When we talk about risk management in construction, most people think of cost contingencies, safety plans, or schedule buffers. And while all of these are essential, they’re really just tools to manage something deeper. At the heart of nearly every project issue—whether it’s a cost overrun, a quality lapse, or a safety incident—lies one root cause: a breakdown in communication.

Most people say "Wait...what?" when they learn I spend my free time racing cars, but the truth is, my hobby as a race car driver and past team manager and pit crew chief has more in common with my career as a project manager at VVA than you might expect.

Beyond traditional architecture and construction, projects now involve specialists in smart technology integration, wellness amenities, sustainable design, and even disaster-resilient materials. Increasingly, savvy homeowners are recognizing the need for an Owner’s Project Manager (OPM) to be involved from the very start.

When a longtime corporate client turned to VVA for help with their private residence overlooking NYC's Central Park, the assignment was both an honor and a natural next step.

VVA is proud to announce the addition of Lisa Knip as our first team member in Toronto, marking an exciting new chapter in our firm’s growth across North America.

We are proud to share that Adam Kavanagh, Partner and Managing Director at VVA - Part of Drees & Sommer has been appointed to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Americas World Regional Board.

Relocating a major office isn’t just about finding a new address—it’s about creating a space that supports how a team works today, and how it will grow tomorrow.

The VVA riding team hit the road for our fourth consecutive year participating in the Pan-Mass Challenge—a 160-mile bike-a-thon across Massachusetts that raises critical funds for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. This year, we raised over $98,000, with every dollar going directly to patient care and groundbreaking research in oncology, pathology, and immunotherapy.

In hospitality and retail development, the stakes are uniquely high. A restaurant or resort isn't just a space—it’s a branded experience. And that experience is fragile. Agatha Habjan, LEED AP, explains why every hospitality project needs one critical role: a design and brand guardian.

When four distinct marketing agencies under the Interpublic Group (IPG) umbrella came together to share a single-floor office at Chicago’s iconic Merchandise Mart, VVA’s job was to make it work in a cohesive, creative, and efficient way.