Reidy Contracting Group (RCG) was started in 2010 by Pat and Lorraine Reidy, a synergy of construction experience, strategic leadership, and financial insight. Their shared vision was clear from the start: to drive long-term industry success built on collaboration, trust, and integrity. The RCG of 2010 – which made its name doing small construction jobs like painting walls and changing door hardware – is much different to the industry-leading NYC construction company we see today. The company in its evolved from leads ambitious projects throughout New York including high-end renovations, ground-up construction, infrastructure upgrades and intricate refurbishments. Still at the helm of the company is Pat and Lorraine, ensuring every project big and small upholds the high standards for which Reidy has become known. Not long after RCG was established, Daniel Monteiro joined the company as Chief Operating Officer, having previously worked alongside Pat for another employer. “We started off with three or four people in the office,” Monteiro says of those early days. “I remember going after work in the sub cellar, painting walls, and changing door hardware, before landing our biggest job at the time about a year later. We did an internal staircase and full floor build out for a Hedge Fund, and from there we just grew through repeat client referrals. We have a hand in every sector now, our bread and butter being commercial interiors, and then hospitality, higher education, and infrastructure projects.”
Being in the high-end interiors space, Reidy Contracting Group naturally leans towards the hospitality and commercial sectors where elevated budgets and bold design visions often call for higher quality finishes. Fauchon, a Parisan-style boutique and restaurant with its flagship store in NYC, is a project that exemplifies RCG’s high-end service offering. “Fauchon was a great because it’s right across the street from our offices in Bryant Park,” says Monteiro, “so it was always nice to be able to see the transformation happening in real time and being able to get over there pretty quickly.” As a renovation and refurbishment company, it is this passion for transformation that drives RCG. Every project starts with a vision; where others see dated old buildings at the end of their lifecycle, Reidy Group sees an opportunity to reimagine, renew, and build something better. The RCG team is equipped with the experience, tools and know-how to do just that, and this has led it towards notable clients and projects that make for a decorated portfolio of work.
Monteiro reflects on some of the milestone projects that came after the company’s first big win, like the George Soros office space at 250 West 55th Street. “That was our biggest multi-floor project at the time. As part of the deign we introduced an art piece by lighting designer James Terrell. It had a lot of publicity throughout the city and even globally.” Another milestone project was Discovery’s 13-floor headquarter building at 230 Park Ave South, which was completed during the COVID pandemic, and more recently, Major League Soccer’s Headquarters at 2 Pennsylvania Plaza. RCG recently completed the National Urban League (NUL) Headquarters in Harlem, an adaptive reuse project featuring 88,000 square feet with terrazzo flooring and a civil rights museum. “We did some donations with the Harlem Chamber of Commerce and helped them out with some minor upgrades within their office space headquarters, and that got us introduced to the ownership over at National Urban League (NUL),” Monteiro says of how this prestigious project came about. “They have a great cause there, and being part of something that’s giving back to the community was very important to us. The project in itself was a beautiful space. We did two floors for them in an entry level lobby. One floor had a full amenity space for conferencing centres, a theatre section, and a pantry area. The third floor was for their office spaces, and then a lobby with turnstiles and security entrances. It was a great project and in Harlem, so it was a nice to see that area building up and being part of that.”
“My phone’s always on, Pats phone is always on, so being able to reach out to ownership I think is very important for our clients and where we start to separate ourselves from our competitors in the market.”
Reidy Contracting Group understands that the success of a project starts long before construction does. The company excels in early engagement with the client and consultant on design, budgeting, and logistics, all of which play an important role in driving the project towards success. RCG’s services include preconstruction, construction management, financial and administrative management, sustainability and compliance, and project execution, allowing them to play an active role in achieving client objectives from the outset. “We come in early on in the design phase with the client and help with budgeting, help the consultants navigate through some construction items, and the logistics, which are just as important as the schedule and lead times. That’s one of the primary services that we bring to the table, whether it be an office space that has a ridiculous schedule where we have to worry about ordering lights at a certain time, or releasing custom millwork in a certain time, or a multi floor project where there’s logistics for stair openings or structural upgrades and things of that nature.” Reidy Contracting Group lives and breathes ‘attention to detail’, both in the quality of its work and the service it provides. The company’s Special Projects Division, which takes care of smaller upgrade and maintenance type jobs, was born out of this detailed approach. “That division opened up a couple of years ago and takes care of what we call ‘day two’ items,” says Monteiro. “For instance, if we build out a space and then the client has some painting touch ups or new walls or offices they want to build within the space, our special projects division takes care of that with the same attention we would give on a larger scale.” By staying with its clients long-term on smaller-scale maintenance and upgrade jobs, RCG fosters lasting relationships and trusted partnerships.
Monteiro believes that this ability to cultivate relationships with clients and consultants is at the very root of RCG’s growth and success. “Our mantra here is manage expectations,” he says. “It’s as simple as that. Communication is key. Our goal has always been – let us come in and change your door hardware, paint a few offices, and show you what we can do for you. And then ideally you give us the bigger jobs as we grow as a company. We try to position ourselves as a competitor with some of the bigger names in the city and show that we ca do jobs if not just as good, but better than them and more attentive on the ownership side.” Reflecting on the New York construction industry as a whole, Monteiro recognises that it’s a busy time and not without challenges. “The numbers are very, very tight, which has its own complications and forces you at times to maybe go for a lower tier sub, where you have to either sacrifice quality or schedule.” This presents challenges for a companies like RCG who see high-quality as a non-negotiable. “But we do it day in and day out,” Monteiro says of upholding high standards and maintaining a reputation for construction excellence. “The market is looking for trustworthy contractors that are going to have their back, not only from an execution perspective, but also from the fiduciary responsibility. My phone’s always on, Pats phone is always on, so being able to reach out to ownership I think is very important for our clients and where we start to separate ourselves from our competitors in the market.”
While RCG has done some work in the tri-state area, it’s primary focus has been in Manhattan, New York, and the five boroughs. Plans are now in motion to expand this reach by opening office space in New Jersey and Connecticut. “There’s a tremendous amount of diversity there with consultants that already do work with us here in the city,” Monteiro says, “and we also have clients and connections in those areas as well. So for us to diversify in those markets, I think it’s going to be key to our success.” RCG aims not only to expand its geographical reach across the wider New York area but also to pursue projects of a larger scale. “We’re going after a lot of the bigger projects, and by bigger I mean two floor projects, not necessarily the six and seven floor projects that some of the other bigger contractors are going after. I think there’s enough competition in that market that they can all fight for themselves there!” RCG’s growth mindset is realistic, calculated, and always underpinned by an unwavering commitment to quality. As the company continues toward its goals, it is strengthened by its status as a Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE), bringing a unique perspective to every project it undertakes. This drive and ambition is balanced by a commitment to diversity and inclusion, as well as safety and sustainability, resulting in a well-respected and people-first company with a clear understanding of what truly matters.
