Forte Construction Helps Inspire the Next Generation of STEAM Innovators

The Salvadori Center and Forte Construction supported students in redesigning the community room at NYCHA’s Roosevelt Houses.

Forte Construction Corp., a leading general contracting firm delivering major transit and public works initiatives throughout the New York metropolitan area and Long Island, continued its commitment to giving back to the communities it serves through its participation in the Salvadori Center’s STEAM Innovators program.

In partnership with the New York Building Foundation and the Public Housing Community Fund, the Salvadori Center’s STEAM Innovators program works with under-resourced schools and NYCHA communities in New York City to teach science, technology, engineering, arts/architecture, and math (STEAM) through hands-on learning that uses the built environment to connect STEAM concepts to students’ everyday lives.

A key part of STEAM Innovators is providing students with skills and resources to create positive change in their communities by allowing them to hear directly from and collaborate with STEAM professionals from construction, architecture and engineering firms. 

Forte Construction volunteers worked with students from the Roosevelt Houses as they redesigned their community room. Over the course of the program, participants created vision boards and prototype sketches of their designs after conducting interviews with people who frequently use the space to better understand their needs. These sketches evolved into three-dimensional models and technical floor plans. 

Forte Project Engineer Kristy Roberts, Superintendent Noor Taha, Safety Engineer Gary Collins, Assistant Project Manager Ansh Mehra, Project Manager Ferdinand Hernandez, Director of Operations Theodore Tsiokas and Chief of Staff Zachary Cardillo, served as mentors where they provided feedback and professional insight. 

At the program’s final presentation, students showcased their completed designs to their families, Salvadori staff, Forte volunteers and representatives from the New York Building Foundation. New York State Senator Jabari Brisport, who represents the surrounding community in Senate District 25, joined the event to see the students’ work firsthand.   

“The Forte Team is grateful to have participated in the Salvadori Center STEAM Innovators Program,” said Athena Pappas, Director of Philanthropy at Forte Construction. “We believe that building stronger communities means investing in people, creating opportunities, and supporting the next generation of STEAM Professionals.” 

Forte also welcomed students to their headquarters in Islandia. During their visit, students met with employees from several departments—including Marketing, Accounting, HR and Estimating—to learn more about their work, the different career paths within the construction industry, and how each department contributes to Forte’s projects. 

Forte Construction has long supported STEAM education and initiatives that expand opportunities for the next generation of construction professionals. This includes the $100,000 Forte Construction Corp. Scholarship Fund, introduced in 2024 in partnership with The Cooper Union, to support students with a demonstrated interest in construction and/or construction management.

“We are beyond proud of our latest graduates of the STEAM Innovators program. We look forward to seeing their design implemented and their growth into STEAM professionals,” said Trenton Price, Executive Director of the Salvadori Center.  “Our heartfelt thanks goes out to our partners at the New York Building Foundation and Forte Construction for helping to shape the next generation of STEAM professionals.”

Forte Construction is a leading general contracting firm with a team of nearly 500 professionals dedicated to delivering comprehensive construction solutions for major public and government agencies, including the MTA, NYC SCA, DASNY, and NYCHA. The firm manages a wide array of projects across the five boroughs and Long Island, working in close coordination with local municipalities to improve regional infrastructure. Forte is recognized for its expertise in transit accessibility and ADA compliance, with a demonstrated history of delivering billions of dollars in MTA construction and modernization projects. www.fortecc.com

Salvadori Center teaches science, technology, engineering, art/architecture, and mathematics (STEAM) to all K-12 students, primarily in under-resourced communities. Using a collaborative, hands-on, project-based approach, Salvadori’s programs connect students to the built environment and expose them to careers in NYC’s building industries. www.salvadori.org

The Public Housing Community Fund is an independent not-for-profit organization that creates and leverages resources and relationships to enhance the opportunities and quality of life for New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) residents and their communities while uplifting the importance of public housing in New York City. www.communityfund.nyc