Anchors down

How the CNY Group helped Lidl expand its corporate vision

Located in Syosset, Long Island (New York), Lidl’s newest corporate location serves as an anchor for its growing presence across the Northeast. The expansive state of the art workspace is on par with the brand’s freshfood-at-discount-prices commitment.

At the heart of the project is CNY Group, which has overseen construction administration for nearly a dozen new Lidl supermarkets across New York over the last few years. Working with Lidl’s aggressive timelines, the New York City-based construction and development firm seamlessly helped turn around each of the projects, including the regional office.

Sharing a passion for sustainability, Lidl and CNY Group are committed to redeveloping the concept of today’s supermarket by creating greener solutions, supporting farmers and reducing the overall ecological footprint. That means adaptively reusing and renovating each project.

We sat down with David Brown, Project Executive for SPACES, CNY Group’s interiors team that worked on the project, to get his insights into what the new space means to the grocer.

Give us a snapshot of who the client, Lidl, is. What is your relationship with them?

LIDL is a multinational Germany-based discount grocery store chain with over 13,000 stores around the globe. Over the last five years, LIDL has rapidly expanded into the American market, and we are proud to have joined them in the construction efforts on several of their supermarkets and offices in the New York metropolitan area.

What were the client’s main goals for this project?

LIDL’s goals for this project were to expand the footprint of their Syosset, New York supermarket to accommodate their new Northeast Regional Headquarters. One of Lidl’s main priorities for this office expansion was to build out blocks of meeting and focus rooms, general office areas with open workspaces, printing and storage areas and break rooms for employees; all under an aggressive 12-week construction schedule.

How does the construction reflect what everyone was looking for

Much like LIDL themselves, our SPACES team is united under the common goal of driving the highest efficiency and value without compromising quality or sustainability. Through the repurposing of an existing structure, the ecological footprint of this project is significantly reduced, while also providing schedule certainty in a way that could not be achieved through ground-up construction.

What’s the secret to creating the right project in today’s competitive landscape?

No matter how competitive the current landscape is for construction, the requisite ability to be adaptable and value-driven will always be a key differentiator when it comes time to begin construction.

At SPACES, our rigorous and comprehensive pre-planning processes are integral to the ongoing success and enhanced value of our projects. Throughout our planning stages, our team carefully considers all potential variables to ensure the expeditious and economical delivery of the final product without impedance. A dynamic team is a successful team.

What are some of the biggest areas companies look for in their headquarters operations/what trends are you seeing in the construction/design landscape?

Following the effects of COVID and the subsequent labor shortages, more companies are looking to distance themselves from the “cubicle-farm” office designs from yesteryear and are looking at their office design through the lens of providing employees and tenants with a “home away from home” experience. Open-concept office plans, access to public transportation, collaborative and amenity areas, and improved lighting and acoustic design are among the most popular items companies look for when designing headquarters, as of late.

Give us a snapshot of who SPACES is and describe a typical day.

SPACES is a dynamic interior construction firm that delivers schedule certainty and budget consistency to a wide range of private and institutional clients. Our team provides the full spectrum of advisory, risk management, and construction services while leading the phased interior buildout of occupied spaces, the modernization of critical building systems, and the restoration of historic features and materials.

In the world of construction a typical day is hard to come by, however, our team starts every morning prepared to take on whatever comes our way.

What makes SPACES unique?

Our team of industry professionals strikes a careful balance of working for some of the top companies in commercial and institutional real estate and development while limiting the number of projects accepted to maintain our transparent, proactive, hands- on approach. Honesty, collaborative open communication, continued education and empowerment are hallmarks of our company culture that we bring to each of our projects.

What are you doing to promote sustainability in your projects?

SPACES and sustainability go hand in hand. Reinforced through our commitment to ESG, our team unites stakeholders to adapt to the most sustainable, efficient, and equitable producers through innovative construction practices that drive progress, create value, and exceed expectations.

The moment a project enters our doors, our team immediately is thinking of the ways we can promote and influence wellness, social equity, and sustainable building practices across each stage of the construction process.

What have been some of the biggest adjustments you see in the future?

Within the New York City metropolitan area, we see the implementation of Local Law

97 and its correlated compliances as one of the most significant adjustments that will affect projects in the near future.

What was the best advice you ever received?

The most important advice I’ve ever received was very early on in my construction career, and that was to always be thorough and extremely well-versed when you’re communicating with anyone. Communication is key in construction; it is crucial to have a firm grasp on whatever subject you’re talking about.

What’s the best thing a client ever said to you?

Just a few months ago, a client referred to our team as “Herculean,” due to our persistence and ability to overcome the project’s many challenges, while still being ahead of schedule. I can tell you from now—that compliment is going to remain as one of our team’s favorites. CCR