Rudin Hired New Head of Design and Construction
The firm appointed Steven McKessey to oversee capital planning and development for its 13.1-million-square-foot portfolio.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in People
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Rudin has appointed Steven McKessey to lead its design and construction division. In this role, he will manage capital planning and project delivery across the firm's commercial and multifamily assets.
Why it matters
The appointment signals a focus on project management efficiency for the developer as it oversees a 13.1-million-square-foot portfolio. McKessey is tasked with ensuring future developments and redevelopments stay on schedule and within budget.
Rudin manages a 13.1-million-square-foot commercial and multifamily portfolio. The new hire brings two decades of industry experience, including ten years at Turner Construction and seven years at Cumming Group.
The players
Rudin
A prominent Manhattan-based owner and developer of commercial and multifamily real estate.
Steven McKessey
The newly appointed head of design and construction with two decades of experience in engineering and project management.
Cumming Group
A professional services firm where McKessey previously served as executive vice president for the Tri-State Region.
Turner Construction
A major general contractor where McKessey spent ten years as an engineer and project manager.
The details
McKessey will direct design and construction activities across all Rudin properties, with a focus on both new developments and redevelopments. His operational background includes managing large-scale office and office-to-residential conversion projects. He reports to the firm to oversee capital planning efforts for the Manhattan-based real estate owner.
Timeline
October 13, 2026: Announcement of the appointment.
Market Landscape
The hiring of a construction leader with expertise in office-to-residential conversions reflects a broader shift toward repurposing commercial space in major urban markets. This move mirrors industry trends where developers prioritize operational efficiency to manage complex asset repositioning projects.
Operators should monitor Rudin's upcoming development pipeline for shifts in construction strategy and project delivery timelines. Firms in the sector should evaluate if their current internal construction leadership has the technical background required for large-scale adaptive reuse projects.
The takeaway
Large-scale portfolio managers are increasingly prioritizing specialized construction leadership to navigate the complexities of modern development. Owners should benchmark their own design-build leadership against the industry trend of hiring project managers with deep adaptive reuse experience.
Further reading
Learn more about local industry leadership shifts in our People section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NYREJ.
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