and lead times continue to affect construction sched- ules, maintaining control over procurement timelines has become increasingly important. For Thomas Sclafani, however, the company’s reputation ultimately comes down to reliability. “I think one thing that separates us from everybody else is that when we say we’re going to do something, we end up doing it,” he said. “If some- one tells us that we need to do something, we do whatever we could do to make that work. We always do it, which is why we have a lot of repeat business.” That reliability has supported substantial growth over the company’s history. Shortly after its founding, Utopia reached approximately $5 million in annual revenue. Today, the com- pany operates at roughly $90 million annually, reflecting both the scale of projects undertaken and the expansion of its client base throughout the region. A significant portion of the company’s work involves edu- cational facilities, where scheduling constraints create additional operational demands. Much of this work must be completed during summer recess periods, requiring crews to mobilize quickly and finish before students return in Sep- tember. “Typically, the company tries to get on the job in May or June so that when school starts in September, all work is completed,” the team explained. This compressed schedule requires careful planning, procurement coordination, and field execution to ensure projects remain on track. Among the company’s major projects is the Northwell School of Health Sciences in Queens, New York, where Utopia com- pleted curtain wall, glazing, and metal panel systems. The healthcare-focused high school was developed in partner- ship with Northwell Health to provide students with early exposure to healthcare careers and training environments. The project reflects the increasing demand for specialized educational facilities within the city. “If someone tells us that we need to do something, we do whatever we could do to make that work. We always do it, which is why we have a lot of repeat business.” | 15 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONThe company also contributed to the expansion of the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan, one of the most recognizable cultural institutions in the world. The expan- sion increased gallery space by roughly one-third to 165,000 square feet and introduced new public-facing galleries, performance and film spaces, and lounge areas throughout the building. Utopia’s work on curtain wall systems, glazing, and metal panels formed part of a broader redevelopment aimed at modernizing the institution while improving public access and circulation. Another significant project involved Citibank’s Tribeca Global Headquarters in New York City. Spanning approx- imately 2.6 million square feet, the facility includes health clinics, cafeterias, flexible workspaces, and bicycle stor- age designed to support urban commuting. Projects of this scale require extensive coordination between facade contractors, structural systems, and interior construction teams, reinforcing the importance of sequencing and communication throughout delivery. Looking ahead, Utopia Construction is focused on expand- ing its capabilities further, particularly in fabrication and dis- tribution. According to Thomas Sclafani, the next stage of growth may involve producing materials internally or part- nering more directly with manufacturers. “The biggest way for us to expand would be us to start fabricating our own “The biggest way for us to expand would be us to start fabricating our own materials, or getting involved with somebody who wants us to be a distributor.” materials, or getting involved with somebody who wants us to be a distributor,” he said. “Then we can distribute, as well as install. That would be the next step.” That direction reflects a broader trend within the construction industry toward increased vertical integration, allowing con- tractors to maintain greater control over schedules, supply chains, and quality throughout the project lifecycle. For Utopia, it also represents a natural extension of the systems-focused approach that has defined the company since its founding. As Utopia Construction approaches three decades in busi- ness, its development reflects a company that has grown steadily through technical capability, long-term relationships, and consistent execution. By combining family leadership, union expertise, and integrated project delivery, the company continues to strengthen its position within one of the most competitive construction markets in North America. Project: Moynihan Station / Moynihan Train Hall Location: Chelsea, Manhattan, General Contractor: Skanska USA Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), Size: 700,000 square feet, Year Completed: 2021 Clients: MTA, Long Island Rail Road, Amtrak, and the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey | 16 JULY 2026Project: MoMA Expansion Location: New York, NY, Facade Contractor: Frener Reifer General Contractor: Turner Construction Co., Client: Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Architect: Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Facade Consultant: R.A. Heintges & Associates Project: TWA Hotel at JFK Location: John F. Kennedy International Airport, General Contractor: Turner Construction Client: Port Authority of New York, Year Completed: 2019, Architect: Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners Project: Resorts World NYC Hotel & Casino Expansion Project: TWA Hotel at JFK Project: Resorts World NYC Hotel & Casino Expansion Location: Aqueduct Racetrack, Ozone Park, Address: 110-00 Rockaway Blvd, Jamaica, NY 11420 General Contractor: Plaza Construction, Architect: Perkins Eastman OPTIQ ® OFFSET FIXED/PROJECTED SERIES WINDOW RETROFIT WINDOW SOLUTION DESIGNED FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND ADAPTIVE REUSEWRITTEN BY EMMA KILCAWLEY HEMANI B W Kennedy & Co has built its reputation in Greater Boston by approaching construction as a partnership rather than a transaction. Founded in 2009 by Brian Kennedy, the Mas- sachusetts-based construction management and general contracting firm has grown into one of the region’s most respected builders, with a particular focus on life sciences, bio- tech, academic, and advanced manufacturing projects.| 19 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONNext >